OldsmobileThe final Oldsmobile Logo, an update of the "Rocket" theme used in various forms since 1948, debuted in the mid-1990s until the final Olds rolled off the line in 2004. Ransom E. OldsOldsmobile (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, mainly trucks, 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). HistoryOldsmobiles 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 AdvancesAfter acquisition by General Motors, Oldsmobiles were marketed for their technical sophistication. The list of "firsts" is quite extensive: the first to use chrome (1920), the first to use a mono-block V8 (Viking, 1929) and the first American car with a fully automatic transmission, "Hydramatic" Drive (1940). They were frequently early with other features, such as automatic headlight dimmers, and the 1950's panoramic windshields. Their "Rocket 88" theme hood ornament treatment, was also the reference name for their advanced over-head valve V-8 engines,from 1949 onward. While not the first U.S. built passenger car to use front-wheel drive, Oldsmobile's Toronado was the first of its type to prove successful in the American marketplace. Oldsmobile introduced the first fully automatic transmission, "Hydromatic" in 1940. Their 1949 Rocket V8 engine was especially notable as the first mass-produced OHV V8. Model TimelineEarly ModelsThe 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. The 1903 Model R curved dash was the number one selling car in the United States, selling for $650. Ransom Olds left Oldsmobile in 1904. Oldsmobile advertising pointed out that keeping a horse cost its owner and estimated $108 a year, whereas the owner of an Oldsmobile spent an average of $35 per year in fuel and maintenance. In 1908, Oldsmobile became the first manufacturer to begin using nickel, rather than brass, trim. Setting the Pace painted in 1909 by William Hardner Foster depicts the race between an Oldsmobile Limited and the 20th Century LimitedThe 1910 Limited Touring was a high point for the company. Riding atop 42” wheels, and equipped with factory “white” tires, the Limited was the prestige model in Oldsmobile’s two-model line-up. The Limited retailed $4,600, an amount greater than the purchase of a new, no frills three bedroom house. For their money, buyers received goat skin upholstery, a 60 hp (45 kW) 707 in³ (11.6 L) straight-6 engine, Bosch Magneto starter, running boards and room for five. Options included a speedometer, clock and a full glass winshield. A limousine version was priced at $5,800. While Olds only sold 725 Limited models in its three years of production, the car is best remembered for winning a race against the famed 20th Century Limited locomotive, an event immortalized in the painting “Setting the Pace” by William Harnden Foster. 1912-1938In 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. In 1929, the marque launched the V-8 powered Viking designed to help bridge the price gap between Oldsmobile and Buick, however the Viking was discontinued in 1930. 1939-1959In the 1930s through the 1990s, Oldsmobile used a two-digit model designation similar to that used by the European makes today. As originally implemented, 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, Oldsmobile’s were named 66 through 98. Olds dropped its "66" line before the introduction of its "Rocket" engines, leaving only the "88" and "98". In the 1950s the nomenclature changed again, and trim levels also received names that were then mated with the model numbers. This resulted in the Oldsmobile 88 emerging as base Dynamic 88 the better trimmed Delta 88, and the highline Super 88. Other full-size model names included the "Holiday" used on hardtops, and "Fiesta" used on its station wagon lines. When the "98" was retired in the in the early 1990s, its length of service was the longest of any model name in American passenger car lines. Olds 1950s StylingOldsmobile entered the 1950s following a divisional image campaign centered on its "Rocket" engines, and its cars appearances followed suit in their themes. By the mid 1950s, their styling was among the first to offer a wide, "open maw" intake grill, suggestive of jet propulsion. Oldsmobile adopted a ringed-globe emblem to stress what marketers felt was its universal appeal. Throughout the 1950s, the make used twin jet pod tail lights, again, as a nod to its "Rocket" theme. Oldsmobile was amoungst the first of GM's divisions to receive a true hardtop in 1948, and it was also the among the first divisions (along with Buick and Cadillac) to receive a wrap around windshield - a trend that eventually all American makes would share at sometime between 1953 and 1964. 1957GM styling as a whole lost its frontrunner status in 1957 when Chrysler introduce Virgil Exner's Forward Look designs. When compared side to side, Oldsmobile looked dated next to its price-point competitor De Soto. Compounding the problem for Olds and Buick was styling mistake which GM called the "Strato Roof". Both makes had models which contained the heavily framed rear window, but Detroit had been working with large curved backlights for almost a decade - consumers disliked the roof and its blind spots forcing GM to rush a redesign into production on some of its models. 