brooklyn19-
Correct!
Ransom Eli Olds was the person Oldsmobile is named after, and he is the one who sold the business (he was actually bought out, but it’s a long story), hence Ransom was paid.
I threw a couple of clues into the original puzzle:
a) Yankel drove an eight-year-old GM minivan (GM discontinued the Olds brand a few years back).
b) Yankel lived in Detroit.
After Olds was bought out, he started another auto company named “REO” – his initials. It failed.
Joseph-
“what is your consultancy rate on tough riddles”
– One Jolt cola, or two asprin – whichever kicks in faster.
Alternately, potato kugel.