Olds was one of the early pioneers of the automobile industry. He is credited with the design of the “curved dash” which was both functional (keeping passengers warm) and stylish. Olds’ first car, the “runabout,” was mass produced in 1901 and was considered the first mass produced automobile using interchangeable parts. He formed his own company in 1904 and for almost a decade it was considered one of the leaders in the industry.