Oldsmobile Series 70

The Oldsmobile Series 70 is a full-size midrange automobile produced by Oldsmobile between the 1939 and 1950 model years.[1][2] Oldsmobiles of this time period were in an unusual "middle" position in GM's hierarchy of automobile brands. Chevrolet and Pontiac were the budget priced models, while Buick and Cadillac were the luxury brands. GM would share their "A" body platforms between Chevrolet, Pontiac, and "B" body on Oldsmobile and Buick, while leaving Cadillac on the senior "C" platform. Oldsmobiles were then branded as "luxury level" Chevrolet's and Pontiac's, while Oldsmobiles using the "B" platform were "budget priced" Buicks and Cadillacs. Competitors from Ford's Mercury and Chrysler's DeSoto brands would give customers a choice to have Oldsmobile levels of luxury, while not paying as much for a comparable Oldsmobile. GM in later years would discontinue the Series 70 and the budget Oldsmobile Series 60, and introduce the Oldsmobile 88 to push Oldsmobile upmarket, giving Chevrolet and Pontiac a better market position for a lower price.

Oldsmobile Series 70
Oldsmobile Series 70 "Dynamic" sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1938–1950
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Platform	B-body
Chronology
Predecessor	Oldsmobile F-Series
Successor	Oldsmobile Cutlass

1939–1940

First generation
1940 Oldsmobile 76 Business Coupe
Overview
Model years	1939–1940
Assembly	South Gate, California Lansing, Michigan Linden, New Jersey Osaka, Japan
Designer	Harley Earl
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Business coupe 2-door Club coupe 4-door sedan 2-door convertible
Related	Cadillac Series 61 LaSalle Series 50 Buick Century Buick Special
Powertrain
Engine	215 cu in (3.5 L) Oldsmobile I6 230 cu in (3.8 L) Oldsmobile I6
Transmission	3-speed synchromesh manual 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.0 in (3,048 mm)
Length	1939: 197.0 in (5,004 mm) 1940: 199.8 in (5,075 mm)
Height	1939: 65.8 in (1,671 mm) 1940: 65.0 in (1,651 mm)
Curb weight	3,200–3,500 lb (1,500–1,600 kg)

Naming standards were in flux at Oldsmobile during the late 1930s and 1940s. From 1932 through 1938 Oldsmobile had two series: "F" and "L". Series F came with a straight-6 engine and Series L came with a larger body and a straight-8 engine. Series F was renamed Series 60 in 1939 and Series L was replaced with the Series 70 and 80, with the Series 70 and 80 being powered by the straight-6 and the straight-8 respectively. The Series 60 used the GM A-body and the Series 70 and 80 used the B-body.

In 1940 the even larger C-body was introduced to Oldsmobile and it alone was powered by the straight-8. In order to differentiate it from the previous year's Series 80 it was named Series 90 (there was no Series 80 that year). The series were also given names for the first time that year with the Series 60, 70, and 90 being called the Special, Dynamic, and Custom Cruiser respectively. The Hydramatic transmission, a fully clutchless automatic, debuted in the 1940 model year.

1941–1948

Second generation
1946 Oldsmobile 76 sedan
Overview
Model years	1941–1948
Assembly	South Gate, California Atlanta, Georgia Kansas City, Kansas Framingham, Massachusetts Lansing, Michigan Linden, New Jersey
Designer	Harley Earl
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Business coupe 2-door Club coupe 4-door sedan
Related	Cadillac Series 61 Buick Century Buick Special Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo Pontiac Streamliner
Powertrain
Engine	238 cu in (3.9 L) Oldsmobile I6 257 cu in (4.2 L) Oldsmobile I8
Transmission	3-speed synchromesh manual 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	125.0 in (3,175 mm)
Length	1941: 211.0 in (5,359 mm) 1942: 212.0 in (5,385 mm) 1946: 214.0 in (5,436 mm) 1947–48: 213.0 in (5,410 mm)
Curb weight	3,500–3,700 lb (1,600–1,700 kg)

In 1941 both engines were offered on each series so to differentiate between the two the second digit was used to denote the number of cylinders, so the Dynamic 70 was replaced with the Dynamic 76 and 78. In 1942 sales literature started referring to the Series 70 as the Dynamic Cruiser 76 and 78.

Production was delayed from 1942 until 1945 due to manufacturing efforts being devoted to World War II defense production.

In 1948, when the Series 60 was renamed the Dynamic the "Cruiser" tag was dropped from the Series 70 and it was once again named the Dynamic 76 and 78. The Dynamic 76 was produced in Australia with fewer than 120 thought to have been produced during 1947.

1949–1950

Third generation
1949 Oldsmobile Futuramic 76
Overview
Model years	1949–1950
Assembly	South Gate, California, United States Wilmington, Delaware, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Lansing, Michigan, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Designer	Harley Earl
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door Club coupe 2-door Holiday hardtop 4-door sedan 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Related	Buick Special Oldsmobile 88 Pontiac Streamliner
Powertrain
Engine	257 cu in (4.2 L) Oldsmobile I6[3]
Transmission	3-speed synchromesh manual 4-speed Hydramatic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	119.5 in (3,035 mm)
Length	202.0 in (5,131 mm)
Curb weight	3,500–3,800 lb (1,600–1,700 kg)

The all new post-war Futuramic styling that had been introduced to the C-body Oldsmobile 98 in 1948 was brought to Oldsmobile's B-bodies in 1949. The wheelbase was now 119.5 inches (3,040 mm) and was only available with the Oldsmobile straight-6 engine.[4] The 78 model was retired with the 1949 introduction of the Oldsmobile 88, which shared its new Futuramic B-body platform with the 76 but was equipped with the new overhead valve Rocket V8. Due to the new styling the 76 was renamed the Futuramic 76.

The Futuramic tag was abandoned after only one year and so in 1950 the car was simply known as the 76. The Series 70 was retired after the 1950 model year.

The 76 was available in the following body styles:

• Station wagon
• Convertible
• Holiday coupé
• Club coupé (2-door)

References

1. "Directory Index: Oldsmobile/1939_Oldsmobile/1939_Oldsmobile_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
2. Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
3. http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Oldsmobile/1950%20Oldsmobile/1950_Oldsmobile_Foldout/1950%20Oldsmobile%20Foldout-18.html
4. "Directory Index: Oldsmobile/1949 Oldsmobile/album". Oldcarbrochures.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2011-11-09.