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Encyclopedia > Olds Motor Works

Oldsmobile (or Olds) was a brand of automobile produced in the United States from 1897 to 2004. In its 107 years, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing factory. When it was phased out, Oldsmobile was the oldest surviving American automobile marque, and one of the oldest in the world, after Daimler and Peugeot. Oldsmobile Logo, claiming fair use This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... This article is about brands in marketing. ... An automobile is a wheeled vehicle that carries its own motor. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A marque (French for brand and pronounced as mark) is a brand name, most commonly used for automobile brands. ... Logo of Daimler 1898 Daimler car in Bristol Industrial Museum, England Daimler is a British marque of motor car since 1896. ... Peugeot is a major French car marque which is today part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group. ...

Contents


History

1932 Oldsmobile Patrician sedan
1932 Oldsmobile Patrician sedan

Oldsmobiles were first manufactured by the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan, a company founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In 1901, Olds introduced the Curved Dash Olds which sold 425 cars, becoming the first high-volume car of the day. Olds became, for a few years, the top selling car company in the United States. Ransom Olds left the company in financial difficulties and formed REO Motor Car Company. The last Curved Dash Olds was made in 1907, and in 1908, General Motors purchased the company. Oldsmobile Patrician Sedan of 1935 at a Classics Rally in 2003. ... Oldsmobile Patrician Sedan of 1935 at a Classics Rally in 2003. ... Capitol Building Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Ingham County; a small portion extends into adjacent Eaton County. ... Ransom Eli Olds (June 3, 1864–August 26, 1950) was a pioneer of American automobile industry. ... 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first high-volume mass-produced automobile. ... REO could mean: Real estate owned, a real estate term REO Speedwagon, a band Reo Motor Car Co. ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... General Motors Corporation NYSE: GM, also known as GM, is a United States-based automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Vauxhall. ...


After acquisition by General Motors, Oldsmobiles were marketed for their technical sophistication. It was the first American car with an automatic transmission (1940) and the first to use chrome (1920), and frequently was early with other features, such as automatic headlight dimmers. An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the car or truck moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ...


In 1929, the marque launched the Viking designed to help bridge the price gap between Oldsmobile and Buick, however the Viking was discontinued in 1930. 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Viking was an automobile manufactured by General Motors Oldsmobile Division for model year 1929 and 1930. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...


Oldsmobile promoted its "Rocket" engines heavily. This came to be a problem when some customers sued after they discovered that their Oldsmobiles had been equipped with Chevrolet engines beginning in the late 1970s. You may be looking for Chevy Chase. ...


In the 1970s, the mid-sized Oldsmobile Cutlass was the division's best selling model, and for several years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was the best-selling car in America. But the sales of the Cutlass and other Olds models fell beginning in the 1990s. The brand was hurt by its image as old and stuffy and this public perception continued despite a public relations campaign in the late 1980s that this was "not your father's Oldsmobile." This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ...


Oldsmobile in popular culture

In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile
In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile

The Oldsmobile is notable for having inspired several popular songs: Download high resolution version (797x1002, 290 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (797x1002, 290 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first high-volume mass-produced automobile. ... Popular music, sometimes abbreviated pop music, is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are broadly popular. ...

In My Merry Oldsmobile is the name of a popular song from 1905, with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan. ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Gus Edwards (August 18, 1879 - November 7, 1945) was a songwriter and vaudevillian. ... Vincent Patrick Bryan (June 22, 1878 - April 27, 1937) was a composer and lyricist. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties. // Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy gun John Logie Baird invents the first working mechanical television system (1925) Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to... Rocket 88, a rhythm and blues song from 1951. ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Ike Turner (born Izear Luster Turner Jr. ... There are many candidates for the title of the first Rock and Roll record. ... The Public Enemy logo. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yo! Bum Rush The Show is a 1987 album by Public Enemy. ... 1955 Oldsmobile 98 The Oldsmobile 98 (formerly Series 90 Custom Cruiser) was a full-size automobile sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in the United States. ... Gillian Welch Gillian Welch is a singer/songwriter whose musical style combines elements of bluegrass, country, and folk into a rustic style that she dubs American Primitive. ... Kathy Mattea (b. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Models

