Writing about my grandfather’s Oldsmobile made me more than a little nostalgic for the brand. We’ve had several recent Oldsmobile CC’s here as well. It got me thinking about what Oldsmobiles could look like today, were they still in production. So I stated playing around with variations based on the Australian 2014 Holden Commodore. I think it’s a great-looking, competitive RWD sports sedan. Seen here is the high-performance 2014 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight LSS featuring the 6.0L V8 good for 495 horsepower. It’s the Oldsmobile of sports sedans.
Now as most of you know, we are getting a version of the upcoming Commodore, in the form of the 2014 Chevrolet SS. However much like the last version of the Commodore that North America received, the Pontiac G8, this is a performance-oriented model, and will be sold under a rather pedestrian brand. Maybe because of the recently departed Impala SS, it just screams sporty rental-car to me, nowhere near a menacing as the ’94-96 Impala SS. And I suspect most new SS’s sold will be with sterile, all-black interior and the same silver, black, or dark red available on every other Chevy.
I think Edward Snitkoff described it best in his post about the New York Auto Show in that it looks like another car already on sale in North America. With the Chevy, sorry “Chevrolet” bowtie, it does heavily resemble the current and previous generation Malibu, as well as the outgoing Impala, at least from the front. It’s missing that wow factor the Holden has.
There is a more ritzy and plush version of the Commodore, in the form of the high-end Calais model (and coincidentally, Calais was an Oldsmobile, as well as a Cadillac), but it is very unlikely North America will get it. I think an American Calais would make a good Buick. Electra maybe? But as Buick pushes the Lacrosse further upmarket, there really isn’t room for it in their lineup. Which is why I think it would make the perfect Oldsmobile.
So here you have it! Introducing the 2014 full-size Oldsmobiles:
(Quoting the 1976 full-size Oldsmobile brochure)
“Ninety-Eight Regency: the most comfortable and thoroughly luxurious car ever built by Oldsmobile.”
“Regency surrounds you with an atmosphere of luxury seldom surpassed, even in more expensive automobiles.”
A sports sedan injected with luxury. “In room, ride, comfort and elegance, it is a most impressive automobile.”
“Imagine an Olds Ninety-Eight with a 70.6 cubic foot trunk – and then look at a Custom Cruiser.”
“Perhaps what you need is basically a full-size family car. Roomy. Solid. Good for the long haul – and reasonably priced. But – you’d also like some of the amenities of a luxury car. The elegant interior. The build quality. And that good feeling on the road… Thinking like that can lead you to the Eighty-Eight.”
“Oldsmobile buyers typically hold high standards – for themselves, and their cars.They’re achievers, whose accomplishments are usually substantial, whatever their age or profession. And those attracted to our full-size and luxury Oldsmobiles are looking for a car that offers the same kind of satisfactions they’ve earned in their own right.
Oldsmobile buyers are thoughtful shoppers, who shop for more than price alone. They look for quality. Careful workmanship. They expect comfort and luxury as part of an automobile’s value. They appreciate excellence, and the prestige that goes with it.
They find it all in an Oldsmobile. In fact, the more you shop around, the more likely you are to finally choose an Olds. It’s a good feeling to have an Olds around you.”
I think that if Olds survived, its legacy model names wouldn’t have. They were far too rooted in broughamification and a demographic that pretty much doesn’t exist anymore!
Oh I 100% agree with you. I personally loved the names “Aurora”, “Intrigue”, and “Alero”. I considered using Aurora, but figured I’d go full nostalgia. I would like to do a What If Aurora. I think it couldn’t be a rebadged car though as the original wasn’t.
i agree but i think Cutlass could still be a great name for a big sporty 2 door coupe (like a challenger)
I concur, too. I suggested (below) legacy names that go back to luxury/sport models not really connected with broughamifaction like “Starfire” “Holiday” “Dynamic” . . . legacy Oldsmobile not connected to smog-wheezer, Barcalounge Olds cars of the mid seventies . . . my $0.02. And I was a BIG Olds fan and owned Olds cars.
GM does not have the credibility to produce a sporty luxury car other than the ones they already produce. With Buick and Cadillac, GM has this field ridiculously over covered.
