Editing Oldsmobile (section)

===1940s===
[[File:1940 Oldsmobile Dynamic Series 70 Sedan (12492572503).jpg|thumb|right|1940 [[Oldsmobile Series 70]]]]
For the 1940 model, Oldsmobile was the first auto manufacturer to offer a fully [[automatic transmission]], called the "[[Hydramatic]]", which features four forward speeds. It has a gas pedal and a brake{{snd}}no clutch pedal. The gear selector is on the steering column.

Starting in 1941 and continuing through 1999, Oldsmobile used a two-digit model designation. As originally implemented, the first digit signifies the body size while the second represents the number of cylinders. Body sizes were 6, 7, 8, and 9, and straight six- and straight eight-cylinder engines were offered. Thus, Oldsmobiles were named "[[Oldsmobile 66|66]]" through "[[Oldsmobile 98|98]]".

Until January 1, 1942, the Division was still known by the still official name of Olds Motor Works, when it was changed to the collective name the cars were known as, "Oldsmobiles". Thus, the division was officially christened the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors.
The last pre-war Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line on February 5, 1942. During [[World War II]], Oldsmobile produced numerous kinds of material for the war effort, including large-caliber guns and shells. Production resumed on October 15, 1945, with a warmed-over 1942 model serving as the offering for 1946.

Oldsmobile once again was a pioneer when, for the 1949 model, the [[Oldsmobile V8 engine|Rocket]] engine was introduced, which used an [[overhead valve]] V8 design rather than the [[flathead engine|flathead]] "[[straight-eight]]" design which prevailed at the time. The overhead valve was originally exclusive to Buick as they invented the technology and offered it on all of their products. This engine produced far more power than the other engines that were popular during that era, and found favor with hot-rodders and stock car racers. The basic design, with a few minor changes, endured until Oldsmobile redesigned its V8 engines in the mid-1960s.