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Oldsmobile (or Olds + Mobile) was a brand of automobile founded by Ransom E. Olds, and was 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. Two of Oldsmobile's models have now been given new life as Buicks, such as the Buick Terraza (formerly the Oldsmobile Silhouette) and the Buick Rainier (formerly the Oldsmobile Bravada).

Contents 1 History 2 Oldsmobile in popular culture 3 Model Timeline 3.1 Early Models 3.2 1912-1938 3.3 1939-1960 3.4 1960s 3.5 1970s-1980s 3.6 1990s 3.7 The end 4 Oldsmobile models 5 See also 6 External links

History

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Oldsmobile in popular culture

The Oldsmobile is notable for having inspired several popular songs:

• "In My Merry Oldsmobile", a 1905 song with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan; the song enjoyed a second round of popularity in the 1920s.
• "Rocket 88", a 1951 song by Ike Turner said by many to be the first rock and roll record.
• "You're gonna get yours" from Public Enemy's 1987 debut album Yo! Bum Rush The Show, an ode to the Ninety-Eight.
• Sam Raimi, the film director, tends to feature a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88 automobile as a cameo in many of his films.

Oldsmobile cars can also been seen in several popular movies:

• Any Which Way You Can (1980) - When Clint Eastwood arrives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the big fight, his opponent and friend William Smith is driving a beautiful brand new, red 1980 Olds 98 Regency sedan which is featured prominently in the end of the film.

• The Hunt for Red October (1990) - Alec Baldwin can be seen getting out of a dark-colored early eighties Olds 98 Regency just before he enters the White House briefing.

• Get Shorty (1995) - John Travolta's character is incredulous at being given an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan for a rental instead of his requested Cadillac, to which the rental clerk responds, "You got the Cadillac of minivans," a line oft-repeated outside of the movie.
• Fargo (1996) - late 1980s Oldsmobile cars including the Cutlass Ciera and Ninety-Eight Touring Sedan were featured, as William H. Macy's character was an Oldsmobile salesman.
• The X-Files (1998) - an Oldsmobile Intrigue was heavily used by the characters as part of a promotional tie-in between General Motors and the movie's producers.
• The Matrix Reloaded (2003) - many Oldsmobiles are used as cameo vehicles, especially during the famous highway chase scene. Even though the characters never drive an Oldsmobile in the film, there was interaction between Oldsmobiles in the scene. There is one part when Agent Smith jumps on top of the front of an Aurora, completely destroying the front end and causing the car to do a front flip and land on its roof. Another scene involves the Twins gunning down an Intrigue and shoving it into the divider wall, causing it to do a barrel roll and land on its roof.
• Sam Raimi, the film director, tends to feature a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88 automobile as a cameo in many of his films.
• According to Jim, Jims best friend, Andy, drives an Intrigue.

Model Timeline

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.

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.

1939-1960

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.

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.

Notable models:

• Oldsmobile Series 60 Special - 66/68
• Oldsmobile Series 70 Dynamic Cruiser - 76/78
• Oldsmobile Series 90 Custom Cruiser - 96/98
• Oldsmobile 88 (1949-1999) - Oldsmobile's standard car line. Introduced with Oldsmobile's new overhead-valve, high-compression Rocket V8, giving the 88 a reputation for performance.
• Oldsmobile Super 88 (1951 - 1964} - An upgraded Olds 88 with a more powerful engine and luxurious interior trim.
• Oldsmobile DeLuxe 88 (1952 - 1953} - Lowest priced Oldsmobile line that replaced the original Olds 88.
• Oldsmobile 98 (1946-1997) - Oldsmobile's premium standard car line.
• Oldsmobile Fiesta (1953) - Ultra-luxurious and expensive convertible based on the 98 ragtop and featured distinctive two-tone paint scheme and one of the first automobiles to feature the wrap-around windshield that would appear on all Oldsmobiles (as well as Buicks and Cadillacs in 1954 and most other American cars by 1955. Fiesta nameplate would reappear on Olds station wagons from 1957 to 1964.
• Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 (1957) - One-year only nameplate used on Oldsmobile's lowest-priced line previously known as the "88".
• Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 (1958 - 1966 - Oldsmobile's lowest-priced line of full-sized cars, usually powered by a lower horsepower Rocket V8 engine than its Super 88 and 98 counterparts.

