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:

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  Last flag ship still held the name high. - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By 85cieraholiday - March 12 - 5:36 am

  The Aurora was Oldsmobiles last flagship and it shows. The car is quiet, comfortable, and even in standard 3.5 trim has lots of standard features like leather,cd player, and air shocks. The V6 has lots of power and is very quiet. The transmission is very smooth, and the car always seems ready to pounce. This is a real luxury car that proudly carries the Oldsmobile flag for future generations. The style of the exterior is timeless, and the inside has lots of storage, as well as a feeling of quality. Do yourself a favor and find one with a sun roof, it changes the who feel of the interior. I reccomend this car to everyone.

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  Back to the Future - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By fast jimmy - March 11 - 9:56 pm

  Remember the movie " Back to the Future"? I sure wish GM did. If so, they would reproduce the best car that I have owned. I have had the good fortune of owning two Acuras, two BMWs, one Corvette and one Lexus. My Aurora has build quality, comfort, performance, safety features and design that meets or exceeds all my previous vehicles. So, GM, hop into a DeLorean and see what you can and should do.

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  Aurora ought to have been a Cadillac - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By David Zent - March 9 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Olds Aurora, and I have never been more pleased with a car. The features and functions on this car exceed what is found on the typical Cadillac, Lincoln, BMW, etc. My other car is a 2002 Corvette, and I really enjoy the quiet ride, comfort and relative performance of the Aurora. Not much can beat performance of Vette, but Aurora does me just fine, especially on the highway. For the money, you can get no better car. Am really unhappy they discontinued Olds. Have looked at Cadillac CTS and BMW 330 and decided to stick with the Aurora.

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  Olds GL - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By sr bob - March 7 - 12:23 am

  good handling, smooth transmission shifting, good power on hills and open road, nice layout of seats and equipment

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  COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By PWB - March 5 - 2:00 am

  IN 99 PAYING OVER $18K FOR A CAR YOU WOULD EXPECT ALITTLE BETTER, BUT NOT BAD. DID HAVE ALOT OF PROBLEMS: LIGHTS ON REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULDT GO OFF, FAN WOULDNT WORK UNLESS ON HIGH, ROTORS AND BRAKES SHOT AT 18K MILES. BUT MAYBE MY FAULT FOR BUYING FIRST YEAR MODEL. VERY BAD RESALE VALUE. ALMOST HAVE TO GIVE AWAY. IF YOUR BUYING GET THE V6. THIS IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE CAR!!

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  definate winner - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By DB - March 4 - 7:33 pm

  Bought this car in 1999 with 17,000 miles on it. With the exception of an alternator, two head gaskets, many sets of brakes, and a power steering pump my car just turned 275,000 miles and STILL gets 27mpg average. Took a trip last summer and with cruise control I got 30mpg. If only it would last forever.

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  oldsmobile alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By juanv87 - March 3 - 5:19 pm

  seriously i dont recomend this vehicle to no one i bougth my car in 2010 since them i bee having too many problems this is the worse car ever, they should have a recall for this vehicle

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  Great SUV - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Priano Family - February 18 - 1:00 pm

  This has been a great vehicle! I bought it with 24,000 miles on it, and 3 1/2 years and 20,000 miles later, it has been an absolute joy to drive and own. I bought an extended warranty on it when I bought the vehicle, and havent had to use it much at all. The heated seats and driver memory are both very nice features. I love the sunroof. Theres plenty of room inside, and the Bravada is quite functional for hauling things. Its gas mileage isnt too great. But you cant beat the power from the Vortec V6 engine and who expects "good" gas mileage from an SUV anyway? Overall, I am very very satisfied.

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  olds02silhouette - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By lukewilder - February 17 - 10:00 am

  The Olds Silhouette far exceeded my expectations. The interior is comfortable, roomy and versatile. I took 6 persons and luggage for a 2000 mile trip. The vehicle has been completely reliable thus far. The oil monitor has saved me money. The Olds is as fast as any sedan Ive driven and is still quite at 100 MPH (shh... dont tell mom).

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  2001 Olds. Alero review - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TONY - February 17 - 10:00 am

  The car has been in for warranty repairs about 5 times for different failures, incl. the rear speaker, oil leak at the intake (2 times), spark plug wire, warped brake rotors, and warning brake light stays on. I currently have 55K miles on this car and it came with a 60K ext. warranty and I have used the extended warr. several times. The 3.4L 6cyl. is underpowered compared to my 1995 Grand Am w/ the 3.1L 6cyl. If I had to do it again I would not buy this particular vehicle.