1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring

The years between 1911 and 1914 proved to be a renaissance of sorts for Oldsmobile, with a range of exquisitely built, stylish, high-performance machines. The mighty six-cylinder, 60-horsepower Oldsmobile Limited topped the line, followed by the big four-powered Autocrat, with the smaller four-cylinder Defender joining the ranks in 1912. Powered by a 35-horsepower, 298-cubic-inch T-head engine, the Defender played the role of a sporty young sibling, offered in five body styles. Records show that Oldsmobile produced a mere 325 Defenders in 1912, of a total production of only 1,075 vehicles. With the Defender, Autocrat, and Limited, Oldsmobile enjoyed enviable status in the select world of prestige automakers.

Story by RM Sotheby’s

1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring
1912 Oldsmobile Defender Touring | Image Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s