R.E. Olds Transportation Museum Welcomes Historic 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile

Photo Credit: James D. Butt Archive- R.E. Olds Transportation Museum A family in their Curved Dash Oldsmobile, date unknown. A similar version, which served as R. E. Olds’ personal vehicle, is presently on display.

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LANSING, Mich. — September 2, 2025 — The R.E. Olds Transportation Muse (REOTM)is proud to announce the transfer of a landmark piece of automotive history: the 1903 Curved

Dash Oldsmobile. This vehicle, one of the first mass-produced cars in the United States, now

has a permanent home at the Museum in Lansing, the city where its story began.

Originally donated by Ransom Eli Olds to the Michigan State University Museum in 1948, the

Curved Dash was gifted nearly three decades before the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum was founded. For decades, the MSU Museum preserved the vehicle, lending it to REOTM for public display. Today, this important chapter comes full circle as the car is officially transferred to the institution dedicated to honoring Olds’ legacy and Lansing’s automotive heritage.

“The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is more than just a car—it’s a symbol of innovation, resilience,

and the pioneering spirit of Lansing,” said Michael Rodriguez, President of the Board at

REOTM. “We are honored to permanently house this remarkable vehicle and invite the

community, car enthusiasts, and history lovers alike to come see it in person. There is nothing like standing before the automobile that helped change the course of American history.”

The Curved Dash Oldsmobile embodies the ingenuity of Lansing’s early automobile industry

and the people who built it. As a key highlight of the Museum’s collection, it will remain

accessible to future generations, inspiring reflection on the city’s role in shaping the nation’s

industrial identity.

The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum invites the public to experience this historic car firsthand. Visit the Museum to explore the Curved Dash alongside other artifacts that celebrate Lansing’s important role in automotive history.