I just read their front cover story tribute to Pontiac (eight pages) which, honestly is probably deserved but give me a break! Did they honor Oldsmobile in a like manner when it was canned? NO. They did admit to it and tossed a crumb to us in a one page statement (pg 28) with only three black and white pictures. This is indicative of the bias that exists against Oldsmobile in the performance industry market. Kind of makes me sick and sad at the same time. Please comment if you wish.

 

To paraphrase Marlene Dietrich's famous line in Touch of Evil..."What does it matter what you say about (cars)?"

I don't lose any sleep over how many kudos my fav. brand gets.

 

In the hobbies eyes the Pontiac was a step up from Chevy and the olds was a step down from caddy. I think the Robinson commercials of the 70's hurt the sales as they were seen by more than a few in racial terms. As a child of the 70's i recall the the gto's to be a lot more sexy in there ads and sells better hehe.

 

Three words... Gran Turismo Omologato.

There isn't much of anything for Oldsmobiles, especially resto info. If it weren't for sites like this you would be wandering the desert.

Since gettin the Vista Cruiser (my first Olds) I've found Oldsmobile owner's are sort of left out in the cold and really do hear a different drummer drumming... which isn't all bad.

The James Deans of the auto world but much better drivers.

 

I sometimes feel like Oldsmobiles are the "Rodney Dangerfields" of the automotive hobby, we can't get any respect! I've been to two car shows recently, and although people made comments about how nice my car was, they didn't indicate that with their voting. I think the take home message for me is to know that in my heart , I have a car that not every one else has, I like what I have done to it, and not to allow myself to get dissappointed or upset by the lack of other peoples recognition of that fact.

 

I like being the odd man out. If everyone was in love with Oldsmobile they would be Way out of my league financially. As long as I can enjoy a car that is just as good, or better than what is commonly considered to be the shiz for half the price....well that's more the gooder for me. Kinda like the 442's You can build essentially the same car for substantially less money than the name brand by using the "common" cutlass/f85 chassis as a base. That said I like being different than every one else as a matter of course. Why copy what every one else is doing? Especially when you CAN be better.

 

This is simply good business. The aftermarket must invest money in the development of a product and being good businessmen, they want to maximize the return on this investment. It may be a chicken-and-egg issue, but the fact remains that many, many more people build Chevys than Oldsmobiles. If you're developing a new product, rule number one is to maximize the size of your potential market. As for Pontiac vs. Olds, keep in mind that during the musclecar years, Pontiac typically sold ten times as many GTOs as Olds sold 442s.

 

Personally, I think the relative obscurity of Oldsmobiles is a benefit to us. Popularity brings a whole swam of locusts.

 

Amen to that as well as higher prices, although I feel that day is coming.

 

That is a bummer that Hot Rod wrote an article like that, but I stopped reading Super Chevy along time ago.

 

Hrmm, 442oldslocust...

 

I found this on YouTube. Great tribute! I always liked GTO's and Firebirds. Some cool photos in this video. My friend said they showed this at the Pontiac Nationals in Ohio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahQKd9DrBFY

 

I like your honesty Allen....even coming from a pontiac(GOAT) owner like yourself!

 

I consider it a badge of honor to own my Oldsmobiles. Again went to the local rod hang out las night. About 30-35 cars showed up as happens most of the time I was the only Olds there. Myself and the Stude guys of which there were 2 got lots of attention from the people looking at the cars. Going to the orphan car show on Sunday at the Tripple X drive in in Issaquah, WA. No Pontiacs well be there. They will have to wait a little while yet to reach that goal.

 

I like Olds because I think they are unique too. I remember reading that Oldsmobile sold more cars than Ford some year in the early 80's, so they definitely were liked. I'd pick a 442 over and Grand National any day...and remember Pontiac tanked on their Grand Prix 2+2 model.

I just got ticked when I went to take my Toro for emissions test and the attendant said to me "That's a nice Cadillac". LOL Even over the horrendous noise, I made sure he knew it was an Oldsmobile

 

What erks me most is they are dropping 2 nice mid econo lines Olds/Pont in favor of 2 upper lines Buick/Caddy. Someone needs to remind them we're not all GM execs.

 

When I beat my buddy by a fender in his stock 400/400 67 GTO three times, (to prove the point), all bragging rights went to Olds at that point in our bench racing. To me that is what counts. My other friend said there was no way he should have lost to me. I have a 350/4 speed combo. We both have about the same rear. 3.90 vs 3.73

 

HA! Thats the spirit!!I did feel a little dis'd by hot rod.They did'nt even agknowledge OLDS when it happened.I recently switched to CAR CRAFT,lots more for the do-it-yourselfers.Check it out,thier printed by the same company but they genrally feature do-able projects,NOT 2million dollar camaros!I'm no che*y guy by any means,but when they featured a 6? camaro w/a twin cam toyo motor...I WAS DONE.
OLDS will live!At least till i die.Later,BO