The Curved Dash Olds
At the turn of the 20th century, owning an automobile was relatively uncommon, and those who did were generally well-off. Automobile companies were just beginning to entrench themselves in the economy, long before they reached the point of nearly single-handedly supporting some communities. In those early days, many cars resembled the horse-drawn carriages that had provided slow-moving transportation for centuries.
In 1901, Oldsmobile introduced the Curved Dash Olds, and it became “the first ‘mass produced’ gasoline engine autos in the world,” according to classicoldsmobile.com. Though decades later, cars would contain 6-cylinder engine producing horsepower ratings in the hundreds, the Curved Dash contained only one cylinder which produced only 4.5 horsepower, at 500 rpm. The car sold for an initial price of $650, which would be equivalent to well over $15,000 in today’s dollars, though most inflation calculators account for only 1913 and later. The car had only enough room for two passengers and 5 gallons of gasoline.
Today, a coast-to-coast road trip can be done in a couple short days, but in the Curved Dash, the trip was completed in a whopping 73 days. About 4000 units were produced, which was impressive at the time. The final Curved Dash Olds was produced 6 years after the model’s introduction, bringing an end to the model in 1907. It can be hard to imagine the drive in one of these early cars. Surely, the trip was slow, and often on an unpaved road, making the ride bumpy at best.
Do you know someone who owns a Curved Dash Olds, or have you seen one before? Share with us below!
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Oldsmobile Club of America National Car Show
Getting together with people who are classic Olds fans just like you is one of the highlights of the year.
Every spring and summer there are vintage car events taking place around the country. Having the opportunity to participate in rallies, car shows and classic car cruises is one of the benefits that goes along with being an avid collectible car enthusiast.
Classic car clubs are behind many of the events that take place, and when it comes to Oldsmobiles the Oldsmobile Club of America is one of the true driving forces. There are chapters all over the country so you can get together with like-minded folks on a regular basis wherever you may reside.
However, there are also national events and this year there is one that you should definitely consider attending if you are a true classic Oldsmobile fan. The Olds Club of Iowa is spearheading this year’s summer national meet, and it is taking place on Wednesday, July 4 through Saturday, July 7.
We are talking about a classic car throwdown like no other, and if you can carve out the time and make the road trip you will certainly not be disappointed. The 2012 Oldsmobile Club of America National Car Show is taking place in downtown Des Moines at the beautiful Iowa Event Center, which is right off Interstate 235.
They have space for 500 cars inside the show and more space outdoors, so there is plenty of room for everybody. There will be vending galore, a swap meet, a banquet meal, and of course the car show which is the centerpiece of the event.
This is a heartland extravaganza that is not to be missed if you love classic Oldsmobiles. To get detailed information simply visit the 2012 Oldsmobile Club of America National Car Show webpage.
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1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88
There were countless standout classic Oldsmobile models churned out over the decades that the company was one of the automotive leaders in the United States. Of course Oldsmobile has not been around since 2004 as a company actively manufacturing motor vehicles, but the quality old cars of the past will be with us forever.
One of the vehicles that was a standard bearer for Oldsmobile for many years was the Oldsmobile 88. The Olds 88 was a full-size car that first made its debut just when the automotive industry was starting to find its legs again after World War II in 1949. The car remained in production for some five decades lasting through the 1999 model year and this is certainly quite an accomplishment for any nameplate.
There were various different Oldsmobile 88 variants over its long production run and today we would like to take a look at the 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88. The Dynamic 88 first made its debut during that year and remained in production through the 1966 model year.
The 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 came equipped with a 265 horsepower 371 cubic inch V-8 as standard equipment and this was certainly more than enough to get you where you needed to go in a hurry. The two-door Holiday hardtop was an especially popular version of the ’58 Olds 88. Oldsmobile was able to sell a total of more than 50,000 of these models, and they carried a price tag of $2834.
Classic Oldsmobile fans will always remember the Dynamic 88 with great fondness. If you have a 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 in your possession you are certainly the envy of many vintage Oldsmobile enthusiasts because these cars are in great demand. The 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 has the unmistakable look of the 50s and they are a true slice of Americana, a living monument to the excellence of American automobile manufacturing during that classic era.
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Olds 442: The First Generation
Oldsmobile is a special name in the history of American automobile manufacturing, and it is kind of sad to think that the children of today are growing up without new Oldsmobiles being part of the landscape.
It seems like only yesterday, but the Oldsmobile division of General Motors ceased operation back in 2004 and it is sorely missed by many of us, especially classic Oldsmobile fans.
The good news is that the brand is kept alive by the classics that we all know and love and one of these that holds a very special place in the hearts of classic Oldsmobile fans is the Oldsmobile 442, which was one of the true-school muscle cars.
