Origin: Detroit, MI
Engine: 1-Cylinder
Transmission: 2-Speed Planetary
So named for the shape of its foot board, the Curved Dash’s body was directly transferred from the carriage designs. As a horse-drawn vehicle, the feature protected the passengers from the dirt and mud thrown up by the horses’ hooves. As a newfangled horseless carriage, it became its defining feature. Other features included tiller steering, a single-cylinder engine producing four and a half horsepower, and a wheelbase of 66-inches, as well as Neverout brass kerosene headlights for night driving, a two-speed transmission, and center chain drive.
Invented in 1900 by American automotive pioneer Ransom E. Olds, the Curved Dash was the only prototype out of 11 to survive a factory fire in 1901. Despite the delay in production, 425 Curved Dashes were produced that year using a stationary assembly line, a first for the automotive industry. Henry Ford borrowed the idea and then tweaked it, creating a moving assembly line, which Olds borrowed right back. This allowed him to produce 2,500 Curved Dashes in 1902. One of those would eventually find a home here at Rich Harvest Farms.
The Curved Dash is the oldest car in the collection. It was purchased at a Kruse International Auburn Auction in 2009. It sold for a bit more than its original price tag of $650, but its rich history made it worth every penny!