The dominant players in this market over the past twenty years had to first establish that their basic vehicle was a high quality reliable product. When GM’s was at it’s apex, buyers were not questioning their quality in comparison to it’s competition. Over the past thirty years, GM produced vehicles that injured it’s quality reputation. A luxury car buyer does not want to buy a luxurious lemon.
Marketing is overhyped. Taking a Holden and putting a marketing angle on it, doesn’t make it an Oldsmobile. The Oldsmobile brand had a respectable and credible history that went beyond marketing. Twenty years before they went out of business, Oldsmobile began flailing with attempts to do just what you are doing here. It was taking GM products and spinning them disengeniously into a bad value the traditional Oldsmobile buyers didn’t accept.
Marketing is often lying. There was nothing essentially different between an Oldsmobile, a Buick, or a Chevrolet. They were the same cars with different trim. If someone wants to resurrect an Oldsmobile, they need to present a car that no other GM brand offers.
Once again, I agree with you. Keep in mind I did this entirely for fun. If the Oldsmobile brand was resurrected, which would be great, I’d like it to be entirely independent from GM and it’s troubles. The possibility of that is about zero however. It seems like more car brands are dying than new ones popping up in 2013.
For fun – then how about an Oldsmobile based on a full size Volt? How about a line of Oldsmobiles based on electric propulsion? How about a full size Ninety-Eight sedan based off of a GM Lambda?
A new Oldsmobile should offer what is not being offered now.
It appears you misunderstood the intent of this piece. It’s just a lighthearted result of playing around with images on my computer. I am by no means an expert graphic designer. If I were, I’d design a new Oldsmobile from the ground up. I’m not saying GM cars are perfect, nor am I praising badge engineering. I just happen to like the Holden Commodore, however as I have no sentiment for the Holden brand, I think it looks nice with Olds badges on it. That’s all.
This “What If” is merely that. It’s not meant to be a plan of action for what car companies should do. I really do appreciate your passion for Oldsmobile, as I share it.
“I’m not saying GM cars are perfect…”
Man, I thought they were! Hmmm…
I thought the same, the only way an Oldsmobile would make sense today is to really make it an experimental division, hybrids, diesels, turbines, HCCG combustion engines, made from experimental materials, stuff that really pushes the edge and as it becomes more mainstream, it filters down to the rest of GM’s cars.
I can see it now ~
Olds mobile was the working class’s luxury car. Heavy with well paid hourly workers and low and middle management. That market doesn’t really exist anymore in the same sense so Oldsmobile is gone as a result.
If only….We get the Vauxhall Monaro/VXR8 there’s quite a few of them about despite the price of gas.
The Holden is the only sports sedan GM builds with any credibility. Various hp models are available though the faster versions are unlikely to see the US market. The VXR Vauxhall/ holden can comfortably see off a M5 BMW so that should be good enough for US customers you wont need the really quick versions
You have a point, Kiwi Bryce. I want to believe that’s because Holden is way far off away from Detroit that it had (and still has) some degree of autonomy. Oldsmobile used to be that way too, until about the late 70s. In 1984, that came crashing down with the GM re-organization (descend to 2009 death); the Lansing semi-autonomous organziation became “just another GM assembly” operation. B-O-P N bodies . . . . Buick Reattas . . . . Cadillac XYZ SUV XUV’s, etc . . . . at least it kept some people in Lansing, Michigan working building cars. But a semi-independent Oldsmobile Divison far away (almost) enough from Detroit not to become moribund in minutae egotisitical managerial games (the kinds descrived by John DeLorean in the 70s) . . . .
I shed a tear when Olds was axed the same year GM acquired Saab; I know that in the 21st scheme of things, Oldsmobile doesn’t really fit in (Pontiac was allowed to wither and die simply for the sake of an Asian-resurgent Buick). I break down crying if GM shutters Holden . . . there’s still relevance in Holden.
From my perspective as a millennial, it always seemed like Olds and Buick were competing for the same market. Middle aged to senior buyers who might cross shop a top of the line Camry or maybe an Avalon.
From my perspective (also a millennial), I think it was a GREAT thing to be “competing” against each other. If the buyer goes Olds OR Buick, it ain’t Honda or Toyota. For instance, my grandmother always bought Olds (she had a little kick to her, but mostly liked old-fashioned luxury that they brought); her husband, my grandfather, bought Buick (slower-paced, enjoy the scenery, enjoyed comfy ride); my other grandparents drove Pontiac (they were a touch crazy [high-strung?] and sporty was their identity!). None would have considered Honda or Toyota. Each got what they wanted. GM doesn’t offer that today (and props to the young writer for dreaming! It’s fun to do that once in a while! Gets harder to do the older you get.).
