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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  Aleros are death traps - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Sherri Bett - January 8 - 3:43 am

  My brake pedal went to the floor a lot and I almost got seriously hurt in 2000 with this thing. The mechanics kept fixing the brakes and a month later Id be back at the shop.

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  best car wish oldsmobile wouldnt go - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By oldsmobiles best car - January 7 - 8:10 am

  My Intrigue is the best car ever. My car before this was a 1990 Honda Civic which had 188,956 miles on it.its amazing how they run alike to say their under two different companies. My inrigue has 132,000 miles on it and still rides new like it was just bought. The only problem Ive had was the passenger side rear window got stuck. This was easy to get fixed. I really love my car oh yeah and dont even get me started on the Bose CD and cassette stereo system sounds better than my house stereo which is also a Bose system.

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  super car - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By john C - January 7 - 5:06 am

  this is my first SUV, it is awsome to drive although i quickly found out how much Gas an SUV will run through. the only problems are the gas and the ride. the ride is smooth and awsome, although on longer trips i soon get annoyed by the slight sway of the vehicle. any pothole, bump, or crack in the road causes the car to sway mildly. the wind roar isnt any thing to brag about either. as for exterior it is good, just like a trailblazer which i love. the headlights are ugly but it doesnt matter to me. i love this car, it is luxurious yet competitive. great car.

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  If I could, I would buy another one! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By maani - January 3 - 7:00 am

  As a car for a first time driver, I would give this car a 5 out of 5. It was safe, easy to handle, hard to dent and not embarrassing to be seen driving. My parents purchased this car in 2007 with 69,501 miles for $5000. Standard maintenance was fairly cheap. The only expensive replacement part was the alternator in 2011 at 120,000 miles. Sadly, I no longer drive it due to accident that hit my front drivers side wheel and ruined the drivers side door. The driver was going 45mph when they hit me and I walked away without a single scratch. I would totally buy another intrigue if I could!

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  Great Ride! - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Aadil3 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a really nice car overall. It had great power, smooth ride, good handling, nice looks and no problems!!

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  Bye-bye Olds - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mountainman68 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Maybe it is good GM is axing Olds. This was a "program" car, so maybe it was abused before we got it, but before 75000 miles we had a motor mount break, coolant leak from intake manifold, 3 full brake jobs, twice in shop for driveability - one was an air sensor. Dont remember the other problem. Continuous intermittent electrical problems that dealer cant find. Im glad I bought an extended warranty. (too bad the brakes werent covered) I do like the sporty styling and V6 performance, but interior is too small and car cannot be trusted. I will be trading it in the very near future. I will not be buying another GM product. Period.

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  MY GREAT ALERO - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JAKENCOOKIE - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE NOTHING BUT FUN IN THIS CAR

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  Great car - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By kevinp - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Love this car. 150k miles on it and it runs great. Great fuel economy, fast, and great looking

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  Sweet car - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By teen16 - December 28 - 3:43 pm

  I am 16 and my parents bought me this as my first car. i like it. its really reliable i have 78,500 mi on it now and it runs like it just came off the line. the thing I dont like about it is it doesnt get the best gas mileage but what can you do. It also is a old person car. But I am slowly making it nicer by putting a cold air in it, muffler system and a body kit when Im done with it it wont look like a old person car. Or sound like it.

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  Why Is This Car Discontinued? - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By JP May - December 27 - 2:00 am

  The Aurora is the best car Ive owned and unfortunately with the discontinuation of Oldsmobile, it will be my last Aurora. Too bad the phase- out of the Olds division was announced soon after the new Auroras introduction. The styling is distinctive, and with few models on the road, several people wanted to know what kind of car I was driving. The car has been completely trouble-free, solidly built, has plenty of power, and is attractively styled insode and out.