13 Cars That Are More Than 100 Years Old This Year

The automotive industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors. About a century ago, the world was content with a motorized machines in their most basic form as long as it could convey man and goods from point A to point B.

Fast-forward to 2024, we’re building cars that can use water as fuel, fly from point A to point B like a plane, and even drive underwater like a submarine. In fact, the idea that cars can drive themselves is now old news.

These current realities are exactly why we must, now and then, celebrate the classics that laid the groundwork for the modern car, some of which successfully set a standard for performance, comfort, and technology. These 13 cars turned or are turning a hundred years old this year, the past year, and the next.

Chrysler B-70

• 1924–1925

Walter P. Chrysler had already developed and launched the B-70 by the time Chrysler Corp. officially became a company in June 1925. It’s exactly 100 years old this year. It was the first car to wear Chrysler’s logo after Walter bought Maxwell Motor Company in 1921.

The car showed off innovative features for its time, such as its high-compression six-cylinder engine and hydraulic brakes.

It was, in fact, among the pioneers of four-wheel hydraulic brakes, which was a significant improvement over the ubiquitous mechanical brakes. Chrysler even offered the B-70 in various body styles, including a sedan, roadster, and touring car.

Rolls-Royce Phantom I

• 1925–1931

As the opulent Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost’s successor, the Phantom 1 had big shoes to fill. Remarkably, the Phantom 1’s feet grew bigger than the shoes it had to fill, surpassing its predecessor’s opulence and elegance. It used the finest materials for the interior, from the luxurious cloth fabrics to the high-quality leather to the rich wood trims.

Rolls-Royce’s ingrained tradition of passenger comfort can be traced back to the 1st Phantom, as evidenced by its adjustable driver’s seat — a relative novelty at the time. Though a British brand, the Phantom 1 was made both in the United Kingdom and the United States to better serve its affluent global customer base.

Austin 7

• 1922–1939

The Austin 7 is 102 years old this year. It may not be nearly as revolutionary, but historians tend to draw parallels to the Ford Model T’s game-changing impact in America in terms of making automobiles affordable and accessible to the working class.

Unlike the Model T, the British Austin 7 was tiny (nicknamed Baby Austin) — but affordable. It is remembered for bringing the automobile to the U.K.’s masses, ergo, the comparison to the Ford Model T. Designed by Sir Herbert Austin and Stanley Edge, Baby Austin came in saloon, tourer, roadster, and van body styles.

Morris Oxford

• 1913–1971

Technically, the Morris Oxford is 111 years old this year, since it refers to a series of models that Morris Motors produced from 1913 to 1971. However, the series saw several transformations throughout its production run, including the mid-1920s models that would be much closer to their centennial in 2024/25.

The 1920s Oxfords benefited from refined assembly line production techniques under William Morris (later Lord Nuffield). The efficient manufacturing process minimized the cost of production and helped keep the cars’ pricing affordable. As a result, the Oxfords were hugely successful and played a significant role in the U.K.’s economic and industrial growth.

Citroën Type B10

• 1924–­1925

The Citroën Type B10 is exactly 100 years old this year, produced from 1924 to 1925. It is a landmark model that stands as the world’s first-ever all-steel-bodied passenger car. Before the B-10, cars used wood-framed bodies. It set a new standard in the industry because the material made for more durable and safer cars.

The B10 used a 1.5-liter straight-4 engine carried over from its B2 predecessor. Mated to a 3-speed manual transmission, it produced a humble 20-hp and a 37-mph top speed. The suspension featured semi-elliptic leaf springs for both the front and rear.

Horch 10M20

• 1922–1924

Founded in 1904, Horch quickly built a reputation for producing some of the finest luxury cars of its time, including the 10M20 and 10M25, competing against luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and Maybach.

The 10M20 boasted several features considered advanced at the time, including its overhead valve engine and innovative chassis design. The engine was a 2.6-liter straight-4 producing around 50-hp. Horch would later integrate into Auto Union, which later evolved into Audi.