The Avalon failed dramatically in the Holdens market and was withdrawn it simply did not sell. There was talk of Holdens being rebadged as Buicks for China but that seems to have been canned and Toyota spent a fortune trying to get its Camry to hold the road like a Commodore and failed you guys might be in for a shock if you think these drive like a US car
China does in fact get a version of the Holden Caprice sold as a Buick Park Avenue.
The US did get a version of the VE Commodore, sold here as a Pontiac G8. We could order it with a V6, all the way up to 403 hp V8 GXP model. It was a sales flop though, and never sold as well as the old US designed FWD Pontiac’s it replaced. I, and many other enthusiasts, prefer the RWD setup of the Holden chassis, but to the average American (and more and more ANZ buyers it seems from Ford’s recent decisions), fuel economy, efficient packaging, and a comfortable ride take precedent over a sporty ride and RWD handling.
Aussie Holdens handle ok,far better than what most US drivers are used to and much better than the Japanese competition, They are comfortable riding cars plenty of room etc. Ford are selling a 15 year old car its so far out of date it ridiculous. The holden was redesigned in about 2005 with a complete new body and the new alloy V6. Ford restyled the front and rear but underneath is the awful AU series chassis
It’s not that Americans aren’t used to good handling cars, European cars have been popular here for decades, it’s just that people buying family sedans prefer the safer handling in inclement weather, and the more efficient layout of a FWD 4 cylinder Japanese or American car for day to day driving. Most people aren’t enthusiasts. If we had the beautiful mountains NZ has we’d probably see more 3-series BMW’s and other RWD cars, but all that chassis talent is wasted in say, the flat expanse of Texas, where a more comfortable ride and 30 MPGs are more useful than pulling lateral G’s.
Yep. Driving in NZ is quite different from the US. Major NZ roads tend to be of the two-lane variety, particularly as you get away from Auckland, and distances are relatively short. (NZ drivers also seem to be programmed to make suicidal passing maneuvers, but that’s another story…) There’s not much comparison.
But I would guess that the Chevy SS will probably be more fun to drive and have better handling than the traditional American sedans. Australia struck me as being kind of a middle ground between the American urge for displacement and the European desire for road feel. Plus, it’s going to have the LS3 V8, which should make it a screamer. (The Aussies don’t get that version of the motor in their Commodore.)
The Pontiac G8 was barely ever sold in the US, and it was released right around the same time GM, and the US economy, were circling the drain. I don’t know if it would’ve been a success or not (probably not), but it never really had a chance either. Too bad, I thought it was a pretty neat car.
I think the G8 had a shot, people just don’t buy full size, RWD mainstream sedans anymore. I’m not against them, I like the G8.
From Wikipedia:
“By December 2008, the rear-drive G8 had not become the expected sales replacement for the previous front-drive models, with 11,000 unsold G8s in the inventory and just 13,000 sold. During the 2009 global economic downturn, market prices had dropped by $3000–5000 below GM’s sticker price for the car. By July 2009, there were only 5,000 unsold G8s in inventory, with almost 30,700 sold.”
It seems like I never saw one ad for the G8 before or after it’s release. I didn’t even know there was a V6 model at the time, I simply equated G8 = V8(great naming scheme that was). That car was plain piss poorly marketed. Plus in conjunction with fuel spiking in 2008 and the economy turning upside down soon after, it really didn’t have a fair shot.
I wouldn’t say there’s no market for that layout either. Chrysler hadn’t done too bad moving their RWD full size 300s and Chargers around the same period. They still sell respectable numbers for what they are, though not in pre-depression levels. Had the G8 been released a just a year earlier it could have been a different story. Considering the GTO was a domesticated Holden there’s no reason that GMNA couldn’t figure out a way to bring in the VE as a direct/indirect followup or replacement by 2007.
I definitely agree about the name thing, I too was unaware we were getting a V6 G8 until they started showing up on ebay.