Early Models

The 1901-1904 Curved Dash was the first mass-produced car, and was also the first American car to be exported. Oldsmobile set a land speed record of 54.38 mph at Daytona Beach in the 1903 Pirate. In 1908, Oldsmobile became the first manufacturer to begin using nickel, rather than brass, trim. The 1911 Limited Touring was a high point for the company with its 60 hp (45 kW) 707 in³ (11.6 L) straight-6 engine and high levels of luxury. The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first high-volume mass-produced automobile. ... This page lists superlatives of the automobile industry - that is, the smallest, largest, fastest, lightest, best-selling, and other such topics. ... Daytona Beach is a city located in Volusia County, Florida. ... The straight-6 (also inline 6, I-6, or I6) is an internal combustion engine with six cylinders aligned in a single row. ...


1912-1938

In 1912, Oldsmobile began using two-digit model designators, beginning with the Oldsmobile 40 and Oldsmobile 53. The first digit generally signified the body size and the second signified the year throughout the 1920s. The company introduced chrome-plated trim, on the radiator shell of their 1926 model. 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties. // Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy gun John Logie Baird invents the first working mechanical television system (1925) Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...


1939-1960

Oldsmobile Rocket 88
Oldsmobile Rocket 88

In the 1940s and 1950s, Oldsmobile used a two-digit model designation similar to that used by the European makes today: The first digit signified the body size while the second represents the number of cylinders. Body sizes were 6, 7, 8, and 9, and 6- and 8-cylinder engines were offered. Thus, Oldsmobiles were named 66 through 98. A myriad of trim lines were also included in the model name, including Delta, Dynamic, Holiday, Super, and others. an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, still running in August, 2003, in downtown New Orleans. ... an Oldsmobile Rocket 88, still running in August, 2003, in downtown New Orleans. ... // Events and trends The 1940s were dominated by World War II, the most destructive armed conflict in history. ... // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning... The Oldsmobile Series 60 Special was an automobile from General Motors in the 1940s. ... 1955 Oldsmobile 98 The Oldsmobile 98 (formerly Series 90 Custom Cruiser) was a full-size automobile sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in the United States. ...


Oldsmobile introduced the affordable automatic transmission in 1940 as the Hydramatic. Their 1949 Rocket V8 engine was especially notable as the first mass-produced OHV V8. An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the car or truck moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Hydramatic (also known as Hydra-Matic) is an automatic transmission developed by General Motors Oldsmobile division in 1939/1940. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... The 1967 Toronados 425 V8, the first front wheel drive V8 application. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... In automotive engineering, an overhead valve internal combustion engine is one in which the entry and exit valves and ports are contained in the cylinder head. ...


Notable models:

The Oldsmobile Series 60 Special was an automobile from General Motors in the 1940s. ... The Oldsmobile Series 70 Dynamic Cruiser was an automobile from General Motors in the 1940s. ... 1955 Oldsmobile 98 The Oldsmobile 98 (formerly Series 90 Custom Cruiser) was a full-size automobile sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in the United States. ... A 1950s Olds Rocket 88, still running in 2003 The Oldsmobile 88 was a fullsize car from General Motors produced from 1949 until 1999. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The 1967 Toronados 425 V8, the first front wheel drive V8 application. ... 1955 Oldsmobile 98 The Oldsmobile 98 (formerly Series 90 Custom Cruiser) was a full-size automobile sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors in the United States. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

