Why GM Killed America's Oldest Car Brand

In 1985 Americans bought more than a million Oldsmobiles. In 2004 GM built the last one. The usual story blames one ad slogan, but the slide began earlier: Chevrolet engines under Olds hoods, look-alike GM cars, and a luxury sedan that had to hide the Oldsmobile name to sell. Figures come from GM's SEC filings, court records and period reporting. Where sources disagree, the video says so. CHAPTERS 0:00 America's oldest brand 0:40 Merry Oldsmobile 2:33 GM goes first 3:42 Cutlass country 5:13 A million a year 6:59 Not your father's 8:03 The name is a negative 9:50 Phase out 11:51 What remains SOURCES GM press release on the Oldsmobile phase-out, Dec. 12, 2000, and Q4 2000 earnings (SEC Form 8-K) Associated Press, 'Final Oldsmobile rolls off assembly line', April 29, 2004 The New York Times, Jan. 6, 1977 (1976 car sales) and July 9, 1991 (Oldsmobile advertising) US Court of Appeals, 7th Cir., GM Engine Interchange Litigation, 594 F.2d 1106 (1979) The Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 20, 1988; The Washington Post, Dec. 13, 2000 National Park Service, REO Motor Car Company Plant; GM Heritage Center, 1903 Curved Dash IMAGES 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 2004 Oldsmobile Alero GLS in Sterling · Cutlass · CC0 Streng Oldsmobile sign, Buffalo, New York · John Margolies · Public domain Olds Motor Works 4a18686r · Detroit Publishing Co. · Public domain 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash - Model R · David Merrett · CC BY 2.0 Ransom olds c1901 · Unknown photographer · Public domain The First Oldsmobile · Unknown photographer · Public domain 1902 Oldsmobile R 5hp, 1563cc, 45kmh p1 · Alf van Beem · CC0 Oldsmobile Curved Dash 1902 Tokyo · Unknown photographer · Public domain Oldsmobile Ad 1905 · Olds Motor Works · Public domain In My Merry Oldsmobile a2701-1-72dpi · Unidentified illustrator · Public domain Oldsmobile Six ad 1925-10 · Unknown artist · Public domain 1909 REO · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 William Crapo Durant, 1861-1947 · Bain News Service · Public domain 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 DE-93-36 p2 · Alf van Beem · CC0 1928 Oldsmobile F28 Tourer · Sicnag · CC BY 2.0 1940 Oldsmobile Dynamic Series 70 Sedan · Sicnag · CC BY 2.0 GM Hydra-Matic Transmission, 1947, General Motors - Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) · Daderot · CC0 R. E. Olds Transportation Museum July 2018 68 (1964 Oldsmobile Rocket V8 engine) · Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 Oldsmobile Rocket, 1949 · Supermac1961 · CC BY 2.0 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 Oldsmobile Toronado (1966) · Charles · CC BY 2.0 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado front 3-4 · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W30 · Mustang Joe · CC0 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 Oldsmobile 88 emblem · Alf van Beem · CC0 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe; Shoreview, MN · Greg Gjerdingen · CC BY 2.0 1985-88 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera · IFCAR · Public domain Chevrolet Celebrity -- 08-24-2009 · IFCAR · Public domain 1984 Buick Century Limited Sedan in Silver · Elise240SX · CC BY-SA 4.0 1986 Pontiac 6000 LE · Taxiguy57 · Public domain 1986 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham in Sedona Tan · Cutlass · CC0 1985 Oldsmobile Calais in White · Cutlass · CC0 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe 1989 · RL GNZLZ · CC BY-SA 2.0 Oldsmobile Toronado 1986 · RL GNZLZ · CC BY-SA 2.0 1st Oldsmobile Aurora · IFCAR · Public domain 1953 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Fiesta Convertible · Joe deSousa · CC0 Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior · National Photo Company · Public domain Oldsmobile-Achieva-coupe · IFCAR · Public domain 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette 3.1 · Charlie · CC BY 2.0 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora in Champagne Metallic · Cutlass · CC0 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (front left) · BlueCrabRedCrab · CC0 Oldsmobile Alero Coupe Tropic Teal left front quarter view · ITakePhotosOfCars · CC0 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada in Black Onyx · BlueCrabRedCrab · CC0 Detroit-Renaissance Center · Patricia Drury · CC BY 2.0 Oldsmobile Oakland Pittsburgh Co., 2022-08-02 · Cbaile19 · CC0 04 bravada 500 7-24-22 front · Captainpisslord · CC0 2007 Oldsmobile Homecoming · Joe Ross · CC BY-SA 2.0 REO Town - Lansing - Michigan - Fabulous Acres · Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 R E Olds Transportation Museum Lansing · kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0 R. E. Olds Transportation Museum July 2018 17 (1903 Oldsmobile "Curved Dash") · Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 GM Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant · Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0 Jackson Field at Cooley Law School Stadium · Joel Dinda · CC BY 2.0 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 Convertible · Mustang Joe · CC0 Narration uses a synthetic voice. #Oldsmobile #CarHistory #GeneralMotors