Oldsmobile

"Once the largest division of General Motors, the Oldsmobile dream was killed off at 107 years old, on April 29, 2004, a full 20 years ago today. While the brand was largely seen as a stodgy, outdated, and unprofitable liability by the time GM ended it, the automaker was responsible for some pretty impressive engineering in its century of crafting cars. The General diluted the brand until it stood for nothing, but it has a history of doing cool shit, and for that it should be remembered fondly. Rest well, ye beast. We miss you."

"Come away with me, Lucille In my merry Oldsmobile Down the road of life we'll fly Automobubbling, you and I To the church we'll swiftly steal Then our wedding bells will peal You can go as far as you like with me In my merry Oldsmobile."

"Today, the only thing most people remember about Oldsmobile is that it's a defunct brand which enjoyed a good degree of success in the last century, but gradually declined into obscurity before disappearing at the turn of the millenium. While that may be true, there is plenty more to this historic marque, including several important firsts."

"Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man."

"At the time Oldsmobile closed its doors in 2004 it was the oldest surviving American car brand at 107 years old. It was a fate that was first announced on this day in 2000 when General Motors (GM) stated its plans to phase out Oldsmobile. Ransom E. Olds founded the company in 1897 as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan. It soon became the first high output manufacturer of gas-powered automobiles. The company produced 4,000 units in 1903 at a time when other automakers averaged just 1,272. The numbers grew with the introduction of the first automotive assembly line, which churned out the Olds Curved Dash. Henry Ford would later enhance automobile production using first the moving assembly line in the industry. GM cited profitability as its primary reason for shutting down Oldsmobile. After its initial announcement, Olds survived another four years. On April 29, 2004 the last Oldsmobile, an Alero GLS sedan, rolled out of the factory. As it moved along the assembly line each worker that had a hand in it signed the vehicle."

"The period immediately following the 1970s oil crises wasn't nicknamed the "Malaise Era" for no reason. Many American car brands were forced to undergo radical changes in their manufacturing processes. This led to various experiments to try and keep companies afloat, with this era giving rise to some bizarre creative decisions from American automakers. For instance, Oldsmobile tried to repurpose a diesel engine in its Cutlass model, which ultimately flopped. Then there's the infamous Chevette, which was essentially created when GM was in full-blown panic mode and needed something that could sell like hotcakes."

"By the 1980s, Oldsmobile was sharing GM's lackluster image and had garnered a reputation for being — bluntly — cars for the elderly. They weren't particularly bad cars, per se, but they were viewed as cookie-cutter, badge-engineered, and boring. The brand was on the verge of losing its audience because its main demographic was aging, and its appeal to younger buyers was nonexistent. In a desperate effort to curb plummeting sales, GM launched the "Not Your Father's Oldsmobile" campaign in 1988. This featured several commercials showcasing new models that were meant to appeal to a younger generation. However, it was far too little, far too late to alter Oldsmobile's fate. Ultimately, it may have even hastened its demise."

"Oldsmobile attempted to draw in new buyers through a self-deprecating ad campaign that featured past-their-prime celebrities and their largely unknown children, neither of which rang any bells with the target demographic. In the commercial for the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass, for example, viewers watched Mission Impossible star Peter Graves drive the car through explosions in a chase scene. After the driver makes it to safety, he pulls off a mask to reveal that it was actually Graves' daughter, Amanda, behind the wheel the whole time. A choir then sings, "This is not your father's Oldsmobile," and promotes the vehicle as part of the "New Generation of Oldsmobile." These commercials were so bizarre that they failed to connect with both younger and older audiences. Nevertheless, Oldsmobile held onto this advertising campaign all the way until its dying days in the late 1990s. However, it was purely delaying the inevitable: Oldsmobile eventually flopped, closing up shop after its last ever production car, the Alero, left the factory on April 29, 2004."

"Ultimately, the campaign created a paradox. Similar to Richard Nixon's "I am Not a Crook!" speech, vehemently denying something tends to paradoxically reinforce its opposite. In Oldsmobile's case, trying to say newer models were "not for your father" only aged them more. It isolated buyers who actually could afford newer models, without attracting the newer generation to take their place. This ultimately resulted in a car brand which appealed to no one, and sales figures started to reflect that. The 1980s regularly saw sales between 800,000 to 1 million units before those numbers started to drop. After 1990, Oldsmobile never again sold more than 500,000 units per year, no matter what campaigns it tried to enact to recoup losses. This can all be traced back to the late 1980s, when Oldsmobile unfortunately learned this lesson the hard way: Don't alienate your main source of income. It's a shame as well, considering the proud 100-plus year history of the company and the many important moments Oldsmobile enjoyed over that time."

