1922 Oldsmobile 43-A Touring

Description

The 1922 Oldsmobile Model 43-A was a significant entry in Oldsmobile’s lineup during the early 1920s, representing a blend of innovation and upscale design in a competitive automotive market. Introduced in 1921 and continuing into 1922, the Model 43-A was a successor to the earlier Model 43 and was marketed as a more refined alternative to the popular Ford Model T. 

Built on a 115-inch wheelbase, the 43-A featured a robust 224 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine that produced around 40 horsepower. This engine was notable for its long stroke and three main crankshaft bearings, offering smoother performance than many contemporaries. The car was equipped with a Zenith SV4 updraft carburetor and transitioned from a leather cone clutch to a more modern single-disk dry clutch. 

Stylistically, the 43-A embraced a short-deck, long-hood design that hinted at future performance car aesthetics. It was available in several body styles, including roadster, coupe, and sedan. Despite its premium pricing, the model was a commercial success, with 28,706 units produced over two years. 

This 1922 Oldsmobile 43-A Touring is one of only 14 survivors. The current owner has performed numerous repairs and fabrications to bring the car back to life, however additional work remains to be done.  

Highlights 

• 1922 Oldsmobile 43-A, one of 14 models known to exist, according to the National Antique Oldsmobile Club 

• Finished in black and red paint over red vinyl interior 

• Powered by a 224 cu-in inline-four rated at 40 hp when new 

• Warner three-speed sliding gear (double-clutch) transmission 

• Restoration/repairs by the current owner includes: 

  • Replaced one wooden spoke rim, purchased new style bearings, and had filler pieces machined to provide an adequate replacement 

  • Sand blasted and powder coated the tire portion of the rims, along with the hub caps 

  • Purchased and installed five new tires 

  • Built and installed a new dash with new gauges/switch panel 

  • Built new seats and upholstered the interior 

  • Rewired entire car 

  • Carpeted the front and rear  

  • Repaired the radiator and installed an original Boyce MotoMeter 

  • Removed, cleaned, and reinstalled the engine pan 

  • Installed new plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, points, rotor, and voltage regulator 

  • Found an original intake manifold, repainted it, and installed it to replace broken one 

  • Straightened as much of the body as possible (it had been partially crushed) 

  • Straightened the windshield frame and installed new glass 

  • Installed new taillights 

  • New wood and trim on running boards 

Features 

• Four-seat, open-design touring car 

• Windshield-mounted rearview mirrors 

• Front and rear bench seats 

• Wood-rimmed steering wheel and woodgrain dashboard 

• Stewart-Warner “tape measure” speedometer 

• Aftermarket oil pressure gauge 

• Wood-spoked wheels 

• BFGoodrich 32x4 tires  

Known Imperfections 

• Speedometer does not work 

• Multiple paint chips, scratches, scuffs, and missing paint 

• Lower passenger portion of windshield is cracked 

• Folding canvas top is missing 

• Corrosion on underside with two rust-through holes 

Included 

• Rear-mounted spare tire 

• Key 

• Floyd Clymer Antique Cars 1913-1922 manual 

• Spare spark plugs 

• Enlarged Lubrication charts 

• All old parts 

Ownership History 

The Idaho seller of this 1922 Oldsmobile 43-A has owned it since January 20, 2023. 

The seller says, “When I bought the car, it had not run since the early 1990s, the doors and front back side divider were falling off, most of the wooden parts of the body were rotted, and part of the body had been crushed when the shed it was stored in collapsed. 

“One of the wooden spoke rims was not correct, and I bought the correct one, along with a spare. The bearings for that wheel were missing, and I could not find new or used ones, so I had to use new style bearings and have filler pieces machined to fill the gaps between the hub of the wheel and the inner and outer bearings. I had the tire portion of the rims and the hub caps sand blasted and powder coated, and I bought five new tires. I built and installed a new dash, built new seats and upholstered the interior, carpeted the front and rear, rewired the entire car, had the radiator repaired, and installed a [Boyce] MotoMeter ... The body still needs considerable work, and the car does not have a top.”