Every Oldsmobile Sports Car You Should Know
Take a closer look at each Oldsmobile sports car to get an insight into the American automaker’s sporting history.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
What was the first muscle car? Many car enthusiasts often point to the
Oldsmobile
Rocket 88 that came out of Detroit in 1949. The legendary American automaker went on to create classic sports cars from the 1966 Toronado to the 1991 Cutlass Calais 442 W41.Before General Motors took over in 1908, Oldsmobile was originally established as the “Old Motors Vehicle Company” by Ransom E. Olds back in 1897—making it one of the oldest automobile brands in the nation. Though the iconic automaker shut down in 2004, it left behind some of the coolest muscle cars that are still revered by many car aficionados today.
Don’t know where to start with this American classic? No problem!
Jerry
, top-rated car insurance
broker and automotive super app
, is here to walk you down memory lane with a guide to Oldsmobile’s sports cars, from 1949 to 1999.Did Oldsmobile make sports cars?
Yes—technically. However, Oldsmobile referred to their vehicles as muscle cars. And according to CarFax, “all muscle cars are sports cars, but not all sports cars are muscle cars.” Muscle cars focus solely on acceleration, while sports cars prioritize overall performance.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a closer look at a few of the most popular sports cars from Oldsmobile over the years.
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1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
Have you ever heard the classic rock and roll tune Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats? The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was so beloved that there was a song written about it!
In 1949, Oldsmobile produced a new CID V8 engine called the Rocket V8 with a two-barrel carburetor that cranked out 135 horsepower and up to 253 lb-ft of torque. The 88 was capable of soaring from zero to 60 in 13 seconds with a top speed of 97 mph. Though this may not sound like much to contemporary ears, it was actually quite powerful for the time.
Combining the Rocket 88’s light body with a mighty V8 engine resulted in what is now thought of as the first muscle car to emerge from Detroit. The muscle car was popular not only on the streets but on the race track as well. And the 88 proved to be a winner—the renowned sports car went on to win six out of nine NASCAR races in 1949.
The Oldsmobile 88 remained in production until 1953 when it was replaced by the Super 88 model. The final 88 was built in 1999 before General Motors retired the Oldsmobile brand.
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado
Another first for the legendary auto brand came with the introduction of the groundbreaking 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. This powerful luxury coupe was innovative at the time—it was equipped with front-wheel drive, which wasn’t exactly the norm among domestic vehicles.
The full-size Toronado muscle car came equipped with a powerful 455 V8 engine that growled with an impressive 385 horsepower. Not only was the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado a beast on the streets, but the overall design was absolutely extraordinary. Its phenomenal body shape, low roof, and hidden headlights will still take your breath away today.
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 442 W41
The muscle car era might have ended in the early 1970s, but Oldsmobile attempted to keep the magic alive throughout the late 70s, 80s, and into the 90s with the 1991
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Calais 442 W41, inspired by the original 1964 Oldsmobile 442.The compact, front-wheel-drive two-door muscle car came equipped with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that boasted 190 horsepower. Again, this may not sound like much these days, but the Calais 442 was lightweight with a race-tuned suspension and gearbox that helped the sports car to accelerate rapidly—flying from zero to 60 in just seven seconds.
A history of the Oldsmobile sports car
The Rocket 88, Toronado, and Cutlass Calais 442 give you an overview from the beginning to the end of the Oldsmobile empire. But what about all the peppy muscle cars in between? Below is a timeline of the greatest highlights in the history of the Oldsmobile sports car.
1957: Oldsmobile rolled out the unique Fiesta Wagon, which featured a V8 engine that produced between 277 to 300 horsepower. It’s an extremely rare sports car today as it was only in production for two years.
1961: Though the Rocket 88 is considered by many as the first muscle car, Oldsmobile became active in the muscle car game with the introduction of the Starfire. This classic convertible came equipped with a V8 engine that generated 330 horsepower.
1964: Coming out the same year as the
Pontiac GTO
, the Oldsmobile 442 was a new model that was part of the Cutlass lineup. Marketed as a “gentlemen’s hot rod”, the elegantly designed sports car came with a 330 V8 engine under the hood that boomed with 310 horsepower. 1970: Though the muscle car trend was starting to come to an end by the 1970s, Oldsmobile held strong as they unveiled their Rallye 350. This “junior” muscle car, as it was referred to, featured many upgrades, including a 310-hp V8 engine with a new suspension, dual exhaust, rear spoiler, and sports mirrors. All original Rallye 350s were painted in a bright Sebring yellow, which obviously made this one-of-a-kind sports car noticeable coming down the street!
1983: After taking a hiatus for a few years, Oldsmobile came back with a limited-edition Hurst/Olds model. The popular rear-wheel-drive sports car came equipped with a 307 V8 engine that produced 180 horsepower and went from zero to 60 in under eight seconds—thanks to its famous Oldsmobile Lightning Rod shifter.
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How to save money on Oldsmobile insurance
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