2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue GL Final 500 Edition

Oldsmobile was the second brand to become part of General Motors.  The automaker, by then called Olds Motor Works, joined GM in November 1908 two months after Buick, according to General Motors historical information.  Ransom E. Olds had left the company four years before that, dismayed that the company was turning toward manufacturing high-end cars in contrast to his own vision of building inexpensive cars for the masses, said Bob Casey, transportation curator for the Henry Ford Museum.  He went on to found a new car company called Reo, for his initials, said Casey.  That company stopped making cars in 1936 but continued for some time as a truck manufacturer.  Under Alfred P. Sloan's vision of creating a ladder of brands that would allow buyers to step up to increasingly luxurious GM cars as their wealth increased, Oldsmobile became GM's mid-market brand, said Casey.  It was positioned somewhere between the high-end brands like Cadillac and Buick and the more mass-market brands Chevrolet and Pontiac.  On April 29, 2004, the last Oldsmobile came off the assembly line at the Lansing Car Assembly plant in Michigan, signaling the end of the 106-year-old automotive brand, America's oldest.  Factory workers signed the last Oldsmobile, an Alero sedan, before the vehicle was moved to Lansing's R.E. Olds Transportation Museum, where it went on display.

For consignment, the end of an era in the form of a 2002 Final 500 Edition of the Oldsmobile Intrigue GL sedan.  Purchased new by our consignor's father and only having accrued a mere 6,560 actual miles in its life, this fully documented #246 of the final 500 units built is looking nearly as good as the day it rolled off the assembly line.  Complete with a full binder of documentation, including the window sticker, documentation from GM verifying it to be #246 of the 500 final edition cars produced, vehicle order detail and gobs of other paperwork, I don't think a car has ever graced our Hallowed Halls with this much documentation.  Shown and judged in 2015 at the Oldsmobile Club Of America Nationals and scoring 994 out of 1000 points and winning best of class, then shown again in 2018 at the Oldsmobile Club Of America Nationals garnishing another best of class with 996 out of 1000 points.  You can rest assured this car is about as perfect as they come.  Read on with me and let's see if my words can make you a little Intrigued...

Exterior
Factory applied Black Cherry Metallic paint bathes the combination of neoprene crash bumpers and straight steel.  Only a few small scuffs are noted in the finish and thanks to diligent care, rust isn't a word to be used anywhere near this body.  Wraparound squinted cats eye headlights a grilleless front fascia and melt into the fenders.  In lieu of a grille, twin openings in the neoprene allow cool air to reach the radiator and have been factory fitted with fog lamps.  Stainless trimmings accentuate the side glass and body colored side moldings keep with the cherry theme with the only deviation being the chrome laden Oldsmobile cloisonne badging.  A factory power moonroof is fitted above the front seat passengers and for some sporty dress up a rear spoiler is on from the factory atop the trunk lid.  Chrome plated 17-inch 6-spoke wheels are seen on all 4 corners and are wrapped in 225/55R17 blackwall rubber from the 45th week of 2020.

Interior
Plenty of two-tone leather is covering the seating and other surfaces in the inside of this sporty sedan.  Large buckets with light pewter bolsters and dark pewter inserts are shod in supple leather having not only seat heaters but also multiple electric seat adjustment buttons that can get things just right for the driver and passenger baby bear.  These buckets present as new with nary a sign of wrinkling or wear, and as part of the Final 500 package, vintage Oldsmobile logoing has been embroidered into the headrest of both front buckets.  In the rear is a sprawling bench seat with room for 3.  A center console houses the automatic shift lever, single cupholder, traction control button, and has a storage compartment.  The original dash is upfront and showing clean with a mix of light and dark pewter along with black plastic all vying for space.  The factory AM/FM/Cassette/CD stereo resides in dash central along with the digital dual zone climate control.  Gray carpeting for the floors and is protected by clear vinyl floor mats and a gray headliner is tightly adhered to the roof of this interior.

Drivetrain
A flip of the hood, and within a clean and original engine bay sits the power plant.  Driving the front wheels is a 3.5 Liter 24 valve DOHC 6 cylinder badged with a Final 500 logo on the front facing valve cover.  On the back is an 4T65E 4-speed automatic transmission and a 3.05 final drive.  Just the way it left the Flint, Michigan assembly plant. 

Undercarriage
No patina, no road dirt and hardly a mark of surface rust are seen underneath.  Floor pans and unibody are rust free and totally structurally sound in their factory gray finish with black cherry overspray.  The OEM exhaust remains like new and is still shiny the whole way back.  Independent McPherson struts are reserved for all 4 corners of this car in the suspension department, and power disc brakes are on both front and rear as well.

Drive-Ability
Slipping inside this sporty yet very comfortable leather interior, this car fired right up, and on the test track performed just beautifully.  Great acceleration, good handling and solid braking all add up to a wonderful 4 door family cruiser with all functions operational.  Regardless of the opinion of some, this car is fun to drive, and the 215 horses generated by the mill is plenty to put a smile on your face.

Overall a nice sporty 4 door sedan, plenty of power, and well maintained.  A veritable trip back in time to 2002 with low low miles, that "new car" smell, and tons of supporting documentation.  Possibly the lowest mileage example of the Final Run Edition cars and ready to give the rest hell on the show field.  So, have I Intrigued you enough to visit our Hallowed Halls?

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.