1960s

1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado

In the 1960s, Oldsmobile's position between Pontiac and Buick in GM's hierarchy began to dissolve. Notable achievements included the introduction of the first turbocharged engine in 1962, the Turbo Jetfire, the first modern front wheel drive car (1966's Toronado), and the upscale 442 muscle car. Oldsmobile Toronado 66 This work is copyrighted. ... Oldsmobile Toronado 66 This work is copyrighted. ... The 1960s, or The Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... Pontiac is a marque of automobile produced by General Motors and sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 1926 to the present. ... Buick is a brand of luxury automobile built in the United States, Canada, and China by General Motors Corporation. ... Turbocharger Cut-away A turbocharger is a device used in internal-combustion engines to increase the power output of the engine by increasing the mass of oxygen and fuel entering the engine. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The 1967 Toronados 425 V8, the first front wheel drive V8 application. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The Toronado was produced by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors from 1966 to 1992. ... 1972 Oldsmobile 442 The Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car option package for the F-85 and Cutlass models sold in the United States from the 1964 model year. ... Muscle cars are high-performance automobiles made primarily in Detroit from 1964 to 1974. ...


Notable models:

1972 Oldsmobile 442 The Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car option package for the F-85 and Cutlass models sold in the United States from the 1964 model year. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Muscle cars are high-performance automobiles made primarily in Detroit from 1964 to 1974. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... The Toronado was produced by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors from 1966 to 1992. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... In the United States, a personal luxury car was a car classification, a specific automobile market segment. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ...

1970s-1980s

Oldsmobile sales soared in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme becoming the best-selling vehicles in the United States. Less impressive was the company's widely-used but problem-prone LF7 and LF9 Diesel V8s. This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was an intermediate-size car produced by General Motors for the American market. ... The 1967 Toronados 425 V8, the first front wheel drive V8 application. ... The 1967 Toronados 425 V8, the first front wheel drive V8 application. ... Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of fuel oil (from petroleum) that is used in a diesel engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel, and perfected by Charles F. Kettering. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ...


Notable models:

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was an intermediate-size car produced by General Motors for the American market. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, a personal luxury car was a car classification, a specific automobile market segment. ... The Chevrolet Monza was a rear wheel drive hatchback, coupe and wagon sold from 1975 through 1980. ... A 2003 Cavalier The Chevrolet Cavalier was Chevrolets version of the compact General Motors J-body along with the Cadillac Cimarron, Pontiac Sunbird (later renamed Sunfire), Oldsmobile Firenza and Buick Skyhawk in the US; Opel Ascona and Vauxhall Cavalier in Europe; Holden Camira in Australia; Chevrolet Ascona in South...

1990s

2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
2003 Oldsmobile Aurora

By the 1990s, Oldsmobile had lost its place in the marketplace. The performance cars Oldsmobile had been known for gave way to bland corporate clones. GM shifted the performance mantle to Chevrolet and Pontiac. Buyers were confused by the profusion of Cutlass models, unimpressed with the company's bland styling direction, and unsure of its place in the market. GM poured money into the division to revive it, notably with the Aurora and Intrigue and their impressive L47 V8 and LX5 V6 engines. But the hoped-for revival never came. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... You may be looking for Chevy Chase. ... Pontiac is a marque of automobile produced by General Motors and sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 1926 to the present. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a type of automobile made by General Motors. ... 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora The Oldsmobile Aurora was launched in 1995. ... The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a mid-sized family sedan manufactured from 1998 through 2002 by Oldsmobile. ... Northstar is Cadillacs name for its DOHC V8 engine. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... This article is about the Oldsmobile V6. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine A V6 is an internal combustion piston engine with six cylinders in a V configuration. ...


