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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  Bravada - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Cheryl Tanneberger - February 27 - 6:50 pm

  Its a great vehicle. It drives smoothly, is sharp, and has a great turning radius. It also is very comfortable.

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  A Powerful Pleasant Suprise! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By us_blueskirt - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This car was purchased 3yrs old with about 40K mi...In 11 mos Ive put another 20k+...Multiple trips from E TN to FL, VA, TX, GA, and DC; plus a 40mi comute to work every day. This is a fantastic little car in city and OTR! It feels like driving a sporty car. It responds better if you keep an almost religious maintenance schedule. Great handling and power getting on and off the interstate and around these mountain curves. I run this car very hard and Im very pleased with it so far. As I set out for another trip to TX..there is not a single doubt that this little car will get me there and back with pleasure!

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  Amazing First Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Donny - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought this car from my friends grandmother, who hardly ever drove it. It only had 52,980 miles on it. I have had it for a month and it now has almost 54,000 miles on it. It is amazingly fun to drive. Even though it is kind of a grandma car, it still can get up and go. The leather interior is amazing. This is an overall great car. I have had no problems with it, but the wiper fluid container has a leak.

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  Good Choice - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By hark - February 15 - 2:00 am

  This is a very flexible vehicle-with the flip and fold seats. The powertrain is responsive and gets good mileage when compared to other makes. I have only had minor warranty work done. (broken cupholder, tailgate strap)

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  3rd Van, 1st SIlhouette - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By JKonrad - February 12 - 2:00 am

  While my Grand Voyager was in the shop for repairs I drove my friends `99 Silhouette and was pleasantly surprised how well it handled. I was looking for a new used vehicle and got lucky to find an Oldsmobile Silhouette 2003.

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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rjwolps - February 5 - 10:00 am

  I love my Alero. I have had it a little over 2 years and have about 65,000 miles it. It runs great and I get about 34 mpg on the highway. It is very comfortable and fun to drive. It is a very good car for the money. The only complaint is the same compliant that I have had for other Olds products - the brakes. They dont last and the rotors warp too easialy. I have a lot of miles on my car, but they are almost exclusively highway miles. The original brakes should have lasted a lot longer than about 40,000 because I dont use them that much.

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  SUV delight - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Bill47 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I believe this is one of the best deals around. You get the best of everything. I was impressed from the day I purchased it. Runs great, tracks tight - HOT

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  me - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By lster - January 29 - 2:00 am

  great car its an outsanding car the features are awsome including dvd player air compressor extra storage under the floor in the back and the bose stero system.

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By hayley - January 27 - 7:03 pm

  For my first car its a good one. My grandparents had it before me and had no problems what so ever. Its fun to drive and handles well. It gets me through any kind of weather well. The only thing Ive had to replace on it was the battery. I also changed out the tape player/radio with a CD player/radio. Over all its an awesome car. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  My best vehicle so far! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Ron Hughes - January 5 - 4:36 pm

  I purchased my Bravada in October. I went to buy a Trailblazer but it took only one test drive to decide on the Bravada. The excellent ride, perfect seating, and outstanding engine sold my wife and I. Then, I found out that it has a better warranty than the Trailblazer. I drove it home that day. I have now had the Bravada for over 6000 mile and 4 months and have not been back to the dealer. Buy it! You will not regret it.