Oldsmobile Brand Home

List Info by Year and tabs by Decade

1897 – Ransom E. Olds founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan, with financial backing from Samuel L. Smith. The firm produced its first prototypes — steam and gasoline powered — marking the birth of Oldsmobile as one of America’s first automobile manufacturers.

1898 – Oldsmobile began moving operations toward Detroit under investor Samuel L. Smith, while Ransom Olds built the company’s first racing car — the “Olds Pirate” — to showcase the promise of gasoline power. Experimental prototypes were also developed, setting the stage for the Curved Dash and Oldsmobile’s role as a pioneer in mass automobile production.

1899 – Olds Motor Vehicle Company was reorganized into the Olds Motor Works with Detroit financier Samuel L. Smith’s backing. Operations moved to a large new factory in Detroit — the biggest in the U.S. at the time — with plans to build 500 cars annually. Ransom Olds favored small runabouts while his investors leaned toward larger cars, setting the stage for both success and future conflict

1900 – Oldsmobile began large-scale automobile production at its new Detroit factory, building about 400 gasoline-powered cars in a single year — making it one of America’s leading producers. The company experimented with both large luxury cars and small runabouts, reflecting a split between Ransom Olds’ vision of an affordable car for the masses and his investors’ desire for prestige models.

1901 – A devastating factory fire destroyed nearly every Oldsmobile prototype except the Curved Dash runabout. Ransom Olds seized the moment, putting the Curved Dash into production as America’s first mass-produced car. Affordable, reliable, and widely marketed, it became the foundation of Oldsmobile’s early success and placed the company at the forefront of the young American auto industry.

1902 – Oldsmobile put the Curved Dash into true mass production using a progressive assembly-line system, producing about 2,500 cars and becoming America’s largest automaker. Affordable, dependable, and widely marketed, the Curved Dash established Oldsmobile as the first brand to bring the automobile to the American middle class.

1903 – Oldsmobile built 4,000 Curved Dash cars, making it the largest automaker in the world. The Curved Dash became a cultural icon for dependability, but internal disputes between founder Ransom Olds and investor Samuel Smith over the company’s direction foreshadowed major changes in leadership.

1904 – Founder Ransom E. Olds resigned from Olds Motor Works after conflicts with investors, immediately establishing REO Motor Car Company. Oldsmobile continued producing around 5,000 cars, but its leadership shifted focus toward larger, more expensive cars, marking the beginning of a new era without its namesake founder.

1905 – Oldsmobile ended production of the Model R after more than 19,000 were built, closing the chapter on America’s first mass-produced car. In its place, the company introduced multi-cylinder models like the two-cylinder Model B and four-cylinder Model L, marking a strategic shift toward larger, more expensive cars under new management.

1906 – Oldsmobile transitioned firmly into larger, more expensive cars, with models like the four-cylinder Model L touring car and the Model S Four. While still offering small roadsters, the brand increasingly targeted upper-class buyers, marking its shift from America’s first mass-market automaker to a more upscale position in the industry

1907 – Oldsmobile broadened its lineup with the small, single-cylinder Model A and the larger four-cylinder Model H. This mix of affordable runabouts and upscale touring cars reflected the company’s struggle to define its market position, as rivals like Ford and Buick surged ahead.

1908 – Oldsmobile became one of the founding divisions of General Motors in 1908, gaining stability and resources under Billy Durant’s new corporation. The company transitioned from “model” designations to “series” names and expanded its lineup with multiple two-, four-, and six-cylinder cars. While Ford launched the groundbreaking Model T that same year, Oldsmobile’s integration into GM ensured its survival and future growth as part of a larger automotive family.

1909 – Oldsmobile introduced a full lineup of “Series” cars under General Motors, including the Series 20, 22 Special, 24 Limited, and Series D/DR touring cars. This broadened its appeal across market segments and aligned it with GM’s strategy of offering a car for every purse and purpose. By 1909, Oldsmobile was no longer just a pioneer automaker but an established GM division adapting to the realities of a competitive and consolidating industry.

1910 – Oldsmobile redefined its identity by introducing names alongside series numbers, launching the Series 22 Special and the grand Series 23 Limited. The Limited, with its massive size, powerful six-cylinder engine, and luxury appointments, became a prestige model that rivaled the best in America. The Limited wowed with 42-inch wheels and bold proportions. This strategy positioned Oldsmobile as a brand bridging Buick’s practicality and Cadillac’s exclusivity within GM’s growing portfolio.

1911 – Oldsmobile expanded its lineup with the Series 26 Special for mid-priced buyers and introduced the Autocrat name with the Series 28 and 32, targeting the upscale market. Longer wheelbases, brass trim, and flared fenders emphasized elegance. The Limited continued as the flagship luxury car. With this mix, Oldsmobile became firmly positioned within GM

1912 – Oldsmobile embraced six-cylinder power with the introduction of the Series 53 Six and the smaller Light Six, while still offering four-cylinder cars like the Defender and Despatch. Bigger six-cylinder hoods and enclosed body styles marked progress. This diversified lineup marked Oldsmobile as an innovator within GM, bridging mid-priced practicality with upscale performance and keeping pace with America’s shift toward more powerful automobiles.

1913 – Oldsmobile refined its six-cylinder line while maintaining four-cylinder offerings such as the Defender. More streamlined radiator/hood design and a push toward stylish closed bodies modernized the lineup. The continued use of evocative names alongside series numbers gave the cars a distinct character, while steady production under GM provided stability and direction.

1914 – Oldsmobile expanded its range with the Model 54 Six and the smaller Model 42 “Baby Olds.” The 1914 cars reflected major design changes: longer wheelbases, squarer radiators, and the growing popularity of enclosed body styles. These updates gave Oldsmobiles a more modern, upscale appearance while offering practical, smaller options for everyday drivers.

1915 – Oldsmobile balanced its lineup with the upscale Model 55 Six and the practical Model 43 Four. Major design updates included taller, more refined radiator shells, fuller rounded fenders, and a growing emphasis on enclosed body styles and comfortable interiors. The 1915 cars signaled Oldsmobile’s move toward modern, stylish automobiles for a broad customer base.

List Info by Year and tabs by Decade

1999 – What is important