Innovations of Oldsmobile

In Chapter 1 of Mix Tapes and Empty Buildings, Mix runs home where his mother's Oldsmobile is parked next to his father's Cadillac. Oldsmobile was a popular car in America for decades. 

It was a shame because it ended a long history of American car making. 

Ransom E Olds, the founder of the company was born June 3, 1864. He founded the Olds Motor Company on August 21, 1897. Olds loved cars and made several models that ran on electric, steam and gasoline. 

The Curved Dash was the first “must have” car. It cost $650 in 1901. This according to the Census Bureau was a time when the average home income was $750. 

The success was short because Olds was forced out of his company in 1904. Different sites have different reasons. One site said he quit because he didn’t want to make “high-end” cars. One site said he was forced out. 

He started the RE Olds Motor Company. This company lasted till 1975. The Olds Motor Company should have kept Olds because the company was bought out by General Motors in 1908. 

Olds did all right in business in other areas. He also invested in Capital National Bank, the Michigan Screw Company and Atlas Drop Forge Company. 

Ransom Olds died in 1950 at age 86. 

The company he started has been celebrated in song. "In My Merry Oldsmobile." 

While he had no say in it, under General Motors, Oldsmobile became a name of innovation. In 1937, Oldsmobile had the first four speed semi-automatic transmission. They put the gear selector on the steering column. This innovation isn't as popular today, it was featured in many cars up to recently. 

The big change in the design of the engine was the v-8. Before spark plugs were in a line, Oldsmobile (GM) made the v-8 and called it the rocket engine. 

1966 Tornado was the first front wheel drive. 

Sadly the last car produced was the 2005 Alero GLS made on April 29, 2004. It's now in a museum.