Notable models:

The Oldsmobile Achieva was a compact GM N car, a sibling to such cars as the Pontiac Grand Am and Buick Skylark. ... 2003 Oldsmobile Alero The Oldsmobile Alero was introduced in spring 1998 as a 1999 model to replace the Achieva. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora The Oldsmobile Aurora was launched in 1995. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bravada is a luxury SUV from the Oldsmobile marque of General Motors. ... A sport utility vehicle (SUV) or off-roader is a vehicle that combines the load-hauling and passenger-carrying capacity of a large station wagon or minivan with features designed for off-road driving. ... The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a mid-sized family sedan manufactured from 1998 through 2002 by Oldsmobile. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Oldsmobile Silhouette, along with its siblings the Pontiac Trans Sport and Chevrolet Lumina APV, were a trio of minivans that débuted with radical styling in fall 1989 as 1990 models. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A modern minivan - 2004 Chrysler Town & Country Typical early minivan (a Dodge Caravan) A minivan, or people carrier (British English), is a type of vehicle (considered an Multi Purpose Vehicle in Europe) developed independently by Matra/Renault and the Chrysler Corporation. ...

The end

In December 2000, General Motors announced they would be phasing out the Oldsmobile brand, which had become the oldest surviving American automobile brand. The 2004 model year was to be Oldsmobile's last, with the last new Oldsmobile model being the GMT360-derived Bravada introduced in 2002. Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1263 KB)picture of Tufts University, taken by Schmiddy File links The following pages link to this file: Tufts University Categories: GFDL images ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1263 KB)picture of Tufts University, taken by Schmiddy File links The following pages link to this file: Tufts University Categories: GFDL images ... 2003 Oldsmobile Alero The Oldsmobile Alero was introduced in spring 1998 as a 1999 model to replace the Achieva. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... General Motors Corporation NYSE: GM, also known as GM, is a United States-based automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Vauxhall. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


The actual phaseout of Olds models was conducted on the following schedule:

The final production day was April 29, 2004, when the last Alero was built in Lansing, where Ransom E. Olds first began his company. The last 500 Aleros manufactured were painted a metallic cherry red and carried special "Final 500" markings. The last of these cars went to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. The Bravada is a luxury SUV from the Oldsmobile marque of General Motors. ... The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a mid-sized family sedan manufactured from 1998 through 2002 by Oldsmobile. ... 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora The Oldsmobile Aurora was launched in 1995. ... 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora The Oldsmobile Aurora was launched in 1995. ... The Bravada is a luxury SUV from the Oldsmobile marque of General Motors. ... A sport utility vehicle (SUV) or off-roader is a vehicle that combines the load-hauling and passenger-carrying capacity of a large station wagon or minivan with features designed for off-road driving. ... The Oldsmobile Silhouette, along with its siblings the Pontiac Trans Sport and Chevrolet Lumina APV, were a trio of minivans that débuted with radical styling in fall 1989 as 1990 models. ... A modern minivan - 2004 Chrysler Town & Country Typical early minivan (a Dodge Caravan) A minivan, or people carrier (British English), is a type of vehicle (considered an Multi Purpose Vehicle in Europe) developed independently by Matra/Renault and the Chrysler Corporation. ... 2003 Oldsmobile Alero The Oldsmobile Alero was introduced in spring 1998 as a 1999 model to replace the Achieva. ... Rambler American Compact car is a largely North American term denoting an automobile smaller than a midsize car, but larger than a subcompact car. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum is named for Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile, and is located in Lansing, Michigan. ...


See also

The following automobile manufacturers produce or have produced automobiles. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Cadillac History and Timeline (3431 words)
Olds went to Leland and Faulconer (now called L and F), to make a quiet running transmission where the gears were precision ground and interchangeable from car to car without any hand fitting.
I have brought you a motor which we worked out at L and F. It has three times the power of the Olds motor.
It is as old as the world and as old as the human passions—envy, fear, greed, ambition and the desire to surpass.
Ransom E. Olds - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (331 words)
He went on to form the R.E. Olds Motor Car Company which was quickly changed to REO Motor Company to avoid a lawsuit from the Olds Motor Works.
The Olds Motor Works company was bought by General Motors in 1908 and formed the basis of the Oldsmobile.
In 1913, Olds purchased 37,541 acres (152 km²) of land by the northern part of Tampa Bay in Florida and developed the area into what is now the city of Oldsmar.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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