And good point about the 300/Charger. That’s definitely a mainstream, RWD sedan doing well. I think style might have a lot to do with it, I know it’s a subjective thing, but the Charger at least looks powerful, and the 300 has it’s gangster persona to keep sales going.
I’m imagining, and this is all generalizations I understand, that someone buying a V8 RWD sedan is going to want a little more brashness to the style of their car. It needs to look powerful too. I don’t think G8 looked bad, but a little plain at least, this was also what did in the Monaro based GT0’s. I don’t think a single review came out that didn’t compare it’s looks to a Cavalier. Not bad, just bland. Just like I think the SS looks great, understated and sleek, but I think it’s not going to sell well because it doesn’t look like it could eat a Camry for dinner, like a Charger does. It looks like a better proportioned Malibu.
I agree. I loved the *idea* of the G8 and was glad it existed. If I had been in the market for a car before Pontiac’s demise, I would have thought about buying one. For about a minute. And then I would have gotten something smaller and more practical that got better than 17/25 MPG (which is what the V6 scored — the V8 was 15/24).
Last fall I was finally in the market for a new car. I got a Focus. It’s comfortable, has gizmos that luxury cars didn’t have 5 years ago, has the versatility of a hatchback, and I’m averaging 29.5 MPG despite my crappy bumper-to-bumper NoVa commute.
If GM could strip 800 lbs. of weight out of these things and power them with a modern turbo I-4, then they might have something. Until then, these are a relic of another era, even in their home market.
Ltd – What XR7Matt said… however good or bad the G8 was, it never really got a fair shake since it was only ever sold in the worst climate for US auto sales in modern history. The internet says G8 production started in December, 2007… so when the first models were reaching the US, the economy was already showing some serious cracks and it only got much worse from there.
I think BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Hyundai and Infiniti have all proven that there is still a sizable market for big(ish) RWD cars. Obviously not bread and butter sedans, and maybe that was another mistake with the G8. The few I’ve seen up close were extremely nice, overall… but they were slightly marred by the typical late-era Pontiac cornball details. Bright red gauges and upholstery generally don’t appeal to people who are shopping for somewhat upscale cars, although I think you can option out a Dodge Charger with all kinds of cheesy equipment like that, too… so who knows.
Most of the big RWD European cars are sold as status symbols with only limited practical value. Say a 750Li That cost $90k is likely going to be bought by a 45-65 white male with a lot of money. Maybe a mistress but either kids are grown or they rarely if ever get into the car.
The G8 and SS are half that and while not likely to be purchased as the primary family car the cost and demographic offer it a wider market with more usage potential. Mainstream is the key word. The Chrysler 300 does well. If Chevy can get 35-50k out of the SS they can call it a success.
It appears that Pontiac G8’s are fast becoming collectibles. At least Pontiac didn’t submerge completely with lame G6’s, G5’s and (Daewoo!) G3’s only! It went to car heaven with some dignity in the G8.
If there were still Oldsmobiles, the Volt would be one (that experimental division thing)
I’d add in a full line of Opel Astra Cutlasses (well, 3- and 5- doors and maybe wagon, Buick can keep the sedan) and shift the Encore from Buick to complete the line.
🙂
Brendan, an excellent article and thanks for taking the time to post your pictures. Good job and very entertaining..as a proud owner of a 1980 Cutluss Brougham with 37k original documented miles..I appreciate your “vision”. I like you wish Olds would be back. I did like the Regency Customer Cruiser wagon..wish I could get one.
Thank you! Yeah I’d much rather a luxury RWD wagon than a crossover. I know from pictures my grandfather owned 2 Cutlass coupes in the 80’s, an ’81-86 and then a ’87-88 model. Great cars.
Pretty sure the Holden sport wagon is available with Cadillac badging in the US
No rebadged Holden wagon is sold here in the U.S. Are you thinking of the Cadillac CTS sportwagon?
That wagon needs a little sticker that reads: “wagons are meant to haul things, well this wagon hauls ass!”
Classic..
So you might get this “down under” but it doesn’t come to us “up over” lol…
This is the same guy who thinks the GM LS-series is a “Holden Engine”…
Quite likely change the grille and that is a Commodore. The CTS fitted into Holdens lineup in NZ ok Aussie cant have any that was the agreement all RHD CTS caddies sent down under went to Ebbet holden in NZ at a very good price but with a caveat from GM NA none were to be sent over the ditch
The CTS is not a Holden derived car. The only Australian derived GM’s we currently get are the Caprice (sold only to police, as a Chevrolet), and the aforementioned Chevrolet SS.
