Oldsmobile Facts
1900
Oldsmobile created the first assembly line, and with
the production of the Curved Dash,
Oldsmobile became the first mass producer of gasoline cars.
1905
Two Oldsmobiles finished the first transcontinental
race from New York to Portland, Oregon, in 45 days.
1914
Production was curtailed because of World War I.
During the war, Olds Motor Works built 2,100 mobile aircraft kitchens for the military.
1926
Oldsmobile was the first to introduce chrome plated
trim, an important styling asset. It was first used on the radiator shell.
1930
Nineteen-thirty would mark the last year for the four-door phaeton, as the
traditional open models were fading from popularity. In fact, only 86 phaetons were built.
1934
The convertible was available only in the L-34 (eight-cylinder) series and
sold fewer than 1,000 copies. +full story
1939
Oldsmobile's 1940 models featured Hydra-Matic drive, making this lineup the first vehicles with fully automatic transmission
1946
Oldsmobile became the first automobile manufacturer to consider the needs of the physically impaired with the introduction of the Valiant program.
1949
The ringed globe emblem appeared on Oldsmobile's first official pace car of the Indianapolis 500, the 1949 Rocket 88.
1953
Olds
unveiled the Starfire "dream car" at the 1953 Motorama. Named after a Lockheed jet fighter, it boasted a fiberglass body and 200-hp Rocket engine. It also featured a wraparound windshield as used on the Fiesta.
1966
Oldsmobile introduced the Toronado, the first modern-day front-wheel drive car.
1974
The Toronado was the first American
car to offer a driver's side air bag.
1995
Oldsmobile presented Guidestar®, the first on-board navigation system to be offered on a production car.
1997
Oldsmobile celebrated its 100th birthday, becoming America's oldest car company.
More to be added later...
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
