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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  cad in an olds body - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By slf - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Great car, same as the cad,but on an olds bod. a great, savings and the same performance

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  a ford pinto was a better car - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By t martin - April 11 - 10:00 am

  the suspension in the rear is really bad the paint is flaking off the car their is a invisible leak during the winter that coolant leaks out. It is just a cheap non quality car that general motors should have never built and the climate control has a short in it.

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  Didnt make the cut - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By larryc - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Except for the wind noise, look and feel is GREAT. However the car has been plagued with trouble from day one. Has been is for no fewer than 20 times in three years.

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  Oldsmobile Intrigue 2002 - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Ken Corey - April 11 - 10:00 am

  I previously owned a Cadillac Seville and wanted a car equal in comfort and size. This is just as comfortable, more peppy, and more economical. I only have my cars dealer serviced because they know the cars.

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  Absolute Base Model Review - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Johnny - April 8 - 11:58 pm

  2.2L EcoTec engine is decently powered for being in a bigger sedan. The instrument panels are very basic like just the bare essentials. Radio is different from the other models. its actually different from the one shown in the owners manual. The window clips that hold the window on a non-power window do become very fragile in advanced age. Only 2 major issues that have happened was transmission lines busting and brake lines busted all in spots which were difficult to repair by myself. There is one nagging issue but is very common and that is the security lock out upon start. The other slight issue is simply the road, between noise and comfort of ride. As the driver i have never had an issue with comfort in the front seat. My passengers tell me the front passenger seat is fine but the back feels like you are dragging the road. I would say this could be suspension. However, i replaced the whole nine yards of it, making it brand new parts. One major recommendation with an Alero (and any car for that matter), is to always do the regular maintenance because as it wears out, the way the car runs and rides becomes rough in this car. I know this due to the Condition of it when I purchased the vehicle in 2012.

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  think again - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By johnhilbert - April 6 - 10:00 am

  bought it with under 30k miles have replace ignition swt,fuel pump,transmision,water pump, brakes needs passenger seat handel repaired i thought i was buying quality think again

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  Nice vehicle - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Nkairns - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Purchased used at 58000 kms. Comfortable ride, good suspension and lots of interior room.

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  99 olds cutlass - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By crusty oldfeller - April 2 - 4:50 pm

  Not all of the problems with this car have been with the car. Mechanics have had a hand in it. Excellent winter car performance wise. Rust after 9 years just beginning to show through. Performance comparable with the BMW and Saab that I have driven. 3.5 like a small v-8. Wife was hell on the front end. Nice size for Christmas shopping. Smiles

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  Great Used Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By 1st Olds - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car with 98000 miles on it needed a car badly at the time price was great but was worried because of mileage now at 108k and car runs great. cant believe the deal I got. compared to my used Honda Civic that only had 28k miles and has cost me $700 on repairs and still needs the ac fixed and has check engine light on again. This car is a dream. Also has great power. My next new car will be a GM product.

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  Best car I ever had - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Al - April 1 - 4:00 pm

  I like this car a lot the style is great the interior is top notch. I think the best thing is I got mine with the v8 which is believe it or not is rather good on gas I average 23 mpg that is better than my Taurus when running only did 18 mpg now it does 0. I should have purchased this car along time ago. I am done with v6 motors I have had no luck with them .