Our visit to Gasoline Alley in Calgary continues. We’ve previously looked at this fine museum’s collection of antique gasoline pumps and vehicles from 1907 – 1917. Today our tour continues with my favorite cars and trucks from 1918 to 1928, some of which are pretty spectacular!
1) 1918 Chevrolet 490
This no frills car was created to compete with the popular Ford Model T and was quite successful. The car originally sold for $490. Lights and wiring sold for $60 more.
2) 1918 Coffin Nose International
Trucks like this were very popular with local farmers, who bought them because of the labor savings and increased productivity they allowed.
3) 1918 Maxwell Tanker A rare truck produced in small numbers. Touted by the following company ad: “Does the work of three horse teams for less than the operating cost of maintaining one team”.
4) 1918 McLaughlin Buick A popular car with Canadian rum-runners during prohibition. A fleet of these vehicles transported booze from British Columbia to Alberta and Montana.
5) 1919 Oldsmobile Truck
A popular delivery vehicle.
6) 1922 Gray Dort Model 19B
Produced by Gray Dort Motors in Chatham, Ontario, it is the first car recognized as being “Canadian made”. This car was one of 26,000 produced at the factory during it’s 10 year run, although just a few examples survive.
7) 1922 White Fuel Tanker
The White Motor Co. was founded in 1899 by 3 brothers. Over time they became a world leader in the production of heavy trucks and buses, with both domestic and military models produced. This is a 5 ton heavy duty hauler with steel rimmed solid rubber tires.
8) 1926 White Shell Tanker
A rare example of a light fuel delivery truck.
9) 1927 GMC Delivery Truck
The Imperial Bank of Canada (now RIBC) owned a fleet of these maroon colored trucks. They were used to transfer cash, paperwork and people between branches. Each vehicle had its unique “nickname”.
10) 1927 Star Grain Truck
A rare Canadian grain truck, one of the last Star trucks produced (at least in part because they were not very powerful). Built in Brantford, Ontario.
11) 1928 Auburn 6-76
The only known example of this vehicle to exist. Was made for one year in Auburn, Indiana.
12) 1928 Ford AR Roadster Pickup
A rare Canadian built Model A. USA built models had no door on the driver’s side (to keep drivers from stepping into traffic). Canadian built models had both driver and passenger doors open, partially because until the 1940s some provinces drove on the left hand side of the road and some on the right.
The last of the Gasoline Alley vehicles will be published next week.
