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:

• 

  Rate - 1996 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Joe S - October 8 - 11:13 am

  Great car.Vey rialable.I feel very safly driving this car.

• 

  Great ride - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By BlondieT - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I actually have a 2001. I have been very pleased with this car overall. One problem with the turn signals. They needed replacement. Other owners I talked to said they experienced the same thing - blinkers would work some times and not others.

• 

  Good Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Susi - October 4 - 6:23 am

  This has been a dependable automobile. I have had very little trouble with my Alero. Its fun to drive.

• 

  Quick and Sweet - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By foxyfennec - October 3 - 5:43 am

  I have owned my Olds Alero Coupe for almost two years...Oldsmobiles were a family tradition, and I was pleased to be able to own this classy little car before Olds was canned for good. I favor the Alero because its not a dorky car, and its not a boring Honda/Toyota. Its exterior design has a lot of personality and class. I get a lot of looks of approval in my little gal, and shes as stock as the day I bought her! So far, I have had ZERO problems with this car. She is very reliable and so much fun to drive. The Alero is quite possibly the most underrated car of the decade. Needless to say, Ive gotten my moneys worth, and a whole lot more.

• 

  my van - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By wildcat - September 22 - 12:10 pm

  I bought my van used the summer of 2004 and I love it. It is more stylish than the other vans on the road. It is very roomy. I took it on vacation a month after I got it and it go great gas mileage on a 600 mile trip and was very comfortable to drive.

• 

  Highly satisfied - great vehicle - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By K. Buck - September 10 - 5:50 pm

  Excellent vehicle to own. Never had any problems with it. Completely reliable. Excellent gas mileage. Built in entertainment system has been great for the kids and allows them to use game systems.

• 

  Bravada Fan - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Bill from NJ - September 5 - 10:33 am

  I have enjoyed my Bravada since the day I bought it. I bought it with 23000 miles approximately and it now has 60000 miles on it 6 years later. I love this car.

• 

  A great all-around car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By W. Tersch - August 26 - 9:50 pm

  I bought my Alero certified used five years ago, and it remains a beautiful and practical car inside and out. Low mileage Oldsmobile are one of the best bargains out there and have served several friends well too. I replaced a power steering pump and a ventilation resistor under warranty, and a small screw cover fell off, but other than that, smooth sailing for daily driving and road trips after 70k miles. This car handles Chicago winters well with its wide tires, front wheel drive, traction control, and ABS. Still in love with it!

• 

  Nice luxery for the price - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By JKM - August 26 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Oldsmobile I purchased. It rides and handles well. Nice gas mileage.

• 

  Wonderful Car - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Zam4psu - August 26 - 2:00 am

  My mother purchased a 2000 Alero GL2 almost 4 years ago and I loved it so much that when I finally needed a new car I went right back to the dealership we always go to and purchased one for myself. My 2003 Alero GLS 2-door is a wonderful car that rides, drives, and performs beautifully! I did try several other cars out before I made my final decision by the Alero was the only car that I completely happy with every aspect of it. Too bad GM has decided to take eliminate Oldsmobile, I would definitely have purchased another new Alero in the future!