%20(4)_edited.png)
The 1932 Oldsmobile Advertising Campaign, titled “A Larger, Finer Six... and a Brilliant New Straight Eight,” positioned the brand as a steady choice amidst the economic difficulties of the Great Depression. Despite economic hardships, Oldsmobile thrived by offering both style and affordability, focusing on practical yet appealing designs with a six-cylinder model and the newly introduced Straight Eight. The six-cylinder engine, an L-head design, provided reliable 197.5 cubic inches with 62–65 brake horsepower initially, and in 1932, it grew to 213.3 cubic inches, boosting power to 74 bhp. The new Straight Eight engine expanded to 240 cubic inches, delivering 87 bhp—features that underscored Oldsmobile’s reputation for smooth and dependable engines.
Stylistically, Oldsmobile maintained a conservative but appealing look, following a squared style through 1932, with later models adopting modest streamlining by 1933–34 and rounder “potato” shapes by 1935–36. Prices ranged from $900 to $1,100, carefully placed between Pontiac and Buick, aiming to attract buyers seeking value without luxury-level costs. However, as the Depression deepened, Oldsmobile made adjustments, lowering prices of the Six to as little as $650 in 1934, then gradually increasing them by the late 1930s
