Diagram of a 1902 Curved-Dash Oldsmobile

Shortly after the company moved to Detroit, a fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in 1901. Several prototype automobiles were lost and only the Curved Dash survived. Left with no other options, Olds put the small, inexpensive car into production. The little runabout became the bestselling car in the United States, and that fire became the happiest of accidents.