1958Oldsmobile's 1958 styling, in the words of Tom McCahill, automotive writer for Popular Mechanics, looked as if the "car was designed by two separate styling studios" without any idea what the other was working on.Oldsmobile's only off year in the 1950s was 1958. The nation was beginning to feel the results of its first significant post war recession, and all U.S automobile sales were off for the model year. But GM's senior makes of Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac received heavy a handed make-over of the weak 1957 GM designs, instead of something crisp and clean like Chryslers "Forward Look". The Oldsmobile emerged in 1958 bore little resemblance to the clean design of its forerunners; instead the car emerged as large over decorated "Chrome-mobile". Popular Mechanics automobile writer Tom McCahill liked the cars performance, but felt that the outside appeared to be designed by two separate studios, working without knowing what the other was up to. Up front, all 1958 Oldsmobile’s received one of GM's heavily styled front ends and quad-headlights. Streaking back from the edge of the headlights, was a broad belt of consisting of two strips on regular 88's, three strips Super 88's, and three strips (top and bottom thin, inside thick on 98's)of chrome that ended in a point at mid-body. But the bottom of the rear fender featured a thick stamping of a half tube that pointed forward, atop which was a chrome assembly of four horizontal chrome speed-lines that terminated into a vertical bar. The tail of the car featured massive vertical chrome tail light housings; two chrome stars were fitted to the trunk lid. Ford styling consultant Alex Tremulis (designer of the 1948 Tucker Sedan) mocked the '58 Olds by drawing cartoons of the car, and placing musical notes in the rear trim assembly. Another Detroit stylist employed by Ford bought a used 1958 Olds in the early sixties, driving it daily to his work at Ford; he had detached and rearranged the OLDSMOBILE lettering above the grille of the car to spell out SLOBMODEL as a reminder to himself and his co-workers of what "bad" auto design meant to their business (see: Lawler). Notable models produced from 1939 to 1959:
1960sCover of one of the promotional brocures produced by Oldsmobile promoting its 1960 model line the 98 four-door Vista Hardtop sedan.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. Olds briefly used the names Jetstar 88" (1963-1966) and Delmont 88" (1967-1968) on its least expensive full-size models in the 1960s.
1970s-1980s1990 Oldsmobile Toronado TrofeoOldsmobile 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:
1990s1995 Oldsmobile AuroraBy 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, but there was just not enough to salvage the slowly dying brand, and GM announced the brand's demise in 2000. Notable models, 1970-1989:
The end2002 Oldsmobile Alero. 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
The actual phaseout of Oldsmobile models was conducted on the following schedule:
new model
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 models1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royalé 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Oldsmobile in popular cultureIn My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobileThe Oldsmobile is notable for having inspired several popular songs:
Oldsmobile cars can also been seen in several popular movies:
Marketing ThemesEarly on in their history, Olds enjoyed a healthy public relations boost from the 1905 hit song " In My Merry Oldsmobile". The well known, song was updated in the fifties to sing about "The Rocket 88". The strong public relations efforts by GM in the 1950s was epitomized in the GM Motorama auto show. The impact of that traveling show, was literally a "one company", auto-show extravaganza. Millions of Americans attended, in a spirt, not unlike a mini-world's fair. Every GM division had a "Dream Car". Olds' dream/concept car was called "The Starfire". While Oldsmobile had long promoted its "Rocket" engines heavily, GM's cost containment program of engine sharing emerged in 1977 on its "down-sized" full sized vehicles. Consumers buying an Oldsmobile soon found out that their Olds was powered by a Chevrolet built engine. Some discovered this when they attempted to change the engines air filter and discovered that the standard 1977 Olds filter replacement wouldn't fit in the air clearer. Other discovered either from their mechanics or from GM which sent notices to owners explaining the situation and assuring them that a GM built engine was GM built engine, regardless of what division built it. Ohio Attorney General Anthony Celebreeze was the first State Attorney General to reach a settlement with GM, which resulted in claimant owners each receiving a small portion of the multimillion dollar settlement. 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 page about Oldsmobile includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Oldsmobile News stories about Oldsmobile External links for Oldsmobile Videos for Oldsmobile Wikis about Oldsmobile Discussion Groups about Oldsmobile Blogs about Oldsmobile Images of Oldsmobile |
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Ohio Attorney General Anthony Celebreeze was the first State Attorney General to reach a settlement with GM, which resulted in claimant owners each receiving a small portion of the multimillion dollar settlement. He is Cincinnati. Other discovered either from their mechanics or from GM which sent notices to owners explaining the situation and assuring them that a GM built engine was GM built engine, regardless of what division built it. I’d walk through Hell in a gasoline suit just to play baseball. -Pete Rose. Some discovered this when they attempted to change the engines air filter and discovered that the standard 1977 Olds filter replacement wouldn't fit in the air clearer. He pleaded guilty and could face up to two years in federal prison. Consumers buying an Oldsmobile soon found out that their Olds was powered by a Chevrolet built engine. GBL is a legal drug often sold as a paint stripper and it can be used to make GHB. While Oldsmobile had long promoted its "Rocket" engines heavily, GM's cost containment program of engine sharing emerged in 1977 on its "down-sized" full sized vehicles. In early November 2005, PJ was indicted for allegedly distributing gamma butyrolactone (GBL), a drug sometimes sold as a steroid alternative to his Chattanooga Lookouts teammates. Olds' dream/concept car was called "The Starfire". In 2005, PJ played third base for the defending Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs champion Long Island Ducks. Every GM division had a "Dream Car". Since then, he has bounced around the minor leagues. Millions of Americans attended, in a spirt, not unlike a mini-world's fair. ("PJ"), is a professional baseball player who had an 11-game run in MLB with the Reds in 1997. The