Images from the Cohort by Owen Smith.
This is the kind of vintage find that’s becoming ever rarer, the worn-out runner. No recent restoration efforts on this one. A true curbside classic, from a design age that’s always fascinating; the final days of Detroit’s Space Age fixation. A transition is already evident in this 1960 Olds, with the ‘rocket elements’ of the 1959 body showing in restrained form. The updated lines were a telling sign; for the new decade, the division’s rockets were being called back to earth.
There’s still nothing like a Rocket! Proclaimed the division in 1960. How was Olds to know it was clinging to a fading trend? Then again, Oldsmobile was inextricably linked to the Space Age, thanks to its renowned Rocket Engine. Launched in 1949, the trendsetting V-8 powerplant placed the Oldsmobile name in the public’s imagination, even securing a spot in pop culture.
And deservedly so. After all, Oldsmobile was still GM’s innovation division at the time. And in the case of Oldsmobile’s ’88’ ’59-’60 models, there was much that separated them from their B-body GM siblings. A chapter already covered in a previous CC.
The 1960 Oldsmobile 88 Super line was subdivided into rather joyful-sounding models; Fiesta, Celebrity, and Holiday. If I go by logic and my eyes don’t deceive me, our Cohort find is a Holiday Sportsedan, one of about 33K built that year. As this ad points out, these models came equipped with Wide-Stance stability, Guard-Beam Frame solidness, and 394 cu. in. of Rocket engine action with 315 hp. Was there something not to like?
Apparently so. Maybe the Space Age theme had run its course. Maybe the public found other GM offerings more appealing, but in 1960, Oldsmobile tumbled to a lowly #7 place among the domestics. Way below its usual standing. The division would soon shed all its Space Age motifs, and reinvent itself around the idea of accessible luxury for the Brougham era. The identity that would define its Cutlass period.
From its condition, there’s no way to deny that this Super 88 has suffered a few rough landings. How much ‘rocket’ is still there on that engine? No idea. But what matters is that this sled is still flying, against all odds.
Further reading:
One of my favorite designs ever, even nicer that my 1957 (regular) 88.
The dashboard was attractive even if the gauges were minimal. The Super 88 had the 98’s power in a slightly lighter body, and the 1960 models were the last to have the smooth four speed automatic.
Oldsmobiles were rumored to be a popular alternative when one wanted a high grade GM ride without the “look-at-me” baggage (and fins) of a Cadillac.
That is a nice dash design. Anyone else see the similarity between it and the first Mustangs?
I’ve always loved the 1960 Olds design. The front end is fairly generic, but that TAIL — so wildly exuberant, creative and original, and still quite pointy and rocket-y, too. Was never a big fan of the flat-top, though… my choice would be the two-door post version, but how exceedingly rare those must be today.
I see your point about the roofline. The coupe roof is more shapely. But, imho, the wrap-around rear window adds enough appeal to make up for the mesa lid on the sedan.
A very (to) quick look at that photo could mistake that car for the ’61 F85.
My 16 year old friends aunt had one. It was WAY too fast to let him take me, his 15 year old friend, for a drive. Amazingly we brought the car back in one piece.
These Olds were quicker than the normal family cars of the day (or even for years into the future).
However, their standard soft suspensions, all drum brakes, and bias ply tires were not up to the power of their standard 394 cu inch four barrel engines (super 88s). They squatted on take off, nosed down on braking, rolled a lot on turns, and required some forethought when braking at speed.
But they were splendidly long, low, and wide highway cruisers, comfortable, and glamorous, very much as if an Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman Pontiac ad came alive (but in an Oldsmobile).
Putting down the top (this one was a brand new 1960 baby blue Dynamic 88 convertible) and lugging 6 or 7 high school jamokes to an autumn football game with the one speaker AM radio blasting WINS, WMCA, or WABC top 40 music was great fun.
I think your 60 Olds just needed new shocks. Signed, the driver of many 60 Olds for years.
The lady my “working mom” hired to “mind the kids after school” drove one just like the green on in the “Go Old’s ad”.
It looked so “sumptuous” compared to our “spartan, Biscayne”. lol
Even though our car was five years newer.
I vaguely remember riding in the “expansive , Olds”.
Our family car when I was a kid. Loved that sideways speedo with the color coded indicator based on speed. When the “Safety Sentinel” was set at 65 and you went 66 mph, the buzzer would warn you to slow down. One vulnerability was the power steering system as it would fail after 70K miles, and the weight of the car would wear tires out by 25 to 30K miles. Didn’t seem like a land yacht back then but to see one now, we’ll, it reminds me of a dad bod.
