This is the single greatest honor in the motor vehicle industry, intended to honor a career and/or lifetime achievement. To become a "Hall of Famer" the nominee must be either retired or deceased. Recipients must have significantly impacted the development of the automobile or the motor vehicle industry. Typically, four to eight individuals are inducted each year.
Founded Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897, using an early assembly line technique, and became first mass producer of automobiles
Pioneered the use of advertising and publicity to market his vehicle
Established the \"supplier system\" in 1901 after a factory fire forced him to order large shipments of assembled parts from outside companies to meet production demands
Ransom Olds spent his childhood tinkering with engines while the neighbors warned his parents, \"That kid of yours will blow his head off someday.\"
While still in his early 20s, Olds began a life-long career building cars. In 1897, he founded Olds Motor Vehicle Company, which was reorganized in 1900 as Olds Motor Works. Olds was forced out of the company by partners who gained control and the use of the Olds name. By 1904 he was back in business using his own initials to found the REO Car Company.
America\'s first mass-produced car, the \"Curved Dash\" Oldsmobile, rolled onto the streets in 1901 and became popular because it was readily available and highly functional. The car gained an endorsement for reliability when it became popular among doctors for traveling to see their patients. Today it remains a favorite among car collectors.
Olds inspired a generation of young mechanics to explore the possibilities of the emerging auto industry. Although competitors infringed on many of his patents, Olds refused to prosecute then and encouraged interested parties to visit his shop, observe his methods and share his innovations.