impact of that traveling show, was literally a "one company", auto-show extravaganza. His son, Pete Rose Jr. The strong public relations efforts by GM in the 1950s was epitomized in the GM Motorama auto show. Pete Rose has a daughter, Fawn. The well known, song was updated in the fifties to sing about "The Rocket 88". Later in his Fort Thomas service, Rose served as company cook. Early on in their history, Olds enjoyed a healthy public relations boost from the 1905 hit song " In My Merry Oldsmobile". Rose received some special treatment during basic training, including not receiving a crew cut and palling around with the colonel. Oldsmobile cars can also been seen in several popular movies:. Rose then remained at Fort Knox to assist the sergeant in training the next platoon and helping another Sargent train the Fort's baseball team. The Oldsmobile is notable for having inspired several popular songs:. At Fort Knox, he was a platoon guide and graduated basic training January 18, 1964, one week before his marriage to Karolyn. Olds Transportation Museum. He was assigned to Fort Knox for six months of active duty, which was followed by three years of regular attendance with a Reserve Unit at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. The last of these cars went to the R.E. Rose entered the United States Army after the end of the 1963 baseball season. The last 500 Aleros manufactured were painted a metallic cherry red and carried special "Final 500" markings. In 2004 Rose appeared at WrestleMania XX, where he was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame, becoming the first member of the "Celebrity Wing.". Olds first began his company. In October 2002 he starred alongside Kane in a Halloween-themed commercial for No Mercy 2002. The final production day was April 29, 2004, when the last Alero was built in Lansing, where Ransom E. Rose would often be on the receiving end of either a Chokeslam or a Tombstone Piledriver delivered by a man already known to many fans as "The Big Red Machine," Kane. new model. During the years 1998 to 2000 Rose performed in WWE's annual spectacular, WrestleMania. The actual phaseout of Oldsmobile models was conducted on the following schedule:. Major League Baseball for Keeping Pete Rose Out of the Hall of Fame." Their reasons:. The 2004 model year was to be Oldsmobile's last, with the last new Oldsmobile model being the GMT360-derived Bravada introduced in 2002. In October 2005, ESPN Classic aired, as part of its regular series, The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame.. Even though the new (and final) Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sold very well as did the Alero, but there was just not enough to salvage the slowly dying brand, and GM announced the brand's demise in 2000. The criticism of Rose did not diminish after this admission - even some Rose supporters were outraged that Rose would suddenly reverse fifteen years of denials as part of a book publicity tour. 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. He also said in the book that he hoped his admissions would help end his ban from baseball so that he could reapply for reinstatement. However, by this time, GM shifted Oldsmobile from a technology "guinea pig" to a manufacturer that filled the slot between Chevrolet and Buick. He repeated his admissions in an interview on the ABC news program Primetime Thursday. Later on, Oldsmobile introduced the Aurora which would be the inspiration for the design of all Oldsmobile from the mid-1990s onward. He also admitted to betting on Reds games, but said that he never bet against the Reds. 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. In his autobiography My Prison Without Bars, published by Rodale Press on January 8, 2004, Rose finally admitted publicly to betting on baseball games and other sports while playing for and managing the Reds. 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. Earlier that season, Rose had been ranked at number 25 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. By the 1990s, Oldsmobile had lost its place in the marketplace. Others felt that given the dichotomy of Rose's banishment from baseball and his inclusion on the All-Century Team, the questions were appropriate. Notable models:. Many people were outraged over Gray's aggressive questioning, feeling that it detracted from the ceremony. In 1984 in fact, it was claimed that Oldsmobile was making more vehicles per year than the Ford Motor Company. JG: Some would be surprised that you didn't take the opportunity.. Less impressive was the company's widely-used but problem-prone LF7 and LF9 Diesel V8s. This is a prosecutor's brief, not an interview, and I'm very surprised at you.. Oldsmobile sales soared in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme becoming the best-selling vehicles in the United States. And you're bringing up something that happened 10 years ago .. Olds briefly used the names Jetstar 88" (1963-1966) and Delmont 88" (1967-1968) on its least expensive full-size models in the 1960s. I mean I'm doing an interview with you on a great night, a great occasion, a great ovation. 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. PR: Yeah, I'm surprised you're bombarding me like this. In the 1960s, Oldsmobile's position between Pontiac and Buick in GM's hierarchy began to dissolve. JG: By not acknowledging what seems to be overwhelming evidence.. Notable models produced from 1939 to 1959:. PR: In what way are you talking about?. Another Detroit stylist employed by Ford bought a used 1958 Olds in the early sixties, driving it daily to his work at Ford; he had detached and rearranged the OLDSMOBILE lettering above the grille of the car to spell out SLOBMODEL as a reminder to himself and his co-workers of what "bad" auto design meant to their business (see: Lawler). How do you respond to that?. Ford styling consultant Alex Tremulis (designer of the 1948 Tucker Sedan) mocked the '58 Olds by drawing cartoons of the car, and placing musical notes in the rear trim assembly. JG: Pete, those who will hear this