With over 35 million production units in the last half-century, here are some models that are still revered today. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the first American made muscle car, while the Oldsmobile Starfire was the first car to come with automatic transmission.
The Oldsmobile 88 was launched in the year 1949 as a replacement for the 70 series. This model was in production for more than 50 years, with over ten generations of design till the year 1999. However, the first generation of this car is still the most iconic and revered in the industry. It uses an engine developed by Cadillac and was one of the first American muscle cars. This car used a lightweight body design with a powerful engine, winning more than half of NASCAR races from 1949 to 1952.
Launched in 1941, the most recognizable version of this car was the fifth generation, which came out in 1957. Even though it was not considered to be as luxurious as its contemporary, the Cadillac Series 62, it sure did boast some features that were rather premium for the time. Some of these features included the electric windows, ambient lights and power brakes. Body types included the four-door and two-door coupes and convertible models.
The Starfire came into existence in 1961, and although this car started its own lineage, it shared its body with the Super 88 and the Dynamic 88. This car boasted more than just standard equipment with leather bucket sears, a rev counter and a floor shifter. This car was America's first-ever full-sized production car that came with automatic transmission. However, such features were enough to make this car a premium offering at the time with a high price.
The 1962 Jetfire was a rendition of the compact model Cutlass and was in production from 1961 to 1963. With the first-ever turbocharged engine of the era, this car's iconic looks comes from its pillar-less hard-top. However, the car suffered from some engine reliability problems, which is what cut its production years short.
This nameplate was introduced in the market in 1963 after the Pontiac witnessed unmatched success with the GTO. This was the first-ever full-fledged performance car from Oldsmobile that could provide a horsepower of 360, which was quite impressive at the time. The 442 remained in production under its original nameplate till 1980, after which it featured in the Cutlass Supreme and Cutlass Calais.
This was a two-door coupe that made the news as the first American car to feature a first wheel drivetrain in at least 30 years. However, that was not all. This car also features new trends like a heavy-duty Turbo Hydramatic three-speed transmission (automatic), a spherical exhaust that could prevent leaks, and a draft-free ventilation system. All such features made this car quite a likeable model.
Launched alongside the 442, this car shared quite a few of its design cues with the coupe. That said, this car was most noted for its fixed glass skylights over the second row. The raised roof with glass panels over the cargo area was also something the market really appreciated at the time. This car could produce a top horsepower of 320 bhp and came with a 5.4 liter V8 engine.
This too was launched with the 442 and was seen to make comebacks with several other models. This car was revived in 1983 after a four year hiatus from this limited edition Cutlass Supreme. When compared to the other Hurst models, this car was a tad bit underpowered. However, this showed no compromise with the actual power of the car, requiring less than 8 seconds to reach 60 mph from the start.
In the year 1991, a new rendition of the car using the ‘W41' and ‘442' badges was launched. Known to be this car's final production year, the 442 W41 boasted a revised model of their 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine. While the original Cutlass Calais could produce 150 horsepower, this model could go up to 180 horsepower. However, this car was not just about power. It came with a race-tuned suspension along with other weight-saving measures, making this quite faster than the standard offerings.
Replacing the Cutlass Calais 1992 model, this car gained its importance in the car manufacturing history of Oldsmobile because of the aerodynamic body. This design brought a new outlook to the automobile industry, making this car look more fashionable, modern and sporty. This car produced 190 horsepower with its 2.3 liter and four cylinder engine.