1960s

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 (the 1966 Toronado), the Vista Cruiser station wagon (noted for its roof glass), and the upscale 442 muscle car.

Notable models:

• Oldsmobile 442 - began as a 1964 muscle car option package (4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission, 2 exhausts) on the F-85/Cutlass series. In 1965 to better compete with Pontiac's GTO the original 330 cubic-inch V8 rated at 310 horsepower was replaced by a new 400 cubic-inch V8 rated at 345 horsepower. The 4-4-2 definition was changed to "4" hundred-cubic-inch V8 engine, "4" barrel carburetor, "2" exhaust pipes. In later years the 4-4-2 became its own model series on the Olds intermediate body and got an even larger 455 in³ (7.4 L) V8 engine in 1970.
• Oldsmobile Cutlass (1961-1999) - mid-size car. Oldsmobile's best seller in the 1970s and 1980s, and in some of those years America's best selling car. In 1966, a top-line Cutlass Supreme was introduced as a four-door hardtop sedan with a more powerful 320 horsepower 330 cubic-inch Jetfire Rocket V8 than the regular F-85/Cutlass models, a more luxurious interior and other trimmings. In 1967, the Cutlass Supreme was expanded to a full series also including two-door hardtop and pillared coupes, a convertible and a four-door pillared sedan.
• Oldsmobile F-85 (1961 - 1972) - compact sedan, coupe and station wagon powered by 215 cubic-inch aluminum block V8 engine from 1961 to 1963. In 1964, the F-85 was upgraded to an intermediate-sized car and the aluminum V8 was replaced by conventional cast-iron six-cylinder and V8 engines. The Cutlass was initially the top model of the F-85 line but became a model in its own right by 1964 with the F-85 nameplate continued only on the lowest-priced models through the 1972 model year after which time all Olds intermediates were Cutlasses.
• Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (1964 - 1977) - Stretched wheelbase Cutlass station wagon (to "120" inches from "115" inches) featuring elevated roof over rear seat and cargo area and glass skylights over the rear seat. Three-seat models featured forward facing seating at a time when most three-seat station wagons had third seat facing the rear.
• Oldsmobile Starfire (1961 - 1966 - Sporty and luxurious hardtop coupe and convertible based on B-Body 88. Featured interiors with leather bucket seats and center console with floor shifter along with a standard Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering and brakes (and power windows and seats on convertibles). Powered by Oldsmobile's most powerful Rocket V8 engine including a 394 cubic inch engine from 1961 to 1964 with 330 to 345 horsepower and a larger 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 for 1965-66 rated at 375 horsepower.
• Oldsmobile Jetstar I (1964 - 1965) - Sporty hardtop coupe based on the 88/Starfire with a sporty interior featuring Moroceen vinyl bucket seats and console along with the powerful Rocket V8 shared with the Starfire. Offered as lower-priced alternative to the Starfire and direct competitor to the Pontiac Grand Prix. Transmission offerings included a column-shift three-speed manual, Hydra-Matic or four-speed manual with floor-mounted Hurst shifter.
• Oldsmobile Toronado (1966-1992) - front wheel drive coupe in the personal luxury car category, introduced in 1966; at the time, the largest and most powerful front wheel drive car ever produced - and one of the first modern front-drive cars equipped with an automatic transmission. The original Toronado was powered by a 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 engine rated at 385 horsepower mated to a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The Toronado was Motor Trend magazine's 1966 "Car of the Year."

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. In 1984 in fact, it was claimed that Oldsmobile was making more vehicles per year than the Ford Motor Company.

