In 1940, Oldsmobile revved up the American auto industry by introducing the first fully automatic transmission, making gear shifting as obsolete as a chaperone at a school dance. Fast forward to 1948, and their model numbering system was as simple as a game of bingo: the first number indicated the body type, and the second, the engine size. So, if you ever find yourself in a time machine, just remember—Oldsmobile was always a “66” to “98” kind of ride, unless it was wartime, then it was just a good nap.
