Oldsmobile is one of the oldest and most significant automobile manufacturers in American history, founded by Ransom Eli Olds in 1897 in Lansing, Michigan. Originally called the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, it was one of the first companies to manufacture automobiles in the United States and was a pioneer in the evolution of the automotive industry. In 1901, it introduced the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, considered the first automobile mass-produced using a rudimentary assembly line, predating the method perfected by Henry Ford by a few years. This affordable and simple model was a huge success and made Oldsmobile a household name nationwide.

In 1908, Oldsmobile was absorbed by General Motors, founded by William C. Durant. Within the group, the brand was positioned as a manufacturer of mid-range cars, positioned between Chevrolet and Buick, and helped consolidate the strength of the GM giant. During the 1930s and 1940s, Oldsmobile developed a solid reputation for reliability and technical innovation, such as the introduction of the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission in 1939, the first of its kind to be widely available. This advancement represented a turning point in driving comfort and cemented Oldsmobile as a pioneering brand.

The postwar period was a period of significant growth: in the 1950s, the division offered modern lines and powerful engines, including the famous Rocket V8, which became a symbol of performance and style. Oldsmobile earned a reputation as a dynamic and innovative brand, capable of combining captivating design and technological innovation. The 1960s and 1970s saw its heyday, thanks to iconic models such as the 1966 Toronado, one of the first American front-wheel drive cars, and the Cutlass, which became one of the best-selling cars in the United States for years.

In the 1980s, the brand reached its commercial peak: the Cutlass Supreme and its derivatives dominated the sales charts, positioning Oldsmobile among the leading brands in the American automotive market. However, the following decade marked the beginning of its decline. Growing Japanese and European competition, combined with less distinctive models and a loss of identity compared to other GM brands, significantly weakened the company's image. Oldsmobile failed to renew itself as effectively as in the past and gradually lost customers.

In 2000, General Motors officially announced the gradual closure of the brand, deemed no longer strategic. The last models produced were the Bravada, the Silhouette, and the Alero, which were discontinued in 2004, the year in which production finally stopped after 107 years. The closure of Oldsmobile represented a symbolic moment for the American automotive industry: one of the oldest brands in the world and the longest-running in the United States disappeared.

Today, Oldsmobile is no longer on the market, but it remains a name steeped in historical and collectible value. Its vintage models, particularly the Curved Dash, Toronado, and Cutlass models from its golden years, are highly sought after by enthusiasts and testify to the brand's fundamental contribution to the development of the automobile. Oldsmobile is remembered as a laboratory of innovation that introduced technical solutions later adopted by the entire industry, leaving a lasting legacy in the global automotive imagination.