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Purchase and re-engineering of Oldsmobile starts many memorable decades of big engines, chrome
By Scott Burgess
Detroit News
Published on Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
General Motors Corp. has been reinventing the car for 100 years now.
From the time Billy Durant helped eliminate the crank starter to when the General helped the world clean up its act by installing catalytic converters on its entire lineup in the '70s, the company has remained at the forefront in research and development.
And it also built some outrageously fast machines.
Sure, the glory days of 50 percent market share have evaporated, but GM remains the No. 1 carmaker in the United States.
On Saturday, GM kicked off its centennial birthday celebration. But what are GM's best from each decade?
After talking to auto experts, executives and lots of enthusiasts, here is a list of GM's best offerings. Some are technological breakthroughs that changed the auto industry; others are just so hot they had to be mentioned.
Let the debate begin.
1900s
The turn of the century was a crazy time for the fledgling auto industry. GM was still seven years away from its birth when R.E. Olds built the first Curved Dash Oldsmobile in 1901 in Lansing, Mich. Production of the rear-engine vehicle that looked more like a horse wagon than a car ended a year before GM bought Oldsmobile. The 4-horsepower engine on the original Oldsmobile could carry two people.
Later engineers nearly doubled that to 7 horsepower. Using a tiller steering mechanism, this runabout sold for $650, or about $17,000 today.
1910s
Who could forget the 1915 Cadillac Model 51 with its water-cooled V-8 engine and an astonishing 70 horsepower?
Most luxury models had moved on to more powerful six-cylinder engines, but Cadillac was still sporting its boring four-banger. Then the luxury brand rolled out the Model 51, powered by eight cylinders that could have blown the doors off the competition — if, in fact, the competition had doors.
But the Model 51 pales in comparison to the 1912 Cadillac Model 30. That Cadillac was the first car to include an electric start, featuring its all-new Delco system. Drivers no longer had to fear breaking a limb or jamming a thumb when starting their cars.
1920s
During the roaring '20s, few cars were tougher than a Buick. And in 1925, Buick dropped its four-cylinder engines for six cylinders.
The 1926 Buick Master Six could carry up to seven Keystone Cops and brought out the best in Buick. It was a civilized ride for its day, featuring four drum brakes, a three-speed transmission and a switch on the steering wheel to dim the lights at night.
1930s
Times were tough in the '30s. But if you had a 1936 Buick Roadmaster, you were probably doing better than most. The V-8 powered sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon featured hydraulic four-wheel brakes and a 131-inch wheelbase. Its looks included a huge grille, bulging fenders and tight-fitting headlights. The car had a classic gangster look. A firing squad could stand on the running boards. With a factory-installed heater, fan and radio, this vehicle was not for the everyday Joe — it was an exclusive machine, beginning a long tradition of Roadmasters.
1940s
If Buick had its day in the '20s and '30s, Oldsmobile owned the '40s. In 1940, Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-matic Drive — the precursor to the modern-day automatic transmission.
Then Oldsmobile launched a rocket.
The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 did it all. It boasted sharp looks, lots of chrome and a hood ornament as long as my forearm. The small car, big engine combination still rings true for many enthusiasts.
1950s
There are so many vehicles to choose from in this decade and most are Chevrolets. The iconic '57 Chevrolet Bel Air, the low-riding '58 Chevy Impala or even the crossover pickup, the '59 Chevy El Camino — all standouts. But only the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, the very first, has lived the fullest life. The Corvette has remained one of the sexiest cars on the road. Few look bad, and the eldest remains a classic.
1960s
The muscle era peaked during the '60s with the introduction of cars like the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. But the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair, with its rear engine and air-cooled system, was incredible. Consumer activist Ralph Nader created a career trash-talking it, but ironically, most of the problems were fixed by the time it was discontinued.
1970s
Remember the likes of the 1973 Chevy Chevelle Deluxe racing down the road on Krieger rims?
But no car says GM more than the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. It stretched 224 inches (more than 18 feet) and looked like it could seat 10.
1980s
This was a tough decade. When you're seriously considering the three-cylinder 1989 Geo Metro as the best of the decade, it's obviously not a good 10 years.
So what's left? The 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT — a mid-engine, inexpensive sports car that continues to boast a cult following. The final year of the Fiero marked vast improvements to its suspension, providing GM another lesson in too little, too late.
1990s
During the '90s, GM tinkered with an all-electric vehicle known as the EV1. It was a billion-dollar experiment that ended abruptly, but much of that technology has helped with the company's latest electric vehicle efforts.
But the most influential vehicle of the decade was the 1991 Saturn SL1 with composite panels that still have people wanting to bang their shopping carts into the doors.
2000s
More recently, GM has been building a track record of good cars. Since the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado arrived, GM's lineup has been impressive. There's the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, the Saturn Aura and Astra and the list grows. But my favorite over the past eight years is the second-generation Cadillac CTS.
Beyond
Just look at the Chevrolet Volt. An electric car that can run off batteries or use a gas engine to keep the electricity running will change the way people look at cars.
General Motors Corp. has been reinventing the car for 100 years now.
Get the full article here.
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