The CTS is built on a platform(Sigma) of its own, and it is considered “above” or “better” than the platform the Holden uses.
The Holden is build on the global platform that the G8, Camaro, Caprice and now SS are built on. The platform was engineered by many different people located all over the world, so you can’t say it is anything but a General Motors “platform”…not just Holden and not just GM NA.
The CTS was a gem and I spent 10 years working on that platform. I started with the Olds Cutlass in the mid 70s and ended with the CTS. Probably the two best cars GM made at their times. What bookends for a career!
Kiwi
why did you delete the post telling me to get a brain?
I’ll rewrite it and not be rude, The Sigma platform is not used by Holden true. The Holden is built on an Australian designed platform now and it is Holden who build the Caprice,SS ,Monaro etc it did not arrive globally though the previous model had a European counterpart and began life as an Opel, the one being built now is Australian only and built for export markets around the globe. It may amuse you to find Holden has been exporting Chevrolets since 1966 when Holdens were rebadged and fitted with 6 cylinder Chevrolet engines for the South African market. Chevrolet Statesmans were on sale in New zealand through Vauxhall Chevrolet dealers not Holden, Those cars had 350/350 12 bolt diff and despite being built in OZ are unknown there. I grew up in a GM dealership household, Chevrolet Vauxhall Oldsmobile Bedford & Holden
Your car sounds interesting.
In a way, I miss Oldsmobile…but at least I associate the marque with fondness …if Olds still existed under the “new GM”…they’d be amorphous CamryMalibuHyundaiAccordRegal lookalike blobs.
Cool article. Slap a panoramic moonroof on the Custom Cruiser, call it a Vista Cruiser, and I’d put a deposit in. So disappointing Pontiac died right before we got the G8 wagon and ute.
I like the idea, but I think I’d still want to see them with split grilles for a nod to tradition.
Thats what I was thinking too, how can they be Oldsmobiles wihouth a split grille?
Something like this?
At least for the illusion. I know it would look better if the sides of the center piece were curved more but it would be tricky to do given the angle of the image.
I really enjoyed my 2000 Intrigue. I’m sad that I can’t buy a 2014 version.
Oh gawd I love that. Since Olds is a goner, maybe this car would’ve been better in the US as a Buick? Probably not… but it doesn’t really work for me as a Chevy, and I think the original is great. “Chevrolet SS” is also a horrible name.
I’m about the biggest Oldsmobile fan in the world (I even like the Achieva), but this makes me glad Oldsmobile died when it did.
What? You sir are the only person I have ever heard of who likes the Oldsmobile underAchieva…wow!!!
I’ll admit I’ve never actually DRIVEN one, but I love the styling. It looks like a pocket-sized Ninety-Eight, right down to the fender skirts. If I’m ever a deranged millionaire I’d like to have a collection of 1990s cars (Concordes, Auroras, Continentals, etc), and the Acheiva would be pretty high on my list.
As a fellow car guy who came of age in the 90’s, I agree. Plus, who doesn’t think the Achieva SCX to be an all-out awesome little car?
Go to Dean’s Garage and read all about it!
http://deansgarage.com/category/car-design/1992-oldsmobile-achieva-scx/
I’ve always had some kind of morbid fascination with the Achieva and Buick Skylark of that vintage, too. They somehow looked both incredibly ambitious and incredibly dated all at once. I like them as a curiosity, and also because I think the high-output Quad4 was a really nasty motor, even if it was a grenade.
Really interesting article in the link Craig posted! What a shame that this roof didn’t make it onto the production version. This looks so much better, and it’s somewhat reminiscent of GM coupe rooflines from the early 60s:
I guess GM wanted to keep the roofline for the later Cavalier and Sunfire coupes:
I drove an ’04 Alero as a rental (October, 2003 when I flew to St. Louis for my Grandfather’s funeral). GM Ecotec four banger – drove quite nice and I thought the build quality was good.
