1911 Oldsmobile Limited 7 Passenger Touring

This vehicle is believed to be one of only three 1911 Seven-Passenger Touring Cars made by Olds. It is the only unrestored example in existence. It's first owner was the president of the Brewyn-White Coal Company in Cambria County, Pennsylvania and used for a number of years before ending up in storage in a barn. During the 1950s the car was re-discovered by William Swigart. It has spent the last fifty years as a static display in storage and as a museum display. It is complete, original, and was used as a guide when other Limited vehicles were being restored.

It is powered by a six-cylinder T-head engine with the cylinders cast in pairs, displacing 707 cubic-inches and producing 60 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission with reverse. and internal expanding rear-wheel hand brake and external contracting on rear wheels. The wheelbase measures 138-inches and is held in place by front semi-elliptic leaf springs with rear three quarter-elliptic leaf springs and front and rear Hartford Shock absorbers.

This 1911 Oldsmobile Limited 7-Passenger Touring was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars sale at Hershey, PA presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $800,000 - $1,200,000 and offered without reserve. It was the highlight of the auction, featured in all the advertisements and had a prominent place on the cover of the auction book. It is the car that everyone came to see get auctioned, an opportunity that has not been presented for many years. It is a very significant vehicle and one of the more magnificent of the brass era age. Bidders realized its potential and its historical significance, driving the winning bid above the estimated value, to a sum of $1,650,000. Needless to say, the lot was sold.

The car has since been carefully cleaned and is back in running order. In July 2009 it was started for the first time in decades.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009