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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  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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  03 Olds Bravada - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By fordde - July 17 - 10:00 am

  After 27,000 miles the vehicle has no pick-up, engine races when you accelerate. The A/C has failed multiple times - but only when Ambient is greater 85 degrees. The rear window wiper rarely touches the glass. The windshield wiper malfunctioned dispensing a galln of fluid on the road while the vehicle was in motion... dont get this or its cousin the trailblazer.

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  Lemon of all time - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By robert sachs - July 7 - 7:00 pm

  I have owned quite a few vehicles over the years. I used to be a hard line GM man. But due to this lemon, I am now considering something other than GM. The Bravada has cost me more in repairs than all the vehicles combined I have owned, in excess of $4000. I have fixed or repaired almost every thing you can imagine. You just finish having something fixed and something else breaks down. It is justice that the Big Three go down. As much as I hate to say it, if you build junk eventially the consumer will have his day. Goodbye GM

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  buyer beward - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By nomorevans - June 23 - 7:00 pm

  I have owned this van for almost 4 years. During that time the power sliding door stopped working, the drivers side power window does not work properly. The passenger side seat belt has been replaced twice because it keeps shredding. We no longer have interior lights because of an electrical problem, which the dealership says is not their problem.

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  Backaches galore - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By desiresnewcar - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Alero for a little over 2 and a half years and its time to get rid of it! Unfortunately, Im going to loose a lot of money because resale is HORRIBLE, on these cars!

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  Do not buy this car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dsh1127 - June 16 - 11:40 pm

  I bought this car new in April 2003. It was a nice car until about 50,000 miles. At that point, my opinion on this car changed greatly! It started having one problem after another, and had so many squeaks, rattles and air leakage that you would think it was a 20 year old car. This car was in the shop so often that everyone knew me on a first name basis! The final problem was a major computer meltdown at 68,000 miles. I left it at the shop (unrepaired), got what I could for trade, and bought a used Nissan Maxima! Do not waste your money and time on an Alero!

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  Sexxy car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Supakrupa - May 10 - 10:00 am

  this car has good looks, and is a fun car to drive.The preformance from the base 4 cylender is above average but not quite a super star. Handles the road well, engine noise is a little louder than expected.

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  99 Alero - beware! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By bkonyu - April 30 - 2:16 pm

  This car has had no end of problems at least for us - restarting issues, parts of the car coming off in my hand, constant replacement of major parts. It is very unreliable. This was the first model year, but come on. On the plus side, it does have good power - but the transmission seems to hamper its full utilization at times. It also is very comfortable. On the other hand we have a 99 Toyota Tercel that is small and wussy, but bullet proof! As a Cadillac mechanic friend once told me - dont buy North American vehicles.

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  consistant - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By papadoc - February 25 - 9:10 pm

  well looks like im not the only one with the same probs, ive also expierenced window motor troubles on two windows! also frequent replacement of lights and bulbs here and there, fuel pump (first time) and it seems pretty consistant with everybodies elses expierience with their Alero. Good thing the thing is paid off!!!!

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  1998 Olds Cutlass (same as the Malibu) - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By shuge - February 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this in May 2000 with 28k it now has 62k.The problems: Lots of rattles and noise from the interior parts. Alternator went out at 52k miles. Began leaking anti-freeze from around one of the heads at 50k miles. The ABS system went haywire at 60k miles. Handles horribly. Especially in the snow. This car has kind of soured me on GM. It seems like its held together with bubble-gum and scotch tape. I never drove it very hard, although it is a 8 mile stop and go commute to work. Overall I am very disappointed with the car. Dont know if I got a bad one or if other people have the same problems.