the last Oldsmobubble (Oldsmobile)
 

Hey everyone!

It's a bit of a sad day, in Lansing, Michigan. Well, at least for many, as today is the day that the last Oldsmobile will roll off the line.
I have never owned an Oldsmobile, I still
find it sad to think that the name will start being only a memory today. I
tend to blame it on too much duplicity in model line ups. Eventually, even if
only by natural selection, one model or models will increase at the expense of
another, in this case, Oldsmobile. The same thing happened with Plymouth, which
went "under" in 2000. It is no doubt cheaper to make many models in a "cookie
cutter" method, but in the long run, it can be fatal.

I found this quote in an old issue of Car and Driver, after a test drive of
an Oldsmobile Calais, and in reference to Olds needing to attract younger
buyers:

"Olds will undoubtedly sell all 140,000 Calais scheduled for 1985 production
anyway. But won't it be embarrassing if, twenty years hence, the division goes
under because all of it's customers have died?" (Jean Lindamood)

That was written in 1984, exactly 20 years ago. Pretty ominous prediction,
no?

Well, GM does dumb things. Saturn should have never been created. They could have turned olds into what saturn is today, without the stupid body styles to look different. Just like with Chevy with the trailblazer and the new equinox. They both look about the same size, and probably perform the same. When daimer took over chrysler, they hac to drop a line, when they did it saddened me, because plymouth had tons of history, and so does olds :(

well sorta
 

but they where targeting younger drivers and buyers...
thats where Saturn was a good idea really....
It would of been too hard if not impossible to change
Olds image of big ol boat cars after 40 + yrs.....

My first car was a '53 Olds. I owned a '59 88 coupe & a '70 Cutlass sedan that still ran fine at 237K when the suspension gave up. A '77 Delta sedan got me around faithfully for 4 years after that.
I'll miss my merry rides' nametag, & it'll miss me.

Ron.

I saw an article about this the other day on CNN. It's really a shame to see such a historic brand as Oldsmobile 'pass away' like this due to poor product planning and management over the later years...:(

CNN Article

-Chike

I don't typically like GM vehicles, so this is difficult for me to say, but what you said doesn't exactly make any sense. You say that GM 'does dumb things,' and back it up with a success story like Saturn?

Besides, I don't think a brand-name like 'Oldsmobile' could have attracted the young, 'otherwise-gonna-buy-Japanese' crowd no matter how they marketed it.

GM has too many brand names selling the same cars. One (or more - let's not forget Geo) was going to fail eventually. No matter which one failed, a case could be made that GM 'did something stupid' to let that brand down.

Brand names are funny things, incidentally. I remember seeing an article on the actual differences between GMC and Chevrolet truck models, compared to the perceived differences. Customers seemed to think that GMC models were somehow more 'commercial strength.' I remember, specifically, that one owner polled said, 'I think GMC uses thicker sheetmetal.'

Funny stuff, and the manufacturers milk that stuff for all they can. Unfortunately for Oldsmobile, the perception was that cars under their brand were boring old-people models.

I too am sad about the loss of Oldsmobile.
I had a 1970 Toronado SC. It had a 455 cubic inch engine and put out 375 real HP. Even at 5000 pounds, that car could fly.

Oldsmobile was the oldest brand name car company in the US and the second oldest in the world. The oldest car company in the world is Daimler (Daimler-Chrysler, nee Mercedes Benz).

I recently read an article that the last 500 Oldsmobiles will be given special badges and sold at a higher price for nostalgia value. It's just like GM to try to make a buck after killing off something. The last car off the line at the Lansing Mich. plant is headed for the Ransom E. Olds Automotive Museum.

So long Oldsmobile---Rest in Peace.


Though it saddens me to say this, I think Buick or Mercury will be next.

I predict it'll be Mercury before Buick. Buick seems to be having a strong product revival over the last two years and it should keep the brand afloat for a bit longer.
Mercury on the other hand, has just had problems over the last few years. Their products are dressed up Fords, and the brand doesn't offer anything distinctive to seperate it from the crowd. The Marauder was a dismal flop despite all the hype and R&D they put into it. 0-60 in 7.2 just doesn't get the ol' muscle car guys hearts pumping...

Mercury no longer serves it niche by catering to the customer who wants to step up from a Ford, but can't quite afford a Lincoln. It no longer has a raison d'etre! I predict it'll go the way of Eagle and Plymouth in the next 4-5 years...

-Chike

It is kinda sad... :(

eh

OMG!!! the horror! this can't be!!

oh well! ;)

the only oldsmancar i have seen was a buick. they are huge!

Kelli

(no offense to anyone but i wouldn't be upset if a lot of companies went down right after it (ie saturn)

I will always regret selling my 69 Olds Cutlas S convertible. :(

Johnny

always wanted a nice
 

442 or Hurst/Olds....
Sold a 65 Buick Wildcat conv a few yrs ago..
was a nice Az car w/ the 425
325hp 455lbs of torque awesome car.....
wish would of kept that one too....

My ma bought an '86 Cutlass Supreme brand new when I turned 3, and kept it 'til Alaska (94-95) destroyed it (first dent EVAR) when I was 13. I wanted that car.

Has anyone noticed the pattern to GM's new products? They are returning to their classic lineups..."back in the day" each division had a specific purpose...Chevy was the anchor brand, Pontiac was performance, Cadillac was status, GMC was utility, but Buick and Olds always stood for the same thing...just a comfort brand. It makes sense to get rid of one of them. Especially with competition so tight these days. Plus the non-luxury cars are becoming more luxurious, thus the middle-of-the-road comfort cars (like Buicks) are becoming less distinctive.

Well, actually, unless you are more specific, you could say this about any car company. You think it was dumb for GM to build a car line that is now the number one value brand in the world? OK. I won't be calling you when i'm looking for a partner to start up my car company. :D

No offense, but I wouldn't be upset if Ford gave up the car business and decided to start making something that they can actually make right...like pencils. :p