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'''Oldsmobile''' was an [[car|automobile]] maker that was previously owned by [[General Motors]]. Oldsmobile was known for producing innovative and iconic vehicles with iconic engines, such as the Oldsmobile 88, Oldsmobile 98, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Oldsmobile 442. The company went defunct in 2004 due to declining sales. However, these cars are now popular and are still driven today thanks to the resale of their cars.

| name = Oldsmobile

| type = [[privately held company|Private]] (1897–1908) <br /> [[division (business)|Division]] (1908–2004)

| image = 36._Oldsmobile_Headquarters_Facility.JPG

| image_caption = Oldsmobile building, pictured in 2008

| foundation = {{start date and age|1897|8|21}}

File:Olds2.jpg|Ransom Eli Olds, the founder and namesake of Oldsmobile

 

File:1904-oldsmobile-archives.jpg|1904 [[Oldsmobile Model 6C]] "Curved-Dashboard"

 

File:1910 Oldsmobile Limited Tourer (21243289970).jpg|In 1908 Olds Motor Body Works was absorbed by General Motors*For 1910, Oldsmobiles entrance into the higher priced car market was represented by two models, the 4 cyl Special and the 6 cyl Limited. The Limited was quite a large car, 130 inch wheelbase and wheels were 42 inches. It required two steps to board the car. Only 825 Limited were built. Engine; 60hp 505 cu in 6 cylinder

 

 

 

File:1940 Oldsmobile Dynamic Series 70 Sedan (12492572503).jpg|1940 [[Oldsmobile Series 70]]

|name=Oldsmobile

 

|logo=

File:Oldsmobile 98 Convertible 1953.jpg|1953 Oldsmobile 98 convertible

|industry=Automotive

 

File:Oldsmobile NinetyEight 1957 2.JPG|1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98 Holiday sedan with "StratoRoof" rear window

|founded={{Start date and age|1897|8|21}} in Lansing, Michigan

 

|founder=[[Ransom E. Olds]]

File:Oldsmobile 98 Coupe 1957.jpg|1957 [[Oldsmobile Starfire]] Ninety-Eight Holiday coupe

{{end date and age|2004|4|29}}

| location = [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]], [[Michigan]]

| location_country = [[United States|U.S.]]

}}

}}

== History ==

== History ==

Oldsmobile was founded in 1897 as the "[[Olds Motor Vehicle Co.|Olds Motor Vehicle Company]]" by [[Ransom E. Olds]] located in [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]], [[Michigan]] as a competitor to [[Buick]] and [[Cadillac]]. It was the first high-volume gasoline-powered car manufacturer in 1901. That same year, Oldsmobile was renamed Olds Motor Works and moved to a new plant in [[Detroit]]. Not only that, Oldsmobile had a bunch of prototypes ready to be put into production, but the factory that had those prototypes caught on fire and destroyed all of the prototypes except for Oldsmobile's first ever car. In 1903 and 1904, Oldsmobile was the best-selling car company. However, in 1904, Ransom E. Olds left the company due to arguments and disputes with Frederick Smith, his sales manager. Frederick was questioning if Oldsmobile cars had no defects when they were fully produced. This caused Olds to create an experimental engineering shop without Frederick knowing, which would soon go on to create the [[REO Motor Car Company]]. Throughout the early to the late 1900s, Oldsmobile produced the first mass-produced car, the [[Oldsmobile Model R "Curved Dash"]] on the first ever [[assembly line]], which is incorrectly credited to [[Henry Ford]]. The cars were colloquially referred to as "Oldsmobiles", popularizing the lyrics of the 1905 hit song "[[In My Merry Oldsmobile]]". It was eventually bought out by General Motors in 1908. Platforms that were shared with Buick had a "Series" prefix, while pre-GM vehicles had a "Model" prefix.

