VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – At 122 years old, it is the oldest operational car in North Dakota, it is one of only fifteen 1901’s known in the world of the original 425 made that year as the first mass produced automobile in the world (Before Henry Ford’s Model T.)
The current owner, Barnes County Museum curator Wes Anderson said he entered the vehicle into a car show last month in West Fargo for the Horseless Carriage Club and had a fun day going around the fair grounds for the heck of it. I’d much rather do that than leave it static and sit by it all day, most people don’t know what it is or believe it is real. It is more fun talking to people and seeing and hearing it driving around. It is the point of having it is sharing it with others. Below is a photo of its original owners, Andrew and Marie Kilen of Petersburg, North Dakota in the fall of 1901. Anderson said his father found what was left of it in 1972 and we started restoration of it in 1999. Thanks to the skills of many friends it is running again.
Anderson said weather permitting the car will be in the parade on Saturday, June 17th in Valley City. He said he plans to drum up new members for the Barnes County Historical Society (BCHS) by offering rides in my 1901 Oldsmobile. Membership is $20 for a new individual.
The annual Rally In The Valley parade starts at 10am on Central Avenue in Valley City bring a lawn chair and enjoy the parade, it will also be live streamed on NewsDakota.com with your host Ryan Cunningham.
