2018 Gooding & Co Scottdale Auction Picks

Of the few early cars available at action this January in Scottsdale, Godding and Company have but one brass-era offering. This 1903 Oldsmobile Model R Runabout would have been the best selling car in America at the time of its manufacture. 

1903 Curve Dash Oldsmobile - photo credit: Gooding & Co Auctions

The Olds Motor Works introduced the "Oldsmobile" in 1901. Now known as the Curved-Dash Olds, the company first used the term "Oldsmobile" as a model name before reorganizing the company under the Oldsmobile name around 1904.

The company's fortunes were put in question in 1901 when their Detroit factory burned - taking their inventory of cars with it. However, after re-establishing their Detroit and Lansing facilities, the Olds Motor Works - lead by the Oldsmobile - would become the largest American producer of automobiles within a year. 

The way this car can be dated is explained by The Horseless Age of January 21, 1903 which notes, "The Olds Motor Works shows one of their 1903 Oldsmobile runabouts, which differs little from their last year's model, except that is has a slightly longer wheelbase and wood wheels instead of wire wheels." 

1922 Bugatti Type 29/30 - photo credit: Gooding & Co Auctions

Gooding is also featuring a couple important Bugatti's and this one is of particular interest. This 1922 Bugatti Type 29/30 is said to be one of 16 eight-cylinder cars produced - the first eight-cylinder cars manufactured by the firm. This car, chassis 4008, is noted as being one of two from this series to survive - both the first and the oldest surviving eight-cylinder Bugatti. As with many cars of this nature, the engine and coachwork are not original to the chassis, however, it has been faithfully restored to the original configuration. 

These early Bugatti's are quite robust for their age and I'll be interested to see the car in person.