I have a 57 Olds and have been under the impression (maybe false) that in 1957 Oldsmobile celebrated its 50th (Golden) year, thus came the "Golden Rocket". But recently, somewhere I read that in 1957, Olds celebrated their 60th year. Any idea which was the official year Oldsmobile began, and if 1957 wasn't its 50th anniversary, why did they call their cars "Golden Rockets"?

 

Well, the Olds Centennial was in 1997, so I'd say your math was off.

(R.E. Olds founded the company in 1897, which would make 1947 the 50th)

 

So I guess the Golden Rocket was not in celebration of Old's 50th "Golden" anniversary year, as I thought.

My error...

Thanks,
Dan

 

The only anniversary dates I've ever seen the factory acknowledge are the 40th (in 1937-38 advertising), the 75th in 1972 which spawned the Regency, and the 100th. There was a little commotion made about the 90th and 95th but no mass campaign as the others.

I really think that if some pinhead at GM hadn't finally realised they had the first carmaker that would hit 100 continuous years of production, and that if they didn't make a big deal about it Ford would get that distinction a couple years later, we'd have seen Oldsmobile axed about ten years earlier.

 

hoo wee 1897 wow what were they making back then what would now days be considered a covered wagon driven by a chainsaw motor