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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  I Love My Cutlass... This makes my 4th - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By Marika - August 5 - 10:00 am

  I love the way it feels to sit in the soft leather and have everything at your fingertips. also the fold down rear seat and massive trunk space is very adequate for making this vehicle a very loud audio machine. Thanks to all who have helped design and produce these over the years. I have owned 4 and think that i will never get rid of my 94. ive had a 72 cutlass s, a 79 cutlass supreme and a 83 cutlass supreme brougham. what a wonderfull car. i believe that if there ever was a person who could define loyalty... your lookin them in the face... cya

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  HIGH MAINTENANCE! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JO - August 4 - 12:03 pm

  Im the 3rd owner of the alero that I purchased from my parents in 01. They found it to be very uncomfortable & difficult to get in & out of. It was one of many issues that I would have with the car. Ive owned it now for 8yrs & every year Ive had to put $ into it!I lost count on how many wheel bearings have been replaced.Ive replaced engine; airconditioning unit; gas tank; alternator; starter; just to name a few. Currently; the engine is knocking; the car screams with ac or heat on; needs u joint; gas guage doesnt work. Its been very high maintenance & I would not recommend it.

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  2001 Alero - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ruth - August 2 - 10:00 am

  It is a decent car for the money. It is fun to drive, but definitely not luxurious. I have the v6, so it has tons of pep. A lot of road noise on the expressway and you feel every bump in this vehicle. My car has a very long crank, which can be embarassing. (GM says its normal) And the suspension doesnt feel like it is built for a v6.

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  2000 Alero GLS Sedan - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GLS Owner - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Within the first 9000 mile iI realized that I cant get more than 24 miles to the gallon and my rotors were warped, although I had plenty of pad left.After 4000 more miles(twice) I turned them at my own cost. Then had to replace them all. My right side driver seat bolster pulled off so I am driving around with a metal bar against my back.The problem is WARRANTEE and SERVICE no car is perfect!

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  Sporty, sporty, sporty - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Monet - July 29 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. It knocks the Honda Civic, which was my last car, right out of the running. The spacious interior, the cocpit feeling drivers quarters, and convenient placement of the ac/cd/radio is great.

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  Could be High Dollar - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Al in Texas - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This could be a High Dollar car if there wasnt so many things going wrong with it. I had bought the car w/36000 miles on it. Break job w/in the 1st year. New tires 2nd year. New internal fan moter for interier comfert 3rd year. And fixed the horn twice during this time. Also the Alternator went out twice.

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  Keep the Alero - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Ray Sarchet - July 23 - 5:56 pm

  Its a darn good car, comfortable, affordable with good fuel economy. Its the kind of car America ought to be driving!

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  Problems never end - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By melrosedave - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I do love the look of the car, but I have had to call AAA four times in the eleven months I have owned the car. Its either the alternator, battery, electric system or emissions problems.

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  The people mover - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By ataur - July 19 - 5:23 am

  I bought this van for business purposes, because of its design. The ride is fantastic and comfort is at par with some of the major luxury brands, it isnt known as "the Cadillac of Minivans" for no reason. Americans can never get their computer systems right, and that became apparent when the ABS, Traction control systems failed. I dont have time to go to dealership to fix it, and even if I took it to the dealership, these sound like expensive repairs. Will just have to buy a new vehicle soon. Great for traveling in, highly recommend this car, if you go on a lot of trips, good gas mileage on the highway, horrible in city.

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  1998- 88 Oldsmobile reliabiliy. - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Richard C. Schaeffer - July 14 - 2:30 am

  The 1998 Oldsmobile 88 is the most reliable automobile my wife and I have owned in the past fifty years. It has retained its clear coat paint finish without being housed in a garage.