tonight will say you have been your own worst enemy and continue to be. The tail of the car featured massive vertical chrome tail light housings; two chrome stars were fitted to the trunk lid. I mean, show it to me.... But the bottom of the rear fender featured a thick stamping of a half tube that pointed forward, atop which was a chrome assembly of four horizontal chrome speed-lines that terminated into a vertical bar. This is too much of a festive night to worry about that because I don't know what evidence you're talking about. Streaking back from the edge of the headlights, was a broad belt of consisting of two strips on regular 88's, three strips Super 88's, and three strips (top and bottom thin, inside thick on 98's)of chrome that ended in a point at mid-body. PR: No. Up front, all 1958 Oldsmobile’s received one of GM's heavily styled front ends and quad-headlights. JG: With the overwhelming evidence in that report, why not make that step.... Popular Mechanics automobile writer Tom McCahill liked the cars performance, but felt that the outside appeared to be designed by two separate studios, working without knowing what the other was up to. I'm just a small part of a big deal tonight.. The Oldsmobile emerged in 1958 bore little resemblance to the clean design of its forerunners; instead the car emerged as large over decorated "Chrome-mobile". I appreciate the American fans voting me on the All-Century Team. But GM's senior makes of Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac received heavy a handed make-over of the weak 1957 GM designs, instead of something crisp and clean like Chryslers "Forward Look". But I appreciate the ovation. The nation was beginning to feel the results of its first significant post war recession, and all U.S automobile sales were off for the model year. I know you're getting tired of hearing me say that. Oldsmobile's only off year in the 1950s was 1958. I'm not going to admit to something that didn't happen. Both makes had models which contained the heavily framed rear window, but Detroit had been working with large curved backlights for almost a decade - consumers disliked the roof and its blind spots forcing GM to rush a redesign into production on some of its models. Pete Rose: Not at all, Jim. Compounding the problem for Olds and Buick was styling mistake which GM called the "Strato Roof". Are you willing to show contrition, admit that you bet on baseball and make some sort of apology to that effect?. When compared side to side, Oldsmobile looked dated next to its price-point competitor De Soto. It seems as though there is an opening, the American public is very forgiving. GM styling as a whole lost its frontrunner status in 1957 when Chrysler introduce Virgil Exner's Forward Look designs. Jim Gray: Pete, now let me ask you. Oldsmobile was amoungst the first of GM's divisions to receive a true hardtop in 1948, and it was also the among the first divisions (along with Buick and Cadillac) to receive a wrap around windshield - a trend that eventually all American makes would share at sometime between 1953 and 1964. After the ceremony on live television, NBC's Jim Gray repeatedly asked Rose if he was ready to admit betting on baseball and apologize: [1]. Throughout the 1950s, the make used twin jet pod tail lights, again, as a nod to its "Rocket" theme. Before game two of the 1999 World Series, Rose received the loudest ovation during the introduction of the members of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Oldsmobile adopted a ringed-globe emblem to stress what marketers felt was its universal appeal. Under the Hall of Fame's election rules, Rose will not be eligible for entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 2009 (when the Veterans Committee could select him for entry (if he is reinstated). By the mid 1950s, their styling was among the first to offer a wide, "open maw" intake grill, suggestive of jet propulsion. In September 1997 Rose applied for reinstatement (Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, is still considering the matter). Oldsmobile entered the 1950s following a divisional image campaign centered on its "Rocket" engines, and its cars appearances followed suit in their themes. On July 20 Rose was sentenced to five months in federal prison and fined $50,000, being released on January 7, 1991 after having paid $366,041 in back taxes and interest. When the "98" was retired in the in the early 1990s, its length of service was the longest of any model name in American passenger car lines. On April 21, 1990 Rose pleaded guilty to two charges of filing false income tax returns not showing income he received from selling autographs, selling memorabilia and horse racing. Other full-size model names included the "Holiday" used on hardtops, and "Fiesta" used on its station wagon lines. It is very unlikely that any other Red will ever wear that number again. This resulted in the Oldsmobile 88 emerging as base Dynamic 88 the better trimmed Delta 88, and the highline Super 88. However, aside from his son's brief stint with the team in 1997, the Reds have not issued that number since Rose's ban. In the 1950s the nomenclature changed again, and trim levels also received names that were then mated with the model numbers. Another effect of the ban was to keep the Reds from formally retiring Rose's #14 jersey. Olds dropped its "66" line before the introduction of its "Rocket" engines, leaving only the "88" and "98". On February 4, 1991 the Hall of Fame voted to formally exclude players banned from baseball from being placed on their ballots. Thus, Oldsmobile’s were named 66 through 98. Rose, with a 412-373 record, was replaced as Reds manager by Tommy Helms. Body sizes were 6, 7, 8, and 9, and 6- and 8-cylinder engines were offered. Rose accepted that there was a material reason for the ban; in return, Major League Baseball agreed to make no finding of fact with regard to the gambling allegations and on the provision that baseball would cease exploring Rose's activities (leading some observers to speculate that Rose may have bet against the