Editing Oldsmobile (section)

===1970s–1980s===
[[File:1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Hardtop -- 10-19-2010.jpg|thumb|1972 [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme]]]]
[[File:Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible.jpg|thumb|1973 [[Oldsmobile Delta 88]] Convertible]]
[[File:Oldsmobile Omega Sedan 1977 (5064154616).jpg|thumb|right|1977 [[Oldsmobile Omega]] sedan]]
[[File:Early Olds Cutlass Ciera.jpg|thumb|right|1982 [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera]]]]
[[File:Oldsmobile Delta 88 sedan -- 03-22-2012.JPG|thumb|1987 [[Oldsmobile Delta 88]]]]
[[File:1995 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale in silver.jpg|thumb|right|1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale]]
[[File:1996 Oldsmobile Aurora in Silver Teal (front left side).jpg|thumb|First Generation [[Oldsmobile Aurora#First generation (1995–1999)|Oldsmobile Aurora]]]]
[[File:Oldsmobile Alero sedan -- 03-16-2012.JPG|thumb|[[Oldsmobile Alero]]]]
The 1970s and 1980s were good years for the Oldsmobile division; sales soared (reaching an all-time high of 1,066,122 in 1985) based on popular designs, positive reviews from critics, and perceived quality and reliability, with the [[Oldsmobile Cutlass|Cutlass]] series becoming North America's top-selling car by 1976. By this time, Olds had displaced Pontiac and Plymouth as the third best-selling brand in the U.S. behind Chevrolet and Ford. In the late 1970s and again in the mid-1980s, model-year production topped one million units, something only Chevrolet and Ford had achieved.

The very popularity of Oldsmobile's cars created a problem for the division in the late 1970s, however. At that time, each General Motors division produced its own V8 engines, and in 1977, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick each produced a unique 350-cubic-inch displacement V8. It was during the 1977 model year that demand exceeded production capacity for the Oldsmobile V8 and as a result, Oldsmobile began equipping most full-size Delta 88 models (those with Federal emissions specifications) with the Chevrolet 350 engine instead. Although it was widely debated whether there was a difference in quality or performance between the two engines, there was no question that the engines were different from one another. Many customers were loyal Oldsmobile buyers who specifically wanted the Rocket V8, and did not discover that their vehicle had the Chevrolet engine until they performed maintenance and discovered that purchased parts did not fit. This became a [[public relations]] nightmare for GM.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/615466102.html?dids=615466102:615466102&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+13%2C+1977&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=GM+engine+lawsuit%3A+When+does+Olds+become+a+Chevrolet%3F&pqatl=google | work=[[Chicago Tribune]] | title=GM engine lawsuit: When does Olds become a Chevrolet? | first=James | last=Mateja | date=March 13, 1977 | access-date=July 7, 2017 | archive-date=May 1, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501202459/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/615466102.html?dids=615466102:615466102&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+13%2C+1977&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=GM+engine+lawsuit%3A+When+does+Olds+become+a+Chevrolet%3F&pqatl=google | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/03/archives/gms-image-under-fire-in-new-type-of-lawsuit-latest-charges.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | title=G.M.'s Image Under Fire In New Type of Lawsuit; Latest Charges Challenge Internal Operations, Not Size Factors Credibility and Durability 'A Set of Principles' G.M. Image Assailed in New Cases Murkier Waters Today 'Little Attention' Given Approach Challenged | date=April 3, 1978 | access-date=May 20, 2010 | first=Reginald | last=Stuart | archive-date=July 18, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718171942/http://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/03/archives/gms-image-under-fire-in-new-type-of-lawsuit-latest-charges.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Following this debacle, disclaimers stating that "Oldsmobiles are equipped with engines produced by various GM divisions" were tacked onto advertisements and sales literature; all other GM divisions followed suit. In addition, GM quickly stopped associating engines with particular divisions and to this day, all GM engines are produced by "GM Powertrain" (GMPT) and are called GM "Corporate" engines instead of GM "Division" engines. Although it was the popularity of the Oldsmobile division vehicles that prompted this change, declining sales of V8 engines would have made this change inevitable as all but the Chevrolet version of the 350-cubic-inch engine were eventually discontinued.