I am looking forward to seeing the new Impala SS. I liked the 94-96 Impalas but they were a bit too big to be practical for everyday and well I didn’t have my license back when they were new. I have 2 more years of this lease on my 13 Legacy (Sept 12 acquire) and would seriously look at this. I lease because the payments are less and I can get a new car with warranty and not worry about long term costs.
My dad is getting ready to retire from the Air Force (reserves now active duty retired years ago and his civilian Air Force job) and they used the G8s as chase planes. They were well liked and probably means they will use these new SS. I do not think its legal that they use anything but a domestic make vehicle so that will probably be the best available for reasonable money.
I am too young to remember Oldsmobile back in its heyday but judging from what I see at carshows those kinds of cars cannot be built anymore. It seems like most manufacturers for various reasons have only a really narrow amount of room to built a car. That’s why my 13 Legacy looks a lot like a Honda Accord and an Infinity G37. Its shocking really I parked next to one a few months ago and the Honda owner remarked “If I knew they came in that color I would have gotten it.” I have a medium metallic blue shade that seems to be unusual even though it is not that loud of a color.
With respect to everyone, I believe Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Buick had no reason to exist after 1980.
Brendan, the reason you call Chevrolet “a rather pedestrian brand” is because GM all-too-often moved it downscale to give Olds, Buick and Pontiac a place to play.
Huh?
Contrast with Ford, who basically allowed its flagship brand to pretty much manuever wherever it wanted ever since the 4-seat T-Bird became available for 1958.
Edsel had no chance even if everything else that went wrong, didn’t. And if Mercury was hurt, so be it. It too became a useless nameplate so it was dropped.
But Chevrolet, Olds, Buick and Pontiac spent the better part of three decades playing in the same sandbox. Once the engineering became centralized and each division’s unique powerplants became “GM Corporate”…and the styling became derivative (which we now know was a constraint of evolving from BOF to unit construction across-the-board, and has since been successfully overcome)…it was time for Alfred Sloan’s price ladder to lose three rungs.
That said, today Buick is carving its own niche while Chevrolet is finally allowed to maneuver like Ford. There are a few “all things to most people” brands out there, and I think that describes Chevy like it does Ford and Toyota. Five years ago I would’ve included Dodge but not after Fiat spun Ram off as a separate marque.
I agree and disagree with this. The crime was that too many models were shared. Had we kept certain platforms to certain Marques things might have worked out better. Like for example keeping the J’s strictly Chevrolet-Pontiac, N’s Pontiac-Olds, A’s are a bit harder because the Celebrity sold well as did the Ciera and Century, but the 6000 much less so maybe having just kept the STE. Cimarron was supposed to be a captive import from Opel which would have worked out better. Which it eventually became. That would have cut down on the cookie cutter label a great deal since no more than two divisions would have shared.
In January of 1981 when the divisions were briefed on the upcoming J’s, then Pontiac chief William Hoaglund was quoted as saying that sub compacts and compacts would account for 45% of domestic sales by 1985. Had gas prices continued that would have been very conceivable.
I already believed Olds was lost in the winds by 1993 when I left so I have no real theory on how it could have been saved. Pontiac, I think more could have been done. One thing I like about Fiat-Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne is that he abhors overlap. Some overlap can be tolerated but only in instances where the product can be differentiated.
The Big 3 had slowly been losing their divisional identities for years. Most import manufacturers only had multiple brands due to acquisition. So today we sort have had an equilibrium of sorts in the market the major manufacturers are slimmed down to their basic models.
I( may agree, Chas with your statement, except that the year of irrelevance could be pushed to after 2000 . . . .
The drawings of these “2014” Oldses are just Chevy Caprice PPV’s with different badges, just as the Cutlass Ciera used to be a Celebrity with Rocket hood ornaments. Nothing that makes it “better” than the Chevy.
Once GM diluted the divisions, it was all over for Pontiac, Olds and Saturn. Buick and GMC are still here due to profits. There’s still some people who think a GMC truck is ‘better built’ than a Chevy, from same plants.
IMO, what makes it better is that it doesn’t have a big, dumb, bowtie grille. I’m not a big fan of the current Chevrolet grille and think it has sullied several very nice cars over the last ten years or so. I don’t think Brendan is suggesting that GM should be selling Commodore based “Chevrolet SS'” and “Oldsmobile 88s” side-by-side (or that GM should be selling Oldsmobiles at all), but that if Oldsmobile were still around for whatever reason, the Commodore would make a much better Oldsmobile than it would a Chevy… and I agree.