Reds while managing them; had further investigations uncovered this, he would have been liable to criminal prosecution under "sports bribery" laws, which typically prohibit athletes from betting against themselves but not on themselves), and that after one year Rose could reapply for reinstatement. As originally implemented, the first digit signified the body size while the second represents the number of cylinders. On August 24, 1989, he voluntarily accepted a permanent place on baseball’s ineligible list. In the 1930s through the 1990s, Oldsmobile used a two-digit model designation similar to that used by the European makes today. The Dowd Report asserted that Rose bet on 52 Reds games in 1987, at a minimum of $10,000 a day. In 1929, the marque launched the V-8 powered Viking designed to help bridge the price gap between Oldsmobile and Buick, however the Viking was discontinued in 1930. A March 21, 1989 Sports Illustrated article tied him to baseball gambling. The company introduced chrome-plated trim, on the radiator shell of their 1926 model. Three days later, lawyer John Dowd was retained to investigate charges against Rose. The first digit generally signified the body size and the second signified the year throughout the 1920s. Amid reports that Rose had bet on baseball while Reds manager, he was questioned in February 1989 by outgoing commissioner Peter Ueberroth and his replacement, Giamatti. In 1912, Oldsmobile began using two-digit model designators, beginning with the Oldsmobile 40 and Oldsmobile 53. By the 1980s, Rose was gambling heavily on several sports, and by most accounts lost large sums. While Olds only sold 725 Limited models in its three years of production, the car is best remembered for winning a race against the famed 20th Century Limited locomotive, an event immortalized in the painting “Setting the Pace” by William Harnden Foster. The shove caused a riot within the stands which eventually led to the 30 day suspension. A limousine version was priced at $5,800. Bartlett Giamatti suspended him for 30 days. Options included a speedometer, clock and a full glass winshield. Rose continued to manage the Reds, and on April 30, 1988 he shoved umpire Dave Pallone while arguing a call; National League president A. For their money, buyers received goat skin upholstery, a 60 hp (45 kW) 707 in³ (11.6 L) straight-6 engine, Bosch Magneto starter, running boards and room for five. On November 11, Rose was dropped from the Reds’ 40-man roster to make room for pitcher Pat Pacillo. The Limited retailed $4,600, an amount greater than the purchase of a new, no frills three bedroom house. Rose’s final career at-bat was a strikeout against San Diego’s Goose Gossage on August 17, 1986. Riding atop 42” wheels, and equipped with factory “white” tires, the Limited was the prestige model in Oldsmobile’s two-model line-up. On September 11, 1985 Rose broke Cobb’s all-time hit record with his 4,192nd hit, a single to left-center field off San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show. The 1910 Limited Touring was a high point for the company. Rose was traded to the Reds for infielder Tom Lawless on August 15, and was immediately named player-manager, replacing Vern Rapp. In 1908, Oldsmobile became the first manufacturer to begin using nickel, rather than brass, trim. On April 13, Rose doubled off of the Phillies’ Jerry Koosman for his 4,000th career hit, joining Ty Cobb to become only the second player to accomplish that feat. Oldsmobile advertising pointed out that keeping a horse cost its owner and estimated $108 a year, whereas the owner of an Oldsmobile spent an average of $35 per year in fuel and maintenance. In 1984 Rose signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos. Ransom Olds left Oldsmobile in 1904. In five years with Rose, the Phillies earned three division titles, two World Series appearances and one World Series title (1980). The 1903 Model R curved dash was the number one selling car in the United States, selling for $650. In the 86 years before Rose arrived and 22 years after he departed, the Phillies went to the playoffs just three times. Oldsmobile set a land speed record of 54.38 mph at Daytona Beach in the 1903 Pirate. In 1979 Rose became a free agent and signed a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, temporarily making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports. The 1901-1904 Curved Dash was the first mass-produced car, and was also the first American car to be exported. The 1976 Reds remain the only team since the expansion of the playoffs in 1969 to go undefeated in the postseason. Their 1949 Rocket V8 engine was especially notable as the first mass-produced OHV V8. The 1976 Reds sweept the Phillies 3-0 in the National League Championship Series and the Yankees 4-0 in the World Series. Oldsmobile introduced the first fully automatic transmission, "Hydromatic" in 1940. The following year, Rose was a major force in helping the Reds repeat as World Series winners. built passenger car to use front-wheel drive, Oldsmobile's Toronado was the first of its type to prove successful in the American marketplace. His 1975 performance was considered outstanding enough that he earned the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year and Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award. While not the first U.S. The influence that Rose's hustling team attitude had on his teammates was very likely a factor in the success of what was called "The Big Red Machine". Their "Rocket 88" theme hood ornament treatment, was also the reference name for their advanced over-head valve V-8 engines,from 1949 onward. On a team with many great players that is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest teams ever, Rose was viewed as one of the club's leaders (along with future Hall of Famer, first baseman Tony Pérez). They were frequently early with other features, such as automatic headlight dimmers, and the 1950's panoramic windshields. The competitive Rose was sour after the game, blasting Garber and the Braves for not challenging him with