Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobiles produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produced over 35 million vehicles, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory alone. During its time as a division of General Motors, Oldsmobile slotted into the middle of GM's five divisions (above Chevrolet and Pontiac, but below Buick and Cadillac), and was noted for its groundbreaking technology and designs.

Over 1 million Oldsmobiles were sold annually each year from 1983-1986, making it one of the highest-selling automakers in the US, but by the 1990s the division was facing growing competition from premium import brands and sales declined. When shut down in 2004, Oldsmobile was the oldest surviving American automobile marque, and one of the oldest in the world, after Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Fiat, Opel and Tatra (but under the name Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau).



B

 * Come away with me, Lucille In my merry Oldsmobile Down the road of life we'll fly Automobubbling, you and I To the church we'll swiftly steal Then our wedding bells will peal You can go as far as you like with me In my merry Oldsmobile.
 * Vincent P. Bryan, chorus of "In My Merry Oldsmobile" (1905), composed by Gus Edwards. Widely popular in the early 20th century United States, the song and particularly its chorus became closely associated with Oldsmobile in American popular culture, with references to it being made long after the song was first released, such as in the television series M*A*S*H in the 1970s.

C

 * Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man.
 * A Christmas Story (1983), directed by Bob Clark. Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark, based on Shepherd's short stories, contained in the books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories.

K

 * My daddy bought this car before I was born Sure like the radio, I love the horn I love the great big shiny steerin' wheel Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
 * Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett


 * Four kids can sure fill up a big back seat They used to stop and get us something sweet Now Mamma says: "Let's pray for one good meal." Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
 * Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett


 * Mama kisses us goodnight Daddy reads his paper in the dashboard light Crushes out his cigarette, says: "Don't cry, honey, we ain't beat yet."
 * Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett


 * Another mornin' and we're up and gone Daddy says there's work in San Antone Two days of ridin', it ain't no big deal Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
 * Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett

L

 * Our car was an Oldsmobile, delivered to our home by Mr. Olds himself. I recall how our family went out to the street curb to look at it. Mr. Olds worked quite a while cranking it, muttering something about each car having an individuality of its own. But after we began to make motors for him, father took the individuality out of them. After our own little Oldsmobile was properly equipped, it acted in quite an exemplary fashion.
 * Henry M. Leland, about the Leland family buying their first automobile around 1901. As quoted by Ottilie M. Leland, ‎Minnie Dubbs Millbrook in Master of Precision: Henry M. Leland (1966), p.

O

 * The Best Thing On Wheels
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan in 1902, as seen in the Galveston Daily News on 28 December 1902


 * The Car That Has Everything
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1935


 * You Can Always Count On Oldsmobile
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1944, used as a dealership service advertisement since new Oldsmobiles were not being made due to U.S. civilian automobile production being suspended from 1942 to 1945.


 * Escape From The Ordinary
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1970


 * Can We Build One For You?
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1976-1978


 * There Is A Special Feel, In An Oldsmobile
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan in 1984-1985


 * The New Generation Of Oldsmobile
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan in the 1989-1991. This involved the use of television commercials that emphasized "This is not your father's Oldsmobile" in an attempt to market the brand to new buyers, which antagonized Oldsmobile's multi-generational customer base while attracting little new interest in the company. It was one of Oldsmobile's shortest advertising campaigns, dropped after only two years.


 * The Power Of Intelligent Engineering
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1992


 * It's Your Money, Demand Better
 * Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1993-1997


 * Start Something
 * Oldsmobile's final advertising slogan, used from 1999 to the closure of Olds in 2004.

P

 * It's the reason I'm ahead of the pack It's the reason I left them back It's the reason all the people say My '98 Olds blows 'em all away
 * Public Enemy, "You're Gonna Get Yours," Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), written by Chuck D and Hank Shocklee


 * Sidewalk suckers wanted to spill me So I got my crew and posse Took the girls and got them to thrill me Stepped outside, got in my ride Drove 'em around and I looked around town Caught 'em out there cold, ran 'em over and down They didn't get me and that's the truth ('Cause my '98-O is bullet proof)
 * Public Enemy, "You're Gonna Get Yours," Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), written by Chuck D and Hank Shocklee