Viking: Oldsmobile's Higher Priced Companion

Date 1930 New York Astor Ballroom
New York City, New York

Like the other divisions of General Motors, Oldsmobile came out with a companion car in the latter part of the 1920s. The Viking was created to help fill the gaps between the different makes in GM’s price structure. Four Door Sedans, Close Coupled Sedans (or Broughams) and Convertible Coupes were available. They had a Fisher Body, which was unique to Viking and not interchangeable with other Oldsmobile models.

Unlike the other divisions, the new Viking was higher priced than the Oldsmobile, instead of being a lower priced companion. Oakland already had the Pontiac, Buick was ready to introduce the Marquette in a couple of months and Cadillac had the LaSalle. At the April 1929 introductory price of $1,595.00, it was marketed to fill the gap in-between the Oldsmobile and the Buick. The Viking had a new 81 h.p. monoblock V-8 engine with horizontal valves. Oldsmobile had successfully marketed V-8 powered cars from 1916 through 1923. The Viking V-8 produced a triangle shaped combustion chamber that was a good design but only 5,260 units were sold in 1929 and then the Great Depression took its toll. It didn’t help any that before the year was over the price rose to $1,695.00. Only 2,743 were sold in 1930 with some 353 units marketed and registered as 1931 models, produced with leftover 1930 model parts.

In a strong market a lot of automobiles would have survived, but the early 1930s were hard times and car sales was way down. It was a crowded market and a lot of companies failed, so at GM something had to go. It was a short life for the Viking, but not quite as short as the Marquette had been. The LaSalle had more success, being built from 1927-1940 but the Pontiac had the greatest success of all companion cars, outselling the Oakland and then replacing it by 1932.

Oldsmobile Viking

thnaks to www.outrightolds.com for this web page

(1929 - 1931)

Oldsmobile's 'companion make', the upscale Viking was introduced in 1929.
Available as a convertible coupe, four door sedan, and close-coupled four door brougham, all on a 125 inch wheelbase. Each could be had in Standard or DeLuxe, or top line Special trim.
- From Oldsmobile's Enthusiasts Website.

The Viking was the only GM companion car that was more expensive than its "senior" marque, in this case Oldsmobile. It was the first car ever produced with a monobloc V-8. And it used horizontal valves.
- From McLellansAutomotive

Oldsmobile Viking was part of Albert Sloan's companion makes introduction to help span gaps in General Motors pricing structure. As such, the Viking was built by Oldsmobile and designed to bridge the gap between Oldsmobile and Buick's 'companion make', the Marquette.
- From Wikipedia

Viking production:

1929 was 4,058 units
1930 was 2,813 units
1931 was 353 units*

*GM discontinued the Viking at the end of the 1930 model year, however an additional 353 units were assembled using existing parts and marketed as 1931 models.