Gearhead History: Name the First V8 Powered Car in AmericaBy Brian Lohnes Posted 02/08/10
You saw the title and laughed to yourself. Yep, you're thinking that it's something easy like the 1914 Cadillac or something along those lines. Well, you're wrong. The first V8 car in America was not produced in Detroit. In fact, it was produced in a small town located in southeastern Massachusetts by a guy who used to make taffy pulling machines.
In the early 1900s there were car makers all across the country. They were small companies, usually born from guys who ran other types of mechanical businesses and who became enamored with internal combustion engines. There were no rules, regulations, or people telling you what you could and could not do. Detroit was a foreign place located many days away by train. There was no such thing as the Big 3. If you could scheme it up, you could build it.
The first V8 powered car built in America was the Buffum Runabout. It was produced in Abington, Massachusetts, from 1905 through (roughly) 1910. It featured a 6.6L V8 that made a whopping 40 hp. According to a Wikipedia entry (stop rolling your eyes) the remains of one car exist in Oklahoma. There are apparently no other survivors.
Maybe it was destined that the east coast offices of BangShift.com be located in the very town that the first V8 car in America was produced. It is cosmically cool.
The factory building still stands. It is now occupied by a pizza place (which rules all) and a "leasing" company that looks, ummm, weird. The building appears to sport it's original copper gutters and flashing, with awesome patina.
Here are a few photos of both the car and the current state of the factory, which was built in the mid-1800s, long before Buffum built his cars there.
Comments + Post your comment!
Written by Falcon67
Feb 09 2010
[quote]It featured a 6.6L V8 that made a whopping 40 hp[/quote]
Wow - history repeats! Pontiac put the same motor / same HP rating in my 79 Trans Am!
Written by Brian Lohnes
Feb 08 2010
I've located him and have his phone number.
Let me call tomorrow and see where it goes.
Brian
Written by sedandelivery55
Feb 08 2010
About an hour and half to two hour drive. I live on the south side of OKC. I wonder if we could get permission for a visit?
Written by Brian Lohnes
Feb 08 2010
Brad Buffum of Tulsa apparently has it.
How far away are you from there?
Written by sedandelivery55
Feb 08 2010
Brian, did you find out where in Oklahoma the last one was supposed to be? I live near Oklahoma City and would like to find it. A few pics of the last surviving one would go nice on your wall. ;D That's what I was searching for, a location but couldn't find any info.
Written by Brian Lohnes
Feb 08 2010
[quote author=sedandelivery55 link=topic=19699.msg368908#msg368908 date=1265685962]
Hell, I'm still looking. Check the other link I just added to that post.
[/quote]
Dude, you're killing it!
I am almost 100% certain that the shot of the long car with the flat motor was taken directly across the street from the factory building. The ornate railing in the background seems to match some that is stored at the historical society building. Last time I saw it was years ago, but it is pretty distinctive.
AWESOME stuff
Written by sedandelivery55
Feb 08 2010
Hell, I'm still looking. Check the other link I just added to that post.
Amazon even sells a book about your town. ;D
http://www.amazon.com/Abington-Images-America-Sharon-Orcutt/dp/0738510289
Written by Brian Lohnes
Feb 08 2010
Man that is an awesome find, I had no idea that information was even out there. I'm going to pass it to the historical society in town!
Thanks!
Brian
Written by sedandelivery55
Feb 08 2010
Brian, after reading the story, I had to do some searching for the Buffum just to find out more info on it. I came across this link about Glen Breed and saw he actually raced one in 1906, a mile long uphill race. What's amazing is they had a racing circuit even then and crowned their champions. ;D
http://winfield.50megs.com/BreedSt.htm
Here's another that has a pic of the 8 cylinder race car built by Buffum.
http://www.american-automobiles.com/Buffum.html
[quote author=Falcon67 link=topic=19699.msg369083#msg369083 date=1265735934]
[quote]It featured a 6.6L V8 that made a whopping 40 hp[/quote]
Wow - history repeats! Pontiac put the same motor / same HP rating in my 79 Trans Am!
[/quote]
Hehe.