Free Republic

Originally established as Olds Motor Vehicle Company by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, Oldsmobile was, for most of its existence, GM's entry-level premium brand. Purchased by General Motors in 1908, Oldsmobile slotted above Chevrolet and Pontiac and below Buick and Cadillac. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The division was noted for several innovative technologies and designs. It was the first automaker to offer a fully automatic transmission, it produced the fastest cars of the early 1950s thanks to the Rocket V8 engine and built the world's first turbocharged production car in the 1960s. Oldsmobile became one of America's best-selling brands in the 1970s...

The "Not Your Father's Oldsmobile" marketing effort alienated people of all ages with strange nepotism.When Ransom E. Olds lent his moniker to one of America's first automakers all the way back in 1897, he couldn't have known that 90 years into the future the Oldsmobile brand would make an ill-fated attempt to distance itself from the geriatric associations of the Olds surname. At the end of the 1980s, Oldsmobile was determined to shake the image that it built boring cars for sleepy seniors. The end result was the indelible "This Is Not Your Father's Oldsmobile" catchphrase, birthed from one of...

Note: This video is from 2011. The car was sold years ago._________________________Description from the dealer...“Don’t be fooled by the large-by-huge chrome wheels it’s wearing today, this particular ‘57 Golden Rocket 88 is an authentic J2 car, and is extensively and thoroughly restored to original condition from top to bottom. Our documents suggest that this is one of only four Golden Rocket 88 2-door sedans in existence with the J2 engine.The two-tone bodywork on this car is spectacularly done and looks especially striking in black and white with a red stripe in the chrome trim that separates the two halves. Bodywork...

This was definitely not your father’s Oldsmobile, because he never had the chance to buy it. The last Oldsmobile ever built is going up for auction on Dec. 15. The 2004 Alero is still owned by General Motors and until recently was part of the GM Heritage Center collection. The dark cherry sedan rolled off the line at Lansing Car Assembly in Michigan on April 29, 2004 and was signed under the hood and in the trunk by all of the workers at the now-shuttered plant. GM had announced plans in 2000 to eliminate what was at the time America’s...

Oldsmobile died 10 years ago this week. On that day, the final Oldsmobile (an Alero) rolled off the assembly line, and from then on, the oldest-surviving American car company was no more. Its departure was largely bittersweet; Oldsmobile’s final vehicle lineup wasn’t very impressive, filled with bland front-wheel-drive cars, and so many believed that its time had finally come. But it was a good run, and while the end wasn’t necessarily stellar, Oldsmobile managed to produce some seriously badass cars throughout its 107-year-long history. Below, we take a look at what we believe are the five best Oldsmobiles to ever...

Federal bailout funding may have prevented General Motors from going through a normal bankruptcy process, but it has come at a significant price in terms of reputation and potential buyers. Fifty percent (50%) of American adults are less likely to buy a GM car because of the bailout. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds just four percent (4%) are more likely to buy from the company that critics refer to as Government Motors. Forty-two percent (42%) say the bailout has had no impact on their buying plans one way or the other. The flip side of the data...

Please pardon the vanity, but I was wondering if there were FReepers who have experienced this problem before and, if so, how it was resolved. I have a '99 Olds Bravada which stopped starting a few days back (you get the sound like it's going to start, but it rarely turns over). We tried two different fuel pumps, thinking that was the problem. After beating on the fuel tank with a rubber mallet while simultaneously turning the key in the ignition, the car would sometimes start. My brother is doing the work on the car and thinks the problem could...

Please pardon the vanity, but having non-mechanical trouble with a 1999 Bravada and am trying to find a fix. A lot of GM vehicles from the late 90s and early 00s have a built-in anti-theft security system called Passlock or Passlock2. When a problem with this system occurs, you may not be able to start your car again for 30-60 minutes (the car's computer essentially thinks a thief is trying to steal the car). The cost to fix this problem is not exactly easy or cheap, so I figured I would ask if anyone else here has had a similar...

Oldsmobile fans rejoice! (Or revolt—we suspect most will choose revolt.) Your brand lives again, and you’ll never guess how. Nearly four years to the day that the final Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in Lansing, Michigan, comes word that Oldsmobile is back. More startling than the announcement itself is its origin—not from Lansing, not from Detroit, not from Michigan, not even from anywhere in North America. A statement from Tokyo, of all places, reports that Toyota has secured rights to the Oldsmobile name. Asked for comment, GM is remaining extremely tight-lipped on the issue at the moment while presumably...

