Top 10 Best Models Manufactured by Oldsmobile

I still consider the day that my father gave me the keys to a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham, one of my finest ever. I had never asked for a car and certainly never expected one. I was in the thick of my college years in the big city and didn't really need a car. I could take the train to and from my hallowed institution or my parents would have been happy to fetch me from the clutches of academia.

Oldsmobile was a foreign brand in a household of Dodges at the beginning, and Chryslers and Lincoln Continentals towards the end. Oldsmobiles were the kind of high-performance beauties you gawked at "down the shore" or on the main drag in town with something like, "Boy, I wish I could drive that car." But, deep down, you knew you never would. Or could.

We just weren't a flashy family, so a flashy car was out of the question. Or was it? Yes, indeed, the 1977 Cutlass Supreme was a big surprise for me and my family, a red-hot touring coupe that was a actually a company car in its previous life. There it was, sitting in the driveway, shiny and like-new. Everything an American teenager would want or hope for. Of course, once I had my Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, everything changed for me. I finally had a set of wheels of my very own. There was no looking back.

Oldsmobile: The Brand

Oldsmobile was a longtime, hallowed car brand, produced by General Motors (GM) for most of the time the cars were with us. The company had a 107 year history and produced 35.2 million cars by the end. 14 million Oldsmobiles were built at its Lansing, Michigan factory. By the time Oldsmobile the brand sang its swan song, it was the oldest surviving American automobile company and, certainly, one of the oldest car companies on the planet.

What made GM Oldsmobiles so special? First, Oldsmobile pioneered the automatic transmission back in the 1930s. They perfected this technology in the 1940s and became the first American carmaker to offer a fully automatic transmission for the post-war consumer. Oldsmobile is, in large part, responsible for the V8 engine. By the 1950s, Oldsmobile's Rocket V8 engine led other car manufacturers in performance. By the 1960s, Oldsmobile led the pack for both style and performance and its models became quite popular with consumers looking for high style and overall performance. Second, the Oldsmobile was distinctive, like America itself.

Oldsmobile: A Leader in Automobile Innovation and Technology

According to Outright Olds, Oldsmobile is responsible for much of the style points and innovations we prize on our vehicles today, including the speedometer, high performance engine, air bags, chrome plated trim, the automatic transmission, mass-produced front-wheel drive cars, on-board navigation, among so many others. It was the first car maker to export its products. It was the first to put an automatic transmission, air bags, and on-board navigation in mass production cars. It was this winning approach to high style and technology that made Oldsmobile very successful in a red-hot car market.

Oldsmobile's Curtain Call

The new millennium crystallized the changing tastes of the American consumer. No longer would Oldsmobile models hold the attention of the 20-somethings, some of whom wanted all the bells and whistle in a compact, fuel efficient car. Baby Boomers wanted something altogether different, like bigger SUVs to carry their kids, gear and other stuff. Seniors were shedding their big touring mobiles or giving up their cars altogether. Oldsmobile had a difficult time catching up with these new consumer demands and demographics. The car maker was also under heavy pressure to distinguish itself from the red-hot Pontiac and Buick brands which were putting the squeeze on classic Oldsmobile. As a result, Oldsmobile became one of the first brands to be phased out by General Motor's in the 21^st century. They've since become highly prized by vintage and classic car enthusiasts.

Top 10 Models Manufactured by GM's Oldsmobile

While it's difficult to choose from among such great cars, here are some of the best of the best, from among the top Oldsmobile models around. What are the Top 10 Best Models Manufactured by Oldsmobile? Check these classic Oldsmobiles out:

1. Oldsmobile Curved Dash
Sold from 1901-1907

The first car to put Oldsmobile on the map, Oldsmobile gets high points for making a model that was unique and popular with the buying public.

2. Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight
Sold from 1949-1999

Full-sized, premium car, redesigned in 1992 to adjust to changing consumer tastes.

3. Oldsmobile Series 90
Sold from 1941 to 1996

Top of the line, super performing, luxury vehicle for Oldsmobile. Flagship model for Oldsmobile, later known as the "Ninety-Eight."

4. Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Sold from 1941 to1996

Full sized, luxury model, redesigned in 1991 for a demanding public. Super sleek and luxurious. High tech interior, featured dimmer lights and so much more. Very cool.

5. Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
Sold from 1964 to 1977

What made Vista Cruiser special was that its station wagon models could hold a lot of people and gear. Plus, they were super high-powered, well-built and had excellent performance. Here's one vehicle that was popular as a muscle car from the get go.

6. Oldsmobile Cutlass
Sold from 1964 to 1999

The car everybody wanted back in the day. A best seller in the 1970s and 1980s, and often the top selling vehicle in America during those same years. A solid performer for Oldsmobile.

7. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Sold from 1970 to1977

Here's one Oldsmobile model that combined performance with luxury. The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham that I owned had a silver exterior (with red pin stripes) and a red-and-pumpkin striped velour interior. It seemed to be one of a kind and ran like a top.

8. Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
Sold from 1982 to 1996

A departure from previous models, downsized for better fuel economy. A lovely vehicle for Oldsmobile. Sought after by 20-somethings.

9. Oldsmobile Toronado
Sold from 1966 to 1992

Quite unique. Named "Car of the Year" by Motor Trend Magazine in 1966. One of the most powerful front-wheel drive coupes ever produced. High performance within a luxury line.

10. Oldsmobile Silhouette
Sold from 1990 to 2004

A lovely vehicle, with high styling and a lovely interior. One smooth, performing vehicle. Another great car from Oldsmobile.

RESOURCES

Official Oldsmobile Site
www.oldsmobile.com

Classic Oldsmobile
www.classicoldsmobile.com

Oldsmobile Club
www.oldsclub.org

Outright Oldsmobile
www.outrightolds.com/history.shtml

Edmunds Auto Trader Classic
http://www.autotraderclassics.com

Muscle Car Club
www.musclecarclub.com

Classic Muscle Cars
www.classicmusclecars.com