Autoblog

Motor Trend does the Cuban classic car thing

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST

As car enthusiasts, we all know the little gem about classic American cars driving around the streets of Cuba, but few of us will ever be able to see these sites first hand. Fortunately, Motor Trend recently spent some time in the land of cigars, mojitos and Yank Tanks to create this incredible mini-documentary about the cars and the country for the latest video in its Epic Drives series.

While the cars look like they came straight out of the 1950s, most of them are powered by modern-ish engines for the sake of fuel economy and ease of repair. An old Pontiac in the video is powered by a four-cylinder diesel sourced from Hyundai-Kia, while a '53 Oldsmobile has borrowed the engine from a Soviet welder to get it around. Now, this is not your normal Motor Trend video that spends the entire time talking cars, but rather it's something more along the lines of what you might see on the Travel Channel. It's definitely worth checking out in the video below. When you're done, let us know what cool cars you spot running around the streets of Havana in the Comments.

Continue reading Motor Trend does the Cuban classic car thing

Motor Trend does the Cuban classic car thing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: The Batmobile before the first Batmobile

Zach Bowman — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Design/Style

If you're still upset that you missed out on bringing home the $4.62 million 1966 Barris Batmobile, the internet may just have your redemption. Technically, the car created for the TV show wasn't the Caped Crusader's first ride. In the early '60s, All Star Dairies commissioned this machine to promote the company's Batman and Robin milk. The owner originally built the car between 1961 and 1963 using an Oldsmobile chassis (complete with a 350 V8) and a custom fiberglass body, and the dairy company approached the owner to lease it for two years to promote its comic-themed products. That makes this creation the world's first Batmobile, preceding the famous Barris machine by two years.

With wild fins, doors that actually slide into the bodywork and plenty of memorabilia from its illustrious past, the car is plenty cool. Unfortunately, the intervening four decades haven't exactly been kind to the vehicle, and it will need a full-on restoration. Right now there are four days left on the auction with an unanswered opening bid of $19,800. Check out the eBay Motors auction for more information.

eBay Find of the Day: The Batmobile before the first Batmobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Milhous Collection hammers at $38.3M in Boca - including record-breaking $3.3M Oldsmobile

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Earnings/Financials

When collectors like Bob and Paul Milhous sell off their entire collection, you know it's going to be a momentous occasion. And that's just what it was when RM Auctions dropped the hammer on a staggering array of classic automobiles, mechanical musical instruments and various other collectibles in Boca Raton over the weekend.

We brought you details of the collection and its imminent sale a couple of weeks ago, but now the results are in, and the numbers are staggering. Every last item in the collection was successfully sold, bringing in a whopping $38.3 million all told. The top seller in the auction and collection was the headline 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Passenger Touring - the last remaining example of its kind and fitted with unique coachwork - which sold for $3.3 million. Just a touch more than that used Alero you saw sitting at the local lot, and a considerable premium over the $1.5 million it was projected to fetch, setting a world record in the process for the most expensive Oldsmobile ever sold.

A 1939 Lagonda V-12 Rapide also more than doubled its pre-sale estimate at $990k (itself setting a record for the most expensive roadgoing Lagonda). Other big ticket items included a custom-made 46-foot carousel that sold for $1.2 million, similar to the prices paid for each of a pair of vintage organs. Everything's coming up Milhous, and you can check it out in further detail in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Milhous Collection hammers at $38.3M in Boca - including record-breaking $3.3M Oldsmobile

Milhous Collection hammers at $38.3M in Boca - including record-breaking $3.3M Oldsmobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Classic car buyer reunites man and machine after 46 years

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Gerry Mandel knows what it's like to have loved and lost. We're not referring to his wife, to whom Gerry has been married for 46 years, but to the 1965 Oldsmobile Jetstar 88 convertible the pair drove away from their wedding all those years ago. The moment was documented in a photograph (shown above, right). We don't know much about the car after that, except that decades later, it would wind up in the hands of a young man named Shawn.

