Oldsmobile Series 70

The Oldsmobile Series 70 is a full-size midrange automobile produced by Oldsmobile between the 1939 and 1950 model years. Oldsmobiles of this time period were in an upwardly-shaded "middle" position in GM's hierarchy of automobile brands. Chevrolet and Pontiac were the budget priced models, while Buick and Cadillac were the high-end brands. GM would share their "A" body platforms between Chevrolet and Pontiac, and midrange "B" body on Oldsmobile and Buick, while leaving mainstream Cadillacs and senior Oldsmobiles and Buicks (such as the Oldsmobile 98 and Buick Roadmaster and Limited), and even the Pontiac Streamliner, on its top production luxury "C" platform. Leaving its largest and most prestigious D platform to senior Cadillacs and the 1936–1942 Buick Limited.

Competitors from Ford's Mercury and Chrysler's DeSoto brands would give customers a choice to have Oldsmobile levels of luxury, while not paying as much as a comparable Olds. GM would discontinue the budget Oldsmobile Series 60 in 1949 and the Series 70 in 1950, while introducing the Oldsmobile 88 in 1949 to push Oldsmobile upmarket and leaving the lower priced market position to Chevrolet and Pontiac.

It was with the 1940s on that GM vehicles experienced increased width to accommodate three passengers each on front and rear bench seats, accomplished by deleting running boards and moving the floor mounted gearshift to the steering column, including the Hydramatic automatic transmission.