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:

• 

  OUTSTANDING - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By psweeney - July 24 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR

• 

  Oldsmobile Intrigue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By debbie - July 23 - 4:23 pm

  I have driven my Oldsmobile Intrigue to many different states. It has a very comfortable ride and handles very well. It also has good acceleration and gets good gas mileage - I get around 24 mpg even after having it for 6 years. I have had very few problems with it.

• 

  Great SUV! - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By FMUTA - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The new Bravada rocks!

• 

  Great SUV! - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By fmuta - July 19 - 10:00 am

  The new Bravada rocks!

• 

  Great Car - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By nat_jill - July 12 - 2:00 am

  This has to be the best car I have driven! It is very reliable and fun to drive.

• 

  Why discontinue the Intrigue? - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Bill Hartung - July 10 - 6:30 am

  When I test drove the car, I was surprised at the Intriguess engine responsiveness and smoothness, its nimble handling, and its useful space. I have owned many Oldsmobiles and the Intrigue is the best-balanced Oldsmobile that I have driven. The Intrigue handles as well if not better than many compact performance cars. Dont just look at the car. Test drive it! I was surprised. You may be too.

• 

  2003 Bravada - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By AZ1 - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Very luxurious and drives like a car. Very smooth ride and solid feel. Very impressed with the Bravada.

• 

  Nice car, sorry to see Olds stop product - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Buggs70 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I bought the car new in Oct 98 and have 61000 miles on it. I am sorry to see them no longer making Oldsmobile. I never wanted an Oldsmobile product because they were always so old looking (elderly peeps car). The intrigue has been great for us and we are a family of four. We have had the car 5 years with no problems but standard maintenance. The dash heats up if you drive a lot at night from the lighting but other than that no problems at all.

• 

  Mels Alero Review - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By MELISSA - June 25 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a reliable, comfortable, good looking, decently priced car the Olds Alero is definately an option. I absolutely loved mine. Unfortunately I was recently in an automobile accident where the car rolled. I will say that the Alero held up to my standards and kept me safe. If I would have went with a smaller car or a different brand, I dont believe I would have survived. Another car would have flattened in that situation. I am highly considering purchasing another Olds Alero. It looks good, drives good, and is a safe sturdy vehicle.

• 

  1998 Olds Aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By David Kehne - June 18 - 9:36 am

  This is a great car to have for just plain comfort and getting groups of five adults around. The style still turns heads even if it looks a bit overgrown by todays standards. The Northstar-inspired engine still burns rubber and the rear seat, not that Ive travelled while there, is one of the most comfortable ever put in a sedan. This car is a great one to have in addition (or instead) of an SUV. The trunk is large but the size of its opening does present some limits.