The Olds was a dust-covered barn find. Shawn brought it back to life, installing a rebuilt 425-horsepower Delta 88 motor and reviving the paintwork's shine. Shawn was curious about the Olds' history, so he sought out the original owner and eventually wound up on the phone with Mr. Mandel.

Shawn told Gerry he wanted to show him the car. Forty-six years after saying "I do" to his wife, Gerry said "Okay" to Shawn. After being reunited with the Olds, Gerry and his wife even posed for a recreation of their wedding-day photo (shown above left). In the end, everyone walked away with a great story to tell, and new images that will last long after the memories themselves begin to fade.

For more on this Oldsmobile owners' reunion, head over to the forum where the story unfolded.

Classic car buyer reunites man and machine after 46 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Smithsonian asks public to vote on cars for American History display

Noah Joseph — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Government/Legal

The recently renovated National Museum of American History - Click above to cast your vote

The Smithsonian Institution's collection of treasures extends far beyond what's actually on display in its D.C. museums. Ranging from ancient artifacts to modern marvels, this bit is likely to interest automotive enthusiasts more than any other:

The National Museum of American History is preparing to put two of the most historically significant American automobiles on display from its archives. But instead of letting the curators pick the cars, they're asking the public to vote in a campaign it paradoxically calls "Race to the Museum."

The candidates include a 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout (the first car built on an assembly line in the U.S., well before the Ford Model T); an 1880 steam-powered trike built in Massachusetts; an 1894 Blazer (the first American-made automobile to hit New York City, built by a Tiffany-trained watchmaker); a 1948 Tucker (pioneering many advanced safety features and the subject of the 1988 Jeff Bridges film); a 1929 Miller supercharged Indy race car, which set a 143 mph speed record and prompted Detroit to press race organizers to ban superchargers; a 1953 Glasspar fiberglass sports car and two modern examples of green propulsion from General Motors: the EV1 and the 1987 Sunraycer solar-powered prototype.

So far the Tucker is in the lead, with the Miller and the Olds in a close race for the second slot. Follow the link to get your vote in before January 11, 2011.

[Source: Smithsonian via The Detroit News]

Smithsonian asks public to vote on cars for American History display originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM's Ed Welburn finally drives Oldsmobile Aerotech record-breaker he designed

Dan Roth — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., GM, Design/Style

Of all the people longing to drive the Oldsmobile Aerotech back in the 1980s, you'd expect that the cars designer would have taken it for a few spins. Despite having his first sketch for the project turn in to the record-setting aerodynamic research vehicle, Ed Welburn's closest contact with the Aerotech was during long wind tunnel sessions.

Having risen through the ranks during his nearly-40 year career at General Motors, Welburn is now oversees GM's worldwide design staff, and his memory was recently jogged by seeing photos of the Aerotech posted in a design studio. Being the chief has its privileges, so Welburn's desire to drive his creation turned into a trip to the Milford proving grounds, where a 1992 version of the Aerotech was waiting.

A Chevrolet Corvette set the pace at a sedate 60-something miles per hour, despite the Aerotech's V8 sourced from the Oldsmobile Aurora. While he may have only just gotten to drive the Aerotech, the car has had a significant effect on Welburn since he first penned it. The aerodynamic attention to detail he learned on the Aerotech has informed all his work since then. The Chevrolet Volt owes a lot to the Aerotech, because Welburn had the patience and discipline to work out the design for better airflow, as well as bring engineering and design together for a harmonious relationship, another seldom-seen skill among car designers. While the Oldsmobile brand has been shuttered, the Aerotech stands as a significant achievement, and the various speed and endurance records the car set have yet to be broken.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Karrmann via CC 2.0]

GM's Ed Welburn finally drives Oldsmobile Aerotech record-breaker he designed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT surprisingly awesome as camper

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc.

