Oakland Model 38 (1916) | GM's Forgotten Founding Brand #shorts #oakland #carhistory #automobile #gm

Before Pontiac, there was Oakland—one of the founding brands that built General Motors itself. Founded in Pontiac, Michigan in 1907 by Edward Murphy, the Oakland Motor Car Company was absorbed into William Durant's growing General Motors empire in 1909. By 1916, the Model 38 carried on Oakland's "Light Four" lineup—a four-cylinder monobloc engine producing around 30 horsepower, offered as a touring car, roadster, or sporting speedster. Oakland never became a household name the way Chevrolet or Cadillac did. In 1926, GM quietly launched a new companion brand alongside it—Pontiac—which eventually replaced Oakland entirely by 1931. But without Oakland's early engineering and manufacturing base, GM's rise as America's largest automaker may have looked very different. 🚗 Vehicle: Oakland Model 38 📅 Year: 1916 🏭 Manufacturer: Oakland Motor Car Company (General Motors), Pontiac, Michigan ⚡ Engine: Four-cylinder monobloc, ~30 hp 🏆 Legacy: Founding GM brand later replaced by Pontiac in 1931 📚 Series: The Evolution of the Automobile Follow Automotive Origins as we explore the complete history of the automobile—from pioneering inventions to the world's greatest performance machines, one chapter at a time. oakland model 38, oakland motor car company, general motors history, pontiac predecessor brand, edward murphy oakland, 1916 automobile, gm founding brands, automotive origins #Shorts #AutomotiveOrigins #CarHistory #CarEvolution #OaklandModel38 #GeneralMotors #AmericanCars #ClassicCars