The Oldsmobile 442 was first offered as a package option on Oldsmobile Cutlass and F-85 models beginning in 1964. Oldsmobile decided to offer the package as a competitor to the Pontiac Tempest GTO which was catching the interest of the muscle car community at the time. Initially it was powered by a 330 cubic inch 310 hp V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor.
According to tests conducted by Motor Trend magazine at the time one of these first-generation Oldsmobile 442 specimens was able to go from 0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds and get a quarter-mile from a standing position in 15.5 seconds, reaching a speed of 90 mph in the process.
The first generation of the Oldsmobile 442 as an option package blasted through the 1967 model year. The most powerful engine on the 1967 442 was a 400 cubic inch with a four-barrel rated at a pretty darn impressive 360 hp. That year Oldsmobile sold 24,833 vehicles with the 442 package.
1964 through 1967 was the era during which the 442 was born and first finding its legs. In 1968 the car become a model in its own right and we will take a look at that incarnation of this classic Oldsmobile in a future post, so stay tuned.
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Looking To Buy A Classic Olds?
If you are looking to buy a typical new or used car it is the simplest thing in the world. Regardless of where you live it is very likely that you can drive around to a number of different car dealerships on any given day and explore all of your options in great detail. There is little doubt that you will be able to locate the vehicle that is right for you.
Things are very much different when you are looking for classic cars for sale. Really cool classic Olds specimens are few and far between, and this scarcity is one of the reasons why they are so highly sought after and valuable. If you live in a rural area or small-town it is going to be even harder to find the right classic Oldsmobile.
The good news is that a fantastic solution exists right on the Internet at FossilCars.com. This website is a veritable cornucopia of classic cars for sale, and if you are particularly partial to classic Oldsmobile vehicles they have you covered. There are countless rare and collectible vehicles for sale over at FossilCars.com and you will be truly amazed at the quality that is represented there.
In addition to the actual cars themselves Fossil Cars also connects visitors with classic car transport services so you don’t have to worry about finding a way to get the car to you if you purchase one. They also connect people with classic car finance options so you can start or add to your collection of classic Oldsmobiles even if you don’t have a lot of ready cash on hand.
This is a website that every classic Oldsmobile fan should be aware of so we wanted to give our readers a heads up. It is one of our favorite classic car websites and we are sure that it will become one of yours as well.
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The Olds F-85
Every classic Oldsmobile fan is well aware of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, and we will be examining the Cutlass from various angles in different posts as we go forward.
However, today we are going to look at the seed from which the Cutlass as we have come to know it emerged.
Back in the late 1950s General Motors started to develop an interest in producing compact cars. A lot of Americans were becoming concerned with economy, and many families were adding a second car. Therefore, there was a demographic niche for downsized vehicles.
In addition to compacts, the concept of the “senior compact” surfaced and as the name implies these were compact cars with a little more size and power than the typical pure compact. The Oldsmobile division of General Motors made its entry into this senior compact niche with the Oldsmobile F-85.
The very first Olds F-85 was introduced in 1960 for the 1961 model year, and the top trim package available for the car was the Cutlass package, and this is where the Cutlass got its start. Many automotive nameplates that have become popular over the years started out as a package offered for an existing model and the Cutlass was one of them.
This first generation of the Olds F-85 was offered as either a two-door coupe, a two door hardtop, a four-door sedan, or a four-door station wagon. In 1962 an exciting addition was added to the lineup in the form of the Jetfire Cutlass hardtop that was powered by a turbocharged V-8 that could go from zero to 60 in 9.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 110 miles per hour.
The first generation of the Olds F-85 lasted through the 1963 model year when over 121,600 units were sold. Over 53,000 of these were of the Cutlass variety and that popularity was duly noted by General Motors.
This is the first installment of the Cutlass story— stay tuned for the rest over the coming weeks and months!
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The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
Ransom E. Olds
If you are a big fan of something there are certain pilgrimages that you must make at least once in your life.
Fans of baseball are going to want to visit the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and there is truly nothing like that assemblage of history all under one roof. Similarly, football fans are going to make the trip to Canton, Ohio to take in all of the history that is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For the classic Oldsmobile fan there is also this type of destination that is truly a must see, and after you go once you’re going to want to make a return visit and turn your friends on to it. The shrine that we are talking about is the R.E Olds Transportation Museum.
The museum is named after Ransom E. Olds who was the original founder of the Oldsmobile company, and in fact the REO brand was named after him as well. Olds was an automotive pioneer who was born all the way back in 1864. He passed away in 1950 and left a truly extraordinary legacy.