1970 Oldsmobile Toronado RV - Click above for high-res image gallery

We certainly don't recommend yanking a perfectly good 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado off the road in order to convert it into a recreational vehicle, but in the case of today's eBay Find of the Day, we'll give 'em a pass. After all, it was reportedly built this way as a factory project for a retiring RV industry executive.

If you have any doubts as to the suitability of the Toronado as an RV, consider the fact that the awesome spaceship-shaped GMC motorhomes used the exact same front-wheel drive platform. In any case, this machine has only 68,000 miles, and the engine was replaced with a new short block 4,000 miles ago.

According to the owner, this RV can sleep up to four, comes with a full bathroom and shower and a kitchen with stove and fridge. There are also a spattering of roof-mounted skylights for stargazing under those beautiful rural night skies. Want it? There are still a few more days left on the auction, or you can end it right now for $15,000. Happy bidding! Thanks for the tip, Bill M!

Gallery: 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado RV

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT surprisingly awesome as camper originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Oldsmobile Cutlass dicing it up - Click above to watch video after the jump

From the file marked "When Men Were Men," we have this Car & Track review of the 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Sure Clarkson can work his way around a 458, but let's see him handle this baby: 455 cubic inches with a four-barrel carb, 225 horsepower, 0-to-50 in 5.5 seconds, 198 feet to stop from 70 mph and more body roll than a Carnival cruise ship in a Category 5. And check out the reverse spin test to gauge body roll - that's how you review a car. Follow the jump for a rollicking look at car history.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test

Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Dodge, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Misc. Auto Shows, Peugeot, Canada, Skoda

The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed

This week's bag of news is all about cars, cars and cars. Was anyone else aware that the Canadians know a thing or two about tuning Lamborghinis? That's a new one on us. Peugeot and Dodge have new logos, and the Pugs have a new, Ratatouille-esque commercial that involves a blender, a bicycle and a three-wheeled car. The as-yet-unveiled Nissan Patrol Safari gets caught with its doors open, and a bespoke Ferrari, the P450 Superfast Aperta, gets introduced in Florida. It's a little odd. And when some Mercedes engineers get a prototype SL Coupe stuck in the snow and it takes two other Mercedes' to rescue it, let's just say a good time was had by all. Except the Mercedes engineers. Finally, back to those Canadians, while those first lads will get crazy money for their wares, another Canuck wants crazy money for a 1975 Pontiac. Must be the weather. Follow the jump for the feast.

Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition

The Autoblog Weekender: Motley Fools edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Olds Toronado 70-X is wraparound luxury

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Luxury

George Barris's 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado 70-X - clic above for high-res image gallery

If you've never seen Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66, stop reading and watch it. Why? Because otherwise the next part of this post isn't going to make any sense to you. Anyhow, remember the scene when his Billy Brown character kidnaps/carjacks Christina Ricci's Layla and forces her to drive because he can't work a manual?

"Would you like to know why I can't drive this kinda car? I'm used to luxury cars. Have you ever heard of a luxury car? Ever heard of Cadillac, Cadillac Eldorado? That's what I drive. I drive cars that shift themselves. My cars shift themselves. The luxury cars, they shift themselves."

We quote this scene because we think this here particular Oldsmobile Toronado would appeal to Mr. Brown's predilection for luxury cars. We mean, just look at that back seat. Incredible, right? Wrap around leather benches are totally (and sadly) missing from our everyday automotive experience. And we're pretty sure you could use the fold-out cocaine shelf to write on, so it's practical, too. Curiously, we've seen a Barris Toro before - though that one was dubbed 67X - and although it was in much worse shape, it failed to meet its reserve at $7,701.

Now, this particular custom Toronado (the story goes that Barris built four of these for the 1967 Canadian Expo -- only two are known to survive) is much better shape, having undergone a "complete frame-up restoration at an astronomical cost." However, $7,701 won't even get you into that amazing ~~drug den~~ back seat. In fact, the starting bid is $227,770 and the reserve isn't met. Sure, that's a lot of scratch, but you can really put a price on luxury like this? We're saying no. Happy bidding!

