1950 Oldsmobile 88

Description

This 1950 Oldsmobile 88 has a lot going on and offers something that will appeal to almost everyone. It was the second year for the revolutionary OHV "Rocket" V8 and the last year for the fastback body style, which makes for a great combination of speed and sleek design. But beyond that, the car has been used as a canvas by a very talented pinstripe artist to showcase his craft, and if you like mild '50s customs, this Olds has a lot to offer.

From the information gathered by the current owner, this handsome Olds was restored in 1994 and has held up rather well since then, evidenced by it's "Best of Class" World of Wheels victories in '06 and '07. A lot of that was due to being a California car, so the sheetmetal was in excellent condition and needed very little reconstructive surgery and none of it is visible today. The color is period appropriate, with just a hint of the metallic that was starting to become fashionable in the auto industry at the dawn of the 1950s. The doors open and close well, the sleek fastback trunk sits flush, and period accessories like the teardrop spotlights and windshield visor give it an old-school look. More recently, it was purchased and brought to Atlanta where it is owned by a pinstripe artist who used the sleek coupe as a rolling showcase of his talent, and it's pretty impressive. The most obvious details are the bright red stripes that highlight each of the trim pieces, but if you look a little closer you'll see trick features like the hand-painted air vents on the rear fenders that mirror those under the headlights. The chrome remains in excellent condition and we have to admit that this is one of the most popular cars in our showroom.

The interior was restored and doesn't stray too far from the original formula. The velour seating surfaces are not quite what they were using in 1955, but the bench seats are original to the car and the patterns look right. Matching turquoise carpets were fitted and give the car an upscale feeling and there's a correct headliner overhead. The original steering wheel offers just about the coolest horn button we've ever seen, further cementing Oldsmobile's fascination with the jet age, and the dash is a wonderfully simple setup with a round instrument panel and a neat row of knobs on either side. Auxiliary gauges were installed under the dash to monitor the Rocket V8 and there's an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit for entertainment purposes. The trunk is neatly finished and remarkably spacious under that fastback roofline, so it's ready to cruise.

Oldsmobile's 324 cubic inch OHV V8 was a remarkable machine when it debuted, and this one benefits from a full rebuild in 2010 that included some vintage speed parts. Most obvious is the later J2 factory tri-power setup with vintage fuel distribution system, which works really well with the finned Offenhauser valve covers. The electrical system is upgraded to 12 volts with an alternator, but the rest remains the way GM built it in 1950. It's backed by a rebuilt 4-speed HydraMatic automatic transmission which shifts easily and has a pleasing mechanical feeling as it goes about its business. With 3.36 gears out back, it's happy to cruise at 65 MPH without working very hard and it always feels punchy around town with a great hit of low-end torque. The custom dual exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers offers a retro sound and the big wide whites on flashy red wheels makes it look like 1950 all over again.

We really like this car and if you're a fan of the best styling of the period, this car will delight you in every way. Call now!