R.I.P. Oldsmobile 4/29/04

[J Man]

For anyone that is interested the last Oldsmobile was built and came off the assembly line on April 29 2004. The last car was an Alero that will be on display at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, MI. Oldsmobile began in 1897 in Lansing, MI.

[Rocket Scientist Chris]

A very sad event in auto history. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif It's really too bad GM wasn't willing to do something to keep the marque alive.

[Mutt]

Here's the 1897 model...

Mutt

[CherryBlossom]

Hey Studeboy - Did you get to sign the alero yesterday? Or wait...yer at the Grand River plant right now aren't ya? I forget!

kris

[JimC]

I think it was more than GM keeping the name alive.
The declining sales doomed the car.

We bought an Alero in sept of 1999(2000 model) that was a fun car to drive.
Ours had the v6 and performance suspension package, which included all wheel disc brakes, 17 inch alloy wheels and speed rated tires. it also had a 140 mph speedo.

The little car would corner similiar to a sports car. It was difficult for us old folks to get in and out of, so it was replaced with a mor door pickem up truck

There are several cars that have been discontinued that were really popular in my time, the Olds and Plymouth lines the most recent.

Marketing being what it is, I suspect more of the old lines will cease to exist and as the market becomes more younger oriented, new lines will appear.

I suppose it makes sense, with older buyers buying less frequently and younger buyers becoming the larger segment of the market that the auto industry tries to keep up with dmands,.

[smittyshotrods]

This is very sad indeed but something GM felt they had to do I guess. I think it would have been cool to see a new generation Olds 442 or Hurst model. The rebirth of a new and inproved Olds Rocket engine would have been awesome. GM could have done something but instead put money into other lines and let Olds slip away.

[RileyRacing]

That's not whats sad. What's sad is that I was listening to a local radio station, here in De-Fucking-Troit Michigan, and the morning announcers were reading the "news script" they have to read, and there was a quick blurb about the last olds, blah blah... She then proceeded to say" Olds made such cars as the Rocket 98 and four four two... oh and the Cutlass." She also proceeded to say "I never heard of any of those cars, have you?".

The putz that was on the air with her then proceeded to say, "yeah, my grandpa had a Cutlass when I was a kid. What an old man's car." http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

What a depressing end for a great car.

Jay

[Peter Pan of Chicago]

It is depressing! Especially when you consider that their line up the last few years were very contemporary and their sales were getting better.

A black day in automotive history.

Joel http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">The sad, sad truth is that OLDS has been dead for years.

Now let's talk about a few other sad deaths for great cars.

LeMans
http://www.blacktieclassics.com/images/71%20Lemans%20Conv%20Red%2012.JPG
http://www.blossburg.org/coalfest/00carshow/p28.jpg </font>

[CURIOUS RASH]

Malibu,

Chevy has been fuckin this thing up for years...
http://stillruns.com/rotary/malibu.jpg
http://ultra.cto.us.edu.pl/pub/Multimedia/Pictures/Cars/Chevrolet/1973.Malibu.01.jpg
http://www.edwardlloyd.de/Classic_cars/American_classics/Malibu.jpg

http://www.jimsusedauto.com/images/malibu.jpg

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green"> I just don't have the strength to do one for Impala. </font>

[65Luck]

That sucks about Oldsmobile (and Plymouth and probably Mercury here in a few short years).

Mother Mopar has commited her share of blasphemy over the years. Here's a couple of Chargers. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">That's just gross. </font>

[65Luck]

Uh oh... somebody got in trouble that day...

[studeboy]

No I'm at the Chassis Plant and yes we had the opportunity to sign the hood or decklid. No my name isn't on it. I went up to do it and they left about 15 minutes earlier.

We did get to see the last car roll off of the line on video last night. The last 500 cars of each model have special badges and are numbered. The last Alero will be on display at R.E. Olds museum this summer. (Might be a permanant display?) I'll post some pics this weekend for those that want to see the stuff we got.

Eric

[J Man]

It is nice to see that there are some fellow GM employees on the board. Since the car is no longer going to be built, what are they doing with the plant.

Also as far as what they have done to the Impala. I will agree it is not the car it used to be but it is a nice car. My wife and I have one. It is one of the nicer Chevys that are out now.

[lownslow]

does this make my 63 worth more now ?.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[D Picasso]

I love my Olds.

I hate GM.

[yorgatron]

i have to agree

[CherryBlossom]

[ QUOTE ]
It is nice to see that there are some fellow GM employees on the board. Since the car is no longer going to be built, what are they doing with the plant.



[/ QUOTE ]

as far as i know theyre gonna keep producing the grandam and the malibu there until the new plant in lansing opens, then those cars will prolly be shipped off to be built elsewhere. they don't know what's gonna be made in the new plant when its done - its so far behind schedule.

I wonder if kustombuilder coulda gone over and signed the alero, since his home plant is still Fisher Body....he never said anything though, so maybe he wasn't given the option.

[J Man]

[/ QUOTE ]



I wonder if kustombuilder coulda gone over and signed the alero, since his home plant is still Fisher Body....he never said anything though, so maybe he wasn't given the option.

[/ QUOTE ]

I work at the Pittsburgh MFD plant, which is a ols Fisher Body plant as well. When the quite building some of the other Olds they sent thedies to us to stamp them out for SPO.

[DON_WOW]

Inside the Memories of the Past

Lives a Love that Lasts and Lasts

and Dreams that were Great

Came to be in a Rocket 88

[flatshoebox]

[ QUOTE ]
Uh oh... somebody got in trouble that day...



[/ QUOTE ] Hahahahaha I was think the same thing!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[5SPOKE]

well bummer, but not that Oldsmobile has built anything that has been worth a shit for over 20 years anyway !!

-SAM

[Deyomatic]

There was the most beautiful 1950 Olds Rocket 88 at the cruise I went to tonight. I thought that it would be a fitting tribute to hear "Rocket 88."
I walked up to the "Good times and GREAT oldies" D.J. (at the car show) and asked him if he could play "Rocket 88." He looked at me like I had 6 orange heads. I said, "You know, that song, Rocket 88, the one that Ike Turner did under a different name." He told me that he only brings the popular stuff to the cruise night. So he comes to a car show and doesn't even know the popular car songs...
Anyway, another guy I met there HAD the CD in his car, and had the D.J. to play it.