When I was a kid, my Grandmother got a 1974 Olds 98 with a 455cu in V8. So quiet and smooth. Silent boat-wave ride. AC that could frostbite. Power everything. Auto dimming lights, outdoor temp thermometer, 8-track and even TV band. State of the art stuff in those days. She would often pile 10 grandkids in there (that was the first year of shoulder belts, pre-carseats) and take us to the lake, the amusement park, or just for ice cream.
Those are the best times I can recall.

The car outlived her, and I later spent some time driving it with my learner's permit. I would set up 3 cars, and practice parallel parking this beast between them. Figured if I could park that land yacht, I could park anything.

Despite the weight, that 455 had some serious pull. The tires and suspension were completely inadequate for the thrust, of course. This car represented the pinnacle (and the end) of the big car era. Detroit soon fell into the dark ages (late 70s-early 80s), and nothing would ever be the same.

By the mid-80s, it no longer mattered whether one bought a Chevy/Olds/Buick/Caddy/Pontiac. They were all the same, other than badges and trim. It's no great surprise that GM (and DC) have been unable to keep all of their nameplates alive. They lost the differentiation that made them marketable brands. No great surprise that I (and most everyone of my age cohort) fled for Asian and European marques.
I fear GM is destroying Saab in the same way. The new Saabs are basically the same as other GM models, other than the skin.

It's a sad ending for the invention of Mr. R.E. Olds, but I would say the marque really died years ago.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.