Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobiles produced for most of its existence by General Motors. Originally established as "Olds Motor Vehicle Company" by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it produced over 35 million vehicles, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory alone. During its time as a division of General Motors, Oldsmobile slotted into the middle of GM's five divisions (above Chevrolet and Pontiac, but below Buick and Cadillac), and was noted for its groundbreaking technology and designs.

Over 1 million Oldsmobiles were sold annually each year from 1983-1986, making it one of the highest-selling automakers in the US, but by the 1990s the division was facing growing competition from premium import brands and sales declined. When shut down in 2004, Oldsmobile was the oldest surviving American automobile marque, and one of the oldest in the world, after Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Fiat, Opel and Tatra (but under the name Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau).

To the church we'll swiftly steal
Then our wedding bells will peal
You can go as far as you like with me
In my merry Oldsmobile.
~ Vincent P. Bryan

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Come away with me, Lucille
In my merry Oldsmobile
Down the road of life we'll fly
Automobubbling, you and I
To the church we'll swiftly steal
Then our wedding bells will peal
You can go as far as you like with me
In my merry Oldsmobile.
- Vincent P. Bryan, chorus of "In My Merry Oldsmobile" (1905), composed by Gus Edwards. Widely popular in the early 20th century United States, the song and particularly its chorus became closely associated with Oldsmobile in American popular culture, with references to it being made long after the song was first released, such as in the television series M*A*S*H in the 1970s.

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Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man.
- A Christmas Story (1983), directed by Bob Clark. Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark, based on Shepherd's short stories, contained in the books In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories.

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My daddy bought this car before I was born
Sure like the radio, I love the horn
I love the great big shiny steerin' wheel
Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
- Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett

Four kids can sure fill up a big back seat
They used to stop and get us something sweet
Now Mamma says: "Let's pray for one good meal."
Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
- Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett

Mama kisses us goodnight
Daddy reads his paper in the dashboard light
Crushes out his cigarette, says:
"Don't cry, honey, we ain't beat yet."
- Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett

Another mornin' and we're up and gone
Daddy says there's work in San Antone
Two days of ridin', it ain't no big deal
Here in my daddy's Oldsmobile
- Hal Ketchum, "Daddy's Oldsmobile", Sure Love (1992), written by Hal Ketchum and David Mallett

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Our car was an Oldsmobile, delivered to our home by Mr. Olds himself. I recall how our family went out to the street curb to look at it. Mr. Olds worked quite a while cranking it, muttering something about each car having an individuality of its own. But after we began to make motors for him, father took the individuality out of them. After our own little Oldsmobile was properly equipped, it acted in quite an exemplary fashion.
- Henry M. Leland, about the Leland family buying their first automobile around 1901. As quoted by Ottilie M. Leland, ‎Minnie Dubbs Millbrook in Master of Precision: Henry M. Leland (1966), p.

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The Best Thing On Wheels
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan in 1902, as seen in the Galveston Daily News on 28 December 1902

The Car That Has Everything
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1935

You Can Always Count On Oldsmobile
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1944, used as a dealership service advertisement since new Oldsmobiles were not being made due to U.S. civilian automobile production being suspended from 1942 to 1945.

Escape From The Ordinary
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1970

Can We Build One For You?
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1976-1978

There Is A Special Feel, In An Oldsmobile
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan in 1984-1985

The New Generation Of Oldsmobile
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan in the 1989-1991. This involved the use of television commercials that emphasized "This is not your father's Oldsmobile" in an attempt to market the brand to new buyers, which antagonized Oldsmobile's multi-generational customer base while attracting little new interest in the company. It was one of Oldsmobile's shortest advertising campaigns, dropped after only two years.

The Power Of Intelligent Engineering
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1992

It's Your Money, Demand Better
- Oldsmobile advertising slogan, 1993-1997

Start Something
- Oldsmobile's final advertising slogan, used from 1999 to the closure of Olds in 2004.

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It's the reason I'm ahead of the pack
It's the reason I left them back
It's the reason all the people say
My '98 Olds blows 'em all away
- Public Enemy, "You're Gonna Get Yours," Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), written by Chuck D and Hank Shocklee

Sidewalk suckers wanted to spill me
So I got my crew and posse
Took the girls and got them to thrill me
Stepped outside, got in my ride
Drove 'em around and I looked around town
Caught 'em out there cold, ran 'em over and down
They didn't get me and that's the truth
('Cause my '98-O is bullet proof)
- Public Enemy, "You're Gonna Get Yours," Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), written by Chuck D and Hank Shocklee

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External links

Wikipedia

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Oldsmobile