
Oldsmobile Series 70 First Generation 1939–1940

Oldsmobile Series 70 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Oldsmobile (General Motors) |
Production | 1938–1950 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size |
Layout | FR layout |
Platform | B-body |
The Oldsmobile Series 70 is a full-size midrange automobile produced by Oldsmobile between the 1939 and 1950 model years.
1939–1940
First generation | |
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Overview | |
Model years | 1939–1940 |
Assembly | South Gate, California Lansing, Michigan Linden, New Jersey |
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.