Gallery: 1967 Oldsmobile Barris 70-X Toronado

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Olds Toronado 70-X is wraparound luxury originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Oldsmobile Toronado 67X

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Celebrities, Canada, Specialty

George Barris' Esso Tornado - Click above for a gallery of images

As the story goes, Esso Oil asked custom car guru George Barris (he of Batmobile, Munster Koach and Drag-u-la fame) to create four custom Oldsmobile Toronado coupes for the 1967 Canadian Expo. The car you see above is dubbed Toronado 67X, and according to the seller on eBay, it is one of the only two cars remaining. The big coupe was originally gold, but time and poor treatment have turned it a lovely shade of something other than gold (well, several lovely shades, actually).

Although the auction has just ended, we thought you'd still enjoy a glimpse of what the seller calls the "Project car find of a lifetime" (which might be how long it would take to get it back together). Structurally, the Olds appears to be sound enough, but you can forget about the floorboards and the interior (which includes a wraparound rear couch!). Despite its obvious shortcomings, the car's provenance has helped it gain an appraisal value of $21,500 (which is about $15,000 more than a brand new Toronado listed for in 1966). On the auction itself, there's even a video of the engine running but you hear a lot more wind than engine.

The car was bid to $7,701 but ultimately failed to meet reserve, so we expect to see it back up on the ol' eBay block sooner rather than later. In the meantime, click the link below to learn more about this unique piece of Barris history, and check out the gallery of photos below. Hat tip to Jay!

Gallery: George Barris Tornado

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: George Barris Oldsmobile Toronado 67X originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires

Chris Paukert — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Buick, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced a major recall covering nearly 1.5 million General Motors passenger cars from the late 90's and early 2000s. The recall affects various Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac models equipped with normally aspirated versions of GM's much-utilized 3800 3.8-liter V6.

Apparently, some of these engines can drop oil onto the exhaust manifold during hard braking. If that manifold has gotten hot enough and the oil dribbles below the heat shield, it can start a small fire. The flames can then engulf the plastic spark plug wire channel, potentially resulting in a full-on engine compartment fire.

The fix? Dealer service departments will be asked to remove said spark plug wire retention channel from the front of the engine bay, and then retrofit two new retainers.

Models Affected:

1997-2003 Buick Regal
2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala
1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina
1998-2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

The recall is slated to begin in May. Official NHTSA Release after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires

GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DiMora Scattare gives the Olds Aurora some junk in its trunk, makes us fear the $2M version

Noah Joseph — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupe, Sedan, Etc., GM

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the DiMora Scattare

We like big butts, but we cannot lie - there is a limit a to our love. And the vehicle above has crossed over said limit, knocking a few things over with its ghetto booty while it was at it. Right about now, you should be scratching your head (or other parts) and wondering what the heck it is you're looking at, so we'll tell you. It's a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora modified into a sort of coupe-pickup-thing, to be specific. Strictly speaking, behind the driver and passenger it's all trunk, but while we don't generally geek over pickup-car conversions like some other sites on the net (who shall remain nameless), we wonder what the point is here.

The Scattare (Italian for "jump", as in "jump out of the way") is the unfortunate work of DiMora Designs, a division of same company that's been working on the DiMora Motors Natalia SLS 2, a luxury sedan with little more than its $2 million target price tag to show for itself thus far. And while we appreciate the creativity and the apparent craftsmanship on display with the Scattare, please understand if it doesn't exactly fill us with hope for dear Natalia.

DiMora Designs recently began work on modifying another Olds Aurora, this one from 1996. Project Manager Jim Willis says he doesn't plan to change it much, just little tweaks like converting this front-engine car into a mid-engine car. Yikes! Stay tuned - but in the meantime, click on the thumbnails below to jump to the gallery... and don't say we didn't warn you.

