1917 Oakland Model 34 Touring

1917 Oakland Model 34 Touring – Rare Early GM Survivor

Quick facts

Make/ Model: Oakland Model 34 Touring

Year: 1917

Chassis/ Engine No.: D37548

Engine: Northway L-head inline six-cylinder, 177 cu. in. (2. 9 litre), approx. 44 hp

Colour: Silver (as arrived from Canada, unrepainted)

Registration: Hungarian plate OT-03-55

Location: near Pécs, Hungary

Offered for sale is a genuine 1917 Oakland Model 34 Touring, an early and technically interesting product of General Motors' Oakland division — the marque that would later become Pontiac.

Oakland Motor Car Company was founded in 1907 and became a founding division of General Motors in 1909. The Model 34, introduced in 1917 as Oakland's entry-level offering, was notable for incorporating several engineering advances ahead of its price class: it was among the first cars to feature aluminium pistons, relocated its water pump to sit behind the fan, and adopted semi-elliptic rear springs in place of the earlier three-quarter-elliptic setup. Power comes from a Northway-built L-head inline six-cylinder engine of 177 cubic inches (around 2. 9 litres) producing roughly 44 hp, driving through a three-speed manual gearbox to a full-floating rear axle, fitted with rear-wheel band brakes, on a 112-inch wheelbase.

This example, chassis/ engine number D37548, came to Europe from Alberta, Canada in 1996, entering our family's ownership in 1997 — where it has remained ever since. Its history prior to that is not known to us.

The car wears its silver paintwork as it arrived from Canada; it has not been repainted in our ownership.

Mechanically the car is in running, driveable order. As with our other vintage cars, it has not been used for regular road journeys in recent years, but has been started once or twice annually and kept in heated, dry storage throughout. A mechanical inspection and recommissioning is recommended before extended road use.

Detail photographs are available on request. The car is located near Pécs, Hungary, and viewing can be arranged locally.

A rare opportunity to acquire an early, characterful example from the formative years of General Motors.

For further information, detailed photographs, or to arrange a viewing, please contact