Does anyone really love the Chevrolet SS? I like that it exists and it will probably be a great car from behind the wheel, but I’ve heard nothing but a collective “meh” on it… and regardless of what my opinion is, I find that surprising since I remember at least some kind of excitement about the potential of a civilian PPV model when that car first debuted. Maybe they should have just kept it based on the Holden Caprice (like the PPV), which I think works much better with Chevrolet’s current design language.
THANK YOU! It seems like many people who commented here DO think that I am suggesting that they sell these cars. I’m glad somebody understands me.
And I agree with you on the Chevy grille.
So glad I’m not the only one who thinks that. I often get labeled by friends and colleagues as a GM hater because I think the “trademark” horizontal split grille and brassy colored bow tie look cheap and dated. Really, I only mourned Pontiac because it’s emblem was so low key in comparison.
I have similar sentiments about the SS. I’m glad it exists but I can’t say I’d buy one. It reeks of poor product planning, given the coexistence with the all new and unrelated Impala, and has about all the aesthetic appeal of a Cruze(not that that’s bad, but not what I want with a $50k V8 sedan). The G8 was much more appealing aesthetically and the bodystyle still looked fresh when it was new. Looking at the SS, at least in pictures, doesn’t even give me enough energy to exhale a “meh”. I put my fingers over the overhangs and I see the same old body I’ve known about since 2006, and can’t help but wonder how hard it’s going to be to get parts for when this iteration of the car gets nixed yet again. I personally know some GTO guys that have to jump through hoops to get some relatively basic stuff.
The whole powertrain comes from Chevrolet the parts are everywhere. All GM V6 engines are built at fishermans bend how do you expect to get parts anyway By the way the Holden rides on its own platform its designed in Aussie not globally. Holden build the Camaro, SS, Caprice,nobody else. The previous Holden platform had a European counterpart NOT this one.
I’m not talking about powertrain parts, the chassis parts are the problem. My friend recently had stuff like bushings and ball joints for his GTO on 4 month back order, shipped from Australia. Even trivial things like the fasteners for the bumper covers are Holden specific and can’t simply be pulled off a shelf at a chevy dealer here.
I’ve felt that way about the solid-color brass bowtie for years. If they just made it a chrome outline like the logos of Honda, Buick, Toyota, Nissan, Audi, etc. it would look way more classy.
I agree. I’d prefer that bold corporate badges just disappear(or become microscopic) from the cars all together, just as it it had been 30 years ago or so, but an outlined bow tie would definitely look better.
In fact it was just an outline at some point in the 90s, and I think it looks way better than the current one.
I still think there is some value in the classic Chevrolet bow tie, as below. Ford brought back the old insignia in the 80s, which remains as iconic now as ever. Chevy keeps messing with theirs, and screwing it up worse every
I’m not a fan of the Chevy-fied front end either. If I had an SS, I’d probably debadge it (and that’s not something that I’d typically go to the trouble of doing.)
Here’s the HSV version of the Holden: http://www.hsv.com.au/Gen-F/images/see/clubsport/hsv-gen-f-clubsport-lg.jpg It’s a bit boy racer, but I prefer the look to what we’re getting.
There are several HSV performance models the quickest comes in Brock blue same colour as the VK model for that you buy a V8 Dore send it to HSV and they send it back in firebreathing mode, thats the one that really goes
A popular trick here in Hawaii is that most owners of Infiniti G35/G37’s is to remove the Infinit badges and put on Nissan Skyline GT350/370 badges. I like that (or, they just debadge the Infinitis and leave them that way). Too bad they weren’t sold here as Skylines. I understand from a U.S. dealership point of view a Skyline GT370, a Maxima and a 370Z would compete against one another on the showroom floor. That, and the GS’s really are the only decent seller for Infiniti as the others are overwrought, overstyled ugly dogs (even if they ARE competent cars) . . . .
Interesting “what if”, let’s imagine a similar exercise for Plymouth, Mercury, Eagle and why not DeSoto, Willys, Kaiser, Nash, Hudson, Packard and Studebaker as well? 😉
I have a soft spot for Oldsmobiles as well, so one does wonder what the brand might be selling if it were still around today. But I can’t imagine any way to market the brand to post-Boomers. Which is why ‘What Ifs’ should be appreciated for what the name suggests, they’re not meant to be strategic recommendations.