Gallery: DiMora Scattare

[Source: DiMora]

DiMora Scattare gives the Olds Aurora some junk in its trunk, makes us fear the $2M version originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

1906 RE Olds Model A mini finally returns to Lansing, Michigan

Noah Joseph — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Toys/Games

At Pebble Beach this year, the descendants of R.E. Olds - founder of Oldsmobile and the REO Motor Company - bought a 1906 REO Model A. The car is over 100 years old and doubtless cost them a pretty penny or two. But it wasn't even the car they were interested in. Bundled in the lot was a 1/8-scale replica known as the Baby REO. That's what Debbie Stephens, Olds' great granddaughter, wanted to get her hands on.

The Baby REO was initially made as a marketing tool for the motor company, traveling around the country before being loaned to the Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Brothers Circus in 1911. Along the way, the Baby REO would make occasional stops at the company headquarters and family estate in Lansing, Michigan, where the children would have their portraits taken. The miniature Olds made its way back to Lansing in 2004 for the company's 100th anniversary, but the family has been trying to acquire it for decades, frustrated when its various owners would sell it without offering the family the opportunity to bid. But the car - along with its full-size counterpart - has finally returned home, where it will be on display for public viewing at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. Just make sure there isn't a family picnic going on if you're planning on stopping by or the Baby REO may be out on a field trip.

[Source: The Detroit News, Photo by Rod Sanford/AP]

1906 RE Olds Model A mini finally returns to Lansing, Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Looks can deceive: 6.6L Duramax-powered Buick GNX clone

Alex Nunez — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:35:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., Buick, GM

The car you see here is not a GNX. Hell, it's not even a Buick. You'd be forgiven if you thought it was, though, and it does sport a turbocharger underhood. David Morad was so enamored with the 6.6L LB7 Duramax diesel in his truck that he wanted to put it into something lighter and more fun. He decided to build a Grand National around the engine, and started buying up whatever applicable Buick body parts he could find -- right down to legit GNX dash plates. Next, he bought an '82 Buick Regal diesel that was to be the subject of the transformation. Unfortunately, that car literally self-immolated as he drove it home, sending Morad straight back to square one.

He subsequently found and bought an '81 Olds diesel and got to work. The car was cut in half so that a Regal rear end could be welded on, and then a laundry list of major modifications followed. To retain the stock Buick exterior appearance while incorporating the new powertrain, everything under the skin is is either extensively modified or custom fabricated in order to allow for the deception. Sure, it looks like a GNX, but this is really a scratch-built machine. Wilwood brakes lurk behind some absolutely wicked deep-dish Budnik wheels (dig those steamrollers in back), which nicely compliment the menacing black bodywork. Diesel Power magazine covers all the build's specifics in detail, and it's well worth a read.

If you're gonna masquerade as a GNX, you'd better bring some punch to the costume party, and Morad's car does. As of Diesel Power's publication, it ran an 8.25-second eighth of a mile, which they figure works out to somewhere in the 12s for the quarter. He'll be gunning for the 11s next, and additional performance upgrades are in store. Best of all? This is Morad's daily driver! He reports that it gets around 28 mpg in regular use and in the mid-30s on the highway. Not a bad combination: the looks of a GNX, the grunt of a big turbodiesel, and the fuel economy of cars that are a lot more boring. This thing had to cost a fortune to make, but Morad's clearly getting his money's worth on the fun scale.

[Source: Diesel Power via Next Autos]

Looks can deceive: 6.6L Duramax-powered Buick GNX clone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Buick, Cadillac, GM, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for a ghres gallery from The All GM Car Show

On sunny 90-degree day that felt like a lot more than 90 degrees, Autoblog made the trek to a park in Van Nuys, California for The All GM Car Show. Old mingled with new, with a 1911 Buick sitting across the aisle from a Cadillac Allante, and a 1950 Oldsmobile next to a Shelby Series 1 supercar. And age didn't stop anyone from winning prizes: in fact, a 2008 Pontiac G8 GT took home one of the day's awards.

