Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

• 

  Good Bye - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By FHSTampa - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Ah, I am an EDS employee and bought my 1999 Aurora at the "dealer" price. A steal, I though. It has served me well. Has never been down. I had my water pump go at 68000, and my catalitic converter at 69000. The catalytic converter was actually under warrantee. I just adore this car. The shape, the acceleration. The seating position. Have still n9t needed to replace the brakes!

• 

  great car,so comfortable - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By t-man - June 6 - 10:00 am

  THis is the best car I have ever had. THe on board computer tells you everything. THe power is great. Heavy car you never will feel so safe, yet it looks sporty. Guys love this car its a mans car. Trunk space is great and the heated seats, if you live in a cold climate you dont even need to use heat cause the seats are like two furnaces. simply a real classy car, thats fun to drive. I wont sell it any time soon.

• 

  Good Vehicle for the $$$ - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By castledevcon - June 6 - 10:00 am

  I own a 91 and a 98 Bravada. Both have been very reliable. You get a lot of vehicle for you dollar in comparison to many other SUVs. It rides better than most true SUVs and the AWD is great for inclimate weather.

• 

  A masterpiece of engineering. - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By WED - June 6 - 10:00 am

  This is our third Aurora.During this time we also had two Cadillacs. When i retired we had a 1997 Aurora and a 1997 Cadillac. We sold the Cadillac, though satisfied with it, we felt the Aurora offered more driving pleasure. We drive around town and across co

• 

  Review of 2002 /2WD Olds. Bravada 1-yr. - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Bobby McElroy - June 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Olds 2002 Bravada for one year and have had no problems. The Bravada with taxes cost me about $35,000. dollars, has every thing except 4WD/, dont need it in Georgia. The ride is as good as any 4 door sedan made by GM. Its turning radius is super. I love the Engine, Quiet and will, give power when needed. The gas mileage is poor, with air on the best is 15--to 16 miles to the gallon in town. On the interstate, I - 75 the best mileage at 60---65 was 20 to 21. Steering is very quick the smallest movement of the steering wheel will make you over steer. All and all I give it a 9 on a 10 pt scale. Bob McElroy Macon, Ga.

• 

  Been a Great Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Stephen - June 6 - 1:00 am

  I bought my Alero used (it was a rental car) with 18,000 miles on it in 2001. It now has close to 130,000 miles on it (02/06). Ive replaced the front brakes a couple of times and I had to replace the fuel regulator at about 102,000 miles. Aside from that and the recall on the soldering of the Hazard button I really cannot complain about this car. I drive 40 miles each way to work and regularly drive 180 miles each way to my parents house on the weekends. I get 27-28 miles per gallon on every tank of gas. My only complaint is the sun visors. I dont like how they come down and stick out.

• 

  Great car - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Griffin - May 28 - 3:43 am

  This is my second Oldsmobile. It was a natural replacement for my 97 Cutlass Supreme. You can definately feel the quality difference between the two cars. I chose a beautiful Ruby Red Metallic GL with every option available on that model. The 3.5L DOHC engine is so smooth you forget its running! The car is very well-built and you can really notice the quality of the car.

• 

  Best Olds Yet! Too Bad Its the Last! - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Jack Haney - May 25 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Aurora for us. This one is the best Olds we have had. It is also the best car we have had in over 40 years of buying. Not a single warranty claim.

• 

  Another great Olds - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By zelda - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I have owned/driven most America makes & models over the years, but most have been Olds. While I have had lemons with other makes, never with Olds. This is another great one. (I also have a 2002 Bravada) Will probably hang on to these until Im too old to drive since they will no longer be made.

• 

  Pretty good and reliable car for the $ - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Tim - May 18 - 10:40 pm

  I bought my car new in 98 as I needed a little larger but fuel efficient car. I did have a few minor annoyances at first (rattly glove box, water pump problems) though these got fixed by the dealer and stayed fixed. Ive driven this all over the country, 182000 plus miles, and still get 29 mpg highway. It has been a very reliable car overall. Ive had no major, bank-breaking problems except what youd normally expect (new brakes, tires, etc). The interior is comparatively roomy (to my wifes Honda Accord) and has always been the car of choice for family trips. I hope to get to 200000 miles and over; after 11 plus years of good performance this seems a reasonable expectation.