Nearly four years to the day that the final Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in Lansing, Michigan, comes word that Oldsmobile is back. More startling than the announcement itself is its origin -- not from Lansing, not from Detroit, not from Michigan, not even from anywhere in North America. A statement from Tokyo, of all places, reports that Toyota has secured rights to the Oldsmobile name. Asked for comment, GM is remaining extremely tight-lipped on the issue at the moment while presumably trying to sort out internally what oversight allowed this to happen -- and who to can for...

Not on the web site yet. He has a blocked carodid artery.

I have had the honor of serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee for 43 years, during which I've participated in confirmation hearings for every one of the justices who now sit on the Supreme Court. Over that time, my colleagues and I have asked probing questions and listened attentively to substantive responses. Because we were able to learn a great deal about the nominees from those hearings, the Senate has rarely voted along party lines. I voted, for example, for three of President Ronald Reagan's five Supreme Court nominees... But the careful, bipartisan process of years past -- like so...

A community college student in Massachusetts faces possible disciplinary action for shouting "Remember Chappaquiddick!" during an on-campus speech by Democrat Sen. Edward Kennedy. Paul Trost, 20, a student at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Mass., says he was upset by an introduction of Kennedy given by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., in which the congressman noted how the long-time senator overcame hardship in life on his way to success. "Lynch said Kennedy had overcome such adversity to get to the place he was, and that's a bunch of bull," Trost said of the introduction, which occurred in the school's student center...

On my way home from work, while listening to my favorite local Christian station, 89.7 WMCU "Spirit" FM... The DJ mentioned that today was Senator Edward Kennedy's birthday...74 years "young", I quote. I nearly hurled.

MIDI - TEENAGER IN LOVE It's really not my fault 'cause our parents we can't pick With headlines I've read lately, I am becoming sick I think I'm in a world that's gone mad I'm hoping Cape Cod Orca Ted's not my dad When there's excessive drinking, don't drive your Oldsmobile If you are on a bridge, don't try to cop a feel I think I'm in a world that's gone mad I'm hoping Cape Cod Orca Ted's not my dad That blowhard is scum...he failed lifeguard class And in the Senate, he's really such an *ss When mother...

Coral Snake Song - I've Got No Strings (Taking on TWO DemocRAT gun grabbers in one song.) Original song from Walt Disney's Pinocchio by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington(1940) Update Parody by Coral Snake (2006) Midi - I've Got No Strings Look under "Pinocchio" I've still got fangs, I won't be trod, Ted Kennedy, Christopher Dodd, In this song, you're sure to see, There are still fangs in me. Teddy the Swimmer man, I'm the safest one by far. My guns are less deadly, Then your Oldsmobile car. I've still got fangs, I won't be trod, Ted Kennedy, Christopher Dodd,...

NATIONAL FIGURES LEND A HAND TO 'LOCAL PEACE MOM' By Ellyn Moran Santiago - The Sun Staff WESTERLY - Sen. Ted Kennedy's message on Stephany Kern's voicemail had the ring of sincerity, she said. "I'm so sorry to have to leave a message..." the Massachusetts senator told this grieving mother and Westerly resident. And he promised to keep calling her cell until he was able to reach her. "All of the Kennedys and I are thinking of your extremely brave son..." Kennedy told Kern. It's a terrible, difficult, sad time. We're praying for you and your family and offering up...

MIDI - IN THE AIR TONIGHT (0:35) If Mary Jo was breathing in our air tonight, she'd die If Mary Jo was breathing in our air tonight, she'd die If Mary Jo was breathing in our air tonight, she'd die...she'd die (1:14) Teddy Lifeguard sent out his letter...about the GOP ----- They've poisoned water and our air Just take a big breath, my friends, and you will see They have a right wing agenda, you should know Send money to me right away And I will spend some on Scotch...but the rest will be used To shut those guys...

WASHINGTON - After days of Democratic deference to John Roberts, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said Thursday that documents made public to date indicate the Supreme Court nominee holds a "rather cramped view of the Voting Rights Act." Materials that Roberts drafted while working at the Justice Department and White House counsel's office during the Reagan administration "certainly raise some questions in my mind about his commitment" to civil rights in general, added the Massachusetts Democrat. While couched carefully, Kennedy's remarks showed a willingness to raise pointed questions at a time when most other Democrats have stuck to pleasantries about Roberts'...

MIDI - RHINESTONE COWBOY Leftist interest groups are sensing doom…the nominee's in the room They know that they need some help and they need it quickly Barbara Boxer’s starting to whine…but things are not going fine She’s ignored as a fool Look who is standing in the doorway…he has just flown in from Norway A bloated and drunk mound of flesh, but he is their tool It is Lifeguard Teddy…maybe he’ll take him out on the bridge for a friendly drive It is Lifeguard Teddy…if he goes there’s no chance the nominee will survive The old drunk will get...