Dodge Brothers Series 116

• 1923–1925

Introduced in 1923, the Dodge Brothers Series 116 will be 100 years old next year. It was the first Dodge automobile to feature 4-wheel hydraulic brakes, among other firsts in the marque’s automotive history, such as a cooling system for the engine. The “116” in its name signifies its longer 116-inch wheelbase compared to earlier models, translating to a roomy interior and passenger comfort.

It was available in touring, sedan, roadster, and coupe variants. The 116 used a 3.5-liter straight-4 engine mated to a 3-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel drivetrain. The engine produced around 35-hp, an admirable performance for a 1920s midsize car.

Buick Master Six

• 1925–1928

The Master Six will mark its 100th birthday in a few months’ time. It is famous for its 6-cylinder engine, which was the standard powerplant in those days. It shared the Oldsmobile Model 30s GM B platform and came in Series 40 and Series 50 designations, depending on the wheelbase. The Master Six succeeded the Buick Six that Buick produced from 1914 to 1925.

Where Cadillac and Packard were positioned as no-holds-barred opulent cars typically costing an arm and a foot, Buick stood out for its more conservative luxury and enhanced reliability. The then-Buick president, Harry H. Basset, reportedly had the Master Six touring sedan driven around the world to demonstrate its reliability.

Nash Advanced Six

• 1925–1929

The Nash Advanced Six will be 100 years old in 2025. It was a popular series in the 1920s that came in sedan, roadster, and touring body styles.

It was famous for its range of 6-cylinder engines, including a 3.4-liter straight-six engine mated to a 3-speed manual transmission to produce around 52-hp and a 4.9-liter specification producing approximately 70-hp. The Advanced Six should not be confused with the Special Six, which was a shorter version of the Advanced Six.

Franklin Series 11

• 1925–1934

Most pictures of this marque’s cars were printed on coated stock paper. So, good luck reproducing the images with reasonable clarity a century later.

Introduced in 1925, the Franklin Series 11 was an American car famous for its air-cooled engine and lightweight design features. the 1927 series 11 touring model featured a 4.0-liter engine producing 32-hp. The company was based in Syracuse, New York until finally going out of business in 1934.

Hudson Super Six

• 1916–1928

The Hudson Super Six would be over 100 years old today if it hadn’t been discontinued and virtually forgotten since 1928. As its name suggests, the Super Six featured a 4.7-liter straight-six engine that produced approximately 76-hp.

Many models from both British and American brands that came many years after the Hudson could not boast of the Super Six’s performance. Its innovative 6-cylinder engine made it the first car in history to feature a balanced crankshaft in a six-cylinder unit, allowing it to run more smoothly and at higher RPMs.

Packard Single Eight

• 1923–1936

A century later, the Packard Single Eight still exudes refinement and class. As its name suggests, the Single Eight featured a 5.9-liter straight-eight engine with a single carburetor and a side-valve (also known as flathead) configuration. Packard paired the engine with the ubiquitous 3-speed manual transmission.

It produced approximately 85-hp, placing it among the most potent cars of the 1920s. It was also more expensive than many of its contemporaries. The car lent weight to Packard’s popular slogan, “Ask the Man Who Owns One.” It came in touring, coupe, sedan, roadster, and even limousine body styles.

Hillman Fourteen

• 1925–1930

The Hillman Fourteen will be 100 years old next year. Hillman was a British marque founded as Hillman-Coatalen Company in 1907 and later renamed Hillman Motor Car Company in 1910. The Hillman Fourteen, introduced in 1925, was a midsize family car with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 35 to 40-hp.

It was a side-valve engine with the ubiquitous thermo-siphon cooling system. It was mated to a 4-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel drivetrain. It may not be as luxurious as America’s Buick and Cadillac, but the Hillman was an important car in the U.K.’s automotive sector.