CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Would you like to see Oldsmobile come back?

Run to Rund · 04-04-2008, 09:10 AM

GM mismanagement led them to kill Oldsmobile as a sacrificial offering to bean counters. Other GM divisions were given priorities and favoritism. Pontiac brought out the 455 SD in 1973 while the Olds W43 was killed. The Olds had 4 valves per cylinder, pushrod and dual overhead cam versions, etc. 14 mfg. cups, John Force and Warren Johnson, etc. ran under the Olds banner. The Olds DRCE and spin-offs have significantly improved the capabilities of the rat motor. Olds did well in NHRA stock with a basic 98 Luxury Sedan motor that had not much more than a better cam than standard, a nicely balanced street/strip package. Where would we be if Olds had been "allowed" by GM to build a real race engine? We saw some of their thinking in the DRCE.

04-04-2008, 09:10 AM	#11
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Would you like to see Oldsmobile come back? GM mismanagement led them to kill Oldsmobile as a sacrificial offering to bean counters. Other GM divisions were given priorities and favoritism. Pontiac brought out the 455 SD in 1973 while the Olds W43 was killed. The Olds had 4 valves per cylinder, pushrod and dual overhead cam versions, etc. 14 mfg. cups, John Force and Warren Johnson, etc. ran under the Olds banner. The Olds DRCE and spin-offs have significantly improved the capabilities of the rat motor. Olds did well in NHRA stock with a basic 98 Luxury Sedan motor that had not much more than a better cam than standard, a nicely balanced street/strip package. Where would we be if Olds had been "allowed" by GM to build a real race engine? We saw some of their thinking in the DRCE.