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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  03 Olds aurora 4.0 - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By zach - September 19 - 2:50 pm

  Very solid and reliable car. Traded in a 2001 Chrysler 300M for my Aurora 4.0.

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  Do not buy this as a primary vehicle!! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero buyer beware - September 15 - 2:00 am

  within 5k miles from 48k, the serpentine belt squeals, still does- new one-($40), water pump went out ($110), alternator out ($210), wheel bearing ($320), intake manifold- distributor shaft oring, front main seal, leak oil,($1100) oem goodyear tires noisy($600+), aux power outlet broken ($110), rear defrost doesnt work ($105), driver seat wont flip foward for rear seat access($200) and more minor. changed the trans fluid - no dipstick. how are you supposed to check fluid?? Resale is also horrible = still paying payments (3 1/2 years left) as well as having to pay for major repairs. thats $2700 in repairs for a 3 1/2 yr old car.

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  Awesome Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Harold Bernard - September 15 - 2:00 am

  My Alreo is my dream car. It is alot fun to drive and be seen in.

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  Still Like this car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Dave Skogley - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this when my Subaru wagons engine died in e. Tenn., (still havent hit 100k miles on 2 Ive owned). Sonny, the owner of the towing/repair center only had 1 car to sell, a silver intrigue, w/147,000 miles on, and I had to go 650 miles back to Chicago with my friend bill & 2 bicycles & gear. The car was leaking oil/coolant, had the warped plastic engine manifold, no ac, worn ignition switch, broken stabilizer bar, rusted muffler, worn tie rods/engine mounts, tension pulley, (from the oil). All were replaced & the transmission was rebuilt too. But the interior & body are in decent shape, and with all the trouble I was getting 31 highway mpg! I feel I have a new car now, and hope to reach 200k miles.

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  mybravada - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By alangil - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I Love this suv, the all wheel drive is better most high end system like , lexus,bmw,mer,. it is a true wheel drive suv, no one wheel driving the front and rear wheel. the ride is smooth. had no trouble so far.

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  Needs some help - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Douglas Jones - September 9 - 2:00 am

  We replaced our 93 Jeep Grand Cheeroke with this in late 2001. Its a nice looking car and rides nice, but we really an SUV that can handle offroad. The tilting rear view mirrors never return to the correct spot even after having the dealer fix them. Both seats have completely stopped working at least once. The front end is all weak plastic. I hit a deer at less then 5 MPH and did $2500 woth of damage. Off road/snow driving with the stock Michelins isnt better then may front wheel drive Taurus. Cant even go 300 miles on a tank of gas. It is very comfortable but its just not the SUV we hoped. Well probably take a bath and go back to a Jeep.

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  Too Soon Gone but Not Forgotten - 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Edward L. Kowalski - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I like the car, used it mostly for work as a salesman. Didnt have a lot of problems over the years. Id buy another if they were still being made. Probably should have purchased a new one prior to its phase out but could not justify selling a perfectly good automobile.

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  happy with this vehicle - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By F. K. - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle, sorry to hear that Olds will be dropping out of the picture. I would buy another one if they kept the line.

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  Perfect Family Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Jsemanko - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for a while put about 12000 miles on it so far. The oil life monitoring is a great money saver. The car gets good mileage for being as large as it is. My mother has an Aurora and it is tiny compared to my roomy Intrigue. I havent experienced any road noise that would be considered excesive. This car is way quieter than the honda I used to have. The PCS works great, especially in snow, its definetly worth gettin.

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  great - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By me - September 4 - 6:20 pm

  Our Bravada has been great! Sunroof, heated seats have been an asset. Power seats, you can personalize the settings. Has been the best vehicle.