Oldsmobile was founded in 1897 as the "[[Olds Motor Vehicle Co.|Olds Motor Vehicle Company]]" by [[Ransom E. Olds]] located in [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]], [[Michigan]] as a competitor to [[Buick]] and [[Cadillac]]. It was the first high-volume gasoline-powered car manufacturer in 1901. That same year, Oldsmobile was renamed Olds Motor Works and moved to a new plant in [[Detroit]]. Not only that, Oldsmobile had a bunch of prototypes ready to be put into production, but the factory that had those prototypes caught on fire and destroyed all of the prototypes except for Oldsmobile's first ever car. In 1903 and 1904, Oldsmobile was the best-selling car company. However, in 1904, Ransom E. Olds left the company due to arguments and disputes with Frederick Smith, his sales manager. Frederick was questioning if Oldsmobile cars had no defects when they were fully produced. This caused Olds to create an experimental engineering shop without Frederick knowing, which would soon go on to create the [[REO Motor Car Company]]. Throughout the early to the late 1900s, Oldsmobile produced the first mass-produced car, the [[Oldsmobile Model R "Curved Dash"]] on the first ever [[assembly line]], which is incorrectly credited to [[Henry Ford]]. The cars were colloquially referred to as "Oldsmobiles", popularizing the lyrics of the 1905 hit song "[[In My Merry Oldsmobile]]". It was eventually bought out by General Motors in 1908. Platforms that were shared with Buick had a "Series" prefix, while pre-GM vehicles had a "Model" prefix.

== 1910s to 1940s ==

== 1910s to 1940s ==

In 1910 (1910s), Oldsmobile produced the [[Limited Touring Series 23]], which had a new body designed by [[Fisher Body]], was considered to be the start of Oldsmobile's innovations throughout the years. Costing US$4,600 at release with an 11.6&nbsp;Liter engine producing 70&nbsp;hp, it was considered to be technologically advanced. A Limousine version was introduced the same year, costing US$5,800 at the time. It sold only 275 units but is remembered for winning a race against the [[20th Century Limited]] Train. Oldsmobile then released the [[Oldsmobile Series 40]] and [[Oldsmobile Light Eight]] in 1912 and 1916, which had a Cadillac Flathead V8 until 1923 and division-exclusive [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] [[Buick Straight 6|Straight 6]] engine until 1930. In the 1920s, the [[Oldsmobile Six]] was released in five body styles using the new "[[General Motors B platform|GM B platform]]". The "[[Viking (automobile)|Viking]]" automobile was introduced, but discontinued in 1930 (An additional 353 cars were sold as 1931 models).

In 1910, Oldsmobile produced the [[Limited Touring Series 23]], which had a new body designed by [[Fisher Body]], was considered to be the start of Oldsmobile's innovations throughout the years. Costing US$4,600 at release with an 11.6&nbsp;Liter engine producing 70&nbsp;hp, it was considered to be technologically advanced. A Limousine version was introduced the same year, costing US$5,800 at the time. It sold only 275 units but is remembered for winning a race against the [[20th Century Limited]] Train. Oldsmobile then released the [[Oldsmobile Series 40]] and [[Oldsmobile Light Eight]] in 1912 and 1916, which had a Cadillac Flathead V8 until 1923 and division-exclusive [[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] [[Buick Straight 6|Straight 6]] engine until 1930. In the 1920s, the [[Oldsmobile Six]] was released in five body styles using the new "[[General Motors B platform|GM B platform]]". The "[[Viking (automobile)|Viking]]" automobile was introduced, but discontinued in 1930 (An additional 353 cars were sold as 1931 models).

In the 1930s, Oldsmobile introduced the Series F and Series L on both [[Straight-six engine|Straight-Six]] and [[Straight-eight engine|Straight-Eight]] engines while also introducing the Automatic Safety Transmission, which was originally built by Buick. In the 1940s, Oldsmobile introduces the "[[Hydramatic]]", which was the United States' first [[Transmission|automatic transmission]] with four forward speeds. In the early 1940s, Oldsmobile body sizes ranged from 6 to 9 with Straight-Six and Straight-Eight engine, serving as the origin for Oldsmobile models such as the [[Oldsmobile 88|Oldsmobile 98]] and [[Oldsmobile 88]]. Oldsmobile was a pioneer again in 1949 when the "[[Oldsmobile V8 engine|Rocket]]" V8 engine was introduced. This engine proved to be popular for hot rodders and stock car racers. This engine would later be redesigned in the 1960s.