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum has an extraordinary collection of classic Oldsmobiles that you absolutely must see if you love these cars. The oldest of the 52 vehicles that they have on display is a 1886 Oldsmobile Steam Carriage. Some of the highlights would be the 1901 Olds Curved Dash, a 1906 REO Runabout, a 1923 REO Speedwagon, and a 1948 Oldsmobile Futuramic. But of course every vehicle in the collection is important in its own right.
The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum is located in Lansing, Michigan at 240 Museum Dr. and it is open all year around. For more information you can give them a call at (517) 372-0529.
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Top Of The Line: The 1969 Olds 98
During the halcyon days of automaking in the U.S. the Big Three were all about having every base covered, and they were serious about making sure that they offered something to fit the tastes and budgets of all consumers.
General Motors actually was able to serve as its own competition in many of these niches through its various divisions so in the big picture they were hard to compete with a lot of the time.
When it comes to the top-of-the-line big luxury car the standard bearer for the Oldsmobile division of General Motors was the 98 from its debut before World War II in 1941 all the way through the 1996 model year. A car that lasted for more than five decades certainly counts as a success, and the Oldsmobile 98 is a car that will never be forgotten and there are many classic years to highlight. This time we will take a look at the 1969 Oldsmobile 98.
The 1969 Olds 98 appeared near the end of the seventh generation of the vehicle. The car was 6.7 feet wide with a 127 inch wheelbase and it was quite the whale, tipping the scales at a little over 2 tons. The standard engine in the 1969 Oldsmobile 98 was the 455 Rocket V8, a powerful engine designed to move a lot of steel; it was rated at 365 hp.
Standard equipment included the Hydra-Matic 400 tranny and power everything including the seats, the windows, the steering and the brakes. As a sign of the times, one of the options was an eight track stereo tape deck so you could jam out in style. Other options included a remote-controlled driver-side mirror and a retractable powered antenna.
The 1969 Oldsmobile 98 was a powerful, quiet top-of-the-line boat that came with all the bells and whistles, and if you are fortunate enough to have one of these classics today you certainly have the ability to cruise down the road in total comfort.
The Oldsmobile Club Of America
When you look back on the history of automobile building in the United States Oldsmobile holds a very special place, and this is why there are so many people who are interested in collecting them.
The company dates all the way back to 1897 when it was founded by a fellow named Ransom E. Olds. Believe it or not, Oldsmobile set an unprecedented standard for prolific production when it churned out all of 425 units in 1901.
Oldsmobile is one of the true American originals, and if you are a believer you may want to consider joining your brethren in the Oldsmobile Club Of America. There is nothing cooler than interacting with people who love Oldsmobiles as much as you do, and you have that opportunity when you join the OCA.
And, you don’t even have to own an Oldsmobile at the present time to join so it is certainly a welcoming “come one, come all” group of classic car enthusiasts. Besides, once you get around this bunch you’re bound to find yourself owning an Oldsmobile again before long.
One of the cool benefits that goes along with joining the Oldsmobile Club Of America is that you automatically become a subscriber to a magazine they put out called Journey With Olds. In addition to all the information and features on classic Oldsmobiles there is also a classified section that is a veritable cornucopia for people who are interested in collecting and working on Oldsmobiles. You even get to place your own ad every month for free and this is one of the perks that go along with membership.
We can go on all day about the Oldsmobile Club Of America, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Visit their website and if you’re anything like us you will probably be hooked after that very first visit!
The Oldsmobile Toronado
They say you can’t have it all, but there are those who want just that and the Detroit Big Three were traditionally all about trying to give the consumers every possible option.
When you think about it, it can be difficult to make up your mind when you are shopping for a new car. On the one hand you may want something luxurious, quiet, and classy. On the other, you may also have a yen for something sporty.
Automobile designers could relate to the above conflict, so they developed an option that went on to become known as the “personal luxury car.” Oldsmobile had their version in the form of the Oldsmobile Toronado.
The Oldsmobile Toronado started out in the imagination of the famed visionary David North, who first sketched out a potential prototype in 1962, calling it the “Flame Red Car.” General Motors decided that its Oldsmobile division would begin offering a personal luxury car for the 1966 model year and North’s design got the nod.
The original engine in the Toronado was a 425 cubic inch OHV V8 rated at 385 hp. It could be had with a three speed automatic or a Turbo-Hydramatic 425.
Sales figures for that initial year in 1966 were solid if not utterly spectacular; just under 41,000 units were sold for the 1966 model year. The automotive intelligentsia was especially impressed with the new Toronado however. The car won the prestigious title of Motor Trend Car Of The Year in 1966.
The Toronado, which was assembled in Lansing, Michigan, developed a foothold and remained in production through the 1992 model year. We will be examining different model years in detail in future entries, and if you have any Toronado stories to tell please feel free to leave a comment to kick off the conversation.
Classic Oldsmobile Fan 