fastballs. The list of "firsts" is quite extensive: the first to use chrome (1920), the first to use a mono-block V8 (Viking, 1929) and the first American car with a fully automatic transmission, "Hydramatic" Drive (1940). Keeler]] at 44 games; but the next day the streak came to end as Gene Garber of the Braves struck Rose out in the ninth inning. After acquisition by General Motors, Oldsmobiles were marketed for their technical sophistication. Facing Ron Reed, Rose laid down a perfect bunt single to extend the streak to 32 games. The last Curved Dash Olds was made in 1907, and in 1908, General Motors purchased the company. But the Reds managed to bat through their entire lineup, giving Rose another chance. Ransom Olds left the company in financial difficulties and formed REO Motor Car Company. He ended up walking and the streak appeared over. Olds became, for a few years, the top selling car company in the United States. On July 19 against the Phillies, Rose was hitless going into the ninth with his team trailing. In 1901, Olds introduced the Curved Dash Olds which sold 425 cars, becoming the first high-volume car of the day. The streak started quietly, but by the time it had reached 30 games, the media took notice and a pool of reporters accompanied Rose and the Reds to every game. Olds in 1897. On June 14 in Cincinnati, Rose singled in the first inning off Cubs pitcher Dave Roberts; Rose would proceed to get a hit in every game he played until August 1, making a run at Joe DiMaggio’s record 56-game hitting streak, which had stood unchallenged for 37 years. Oldsmobiles were first manufactured by the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan, a company founded by Ransom E. On May 5, 1978 Rose became the 13th and youngest player in major league history to collect his 3,000th career hit, with a single off Expos pitcher Steve Rogers. . During Game Three of the series Rose got into a fight with Mets shortstop Bud Harrelson while trying to break up a double play; the fight resulted in a bench-clearing brawl. Two of Oldsmobile's models, mainly trucks, 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). The Reds ended up losing the National League Championship Series to the Mets despite Rose’s eighth-inning home run to tie Game One and his 12th-inning home run to win Game Four. 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. In 1973 Rose won his third and final batting title with a .338 average, collected a career-high 230 hits and was named the NL MVP. In its 107 years, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing factory. Fosse never fully recovered from the injury and he has remained critical of Rose's aggressive maneuver to this day. Olds, and was produced in the United States from 1897 to 2004. Amos Otis' throw beat Rose to the plate, but Rose barreled over Indians catcher Ray Fosse, separating the catcher's shoulder, to score the winning run. Oldsmobile (or Olds + Mobile) was a brand of automobile founded by Ransom E. The Cubs’ Jim Hickman then singled sharply to center. Sam Raimi, the film director, tends to feature a 1973 yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88 automobile as a cameo in many of his films. In the 12th inning, Rose led off with a single and went to second on a single by the Dodgers' Bill Grabarkewitz. 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. On July 14, 1970, in brand new Riverfront Stadium (opened just two weeks earlier), Rose was involved in one of the most infamous plays in All-Star history. 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. Rose and Roberto Clemente were tied for the batting title going into the final game; Rose bunted for a base hit in his last at-bat of the season to beat out Clemente. Even though the characters never drive an Oldsmobile in the film, there was interaction between Oldsmobiles in the scene. But the Reds finished four games out of first, and Pete lost the MVP to Willie McCovey. The Matrix Reloaded (2003) - many Oldsmobiles are used as cameo vehicles, especially during the famous highway chase scene. He drove in 82 runs, slugged .512 (by far the highest mark of his long career), and had a .432 OBP (also a career best). Kingpin (1996) - Roy Munson's car is a Cutlass convertable that he received new when he left home, but after several years pass, the car is in very questionable shape. He hit 33 doubles, 11 triples, and a career-best 16 homers. 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. As the team's leadoff man he was a catalyst, rapping 218 hits and walking 88 times. Macy's character was an Oldsmobile salesman. Rose had his best offensive season in 1969, leading the league in batting for the second straight season (.348) and leading the league in runs with 120. Fargo (1996) - late 1980s Oldsmobile cars including the Cutlass Ciera and Ninety-Eight Touring Sedan were featured, as William H. He had to finish the season 6-for-9 to beat out Matty Alou and win the first of two close NL batting-title races. 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. In 1968, Rose started the season with a 22-game hit streak, missed three weeks (including the All-Star Game) with a broken thumb, then had a 19-game hit streak late in the season. The Dark Half (1993) - The villain, Stark (played by Timothy Hutton), is seen driving a sinister loooking jet-black '66 Toronado. He hit a career-high 16 home runs in 1966, then switched positions from second base to right field the following year. 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. Rose came back in 1965 to lead the league in hits (209) and at-bats (670), and hit .312, the first of his 10 seasons with 200-plus hits and the first of 15 consecutive .300 seasons. 