1922 Oakland Model 34-D

The Oakland Motor Car Company of Oakland County, Michigan, produced automobiles beginning in 1908, was acquired by General Motors in 1909 and lasted until 1931 before succumbing to the effects of the Great Depression. The early automobiles used a vertical two-cylinder engine that rotated counterclockwise and was designed by Alanson Partridge Brush. It was backed by a planetary transmission, and five body styles were offered.

In early 1909, Oakland's principal founder, Edward Murphy, sold half of the company to William C. Durant's General Motors. Mr. Murphy passed away in the summer of 1909, and the remaining rights to the company were acquired by GM.

The Oakland company was positioned above the volume-priced Chevrolet and below the Oldsmobile, Buick, and top-of-the-line Cadillac cars. Shortly after GM's takeover, a line of conventional four-cylinder models was introduced. By 1916, a V8-powered model was introduced.

The 1922 Oakland Sensible Six was an updated and refined version of the prior year's Model 34-C. New for 1922 was a new body style - the Sports Touring model. The list of body styles included a Roadster, a 5-passenger touring, a sedan, and a coupe. Power was from an overhead-valve six-cylinder engine that displaced a 177 cubic-inch engine and offered 44 horsepower. Pricing ranged from $1,395 to $2,065. In total, Oakland produced 7,849 cars in 1922.

Inside, the cars were well-appointed with Brown Spanish leather upholstery and a walnut instrument board. The cars rode on wire wheels and cord tires. Standard equipment included an ammeter, an oil pressure gauge, demountable wheel rims, a power tire pump, and a speedometer.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2014