Company overview
The Oakland Motor Car Company began in 1907, created by Edward Murphy and Alanson Brush. It was initially located in Pontiac, Michigan, and produced automobiles until 1931 when it became a division of General Motors. Oakland’s early models used a design by Brush and featured a vertical two-cylinder engine. In 1909, General Motors acquired the company and slotted Oakland as their entry-level brand. Production moved to the factory that manufactured Cartercar in Pontiac, Michigan. From 1910, Oakland offered exclusively four-cylinder engines and used the slogan "The Car with a Conscience." By 1921, General Motors introduced the Oakland Six and later the Model 50 V8. In 1926, Pontiac was introduced as a companion brand to fill gaps in the market. General Motors discontinued Oakland production in 1931, with Pontiac continuing as a separate brand.