Oldsmobile also introduced a 5.7L (350 cu-in) V8 [[Oldsmobile Diesel engine|diesel engine]] option on its Custom Cruiser, Delta 88 and 98 models in 1978; and a smaller 4.3L (260 cu-in) displacement V8 diesel on the 1979 Cutlass Salon and Cutlass Supreme/Cutlass Calais models. These were largely based on corresponding gasoline engines but with heavier duty cast blocks, redesigned heads and fast glow plugs; and on the 5.7L, oversized cranks, main bearings and wrist pins. There were several problems with these engines, including water and corrosion in the injectors (no water separator in the fuel line); paraffin clogging of fuel lines and filters in cold weather; reduced lubrication in the heads due to undersized oil galleys; head bolt failures; and the use of aluminum rockers and stanchions in the 4.3L V8 engines. While the 5.7L was also offered on various Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, and Pontiac models, it was eventually discontinued by all divisions in 1985. V6 diesels of 4.3L displacement were also offered between 1982 and 1985. In 1988 the then all-new 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pace car was the first production car with [[Automotive head-up display|heads up display]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/head-up-display2.htm| title=How Head-up Displays Work| date=April 17, 2012| access-date=January 7, 2020| archive-date=October 7, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007170649/https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/head-up-display2.htm| url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Notable models''':
* [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme]] (1966–1997) – more performance and luxury than the lower-priced Cutlass and Cutlass S models, fitting in at the lower end of the [[personal luxury car]] market. Models were similar to the [[Pontiac Grand Prix]], [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]], and [[Buick Regal]].
* [[Oldsmobile 88]] (1949–1999) – Oldsmobile full-sized family coupe and sedan. Led Oldsmobile sales from 1950 to 1974. Downsized in 1977, became front-wheel-drive in 1986. The first-generation 88 is reputed to have inspired the song "[[Rocket 88]]" – arguably the first rock & roll record.
* [[Oldsmobile 98]] (1941–1996) – Oldsmobile full-sized luxury coupe and sedan that was downsized in 1977 and 1985, became front-wheel-drive in 1985.
* [[Oldsmobile Toronado]] (1966–1992) – personal luxury coupe, major redesign downsized the car in 1979 then again in 1986, ''Motor Trend'' Car of the Year in '66.
* [[Oldsmobile Omega]] (1973–1984) – European flavored compact car originally based on the Chevrolet Nova and later the [[Chevrolet Citation]].
* [[Oldsmobile Calais|Oldsmobile Calais (or Cutlass Calais)]] (1985–1991) – popular compact coupe and sedan on GM's "N-body" platform, similar to the Pontiac Grand Am. The series' name was taken from what was formerly the high-end option package for Cutlass Supreme models.
* [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera]] (1982–1996) – popular selling upscale mid-sized car based on GM's [[GM A platform (FWD)|A platform]]. During its run, the Cutlass Ciera was Oldsmobile's best-selling model. It consistently ranked among the highest-rated vehicles by J. D. Power and Associates; it was ranked the "Best in Price Class" on July 30, 1992, and the "Top-Ranked American-Made Car" on May 28, 1992. It was also named "Safe Car of the Year" by ''Prevention'' magazine on March 6, 1992.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
* [[Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser]] (1971–1992) – full-size station wagon. Downsized in 1977. Within Oldsmobile, the Custom Cruiser shared its trim with either (or both) the Oldsmobile Delta 88 or Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight; following the further downsizing of Oldsmobile sedans in 1986, the Custom Cruiser effectively became a stand-alone model line. With the discontinuation of the [[Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme#Fourth generation (1978–1988)|Cutlass Supreme Classic]] in 1988, the Custom Cruiser became the sole Oldsmobile sold with rear-wheel drive.
* [[Oldsmobile Starfire]] (1975–1980) – sporty [[subcompact]], [[hatchback]] coupe similar to the [[Chevrolet Monza]], which was itself, based on the [[Chevrolet Vega]].
* [[Oldsmobile Firenza]] (1982–1988) – compact sedan, hatchback, coupe, and station wagon based on GM's J-body, sharing the same platform with the [[Chevrolet Cavalier]], [[Pontiac Sunbird]], [[Buick Skyhawk]], and [[Cadillac Cimarron]].