That said, the Caprice version of this platform does seem like a natural for Buick. It’s going great guns in China as a Park Avenue, and their luxury sedan buyers value similar qualities (size, softness, smoothness) as traditional American Buick buyers.
Hmmm…interesting idea! (Imagine that, seeing how I am this site’s biggest Olds champion).
While it’s no secret that I loved (and still love) all the Broughamy Oldsmobiles of the past, I still think the direction GM was taking Olds toward the end could have worked, provided they had invested more money into it. The cars had the potential, the styling was distinctive, and the marketing to an extent wasn’t all that bad. The problem was that the details were not sweated enough, and it showed. My Alero is far from perfect. It drives me crazy because I so enjoy that little car, but oh how much better it could have been…
I agree, Richard. I bought in 1997 the book “Oldsmobile – the First 100 years” and with Joe Rock, Oldsmobile could’ve been more relevant. On the other hand, one division (at least) on the brink of the 21st Century had to go.
Hindsight is 20/20. I love Buicks, but I feel in scope, genre and price, it is, in today’s market, too close to a resurgent Cadillac. Perhaps to have combined Pontiac and Oldsmobile and axe Buick . . . combine P-O as one division; one for sportier cars (Pontiac), one for luxury/touring (not Broughmifcation) – (Oldsmobile) . . . . However, in 2013, it is what it is. Bring the Buick Park Avenue in two flavors for the U.S.A. and Canada.
I decided to share this story over at The Brougham Society, just because…
facebook.com/groups/TheBroughamSociety/
“Like”
Love these markups! Although they seem to have a Venza/Avalon influence going on!
What a nice thought! A revived Eighty-Eight and a “Calais” . . . which would make some good Olds names . . . however . . . in Olds lexicon “Eighty” was the series, “Eight” the engine. If we’re on the fantasy bandwagon, name the V-6 Commodore cars:
“Dynamic” “Cutlass” “Holiday” or simply “Delta”
the hotter V-8 Models “Starfire” “Regency” depending on level of sport or luxury.
I like the wagon as a “Custom Cruiser” . . . although, even if fantasy came true, it would be too expensive based upon the low (anticipated) volume for the wagon to come to America.
Insofar as a Buick, in the real world, a bad idea – GM would be better suited to bring the Park Avenue V-8 to America (minimal certification as this car has already been certified and green lighted as the Chevy Caprice/SS . . . . ) add two flavors of luxury sport/gran sport . . . . and I think Buick could sell the Park Avenue in America . . . call one “Park Avenue” or “Electra” and the sportier version “Gran Sport” . . . .
It could work . . . as a Buick in real life . . .
Brendan, Peter Martens here, founder of the Oldsmobile Forum. Hello everyone. First, I just want to say that I think the renderings Brendan produced are excellent, and really capture the ‘look’ I feel that Oldsmobile would have achieved had they been given the green light to produce cars and SUV’s again. Though I’d love to see it. I don’t think Olds would make the Custom Cruiser again. It seems the wagon market has pretty much dried up for all car makers. However, a revised Bravada, with styling cues taken from the ’05 thru ’07 Chrysler Pacifica, sure would be a hit. I’m all for bringing about another LSS, as I still enjoy ownership of my ’94 and it looks and drives like new even today. You can see it on our forum’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheOldsmobileForum
I really like your version of the LSS, and the line-up of other cars should be an inspiration to GM as to bringing back what was the oldest car company in America. I sold, and later wrote service for Oldsmobile for nearly 11 years. I would never say it was work, as I enjoyed helping families get ‘that special feel in an Oldsmibile’ and later help keep it on the road. They were great cars, did not break down often, and were well liked by their owners for the many years that they owned them!
I wish Oldsmobile was back and made a Malibu-based Alero, SS-based Intrigue, and Caprice-based Aurora, as well as the Camaro-based 4-4-2 and Traverse-based Bravada.
Keeping the glorious memory by the heritage of Oldsmobile & Pontiac. Next year Chevrolet shall be terminated till 2015 in Europe. Few years after the failure of Cadillac and Hummer. What are we really expecting?