The show also featured concept cars, customizations, and some absolutely superb hood ornaments and detailing. Follow the jump to get the scoop on The All GM Car Show, and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

Gallery: California All GM Car Show

Continue reading Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show

Autoblog visits The All GM Car Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

eBay Find of the Day: Five of Oldsmobile's Final 500

John Neff — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, GM

click above for gallery of the entire Final 500 Collection

The death of the Oldsmobile brand in 2004 was certainly a sad moment in the annals of automotive history. At 107 years old, the brand had seen its share of ups and downs, and most would agree that it ended on a down note with a lineup of cars that weren't competitive at all in their respective classes. Regardless, a dealership in Indiana managed to collect an example of each vehicle in Oldsmobile's parting lineup, all of which feature the brand's Final 500 Collector's Edition Package. They include a 2004 Silhouette minivan, 2003 Aurora, 2002 Intrigue, 2004 Bravada SUV and, my personal fave, a 2004 Alero. With my own 1999 Alero Coupe suffering from a determined pull to the right, I am looking for a suitable replacement and a perfectly preserved 2004 model would be perfect. Unfortunately, these vehicles were being sold as a set (the auction is not live anymore) with a starting bid of $149,995. If I bought the whole lot of them, I'd be paying an average of $29,999 per vehicle. We're not sure any post-Y2K Oldsmobiles will ever be worth that much on their own, and I've got too many Bentleys and Ferraris in my imaginary temperature-controlled garage to fit five reminders of why GM sucked not too long ago. Thanks for the tip, Matt!

Gallery: Final 500 Oldsmobile Collection

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Five of Oldsmobile's Final 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story...

Alex Nunez — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM

Earlier this week, in an example of cross-magazine synergy, both Automobile and Car and Driver ran April Fool's gags trumpeting the return of a rejuvenated, Toyota-owned Oldsmobile. The pubs even shared the same images, which depicted Oldsmofied versions of the Toyota Sequoia (Oldsmobile Super 88) and 4Runner (Oldsmobile Intrigue). It was goofy fun, and we all had a laugh and moved on. It would appear that not everyone caught the joke, however, and this is where things get substantially more amusing.

Continue reading Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story...

Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Survey: Bring back Oldsmobile, Studebaker

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Marketing/Advertising

Brand revival has become a hot trend in the automotive industry, but while European marques like MINI, Maybach, Bugatti and Spyker have returned to the limelight, American automakers have yet to climb on board. According to this Brandjunkie survey conducted by Interbrand's website brandchannel.com, the public most wants to see the retired American auto marques Oldsmobile and Studebaker revived. The gone-but-not-forgotten car brands follow names like Pan Am and Atari on the list, which also happened to include the retired Chrysler division Plymouth.

Elsewhere in the survey, respondents answered that BMW would make a great dinner party guest; Ford and Toyota have made a significant impact on the course of history; GM and Ford deserve a good tongue lashing in an argument; BMW, Toyota, Mercedes or Volkswagen would be good brands to be if one could be a brand; BMW, Mercedes and Toyota inspire people; GM, BMW and Mercedes need to be rebranded; and Toyota, Honda, GM and BMW are truly "green" brands. Outside the auto industry, Apple is apparently the best brand ever created, as it nabbed the No. 1 survey spot in most questions.

[Source: brandchannel.com via NYTimes Wheels]

Survey: Bring back Oldsmobile, Studebaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2007 AB Gift Guide: Oldsmobile Neon Sign

Chris Tutor — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:48:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM

Just because the General decided not to invest any more in the Oldsmobile brand doesn't mean you can't. This reproduction of a decades-old dealership sign is custom-built and limited to only 100 editions. Other signs available are Pontiac, Chevy, Cadillac and Buick.

Classic GM neon signs - $4,000

Next up: For the Mustang-loving ladies!

Gallery: 2008 AB Gift Guide

2007 AB Gift Guide: Oldsmobile Neon Sign originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments