1950s Oldsmobiles in Vintage Photos – Chrome and Rocket V8s

Text by Patrick Bell.

Oldsmobiles were the middle rung of the General Motors ladder, and their rise in popularity began in the 1950’s and culminated a couple of decades later.  Today we have a nice variety of models from that decade, mostly the kind you could see everyday while you were out and about.

A 1954 Ninety-Eight Holiday Holiday Coupe is our lead image.  It had two tone paint and a California license plate.

The Rocket V8 received a size and output increase to go along with the restyle for 1954.  It was now 324.3 cubic inches, and 185 horsepower in the Ninety-Eight and Super 88 series.  The entry level 88 series made do with a 170 hp version.

This 1949 Futuramic 4 door sedan from California could have been any of the three series available that year; the 76, 88, or 98.  The lady was conveniently blocking the area that had some distinguishing features.

The Rocket V8 with 303.7 ci and 135 hp was the big news this year, and was used in the 88 and 98 series.  The budget priced 76 series used the old 257.1 L head 6 cylinder with 105 hp, but both of those went away after 1950.  The green car on the right looks like a 1949 Buick.

A fisherman was heading to the river while a 1951 98 Holiday Coupe was parked on the bridge.  This top of the line model had two tone paint, an outside mirror, radio, white wall tires, and an Oregon license plate.

The only engine available this year in all series was the Rocket V8 that had carried over from 1949.  Hydra-Matic Drive was optional on all series.

And a man with two dogs was posing along with a 1951 Super 88 4 door sedan.  It was a two tone model, with a missing wheel cover, a “Jackpot” bumper sticker, and a Virginia license plate most likely from 1956.

With the 76 series retired, the 88 became the entry level, and the Super 88 was introduced as the new mid level line.  That left the 98 in its traditional top of the line position.  The blue car passing by in the background may have been a 1955 or 1956 Mercury, and on the right edge a 1951 or 1952 DeSoto.

Here was a lady standing by a 1953 Super 88 Holiday Coupe with a California license plate used from 1956-1962.  It had the popular two tone option, plus rain guards mounted to the roof edges to protect the side windows, and what appeared to be a tall antenna mounted on the rear.

New for this year was a 12 volt ignition system, plus optional power brakes and air conditioning.

Now we are at a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in an unknown location, where a two tone 1953 Deluxe 88 4 door sedan was parked in front.  Behind it was a two tone 1950 Buick Special 4 door Jetback Sedan, while against the building was a black 1949 or 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 76 or 88 Club Coupe.

For 1953 the 303.7 ci Rocket V8 was offered in three versions; 150 hp for the 88 series, 165 hp for the Super 88 and 98, and 170 hp for the ultrarare Fiesta convertible.

Two couples appeared to be traveling together and were visiting a scenic overlook.  Their ride was a 1954 Ninety-Eight Deluxe Holiday Coupe with an Ohio license plate of perhaps the same year.

The Ninety-Eight’s wheelbase grew four inches to 126″ in this new restyle, while the 88 series grew two inches to 122″.  To the right looked like a 1953 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan.

And a man with a close to new 1954 Super 88 2 door sedan that was out on a nice fall day.  It was equipped with a radio, fender skirts, full wheel covers, and a same year Minnesota license plate.

Now in its second year, the Super 88 was the best selling series both years.

It was graduation day for this man, and he was posing by a two tone 1955 Super 88 4 door sedan with a scuffed white wall tire and a Connecticut license plate.

The 324.3 Rocket V8 was now up to 185 hp on the 88, and a 202 hp version was standard on the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight.  Two other 1955 GM models were seen here; a light green Chevrolet on the left edge, and a blue Buick on the right.

Here were a pair of Oldsmobiles passing on a street.  Pulling in a driveway was a 1955 88 4 door sedan with what appears to be a 1958 Virginia license plate.  And passing by was a 1957 Golden Rocket 88 Holiday Hardtop Sedan.  The house in the background looked a bit unlevel.  That is probably why the ground was all dug up.

The “Golden Rocket 88” was named after a two seater show car that built by Oldsmobile for the 1956 General Motors Motorama.  The nameplate was used only for that one year.

A man was standing by a two tone 1956 88 Holiday Sedan in a nicely manicured neighborhood likely in California.

The Holiday Sedans (4 door hardtop) debuted in 1955 and were a popular offering during this era.  They were available in all three series, and for 1956 they were the best selling body style.

This one was a two tone 1956 88 or Super 88 4 door sedan that had the standard hub caps and black wall tires.

The 324.3 ci Rocket V8 had another horsepower boost for this year, with the 88 models now at 230, and the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight at 240.

A family appeared to be heading for the open road in a clean 1957 Super 88 Holiday Sedan.  It was equipped with two tone paint, dual fender mounted mirrors, a bug screen, fender mud flaps, and a full width rear mud flap.  The style was new, and incorporated the wrap around windshield and the “Twin-Strut” rear window which were actually three pieces of glass.  That feature was not popular and was gone by the next year.

The Rocket V8 was also redesigned this year and now was 371.1 ci with 277 hp in it’s standard tune and was the base engine in all series.  Optional was the new J-2 Rocket with three carburetors and 300 hp.  The blue fastback in the background was a 1948 Packard De Luxe Eight or Super Eight Club Sedan.

This 1958 Super 88 convertible with an Ohio license plate looked a little out of place on the farm.  Perhaps a farmer got a good deal on it, as 1958 was a tough year for Oldsmobile.  Not only was there a recession that affected the entire auto industry, but Oldsmobile had some unfortunate styling exercises go into production that year.

The 371.1 Rocket V8 had some horsepower revision this year and now had three versions; a slightly reduced 265 hp for the new Dynamic 88 series, a 305 hp version that was standard on the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight, and the optional J-2 Rocket was now 312 hp.

We complete the decade with a 1959 Ninety-Eight Holiday SceniCoupe that was sunning itself on the grass by a motel pool.  The “SceniCoupe” name referred to visibility that the thin roof and large amount of glass allowed.  They also allowed a large amount of sun in to bake the occupants.  This one had tinted glass and a two tone style that must have driven body shop painters mad, as the two colors were not divided by any style line or molding.

The Rocket V8’s were revised again with the Dynamic 88 standard 371.1 ci receiving a slight boost to 270 hp, while the optional 371.1 ci had a slight decrease to 300 hp.  A new 394 ci with 315 hp was the sole engine for the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight series.  The J-2 Rocket had been canceled.  In the lower right corner was a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

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