"Did China play a major role in killing of the beloved GM Oldsmobile and Pontiac brands? Are they the reason American got stuck with the stodygy old Buick brand? It looks that way. In the early 2000s, the automotive landscape witnessed significant shifts as General Motors (GM) made the controversial decision to discontinue two of its iconic brands, Oldsmobile and Pontiac, while retaining Buick—a brand often perceived as lacking youthful appeal. This move left many car enthusiasts and industry analysts questioning the rationale behind GM’s brand strategy during a tumultuous economic period. Both Oldsmobile and Pontiac had storied histories within the GM family, each contributing uniquely to the automotive world. However, several factors led to their eventual discontinuation."

"Established in 1897, Oldsmobile was one of America’s oldest automobile brands. By the late 20th century, however, it faced a significant identity crisis. Although they turned out some pretty cool cars in the 60s and 70s, the brand struggled to differentiate itself within GM’s lineup, leading to a diluted image that failed to resonate with consumers. This lack of a clear brand identity resulted in declining sales figures, making Oldsmobile less viable in GM’s portfolio. Consequently, GM made the difficult decision to discontinue Oldsmobile in 2004, channeling its efforts toward revitalizing other brands within its lineup. Did GM [do] a good job of revitalizing other brands? Many [auto] enthusiasts would dispute that."

"The discontinuation of Oldsmobile and Pontiac elicited strong reactions from car enthusiasts, many of whom had deep emotional connections to these brands. Enthusiasts mourned the loss of iconic models synonymous with American automotive culture. Vehicles like the Oldsmobile 442 and Pontiac Trans Am represented eras of performance and style that many felt were irreplaceable. The discontinuation marked the end of an era for muscle car aficionados. Some enthusiasts criticized GM’s management strategies, arguing that better brand differentiation and innovation could have preserved Oldsmobile and Pontiac. They contended that internal competition and lack of clear brand identities led to the brands’ downfalls, suggesting that with proper positioning, these marques could have thrived. While sentimental about the discontinued brands, many enthusiasts acknowledged the harsh economic realities that influenced GM’s decisions. The need for financial viability and market consolidation during the economic downturn made such tough choices inevitable. This pragmatic view recognized that preserving the company’s overall health sometimes necessitates difficult sacrifices."

"General Motors’ decisions to discontinue Oldsmobile and Pontiac while retaining Buick were driven by a combination of brand performance, market dynamics, and strategic foresight. Oldsmobile’s identity crisis and declining sales, coupled with Pontiac’s profitability issues and brand overlap, made them less viable in a challenging economic climate. Conversely, Buick’s Chinese connection kept it alive. Still, the loss of Oldsmobile and Pontiac brands are like missing family members, and the GM decision to kill them off was horrific."

"My daddy bought this car before I was born Sure like the radio, I love the horn I love the great big shiny steerin' wheel Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile"

"Four kids can sure fill up a big back seat They used to stop and get us something sweet Now Mamma says: "Let's pray for one good meal." Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile"

"Mama kisses us goodnight Daddy reads his paper in the dashboard light Crushes out his cigarette, says: "Don't cry, honey, we ain't beat yet.""

"Another mornin' and we're up and gone Daddy says there's work in San Antone Two days of ridin', it ain't no big deal Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile"

"Our car was an Oldsmobile, delivered to our home by Mr. Olds himself. I recall how our family went out to the street curb to look at it. Mr. Olds worked quite a while cranking it, muttering something about each car having an individuality of its own. But after we began to make motors for him, father took the individuality out of them. After our own little Oldsmobile was properly equipped, it acted in quite an exemplary fashion."

"The Best Thing On Wheels"

"The Car That Has Everything"

"You Can Always Count On Oldsmobile"

"Escape From The Ordinary"

"Can We Build One For You?"

"There Is A Special Feel, In An Oldsmobile"

"The New Generation Of Oldsmobile"

"The Power Of Intelligent Engineering"

"It's Your Money, Demand Better"

"Start Something"

"It's the reason I'm ahead of the pack It's the reason I left them back It's the reason all the people say My '98 Olds blows 'em all away"

"Sidewalk suckers wanted to spill me So I got my crew and posse Took the girls and got them to thrill me Stepped outside, got in my ride Drove 'em around and I looked around town Caught 'em out there cold, ran 'em over and down They didn't get me and that's the truth ('Cause my '98-O is bullet proof)"