The earliest and most enduring automotive name was Oldsmobile, a company founded in 1897 and later acquired by GM. Throughout its 107-year history, Olds, as it is often referenced, delivered a number of noteworthy models. In 2004, GM shut down the brand, a marque that lost its identity along the way. Beginning in the late 19th century, American car manufacturers began to emerge. That followed a trend seen in Europe decades earlier. Ransom Eli Olds is credited with giving the industry traction in the US when he co-founded the Olds Motor Company. One of the company’s first models was its one-cylinder Curved Dash, an entry-level runabout with room for two. It was the first mass-produced gasoline-powered model in the world. Olds left the company …show more content…
It was a large seven-passenger touring car that established this brand’s luxury credentials. Later models included its first closed-top vehicle and by the 1920s Olds had its first V8. In 1926, GM created its “B” platform for Olds, Buick and two other brands. That move enabled Oldsmobile to expand its product line. Olds also brought to the market an automatic transmission and an independent front suspension. Leading up to World War Two, Oldsmobiles included coupes, convertibles and sedans. Its full-size Series 70 model came out in 1938 and was reintroduced after the war as the company began to design and manufacturer its newest models. Oldsmobile gained a fresh perspective in the 1950s with the release of its “rocket” engines and cars. That name played on America’s interest in the future and later with the launch of its space program. The 1953 Olds Starfire won acclaim for its fiberglass body, low beltline and strong 200-horsepower engine. Two of Olds’ most well-known models set the pace for the brand during that era, including the 98 (later Ninety Eight) and the 88 (Eighty Eight). Both were full-size models powered initially by the Rocket V8 and outfitted with the luxury trappings of that