In the 1930s, Oldsmobile introduced the Series F and Series L on both [[Straight-six engine|Straight-Six]] and [[Straight-eight engine|Straight-Eight]] engines while also introducing the Automatic Safety Transmission, which was originally built by Buick. In the 1940s, Oldsmobile introduces the "[[Hydramatic]]", which was the United States' first [[Transmission|automatic transmission]] with four forward speeds. In the early 1940s, Oldsmobile body sizes ranged from 6 to 9 with Straight-Six and Straight-Eight engine, serving as the origin for Oldsmobile models such as the [[Oldsmobile 88|Oldsmobile 98]] and [[Oldsmobile 88]]. Oldsmobile was a pioneer again in 1949 when the "[[Oldsmobile V8 engine|Rocket]]" V8 engine was introduced. This engine proved to be popular for hot rodders and stock car racers. This engine would later be redesigned in the 1960s.

Oldsmobile's best era was the 1970s and 1980s, with sales being in the all-time high due to positive critics, iconic designs and models, and quality/reliability with the best-selling model being the Oldsmobile Cutlass. This caused it to go into the millions in terms of sales and displacing [[Pontiac]] and [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] as the third best-selling, just behind the two most popular/known car companies, [[Chevrolet]] and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]. However, this soon became a problem for Oldsmobile, as the production capacity was too high for the Oldsmobile V8 engine. As a result, the engine of Oldsmobile models was replaced by Chevrolet's 350 cubic inch V8 engine, which was discovered by customers years later, which turned into a nightmare for GM. This declined sales, causing GM to create a new 5.7L Diesel V8, which soon turned out to be one of the worst engines in history, causing it to be discontinued in 1985, quickly being replaced by newer, more reliable engines.

Oldsmobile's best era was the 1970s and 1980s, with sales being in the all-time high due to positive critics, iconic designs and models, and quality/reliability with the best-selling model being the Oldsmobile Cutlass. This caused it to go into the millions in terms of sales and displacing [[Pontiac]] and [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] as the third best-selling, just behind the two most popular/known car companies, [[Chevrolet]] and [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]. However, this soon became a problem for Oldsmobile, as the production capacity was too high for the Oldsmobile V8 engine. As a result, the engine of Oldsmobile models was replaced by Chevrolet's 350 cubic inch V8 engine, which was discovered by customers years later, which turned into a nightmare for GM. This declined sales, causing GM to create a new 5.7L Diesel V8, which soon turned out to be one of the worst engines in history, causing it to be discontinued in 1985, quickly being replaced by newer, more reliable engines.

== 1990s to 2000s (2004) ==

== 1990s to 2004 ==

However, Oldsmobile started to decline in the 90s and the 2000s, going from 1 million sales to approximately 40% of its record sales in 1985 (Approximately 1.1 million sales), new competitors such as [[Acura]] and [[Lexus]], along with discontinuing its most iconic models (e.g. Cutlass, Cutlass Supreme, 88, 98, and more). Oldsmobile also received a new logo during this time, replacing the iconic Rocket logo. In the mid 90s, Oldsmobile introduced the Oldsmobile Aurora, which would have its models designed derived from the Aurora. In the 2000s, General Motors announced that it would shut down the Oldsmobile brand, while also announcing one of its last models, the Oldsmobile Bravada. Oldsmobile's last cars had the "Final 500" emblems/markings. Then, on April 29, 2004, Oldsmobile filed for bankruptcy with its last model being an Oldsmobile Alero GLS sedan, which was sold for $42,000 at an auction in [[New York City]].

However, Oldsmobile started to decline in the 90s and the 2000s, going from 1 million sales to approximately 40% of its record sales in 1985 (Approximately 1.1 million sales), new competitors such as [[Acura]] and [[Lexus]], along with discontinuing its most iconic models (e.g. Cutlass, Cutlass Supreme, 88, 98, and more). Oldsmobile also received a new logo during this time, replacing the iconic Rocket logo. In 1994 for the 1995 model year, Oldsmobile introduced the Aurora, which would have its models designed derived from that car. In December 2000, General Motors announced that it would shut down the Oldsmobile brand, while also announcing one of its last models, the third generation Bravada. Oldsmobile's last cars had the "Final 500" emblems/markings. Then, on April 29, 2004, Oldsmobile ended operations with its last model being an Oldsmobile Alero GLS sedan, which was sold for $42,000 at an auction in [[New York City]].

== Models ==

== Models ==

* [[Oldsmobile Aurora|Aurora]]

* [[Oldsmobile Aurora|Aurora]]