Stories from Steve: 1929 Oakland

FINDING THE CAR AND OWNER:

A)   Found at Spring Carlisle, 2008

B)   Located outside Gate 7 – was not in the regular Car Corral

C)   Owner was Jeff Gast – Lancaster, PA

D)   I bought the car April 23, 2008

Jeff Gast and his parents owned The Gast Classic Motorcars Museum, which was located in Strasburg, PA, from May 1985 to 1998. The museum was known for having one of the few Tuckers on display in the country and was sold in 1998. Jeff has been involved in the classic car market since then.

This 1929 Oakland has six Canadian Oakland emblems and probably spent its early years north of the border. We contacted several Oakland Club members to learn more about the Canadian Oakland but were unsuccessful. 

At some point, it left Canada and spent years in Florida with an unknown owner or owners. During this time, it was restored to its present condition, which is very good to excellent.

In 1986 the Oakland was brought to the Fall Hershey Show and was purchased by Steven and Donna Jones from Lancaster, PA. They owned Jones Pontiac at the time. They kept the Oakland in their Dealership for a period of time, then loaned it to the Gast Museum until the museum closed in 1998. They kept the car until 2008 when Jeff Gast bought it. As previously stated, I purchased the car from Jeff at Spring Carlisle the same year.

Please notice the small door on right rear side for golf clubs!

HISTORIC NOTES:

1. The Oakland Motor Company (named for Oakland County, MI, where it was based) was founded in 1907 by Edward Murphy, who owned the Pontiac Buggy Company, and Alanson Brush, who was working as a consultant in Detroit after leaving the Cadillac Motor Company.

2. 1908, first year of production, 278 vehicles rolled off the line.

3. 1909, Edward Murphy suddenly died, and Oakland was purchased by General Motors.

4. Pontiac became a brand within GM in 1926. 

5. In 1931, the Oakland was discontinued due to the Pontiac Division of GM considerably outproducing/outselling Oakland and also due to the Great Depression—an Oakland was more expensive than a Pontiac. 

6. GM closed the Pontiac Division in 2009, with one last Pontiac coming off the line in 2010.

Written 2008 by Steve Ames