They didn't call it OLDSmobile for nothing... Always had a stigma for keeping old people mobile... But they were nice cars.
You are right. This is another often-mentioned cause of the end of Oldsmobile and the general loss of distinctiveness between the GM divisions.
This is nonsense. It was called Oldsmobile because it was founded by a guy named Olds, not because it catered to old people. Anyone who thought the company had that name because they DID target older buyers deserves all the derision they receive. The 442, the Toronado were definitely NOT targeted to the elderly.
It's called satire... But on the other hand, the 442 and Toronado (which I'm on the fence with on being an old gents car except the first gen) all the oldsmobiles when I was growing up was... Non distinctive old people cars, there was nothing that would interest the group of teenage car guys I hung out with... All the other Toros I expect an old duffer wearing Bay Rum and a set of golf clubs in the back
Ransom Eli Olds ... this is where the Oldsmobile name originated REO was also a car and truck brand named after him ... picture below Oldsmobile was part of the Cadillac division , thus the semi-luxury and high quality Back in the day Chevrolet was an every-mans car , Buick and Pontiac a notch above that , and Olds a bit higher .... people who could afford them were generally established financially and a bit "older" but the cars were just as popular and admired by the young that could afford them . My first job early 1970's was as delivery driver for a pizza restaurant .... using a Vega panel wagon .... how cool is that !!!!! .... the boss drove a new Olds Cutlass 2-door with the excellent (Olds) 350 engine .... he would hold the pedal to the floor and the rear tires would squeal when it went into 2nd gear OLDS Alberta is a place-name So is REO .... as in Reo de Janeiro , Brazil R.E.O Speedwagon was the name of a 1970's music band .... they derived the name while visiting a transport museum . Near me is an original and intact 1948 REO truck .... owner will not sell because it was his fathers truck . . .
I like Oldses too, and when I was young at driving age (mid-1980s) I hate to say but Buick had that senior citizens market all sewn up, Grand nationals notwithstanding. Sure, a lot of older people like my dad bought Oldses, but if you were in a line of cars going slowly, chances are the lead car was a Buick! Nowadays, it's more likely to be a Lexus or Toyota Camry/Avalon/Rav4, at least here.... Heck my first car was almost a 77 Toro like Jaunty's(not an XS though) and I would've regaled in that. But that's a story for another time. But to bring a little lightheartedness to this conversation....do you know what the acronym for Oldsmobile is....? Old Lady Did Some Mechanical Overtime Because It Lacked Energy All this Toronado talk on here got me really liking the looks of the 79-85 generation. Man, when you see a nice clean one, they look on par with the Rivvy's of this generation, especially when they're hard loaded. As a Ferd guy, I think they look better than the Mark VI in those years.
Hey I like the look of Lincoln myself but I'm a sucker for a Mercury, probably haven't hit the old man stage in my life yet... Of course I think a lot of classic cars are neat, why I don't own any new cars.
That's pretty much where I was going with that. If I, a self-proclaimed car guy who often actively searched out new car information, had never heard of this car then how did they expect John Q. Public to know about it and be excited about it and the Oldsmobile brand.
I remember the last year of Oldsmobile at the Chicago car show. They were all shown in deep maroon colors with greyish curtains behind them. While all the other lines had dynamic displays. It was like a wake.
No just the curtains. Very spartan. I don’t think they even had brochures. Just a gathering of salesman looking very dour.