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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  Missing My Bravada! - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By pinsey - October 16 - 8:19 pm

  My Bravada was a 1999. I bought it in 2003 and just sold it with only 125,000 miles on it. Now, I wish I wouldve held onto it. But, we have two other vehicles to drive, and one had to be sold. My 1999 Bravada was the best. I must have loaded over 1,000 bags of groceries, and 800 bags of soil and mulch over the years. Transported furniture and plants, and never had one problem. Loved the heated seats and AWD, especially here in Minnesota with our rough winters. When I bought the car it only had 27,000 miles on it. Loved the sunroof and leather seats. Great car. Wish they still made them. Miss "Oldsmobile".

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  I would buy it again! - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Clint317 - October 14 - 9:10 pm

  Bought my Oldsmobile Bravada used about 6 months ago and havent had a single problem yet. Im a truck and SUV man with experience in various makes and models. I like the Expeditions more, but the Bravadas rank right up there with them. Its a small SUV with a smaller engine but plenty of power and great fuel economy (for an SUV - 19mpg). Excellent smooth quiet ride and good handling. Luxury interior with all the extras and no rattles, solid. Nothing bad to say. Looks like a Blazer but it is nothing like it, its much better.

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  quin - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By quin - October 13 - 10:00 am

  this vechicle rides very smoothly has good suspension.

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  An Oxymoron in Car Form - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mustang43 - October 13 - 10:00 am

  The "Intrigue" is the most inconspicuous car ever made, especially in dark green like mine. The car is decent and I like it quite a lot, the resale value is horrible, but I bought it used (no option for a new now, is there?) so thats okay.

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  What I think - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By awesome car - October 9 - 1:56 pm

  This car has been a joy to drive it has a moon roof very comfy and rides and handles great it was a great decision and a great price and a lot better than my cavalier.

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

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

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  Olds Bravada - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By JKonnor - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have the AWD with full package. The car handles great, no problems with snow or rain, its comfortable. Size is good,gas mileage could improve (14 around town, 19 on highway trips). The computer has worked fluidly, it has too many features to list. The seats fold into several useful positions and there is good room in back. My husband is 67 and fits with no complaints Its not a common car compared to the counter parts (Trailblazer and Envoy), it gets all kinds of looks and compliments. If Olds wasnt discontinuing their line, Id get another one.

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  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.

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  junk - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GFYS123 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  No reliability. Many problems. Rotors warp in 10,000 miles. Steering problems like crazy.

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  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.