GM's best and baddest

General Motors Corp. has been reinventing the car for 100 years now.

From the time Billy Durant helped eliminate the crank starter to when The General helped the world clean up its act by installing catalytic converters on its entire lineup in the '70s, the company has remained at the forefront in research and development.

And it also built some outrageously fast machines.

Sure, the glory days of 50 percent market share have evaporated, but GM remains the No. 1 carmaker in the United States and it will continue to play a role in America's automotive future.

On Saturday, GM will parade 106 classic cars up Woodward Avenue during the Dream Cruise, kicking off its Centennial birthday celebration. These beauties span the decades -- the glory years, and a few from the not so glorious ones. But what are GM's best from each decade?

After talking to auto experts, executives and lots of enthusiasts, I've come up with my list of GM's best offerings. Some are technological breakthroughs that changed the auto industry; others are just so hot I had to pick them.

Here they are. Let the debate begin.

1900s

The turn of the century was a crazy time for the fledgling auto industry. GM was still seven years away from its birth when R.E. Olds built the first Curved Dash Oldsmobile in 1901 in Lansing. Production of the rear-engine vehicle that looked more like a horse wagon than a car ended a year before GM bought Oldsmobile. The 4-horsepower engine on the original Oldsmobile could carry two people. Later engineers nearly doubled that to 7 horsepower. Using a tiller steering mechanism, this runabout sold for $650, or about $17,000 today.

1910s

Who could forget the 1915 Cadillac Model 51 with its water-cooled V-8 engine and an astonishing 70 horsepower?

Most luxury models had moved on to more powerful six-cylinder engines, but Cadillac was still sporting its boring four-banger. Then the luxury brand rolled out the Model 51, powered by eight cylinders that could have blown the doors off the competition -- if, in fact, the competition had doors.

But the Model 51 pales in comparison to the 1912 Cadillac Model 30. That Cadillac was the first car to include an electric start, featuring its all-new Delco system. Drivers no longer had to fear breaking a limb or jamming a thumb when starting their cars.

1920s

During the roaring '20s, few cars were tougher than a Buick. And in 1925, Buick dropped its four-cylinder engines for six cylinders.

The 1926 Buick Master Six could carry up to seven Keystone Cops and brought out the best in Buick. It was a civilized ride for its day, featuring four drum brakes, a three-speed transmission and a switch on the steering wheel to dim the lights at night.

1930s

Times were tough in the '30s. But if you had a 1936 Buick Roadmaster, you were probably doing better than most.The V-8 powered sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon featured hydraulic four-wheel brakes and a 131-inch wheelbase. Its looks won me over: The huge grille, bulging fenders and tight-fitting headlights give this car a classic gangster look. A firing squad could stand on the running boards. With a factory-installed heater, fan and radio, this vehicle was not for the everyday Joe -- it was an exclusive machine, beginning a long tradition of Roadmasters.

1940s

If Buick had its day in the '20s and '30s, Oldsmobile owned the '40s. In 1940, Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-matic Drive -- the precursor to the modern-day automatic transmission.

Then Oldsmobile launched a rocket.

The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 did it all. It boasted sharp looks, lots of chrome and a hood ornament as long as my forearm. The small car, big engine combination still rings true for many enthusiasts.

1950s

There are so many vehicles to choose from in this decade and most are Chevrolets. The iconic '57 Chevrolet Bel Air, the low-riding '58 Chevy Impala or even the crossover pickup, the '59 Chevy El Camino -- all standouts. But only the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, the very first, has lived the fullest life. The Corvette has remained one of the sexiest cars on the road. Few look bad, and the eldest remains a classic.

1960s

The muscle era peaked during the '60s with the introduction of cars like the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. But the 1960 Chevrolet Corvair, with its rear engine and air-cooled system, was an incredible machine. Consumer activist Ralph Nader created a career by trash-talking this lovely machine. Ironically, most of the car's problems were fixed by the time the model was discontinued.

1970s

I love this decade and still remember the likes of the 1973 Chevy Chevelle Deluxe racing down the road on Krieger rims.

But no car says GM more than the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. It stretched 224 inches (more than 18 feet) and looked like it could seat 10. It was supposed to be the last American convertible, with Cadillac vowing to never make one again. Thankfully, GM changed its mind, but it never made a car like that again.

1980s

This was a tough decade. When you're seriously considering the three-cylinder 1989 Geo Metro as the best of the decade, it's obviously not a good 10 years.

So what's left? The 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT -- a mid-engine, inexpensive sports car that continues to boast a cult following. The final year of the Fiero marked vast improvements to its suspension, providing GM another lesson in too little, too late.

1990s

During the '90s, GM tinkered with an all-electric vehicle known as the EV1. It was a billion-dollar experiment that ended abruptly, but much of that technology has helped with the company's latest electric vehicle efforts.

But the most influential vehicle of the decade was the 1991 Saturn SL1. It was a different kind of car. Its composite panels still have people wanting to bang their shopping carts into the doors. Though Saturn languished in the following years, the SL1 made a difference.

2000s

More recently, GM has been building a track record of good cars. Since the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado arrived, GM's lineup has been impressive. There's the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, the Saturn Aura and Astra and the list grows. But my favorite over the past eight years is the second-generation Cadillac CTS. Every time I drive one, I'm impressed. It's quick, it's fun and it's me.

Beyond

Trying to figure out what's the most important vehicle in GM's future doesn't take a crystal ball. Just look at the Chevrolet Volt. This truly is a game-changer. An electric car that can run off batteries or use a gas engine to keep the electricity running will change the way people look at cars.

It's a reinvention of the automobile. Something GM has managed to do -- for better and for worse -- for the past 100 years.

Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com">sburgess@detnews.com.