Oldsmobile dealers ready to bury nation's oldest auto brand
By John Porretto / AP Auto Writer
LAS VEGAS -- No one’s wearing a sandwich board with an ominous message, but for hundreds of Oldsmobile dealers attending their industry’s annual convention, there’s no denying reality: The end is near.
“It’s time to get on with the burial,” said Gary Wight, who has sold Oldsmobiles, the oldest automotive brand name in U.S. history, for 30 years. “It’s sad and it’s done and it’s not going to change. Oldsmobile is a wonderful memory, but there’s nothing in the windshield. It’s all in the rearview mirror.”
General Motors Corp. announced in December 2000 it would end production of the struggling Oldsmobile line with the 2004 model year. The company already has stopped making the Intrigue, Aurora and, in the past week, the Bravada sport utility vehicle. That leaves only two models -- the Alero passenger car and Silhouette minivan.
Darwin Clark, GM’s vice president of industry-dealer affairs, said a final date to end production has not been set, but business likely will continue through part of 2005.
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By John Porretto / AP Auto Writer
LAS VEGAS -- No one’s wearing a sandwich board with an ominous message, but for hundreds of Oldsmobile dealers attending their industry’s annual convention, there’s no denying reality: The end is near.
“It’s time to get on with the burial,” said Gary Wight, who has sold Oldsmobiles, the oldest automotive brand name in U.S. history, for 30 years. “It’s sad and it’s done and it’s not going to change. Oldsmobile is a wonderful memory, but there’s nothing in the windshield. It’s all in the rearview mirror.”
General Motors Corp. announced in December 2000 it would end production of the struggling Oldsmobile line with the 2004 model year. The company already has stopped making the Intrigue, Aurora and, in the past week, the Bravada sport utility vehicle. That leaves only two models -- the Alero passenger car and Silhouette minivan.
Darwin Clark, GM’s vice president of industry-dealer affairs, said a final date to end production has not been set, but business likely will continue through part of 2005.
more...