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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  Oldsmobile Intrigue - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By deemon - November 1 - 10:00 am

  This car has 44,000 miles and no problems. Handles like an import and looks great.

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  Pre-Owned Alero review - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By whs03 - October 19 - 4:50 am

  Since the day I bought this car it has been nothing but wonderful, of course you get the pre-owned quirks but all that aside, I love the accessory of being told when one of my tires are low, and being able to choose between playing a cd or a cassette tape in my car. I believe I made a great decision on my first purchase of a pre-owned but still feels new Alero.

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  Olds Cutlass - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Allie S - October 17 - 7:53 pm

  This car has been very dependable, it has decent gas mileage (approximately 25 mpg) It is cute, and sporty, but also comfortable and practical.

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  Silhouette Premiere - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By berry - October 13 - 10:00 am

  Very good and reliable vehicle. Great for those long family trips. Has plenty of room and is very comfortable for children and adults alike. The entertainment system helps calm your nerves by preoccupying the children.

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  My alero - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By marilis - September 25 - 12:06 pm

  Outstanding, very good car it was worth every penny. ive have not had one problem since day one.

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  Loved it, despite problems late in life - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By BNSF616 - September 24 - 7:56 am

  Bought new 2/98. Great car for the first 8 yrs or so. Fun to drive, good fuel economy, good ergonomics, comfortable. It always (from around age 2+) had a minor, but irritating, oil leak that no one ever seemed able to find or fix. Otherwise, experienced only the usual and expected wear-related maintenance issues until about age 9, when several major problems cropped up (cracked intake manifold, mainly), and along with expected maintenance items consistent with that age/mileage just became too much to justify on a car with 121K miles. Finally traded it off 8/2008, but with a lot of sadness. It really was a good car overall, and I was very sorry to see it go.

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  2003 olds aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By lionman73 - September 18 - 12:34 pm

  bought a 95 aurora when they first came out! loved the styling and uniqueness of the car. when I found out olds was phasing out in 03, I had to have one before they were extinct! have since sold the 95 and am in love with the 03! beautiful car--no huge mechanical problems since ive had it--going on 73,000 miles strong! always getting compliments on it and just sad that olds went to pasture and took the aurora with it! couldnt you just imagine a 2014 olds aurora? I can, even if only in my dreams!

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  Oldsmobile in the USA - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By michael R. - September 8 - 10:00 am

  never a problem with over 120k just general fluid changes and light maintenance. Who says general motors cantt build. The ride and quality of the oldsmobile intrigue rivals the japan and european sedans. The oldsmobile intrigue one really good car.I have owned the rivals too.

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  nice car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By joeinseattle - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Bought car at 15000: now have 41000. car is much better than Olds dealers. Had dealer network been more customer oriented GM might still be making Olds.

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  Best Luxury SUV Ever - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By L. De Concillis - September 6 - 10:00 am

  We bought our 04 Bravada new in 2004 for approx. $37,000. We test drove many vehicles such as the Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, BMW x5, and Acura MDX. This car blew the competition away; The Bravada is quiet and has a very smooth ride, power folding mirrors, DVD player, voice activated everything, and just looks like a luxury vehicle. It is such a shame that GM no longer makes the Oldsmobile division anymore, however, I highly recommend the Bravada to anyone looking for a mid-size luxury SUV.