In 1903, Eugene Hammond and Lester Whitman completed a pioneering, informal coast-to-coast trip from San Francisco to New York and Portland, Maine, in a 1903 Curved Dash Oldsmobile. Their journey showcased the reliability of the light, 4.5-horsepower, single-cylinder vehicle—then the best-selling car in the US—which featured a two-speed transmission, tiller steering, and a top speed of roughly
- The Journey: Whitman and Hammond, motivated by a cross-country race against Winton and Packard vehicles, set off in an essentially stock Curved Dash, adding only a, special work box.
- The Vehicle: The Model R Curved Dash (1903) was the world's first mass-produced car, with 3,924 units built that year. It weighed about 850 lb, making it small and light enough to navigate early, treacherous road conditions.
- Significance: The trip proved the viability of small, affordable, gasoline-powered vehicles for long-distance travel, challenging the dominance of horses and heavier, more expensive cars.
- Documentation: The journey is documented in the book From Sea to Sea in 1903: In a Curved Dash Oldsmobile, written by John S. Hammond II.
