Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile was an American automobile brand established by Ransom E. Olds in 1897 in Detroit as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company. It produced the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, introduced in 1901, one of the first mass-produced cars, and helped establish early mass production in the automotive industry.

In 1908 General Motors acquired Olds Motor Works, and Oldsmobile became GM’s oldest operating car brand. Across the 20th century, Oldsmobile expanded from economical runabouts to mid-range and luxury models, contributing to GM’s broader brand strategy and vehicle development.

Oldsmobile introduced the Rocket engine family in the postwar period and produced several enduring nameplates, including the 88 and 98, the high-performance 442 of the 1960s, and the front-wheel-drive Toronado introduced in 1966. The Cutlass, launched in 1964, became one of GM’s best-selling and most enduring nameplates, spanning multiple generations and body styles.

GM announced the decision to discontinue Oldsmobile in 2000 as part of a corporate restructuring, with production ending in 2004. The brand’s legacy includes innovations in engineering, a prominent presence in American automotive culture, and a catalog of models that reflected shifts in consumer preferences throughout the 20th century. Oldsmobile remains a notable chapter in the history of General Motors and the broader development of the American auto industry.