My first two cars were Oldsmobiles - both hand-me downs within the family, and both Cutlass Supremes (the latter, a Brougham). The car that takes you on a coast-to-coast road trip across America, bringing you to and from safely and dependably, minus a flat tire in South Georgia right before entering Florida, will always be a big part of your life.
The demise of Oldsmobile:
1) the offering of the diesel without being re-engineered from its cast iron low-compression Rocket V8 block
2) the perceived decline in value from declining size, yet increasing car prices - the 78 Cutlass was smaller and not as substantial as its 76-77 counterparts. However, the 81 refresh put it back in gear, with the sloped front end, beautiful grille and more Eldorado-ish/98-ish taillamps
3) the FWD offerings of 85 onward to a SMALL extent - they were a jolt to the system in terms of their small sizes, but we welcomed their nimbler handling and maneuverability. I still see many of these (all 3800-equipped) cars on the road, though a little frayed
4) the "didn't know what it wanted to be" Cutlass Supreme
5) and, yes, the "checklist" duplication with Buick products (many people in my parents' generation where somewhat indifferent between Olds and Buick) on a model-by-model basis. It was like opening up the same brochure with the names changed.
The saddest part is that their most beautiful and promising car in decades, the Intrigue, came too late. Yes, they were being snatched up...they "sold themselves" one salesman told me...those commercials of this svelte car, in dark colors, taking on the twisties on Calif. 1 near Big Sur only added to what a convincing package it was. It's always a pleasure to see to a beautifully maintained Intrigue on the road, and I see about 1 a day.
Many chapters close in our lives. This is also a chapter that sadly had to close.