1932 Oldsmobile F-32

As car sales dropped by over fifty percent during the early years of the Great Depression, many automobile companies were forced out of business. Those that survived aggressively competed for the few remaining sales by offering the most modern, stylish, and mechanical update-to-date vehicle at a price that left little in the way of profit. Oldsmobile was in a better situation than most other manufacturers due to the sheer size and diversity of the General Motors Corporation. New styling and mechanical innovations were often shared with the other marques, lessening the individual development costs. Nonetheless, 1932 was a bleak year, and Oldsmobile's Lansing factory laid off most of the hourly workers, including shop foremen. Even in the Metal Pressing shop where sheet metal was turned into body parts, all the staff had to be let go with the exception of management.

From 1924 through 1931, Oldsmobile's entire lineup was a single model with six-cylinder power. Initially, sales were strong, and closed cars became more popular

Oldsmobile models were updated for 1932, and the biggest news was the introduction of an inline eight-cylinder engine in the new L-32 series. The tried-and-true F-32 Six was still the most popular and best-selling model, but the eight-cylinder model added diversification to the lineup, and herald back to as early as 1916 when eight-cylinder power was used to drive the Oldsmobile. Eight-cylinder engines had been part of the company's past, but this was its first use of a straight-eight motor. Both six- and eight-cylinder engines would power Oldsmobile vehicles through 1948.

Both series of the 1932 Oldsmobile shared the same styling, featuring new side ventilation doors on the hood-sides, as seen in other GM products that year, the addition of fender-mounted parking lights, a revised headlight bar, and a new appearance to the radiator shell which was topped by a bird-in-flight mascot.

Both series were offered as a three-passenger roadster, coupe, Sport Coupe, and a two- and four-door sedan. Prices on the F Series ranged from $920 to $1,035, and the L Series was priced from $975 to $1,090. The prices of the L Series were approximately $55 higher than the F Series. The L Series three-passenger coupe and two-door sedan were priced at $975, the Sport Coupe was $1025, and the four-door sedan and roadster were $1055.

The six-cylinder engine in the Series F displaced 213 cubic inches and used mushroom-type valve lifters, four main bearings, a downdraft carburetor, and produced 74 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. The previous year's six-cylinder engine displaced 197 cubic inches and produced 65 horsepower at 3,350 RPM.

The eight-cylinder engine in the Series L displaced 240 cubic inches, had mushroom-type valve lifters, five main bearings, a duplex downdraft carburetor with automatic choke, and delivered 87 horsepower at 3,350 RPM. It also used an automatic throttle advance which moved the throttle to a start position when the starter pedal was depressed. 1932 was the only year that Oldsmobile vehicles used a decarbonizer, activated by the driver who pressed a button when leaving the car for the night. This released a chemical into the engine which cleaned the carbon off the pistons.

Both the six- and eight-cylinder engines were backed by a three-speed synchromesh transmission with a single, dry disc clutch and floor shift controls. Braking was handled by four-wheel Bendix mechanical drum brakes. The suspension was by a solid front axle and live rear axle, both with semi-elliptic leaf springs. The suspension system used a ride regulator with double-action shock absorbers for a choice of soft or firm ride. Both Series F and Series L had a 116.5-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 178.75-inches, and a height of 67 inches. The standard tires were 17 x 6.00, no-skid ballon cord units. A freewheeling system was standard equipment on both models.

Oldsmobile produced 17,502 vehicles during the calendar year, a decrease from the 48,777 units of the previous year.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2021