1936 Oldsmobile Business Coupe

Description

Who would have thought an Oldsmobile would be part of the "dare to be different" school of thought? But that's exactly what this gorgeous 1936 Oldsmobile Business Coupe streetrod is: a fresh take on a familiar theme. All-steel body? Check. Slick Silver paint stretched neatly over a spacious and luxurious cabin? You betcha. And a powerful 350 V8 drivetrain to boot? Well, if you like to stand out (without getting too weird), this beautifully built Olds hotrod might be right up your alley.

The 3-Window Business Coupe was the most popular (and best looking) of all the 2nd Generation F-Series Oldsmobile body styles, so selecting one as a base for this high-end build was a no-brainer once the decision was made to go with one of Ransom E. Olds' bunch. Hot off the design floor of Harley Earl's "Art and Color Section" at GM, the swooping lines and gorgeous curves of the elegant 3-Window coupe make for a dramatic shape that practically begs for a bit of customization. And given the relative rarity of any '36 Oldsmobile, this one sure came together beautifully. All the usual Pre-War streetrod elements are there, plus a few maybe you haven't seen before, and it's doubly cool simply because none of it was able to be ordered from a catalog like you can with a Ford or Chevrolet. The body is 100% steel, including the fenders and running boards, which is a good thing because those swooping, oversized wheel covers are the most prominent part of the profile – starting off as bulbous, shapely pieces that ultimately terminate into contrasting sharp creases in the rear. The bumpers were deleted to emphasize the crouching profile, making way for smoothed custom valances fore and aft with integrated, flush-mounted LED turn signals up front and taillights in the rear. There was no need for a custom grille insert because the original V-shaped Art Deco unit is loads cooler than anything you can buy, and the bullet headlamps at the flanks represent the very best of 1930's-era light design. The top portion of the hood lifts off to reveal the beautifully dressed engine inside, and we're particularly excited that the builders emphasized the louvers in the side panels, as those were original trademark trim pieces that made the F-Series cars instantly recognizable in their day. The functional cowl vent draws the eye toward the smoked V'eed windshield, sporty side mirrors were added at the flanks, and the license plate holder was frenched-in out back, but beyond that the steel body looks just like it did back in 1936 (including the molded body 'spear' at the top), which is a testament to how timeless this design really is. With that being said, the Titanium Silver paint is definitely deeper and more lustrous than anything mixed up in the 20th Century, but it too manages to look period-perfect when stretched over this gorgeous streetrod. It was expertly laid down when the car was built and still retains a gorgeous, glossy shine today, with nary an imperfection to speak of short of a miniscule chip or two picked up from the road. There are no goofy graphics or gaudy customizations that get in the way, meaning nothing detracts from the timeless 3-Window design and thanks to high-end, professional craftsmanship and modern paint, this Olds will look this slick for a very long time.

The completely custom interior is just as elegant as the exterior, featuring gorgeous beige leather hides wrapped around a pair of sporty, high-back bucket seats, bespoke door panels, and a custom wooden dash. The modern buckets feature Oldsmobile's most recent logo embossed into the seatbacks, thick, plush carpets line the floors, and light-tan tweed upholstery lines the interior of the cabin and headliner and insulate it from the outside world. The woodrimmed, banjo-style Grant steering wheel was a perfect choice to man the cockpit, and it's mounted atop a tilt column that gives the driver plenty of room at helm. The wooden dash was filled with a full array of gold-trimmed VDO instruments that keep an eye on the upgraded drivetrain, whereas the super-cool chrome 'Oldsmobile' badge over the glove compartment probably means someone's 1998 Bravada is missing it's rear nameplate. Modern conveniences include power windows, an AM/FM stereo that manages the upgraded speakers inside the door panels and the custom panel behind the seats, and power brakes that make this Olds streetrod a bonafide cruiser. Everything remains in great condition thanks to meticulous care, including the sizeable and fully-upholstered trunk out back.

Power comes from a great-running 350 cubic inch Chevy V8, neatly nestled inside the reworked, detailed, and beautifully painted engine bay. Topped with finned polished valve covers and a matching air cleaner, the feisty small block looks as nice as it runs, and features an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock polished aluminum intake, powdercoated headers, and an HEI ignition that all add performance and reliability. An aluminum radiator with auxiliary fan keeps temperatures at bay, while those long-tube headers feed into a throaty dual exhaust system with Thrush mufflers that sounds fantastic. Modified for regular driving, the neatly detailed and painted frame now offers a Mustang II-style independent suspension up front with power front disc brakes, a big swaybar up front, and upgraded shocks all around that will leave you impressed by the way this vintage coupe handles. Thanks to some careful measuring, it also sits just right with a classic hotrod rake atop a set of flashy Boyd Coddington wheels and staggered Yokohama radials that perfectly stuff the big wheel wells.

Rare and beautifully finished, this '36 Olds is the hotrod for the guy or gal who loves the '30s but is looking for something just a little bit different. Call today!