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- "Toronado. The All-Car Car for the All-Man Man" Oldsmobile Advertisement, 1968 - Oldsmobile introduced Toronado, a personal luxury car, for 1966. Unlike competitors Ford Thunderbird and Buick Riviera -- or any other American car at the time -- Toronado had front-wheel drive. It was the first front-wheel-drive automobile built in the United States since Cord ended production in 1937. Toronado went through four distinct styling generations, with the last models manufactured in 1992.
- March 01, 1968
- Collections - Artifact
"Toronado. The All-Car Car for the All-Man Man" Oldsmobile Advertisement, 1968
Oldsmobile introduced Toronado, a personal luxury car, for 1966. Unlike competitors Ford Thunderbird and Buick Riviera -- or any other American car at the time -- Toronado had front-wheel drive. It was the first front-wheel-drive automobile built in the United States since Cord ended production in 1937. Toronado went through four distinct styling generations, with the last models manufactured in 1992.
- Advertisement for Olds Motor Works, "Oldsmobile, the Best Thing on Wheels," 1903 - Many would-be customers balked at the high price of an automobile. Oldsmobile offered a popular counterargument in this 1903 advertisement. The car required $35 in gasoline for a year of operation, while a horse needed $180 in food. What's more, the car only used gas when it ran, while a horse had to be fed whether it worked or not.
- May 01, 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Advertisement for Olds Motor Works, "Oldsmobile, the Best Thing on Wheels," 1903
Many would-be customers balked at the high price of an automobile. Oldsmobile offered a popular counterargument in this 1903 advertisement. The car required $35 in gasoline for a year of operation, while a horse needed $180 in food. What's more, the car only used gas when it ran, while a horse had to be fed whether it worked or not.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Ad, "The V6 Diesel," 1984 - As the price of gasoline climbed in the 1970s, Oldsmobile introduced a diesel-fueled V-8 engine for 1978. Four years later, a V-6 joined the lineup. Although Oldsmobile sold more than 300,000 diesel cars in 1981, the engines earned a reputation for unreliability. That, combined with falling gas prices and stricter emissions standards, ended Oldsmobile's diesels in 1985.
- 1984
- Collections - Artifact
Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Ad, "The V6 Diesel," 1984
As the price of gasoline climbed in the 1970s, Oldsmobile introduced a diesel-fueled V-8 engine for 1978. Four years later, a V-6 joined the lineup. Although Oldsmobile sold more than 300,000 diesel cars in 1981, the engines earned a reputation for unreliability. That, combined with falling gas prices and stricter emissions standards, ended Oldsmobile's diesels in 1985.
- GM Motorama Commemorative Medallion, 1954 - From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- 1954
- Collections - Artifact
GM Motorama Commemorative Medallion, 1954
From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- Advertising Poster, "1990 North American International Auto Show" - Oldsmobile featured some of its significant models on this poster from the 1990 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The series of historic vehicles ended with a 1990 Cutlass Supreme. The two-door convertible body style was new for the Cutlass Supreme that year.
- 1990
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Poster, "1990 North American International Auto Show"
Oldsmobile featured some of its significant models on this poster from the 1990 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The series of historic vehicles ended with a 1990 Cutlass Supreme. The two-door convertible body style was new for the Cutlass Supreme that year.
- Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Nameplate, 1984 - Car model names might seem straightforward (especially once they are well-established and familiar) but most are masterpieces of allusion, rife with references to glamorous locations, social rank, rugged environment -- all tied to the self-image and aspirations of potential car buyers. Different styles of lettering -- whether bold, high-tech, freehand, or formal -- offer further reinforcement to the power of a model name.
- 1984
- Collections - Artifact
Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Nameplate, 1984
Car model names might seem straightforward (especially once they are well-established and familiar) but most are masterpieces of allusion, rife with references to glamorous locations, social rank, rugged environment -- all tied to the self-image and aspirations of potential car buyers. Different styles of lettering -- whether bold, high-tech, freehand, or formal -- offer further reinforcement to the power of a model name.
- Diagram of a 1902 Curved-Dash Oldsmobile - Shortly after the company moved to Detroit, a fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in 1901. Several prototype automobiles were lost and only the Curved Dash survived. Left with no other options, Olds put the small, inexpensive car into production. The little runabout became the bestselling car in the United States, and that fire became the happiest of accidents.
- circa 1902
- Collections - Artifact
Diagram of a 1902 Curved-Dash Oldsmobile
Shortly after the company moved to Detroit, a fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in 1901. Several prototype automobiles were lost and only the Curved Dash survived. Left with no other options, Olds put the small, inexpensive car into production. The little runabout became the bestselling car in the United States, and that fire became the happiest of accidents.
- Building Contractor Albert A. Albrecht Seated in 1902 Curved-Dash Oldsmobile, circa 1920 - Detroit contractor Albert Albrecht posed in a 1902 Oldsmobile circa 1920. Twenty years after its debut, the Curved Dash Olds was an antique with its tiller steering, chain drive and 4.5-horsepower engine hopelessly out of date. But the affordable Curved Dash had pointed toward a day when automobile ownership would be commonplace -- a day that had arrived by 1920.
- circa 1920-1925
- Collections - Artifact
Building Contractor Albert A. Albrecht Seated in 1902 Curved-Dash Oldsmobile, circa 1920
Detroit contractor Albert Albrecht posed in a 1902 Oldsmobile circa 1920. Twenty years after its debut, the Curved Dash Olds was an antique with its tiller steering, chain drive and 4.5-horsepower engine hopelessly out of date. But the affordable Curved Dash had pointed toward a day when automobile ownership would be commonplace -- a day that had arrived by 1920.
- Racing Poster, "Aerotech Oldsmobile Quad 4 Pace Car, 72nd Indianapolis 500," 1988 - Oldsmobile burnished its performance credentials in the 1980s with its four-valve, four-cylinder Quad 4 engine. The 1987 Aerotech used a modified Quad 4 when A.J. Foyt set a speed record of 267.399 mph with it. The 1988 Indianapolis 500 was paced by a Quad 4-powered Olds Cutlass Supreme. Both cars were produced under the leadership of Oldsmobile designer Ed Welburn.
- May 29, 1988
- Collections - Artifact
Racing Poster, "Aerotech Oldsmobile Quad 4 Pace Car, 72nd Indianapolis 500," 1988
Oldsmobile burnished its performance credentials in the 1980s with its four-valve, four-cylinder Quad 4 engine. The 1987 Aerotech used a modified Quad 4 when A.J. Foyt set a speed record of 267.399 mph with it. The 1988 Indianapolis 500 was paced by a Quad 4-powered Olds Cutlass Supreme. Both cars were produced under the leadership of Oldsmobile designer Ed Welburn.
- Oldsmobile Hubcap, 1928-1930 - Early automobile wheels had a central hub with a greased wheel bearing. Hub caps kept grease in and dust out. As wheels evolved and hubcaps became functionally unnecessary, they remained important to both manufacturers -- who branded wheel covers with maker names or logos -- and consumers -- who identified with hubcaps as statements about their cars and themselves.
- 1928-1930
- Collections - Artifact
Oldsmobile Hubcap, 1928-1930
Early automobile wheels had a central hub with a greased wheel bearing. Hub caps kept grease in and dust out. As wheels evolved and hubcaps became functionally unnecessary, they remained important to both manufacturers -- who branded wheel covers with maker names or logos -- and consumers -- who identified with hubcaps as statements about their cars and themselves.