Vintage Vehicle Club

of Australia (1919-1930) Inc.

Oldsmobile Vehicles, were built from 1897 to 2004.

 

The Oldsmobile Story (Summary)

  • 1897 - Ransom E Olds founded the Olds Motor Works.

  • 1900 - OMW moves to Detroit and birth of the Oldsmobile name.

  • 1901 - First Curved Dash Oldsmobile. Factory is destroyed by fire.

  • 1902 - Factory moves back to Lansing and makes 20 cars per day. Forerunner of mass production. 37% of cars produced in USA.

  • 1903 - Holds speed record of 52 mph for cars under 1200 pounds in weight.

  • 1904 - Ransom E Olds retires from company.

  • 1908 - Oldsmobile joins General Motors.

  • 1910 - Oldsmobile Limited is produced for $5000 ! It had 42" (1075mm) wheels and had a 6 cylinder 707 ci engine.

  • 1912 - Smaller Model 40 with 299 ci engine.

  • 1914 - Model 42 with over head valves.

  • 1916 - Model 44 first V8 engine (247ci).

  • 1917 - Model 37 6 cylinder OHV.

  • 1918 - 20,262 cars produced.

  • 1919 - OHV 4 cylinder truck, 2617 produced.

  • 1920 - 40,000 units produced.

  • 1921 - V8 , 4 and 6 cylinder cars and trucks were made.

  • 1923 - Model 30 had a 6 cylinder OHV motor sales topped 35,205 with cars priced from $750 but it was a poor quality engine.  However it continued for 4 years.

  • 1925 - First chrome plating used. Duco paint also introduced. Oldsmobile employees were encouraged to submit ideas to improve the business.  Think.  Is It Safe? and "Anything short of my best is not acceptable" . There was a good team spirit in the factory.

  • 1927 - 4 wheel brakes used for the first time together with a new 6 cylinder motor 185 ci.  When the chief engine designer picked up a car off the assembly and tried to drive it to Detroit, it burnt out bearings, he realised it was time to build a real motor.

  • 1928 - The new 6 cylinder together with self energising front brakes, 14 different models, prices ranging from $US 925 to $US1125.00.  Total of 88,581 cars were sold. Known as the F28, the first of the F series up to F40 of 1940 1929 Sales of Oldmobiles topped 100,00 with 25 different models! A new V8 Viking car produced but only sold 8003 in two years and was then dropped.  The stock market crash on 29th October quickly changed everything.

  • 1933 - Saw the introduction of the first straight 8 Oldsmobile motor.

  • 1934 - The depression was lifting and the sales went to 84,271 Both the V8 and the six produced 90HP.

  • 1938 - Automatic Safety Transmission introduced. Actually it was a 4 speed semi-automatic.

  • 1948 - The Dynamic series introduced.

  • 1950 - Series 51 with 6 and 8 cylinders.

  • 1951 - Series 88 V8 only.

  • 1957 - Series 88 Golden Rocket.

  • 1964 - Cutless and Jetstar models V8's.

  • 1966 - Tornado model introduced.

  • 2004 - 29th April. Last Oldsmobile made. until then it was the oldest car name still producing cars in the USA.

Compiled by: Anon. club member.

....ooooOoooo....

 

> VVCA Home <