What was...

[WS61400]

What was the first mass produced automobile and what year?

[Hudson]

What was the first mass produced automobile and what year?

184580[/snapback]

1901 "Curved Dash" Olds

[WS61400]

1901 "Curved Dash" Olds

184650[/snapback]

Correct.

[Sixty8panther]

Yes, Olds invented the Assembly Line...

Ford just improved on the concept with a moving assembly line.

[balthazar]

Cannot a case be made for different, relative definitions of "mass produced"?

In 1901 Olds produced 425 cars, and Locomobile produced 1500.

In 1902 Olds produced 2500 cars, and Locomobile produced 2750.

Olds was #1 for '03-05 (BTW: Cadillac was #2), but by '06 Olds was #6 with 1600 units while Ford was #1 with 8729 units.

Olds only doubled the #2 marque in 1 year ('04), whereas Ford more than tripled the #2 marque in '07.

What quantity and length of time constitutes "mass"?

IMO, the nod goes to Locomobile.... but I still do not have a clear definition of what 'mass production' means.

[Flybrian]

I think in this situation, mass production refers to the technique and technology as well as the actual amount produced. I'd give the trophy to Olds not knowing how Locomobile or whatever the hell made their cars.

[balthazar]

Interesting, tho I don't believe there were a great many differences in either technique nor technology at the dawn of the industry, Olds' assembly line aside.

Upon further checking, the criteria may well be that a single model only was built (as the case with Olds); Locomobile had a few in a given year.

Still; my first impression is than 'mass production' equates with quantity.

[Camino LS6]

I have to agree with Fly here, I think method trumps quantity when defining mass-production.

Think mass-production vs. coachbuilt and you'll see what I mean.

[Sixty8panther]

Yeah.. it's all relative. Just like the term "classic car" has been

dragged through the mud. By the technical definition of a

"classic car" a 1964.5 Mustang will never be one. It's as mass

produced and non-spectacular as a 1960s car gets. On the

other hand a 1958 Imperial LeBaron two door is very much a

classic.

[Flybrian]

Additionally, I could gather 100 million workers at one time and probably outstrip Lake Orion in a day, but its not the same sort of 'mass production.'