The First Car Made on an Assembly Line

The Petersen Automotive Museum recently took a trip to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, Colorado, and got a glimpse of a truly historic vehicle while there.

The gasoline-powered Oldsmobile Model R, also known as the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, is credited as being the first mass-produced automobile, meaning that it was built on an assembly line using interchangeable parts. It was introduced by the Oldsmobile company in 1901 and produced through 1903. Over 19,000 were built in all.

Watch the video above with Christof Kheim, executive director of the Forney Museum, to learn about the history, design and impact of the Oldsmobile Model R.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.