Notable models:

• Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1970-1997) - more performance and luxury than the lower priced Cutlass and Cutlass S models, fitting in at the bottom of the personal luxury car market. Rooflines of coupe models generally shared with the higher-priced Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
• Oldsmobile Omega (1973 - 1984) - Compact car based on the Chevrolet Nova/Citation X-body.
• Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (1971-1992) - full-sized station wagon.
• Oldsmobile Starfire (1975-1980) - sporty compact car similar to the Chevrolet Monza, which was itself a spinoff of the Chevy Vega.
• Oldsmobile Firenza (1982-1988) - compact sedan, hatchback, coupe, and station wagon based on GM's J-car design sharing same bodyshell with Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, Buick Skyhawk and Cadillac Cimarron.

1990s

By the 1990s, Oldsmobile had lost its place in the marketplace. The performance cars Oldsmobile had been known for gave way to rebadged models of other GM cars, as GM had shifted the performance mantle to Chevrolet and Pontiac. GM tried to use Oldsmobile to showcase futuristic designs and as a "guinea pig" for testing new technology, with Oldsmobile offering the Toronado Trofeo, which included a visual instrument system with a calendar, datebook, and climate controls. Later on, Oldsmobile introduced the Aurora which would be the inspiration for the design of all Oldsmobile from the mid-1990s onward. However, by this time, GM shifted Oldsmobile from a technology "guinea pig" to a manufacturer that filled the slot between Chevrolet and Buick. Oldsmobile also received a new logo and by 1997, all of the early-1990s models were gone (except for the Aurora, Bravada, and the Silhouette, which was redesigned that year) and new models were introduced with rounded designs, inspired by the Aurora. Even though the new (and final) Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sold very well as did the Alero, there was just not enough to salvage the slowly dying brand, and GM announced the brand's demise in 2000.

Notable models:

• Oldsmobile Achieva (1992-1997) - compact sedan & coupe
• Oldsmobile Alero (1999-2004) - compact sedan & coupe
• Oldsmobile Aurora (1995-2003) - luxury sedan
• Oldsmobile Bravada (1991-2004) - SUV
• Oldsmobile Cutlass (1997-1999 - midsize sedan
• Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998-2002) - midsize sedan
• Oldsmobile Silhouette (1990-2004) - minivan

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.

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

• Late 2001: The 2002 Bravada becomes the company's last new model
• June 2002: production ends for Intrigue and the Aurora V6 sedans
• May 2003: Aurora V8 sedan
• January 2004: Bravada SUV replaced by the Buick Rainier
• March 2004: Silhouette minivan
• April 2004: Alero compact car

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.

Oldsmobile models

• Oldsmobile Curved Dash
• Oldsmobile Limited Touring
• Oldsmobile 40
• Oldsmobile 53
• Oldsmobile 66
• Oldsmobile 88
• Oldsmobile 98
• Oldsmobile Series 60
• Oldsmobile Series 70
• Oldsmobile Series 90
• Oldsmobile 442 (1968 - 1971)
• Oldsmobile Cutlass
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
• Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (1971 - 1992)
• Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
• Oldsmobile F-85
• Oldsmobile Toronado (1966 - 1992)
• Oldsmobile Starfire (1975 - 1980)
• Oldsmobile Firenza (1982 - 1988)
• Oldsmobile Achieva (1992 - 1997)
• Oldsmobile Alero (1999 - 2004)
• Oldsmobile Aurora (1995 - 2003)
• Oldsmobile Bravada (1991 - 2004)
• Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998 - 2002)
• Oldsmobile Silhouette (1990 - 2004)

See also

• List of automobile manufacturers

External links

• oldsmobile.com
• The Oldsmobile Connection - The Site For Oldsmobile Enthusiasts
• Open Directory Project list of Oldsmobile sites
• Oldsmobile Prepares For The End, published in June 2003
• Dead at 106: Oldsmobile, published in April 2004
• Oldsmobile Club of America
• National Antique Oldsmobile Club 1897-1966
• OldsmobileForums.com A place for Oldsmobile owners and enthusiasts to talk about their vehicles.

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