Oldsmobile Diecast Model Cars

Proud to be American

The history of Oldsmobile was a rollercoaster ride that lasted for 107 years and then quietly ended in 2004 as the last sedan rolled out of the factory and was signed by all the assembly line workers. At last gasp, it had the distinction of being one of the world's oldest manufacturers following just behind Daimler and Peugeot.

Founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897 and bought by GM in 1908, the company produced more cars than any other maker at the turn of the century. Solidly a player in the growing U.S. car manufacturing field, Oldsmobile introduced many innovations. In 1940, it featured the Hydramatic: the first automatic transmission that offered four forward speeds. The early models are favorites of die cast collectors because of gr ...more

Proud to be American

The history of Oldsmobile was a rollercoaster ride that lasted for 107 years and then quietly ended in 2004 as the last sedan rolled out of the factory and was signed by all the assembly line workers. At last gasp, it had the distinction of being one of the world's oldest manufacturers following just behind Daimler and Peugeot.

Founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897 and bought by GM in 1908, the company produced more cars than any other maker at the turn of the century. Solidly a player in the growing U.S. car manufacturing field, Oldsmobile introduced many innovations. In 1940, it featured the Hydramatic: the first automatic transmission that offered four forward speeds. The early models are favorites of die cast collectors because of great attention to nostalgic detail.

Emerging from the war years proved a challenge for Oldsmobile. Its designs didn't capture American hearts or pocketbooks and the company struggled with its image. It was not until the 1970s and 80s that the Olds family rebounded. The Oldsmobile Cutlass became America's best seller in 1976 with a lot of popularity based on rave reviews about its Rocket V8 engine. And this caused a problem in the 1980s when demand for the cars exceeded the company's ability to produce the coveted engine.

A cloud descended on Oldsmobile when some Cutlass owners discovered they had a Chevy 350 engine under the hood instead of the Rocket V8. This substitution had taken place quietly and gradually but was seen by die-hard Oldsmobile fans as a betrayal.

In 2000, GM announced plans to phase out the Oldsmobile brand. Its last new model, the Bravada SUV, emerged as yet another winner on the market but it was too late for venerable Olds that had become a standard bearer for the U.S. auto industry. ...less