Again as the owner of several 60 Olds daily driven for years, they have perfectly reliable power steering, never a failure. Same Saginaw components on Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac. I think one time had a small leak, solved with a new O ring.
A big rocket V8 and an old school 4 speed Hydra Matic – what an Oldsmobile should be! I love this car.
You bring up a good point: My aunt was ready to purchase a 60 Olds but found out it was too long to fit in the garage. So she waited for the slightly downsized 61s to come out with the ill-fated 3-speed Roto Hydramatic.
So even though I was able to drive her car when I turned 16 in the late 60s, I never got the opportunity to drive a genuine 4-speed Hydramatic.
I only noticed after the fact that the Pontiac Acadian featured previously can be seen in the background of the second pic! https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/cohort-pick-of-the-day-pontiac-acadian-we-build-excitement/
Nice ~ I love survivors .
Sort out all the running issues and re do the suspension, add decent radial tires and rustle up some original wheel covers you’d have a nice ride here just as is .
-Nate
Also cool was the deep, deep dish steering wheel with the two horn buttons and no ring. The Super 88 was similar to the Buick Century (later Invicta). The more powerful Ninety Eight (Roadmaster) engine in the smaller body. Some nice extra trim items too, like chrome window frames and more deluxe upholstery.
I had one in high school, got it from my grandfather and restored it.
When it came time for my father to replace his ’56 Olds, the ’60 Olds is the car he wanted. We ended up with a new 1960 Chevy Bel Air, 283/glide, radio, two tone paint, full wheel covers and rear mounted antenna.
Years later when I found out I asked why he didn’t get the Olds. Said he couldn’t afford it at the time. Must have been quite a bit more expensive than the Chevy. In later years he finally had a couple of more new Oldsmobile’s.
A beloved great aunt and uncle owned one. They always drove Oldsmobiles and one time, she told me that Uncle LeRoy used to drive Terraplanes when they were first married. I remember this car because of the attractive rear design. I’m suprised to have read here that sales didn’t reflect the appeal I had towards them, but if you think what the market was going through during 1960, I suppose that having a luxury car that looked like a Star Wars fighter jet, was no longer in fashion.
I think it is interesting that luxury car manufacturers during these few years, seemed to think that luxury and overwrought space ship design worked. It was a look that is the opposite of formal luxury before or since. I find it amazing that someone who could afford a luxury car would want such a garrish and ridiculous design. The late 1950s was fascinated with Greek and Roman classic design and shades of gray – but those folks drove cars that looked like these?
Odd.
In about 1961 or so I was living on the NW side of Chicago in a very blue collar area known as Hermosa. Sitting in front of a store on Fullerton avenue was a 1960 Oldsmobile 2 door post sedan (probably a dynamic 88) that had a 3 speed column shift manual transmission. I did a double if not a triple take as I looked in the interior. The window was down so glass would not distort the view. I made a $5.00 bet with a friend of mine that this car existed and I remember collecting that bet and enjoying the $5.00 at the local soda shop (Andies Candies–a Chicago chain). So somewhere out there in “automotive land” may exist a stick shift dynamic 88 2 door post sedan—it was kind of a dull celery Green. I wonder how many more were like that in 1960 ??
There were a percentage, I own several 1961 Oldsmobile 88’s with three on the tree. I’ve also seen a 1960 Super 88 4 dr in Montana stick shift
This is my father’s Oldsmobile!
Actually Oldsmobile replaced the 4 speed hydramatic in 1964. My mom’s 1962 Oldsmobile wagon still had the 4 speed and 394.
The 1960 Olds automatic was a true 4 speed. The 1961-1964 Rotohydramatic was a 3 speed. Olds claimed it still was a 4 speed from the adjustable torque converter that has 2 stages in 1st gear. Take a look at the gear shift quadrant on any 1962 Oldsmobile, you’ll only see 3 speeds.
Had this baby for two years bought it for $125 in 1975. Started slowly rehab it and a knucklehead T-boned me. Unfortunately it was not repairable has to junk it. Miss that beast still.
Roger :
_GAH_ .
-Nate
I have a 1994 oldsmobile cutlass ciera cruiser s station wagon 3.1L and the wiring caught fire with the previous owner. I’m having the hardest time finding the entire wiring harness with a reasonable price. HELP ME PLEASE!!!
Consider LKQ junkyards ~ once you create a free account you can out in the vehicle(s) you’re interested in and they’ll send you a notice every time one comes through .
You’re able to select from a wide area if junkyards to choose from .
Or, maybe try junkyarddog.com .
-Nate