Man Uses Google Books To Help Build 1906 Oldsmobile Model B Runabout Replica

Anyone that owns a vintage car knows that maintenance can be a big deal. If the car is particularly old or rare, the maintenance of that car is even more difficult because some of the parts and manuals needed may no longer be available. This is where Google Books comes in for Bob Ferry. Ferry perused Google Books looking for any images and other content on the 1906 Oldsmobile Model B Runabout.

Ferry hit enough pay direct to actually build in original touches not in commercially available plans for his own Olds replica using the images he found. The builder used old magazines and publications on mechanics that had pictures and diagrams of parts and made his car from scratch. Ferry used material from magazines like Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Harper's gasoline engine book, and Horseless Age to construct the car.

Ferry started the car off with plans purchased from another replica car builder but wanted to fix his up with as many original qualities as possible that weren't in the plans. Extras he found using Google Books included the steamer trunk extension and the fringed Surrey Top. The finished car is powered by a 12hp Briggs & Stratton engine and a hydrostatic transmission from an old riding lawnmower.

[via Booksearch]