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. Rose slumped late in the season, was benched, and finished with just a .269 average. "You're Gonna Get Yours" from Public Enemy's 1987 debut album Yo! Bum Rush The Show, an ode to the Ninety-Eight. On April 23, 1964, in the top of the ninth inning of a scoreless game in Colt Stadium, Rose reached first base on an error and scored on another error to make Houston Colt .45s rookie Ken Johnson the first pitcher to lose a complete game no-hitter. "Rocket 88", a 1951 song by Ike Turner said by many to be the first rock and roll record. He hit .273 for the year and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, collecting 17 of 20 votes. Bryan; the song enjoyed a second round of popularity in the 1920s. On April 11, Rose – who was 0-for-11 at the time – got his first Major League hit, a triple off Pittsburgh's Bob Friend. "In My Merry Oldsmobile", a 1905 song with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Vincent P. Rose made his debut on opening day, April 8, 1963 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and drew a walk. Oldsmobile Silhouette (1990 - 2004). Despite (or perhaps because of) the manner in which Ford intended it, Rose adopted that nickname as a badge of honor. Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998 - 2002). During another spring training game against the New York Yankees, Whitey Ford gave him the derisive nickname "Charlie Hustle" after witnessing Rose sprint to first base after drawing a walk. Oldsmobile Bravada (1991 - 2004). Rose got his chance and made the most of it. Oldsmobile Aurora (1995 - 2003). During a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox in 1963, the Reds' regular second baseman, Don Blasingame, pulled a groin muscle. Oldsmobile Alero (1999 - 2004). Rose's next move was to the Class A Macon, Georgia team, where he hit .330, leading the league in triples and runs scored. Oldsmobile Achieva (1992 - 1998). In 1961 Rose was promoted to the Class D Tampa Tarpons of the Florida State League where he batted .331, set a league record for triples and led the league in fielding errors. Oldsmobile Firenza (1982 - 1988). Rose was signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent on July 8, 1960, and was assigned to the Geneva Redlegs of the New York-Penn League. Oldsmobile Starfire (1975 - 1980). By the time Rose had graduated in 1960, he had impressed the Reds enough for them to offer him a $7,000 contract, with $500 more if he made it all the way to the major leagues and managed to stay there for a full year. Oldsmobile Toronado (1966 - 1992). Barred from his high school team because of his poor performance in class, he got onto a Dayton amateur club instead and batted .500 against grown men. Oldsmobile F-85. His father vetoed that idea: it was better for his son to repeat a year of school, Harry Rose said, than miss a season playing ball. Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. Rose paid so little attention to his studies in ninth grade that his teacher decreed he would have to attend summer school or be held back. Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (1971 - 1992). He played both baseball and football at Western Hills High School. Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera (1982 - 1996). His father, who played semiprofessional football, was the biggest influence on Rose and his sports career. Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. Rose grew up in a working class area of nearby Anderson Ferry, Ohio as one of four children to Harry and LaVerne Rose, and was encouraged as a young boy to participate in sports. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. . Oldsmobile Cutlass. Oldsmobile Series 90. After the initial ban the Baseball Hall of Fame had specified that individuals who are banned from the sport are ineligible for induction; those who were banned had previously been excluded by informal agreement among voters. Oldsmobile Series 70. After years of public denial, in 2004 he admitted the accusations were true. Oldsmobile Series 60. In August 1989, three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds; this included betting on the Reds but not against them. Oldsmobile 98. He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 18 All-Star appearances at an unequalled four different positions (2B, OF, 3B, 1B). Oldsmobile 88. Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time major league leader in hits (4256), games played (3562) and at bats (14,053). Oldsmobile 66. Peter Edward "Pete" Rose Sr. (born April 14, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio), nicknamed Charlie Hustle, is an American former player and manager in Major League Baseball who played from 1963 to 1986, best known for his many years with the Cincinnati Reds. Oldsmobile 53. WWE Hall of Fame inductee (2004). Oldsmobile 40. The Sporting News Player of the Decade (1970s). Oldsmobile Limited Touring. The Sporting News Sportsman of the Year (1985). Oldsmobile Curved Dash. The Sporting News Player of the Year (1968). April 2004: Alero compact car. Roberto Clemente Award (1976). March 2004: Silhouette minivan. Two Gold Glove Awards (1969 and 1970, both as an outfielder). January 2004: Bravada SUV replaced by the Buick Rainier. World Series MVP Award (1975). May 2003: Aurora V8 sedan. Three World Series rings (1975, 1976, 1980). June 2002: production ends for Intrigue and the Aurora V6 sedans. 18 All-Star selections. Late 2001: The 2002 Bravada becomes the company's last. NL Rookie of the Year Award (1963). Oldsmobile Silhouette (1990-2004) - minivan. NL MVP Award (1973). Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998-2002) - midsize sedan. Modern record for most consecutive game hitting streaks of 20 or more games - 7. Oldsmobile Cutlass (1997-1999) - midsize sedan. Modern (post-1900) record for longest consecutive game hitting streak - 44. Oldsmobile Bravada (1991-2004) - SUV. Most career games with 5 or more hits - 10. Oldsmobile Aurora (1995-2003) - luxury sedan. Most career doubles - 746. Oldsmobile Alero (1999-2004) - compact sedan & coupe. Most career runs - 2,165. Oldsmobile Achieva (1992-1997) - compact sedan & coupe. Most consecutive years played - 24. 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. Most years played - 24. Oldsmobile Starfire (1975-1980) - sporty compact car similar to the Chevrolet Monza, which was itself a spinoff of the Chevy Vega. National League records:
