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Hi, just picked up another copy of this great chronicle of Olds through 1981 - couldn’t find my original from the early 80s. Thought I remembered some color photos in the middle of the original edition, this is a second edition and is all B&W, does anyone else have this book and does it have color photo section?
It’s a great book and can still be found on Amazon used - that’s where I got this one, described as very good and actually the spine had not been cracked. I was fortunate to find it for $25. 415 pages and very comprehensive, covering 1897-1981.
2 to 8 pages for every year on basically every model.
Amazing the discrepancy for this great used book, $20-$200. Read it from cover to cover the night I first received it for my birthday in 1982, looking for a reference to my 72 V code 442. (None found)
Grab it while you can, and if you get the first edition from 1981 let us know if there are any color photos.
I’m absolutely convinced Joe P could’ve authored this book, along with many other very well educated members on this fabulous website.
After a five year stint as automotive editor of the Saginaw Michigan News, Dennis Casteele joined the public relations staff at Oldsmobile in 1972 as chief writer and photographer. He took many of the original factory photos used in this book, and was an active participant in Oldsmobiles 75th anniversary program, as well as several Indianapolis pace car programs.
Another book worth mentioning is “Oldsmobile Setting The Pace” first 100 years. I think it was issued to OCA members that attended the 100 year reunion of Oldsmobile.
Thought I remembered some color photos in the middle of the original edition, this is a second edition and is all B&W, does anyone else have this book and does it have color photo section?
I just received from Alibris the 1981 edition, and it looks inside just like the photos you posted. There are no color photos. To be honest, I would be surprised if this book would have ever come with color photos. The quality of the paper is low-end, non-glossy. A very nice book, though, in terms of content.
There is a brief bio of the author, Dennis Casteele, at the end. He passed away some time ago (late '90s?). He was a long-time editor of the OCA's monthly publication, Journey With Olds.
Another book worth mentioning is “Oldsmobile Setting The Pace” first 100 years. I think it was issued to OCA members that attended the 100 year reunion of Oldsmobile.
The title is actually "Setting the Pace - Oldsmobile's First 100 Years." Yes, it was included with the registration fee for anyone who registered for the Oldsmobile Centennial celebration in Lansing in August 1997. I'm pretty sure it was actually commissioned to be written for this purpose.
Copies are available for as little as $4 plus shipping for used ones at Amazon. New copies can be had for around $30.
The title is actually "Setting the Pace - Oldsmobile's First 100 Years." Yes, it was included with the registration fee for anyone who registered for the Oldsmobile Centennial celebration in Lansing in August 1997. I'm pretty sure it was actually commissioned to be written for this purpose.
Copies are available for as little as $4 plus shipping for used ones at Amazon. New copies can be had for around $30.
Setting the Pace is a nice reference to have because it has production information for Oldsmobile from the beginning through the 1996 model year. If you do get this book, you want to also try and find the supplement that came out in 2005. It's called "Oldsmobile - The Last Chapter" and brings to a close the story of Oldsmobile as told by Setting the Pace. It's about 50 pages long and has photos and information about the demise of Oldsmobile. It also finishes out the production numbers, including giving the date of final production of several models. The last Cutlass was made on 7/2/99. The last Intrigue was made on 6/14/02. That sort of thing.
This book also notes the death of (and is dedicated to) one of the authors, Helen Jones Early, on 1/8/05, just shortly before this supplement was published.
Yes, thanks for clarifying that, the Centennial was an amazing event! Does anyone remember the Curved Dash climbing the stairs of the Capital Building?
