In My Merry Oldsmobile (and Model T, Packard and Duryea)

"In My Merry Oldsmobile" was one of the hit songs of 1905, a huge year for the automobile industry -- and a huge year in many of the stories told in CAR CRAZY. That's the year two of these Curved Dash Oldsmobiles raced from Manhattan to Portland, Oregon, one of the adventure I chronicle in the book. The winner took... 45 days.

Courtesy of the Audrain Automobile Museum, we had one of these merry Oldsmobiles -- an original 1904 model -- at the November 1 launch party. Also on hand, and running: a 1912 Packard, a 1912 Ford Model T Speedster, and an 1893 Duryea replica.

Herewith is a photo of the the cover of the original "In My Merry Oldsmobile" (risque, for the era, lyrics below) and some photos from the party. And if you'd like to watch a cool video of the cars in action, watch here.

More about the book at the CAR CRAZY site. As always, enjoy the ride!

Hit song of 1905

That same model Olds, at Newport party, 2015.

Miller at wheel of 1912 Model T Speedster. 1893 Duryea in back.

Even babies love a ride in a 111-year-old merry Olds!

Take a ride yourself in this video, shot from inside a 1912 Packard, the merry Olds puttering by...!