Rooflines of coupe models generally shared with the higher-priced Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Most seasons with 150 or more games played - 17. 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. Most seasons with 600 or more at bats - 17. The Toronado was Motor Trend magazine's 1966 "Car of the Year.". Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits - 23. 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. Most seasons of 200 or more hits - 10. 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. Most career total bases by a switch hitter - 5,752. (Note, between 1963 and 1966, Oldsmobile named its least expensive full-size carline the Oldsmobile Jetstar 88 which was not related to, and priced $500-$600 below the Jetstar I.). Most career singles - 3,315. Transmission offerings included a column-shift three-speed manual, Hydra-Matic or four-speed manual with floor-mounted Hurst shifter. Most career at bats - 14,053. Offered as lower-priced alternative to the Starfire. Most career games played - 3,562. 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. Most career hits - 4,256. 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. Major League records:
Three-seat models featured forward facing seating at a time when most three-seat station wagons had third seat facing the rear. Had he, from the beginning, admitted what he'd done, apologized, and asked MLB and baseball fans for forgiveness, it's likely he would have been given a lesser penalty, or perhaps reinstated after a few years. 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. Rose lied about his actions for 15 years. 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. 1. 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 quantity and quality of the evidence it provides is overwhelming, and proves Rose's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Oldsmobile F-85 (1961 - 1972) - compact sedan, coupe and station wagon powered by 215 cubic-inch aluminum block V8 engine from 1961 to 1963. The Dowd Report. 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. 2. 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. Vincent's successor, Bud Selig, also a friend of Giamatti's, has said he won't change his mind, either. Oldsmobile's best seller in the 1970s and 1980s, and in some of those years America's best selling car. Giamatti's friend, deputy and successor as Commissioner, Fay Vincent, still says he would keep the ban if it was his choice. Oldsmobile Cutlass (1961 - 1999) - mid-size car. But with Giamatti dying just a week after handing down the decision, MLB decided that one way to honor his memory was to make the Rose ban permanent. 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. Had he lived, Rose would have been able to petition him, rather than his successors, for reinstatement. The 4-4-2 definition was changed to "4" hundred-cubic-inch V8 engine, "4" barrel carburetor, "2" exhaust pipes. The death of Commissioner Bart Giamatti. 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. 3. 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. It's out of MLB's hands. 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. If the Hall changed its mind and said that Rose, Shoeless Joe or anyone else on the list was now eligible for induction, there's nothing MLB or its Commissioner could do about it, short of lobbying the voters to vote against Rose and/or Jackson. Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 (1957) - One-year only nameplate used on Oldsmobile's lowest-priced line previously known as the "88". The Hall's Board of Directors chose to make ineligible for induction any person on MLB's "permanently ineligible" list. GM terminated the project as it was a threat to its strong Corvette base. It decides who shall be permitted in and not. Earl. The Hall of Fame. Oldmobile's response to the Chevrolet Corvette; also designed by Harley J. 4. Cord. While ESPN also did a "You Can't Blame" trying to let Jackson and the other "Black Sox" off the hook for throwing the Series, they did not take a stand on whether Jackson, more than half a century after his death, had suffered enough and should be in the Hall. L. He bet on baseball anyway—and on his own team at that.
The last one, styling order #2265 (which sold for $3 million at the 2005 Barret-Jackson Auto Auction), was snuck out of the Oldsmobile factory in pieces then rebuilt and either sold or given to E. And, as a baseball historian, particularly aware of Ty Cobb and his contemporaries (and Cobb was a friend and admirer of Jackson), Rose knew full well the consequences of Jackson's actions. Four were made but only one survived. The rule was clear, Rose knew it as well as anyone else, and broke it anyway. Earl. In addition, because of the Black Sox Scandal, the rules against betting on baseball and consorting with gamblers are posted in every professional baseball clubhouse, where it is seen (if not read) every day by every person who comes in. Concept car designed by Harley J. If he's not eligible for induction, the reasoning goes, Rose shouldn't be, either. Oldsmobile F88 (1954) - The XP-20 project. For this reason, he has never been elected to the Hall of Fame. Fiesta nameplate would reappear on Olds station wagons from 1957 to 1964. Whether he actually did make plays to cause his team, the Chicago White Sox, lose the 1919 World Series or not, he accepted money from gamblers to do so. 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. Shoeless Joe Jackson. Oldsmobile 98 (1946-1997) - Oldsmobile's premium standard car line. 5. Oldsmobile DeLuxe 88 (1952 - 1953} - Lowest priced Oldsmobile line that replaced the original Olds 88. Oldsmobile Super 88 (1951 - 1964} - An upgraded Olds 88 with a more powerful engine and luxurious interior trim. Introduced with Oldsmobile's new overhead-valve, high-compression Rocket V8, giving the 88 a reputation for performance. Oldsmobile 88 (1949-1999) - Oldsmobile's standard car line. Oldsmobile Series 90 Custom Cruiser - 96/98. Oldsmobile Series 70 Dynamic Cruiser - 76/78. Oldsmobile Series 60 Special - 66/68. |