Text by Patrick Bell
The Oldsmobile “Rocket” age actually began in 1949 with their first all new car after WWII. And it served them well for fifty years. Today we have a nice gallery of models from the first “Rocket” decade, so let’s proceed.
We begin with a close to new looking 1954 88 Holiday Coupe, which was the most expensive model of the entry level series. The Rocket V8 was boosted to 324 cubic inches across the board, and the 88 models had a 170 horsepower version. The only options I see were the wheel trim rings and whitewall tires.
Let’s back up a few years to this 1949 Futuramic 88 or 98 Club Sedan in an image shot in the west part of Portland, Oregon. All Oldsmobiles used the “Futuramic” name in 1949 and 1950, and the “88” was a new model for 1949, a name that went on to live a long life. The big news for the year was the new overhead valve “Rocket” V8 of 303 ci with 135hp. It and the Hydra-Matic Drive were standard on the 88 and 98 series, while the entry level 76 series retained the “Big Six” and manual transmission. By 1950 the manual was standard in all series again.
The featured car was dressed up with dual spotlights, fog/driving lamps, radio, whitewalls, and wore a 1951 Oregon license plate with an upside down frame.
1951 brought a style update, and the 76 series and Big Six were both canceled. That left the 88 as the entry level, and a new “Super 88” was now the mid level series.
The one above was a 1951 98 4 door De Luxe Holiday Sedan. The 98s rode on a two inch longer wheelbase at 122 inches, and were four inches longer overall, and four inches wider as well.
1952 was a carryover year, and 1953 received an refresh on the third year of the style cycle. Also new for 1953 was a 12 volt electrical system, and a Rocket V8 horsepower boost to 150 on the 88, 165 for the Super 88 and 98, and 170 for the super rare Fiesta model.
The baby blue beauty above was a 1953 Super 88 Convertible Coupe with a same year Iowa license plate issued in Sioux County.
A complete restyle and new three year cycle came in 1954. It was longer and lower while retaining the familiar Oldsmobile look.
Above was a 1954 Super 88 4 door sedan with two tone paint, radio, outside mirror, whitewalls, and someone behind the wheel. It was the most popular model of the year.
The annual refresh for 1955 was shown here, along with (if you look close) the expanded two tone styles that actually arrived the year before. The 324 ci Rocket V8 was now up to 185 hp on the 88, and 202 hp for the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight.
This one was a 1955 88 Holiday Coupe with the aforementioned two tone, radio, full wheel covers and whitewalls.
1956 was the final year of a three year cycle, and it received the annual refresh along with a significant boost in engine output. The horsepower race was on, and Oldsmobile’s 324 Rocket V8’s now had 230 hp for the 88, and 240 for the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight.
Featured above was a 1956 Ninety-Eight Holiday Sedan, the new 4 door hardtop that first appeared the previous year. To the left was a 1955 Mercury Monterey 4 door sedan.
Here is another 1956 model, a Super 88 Holiday Coupe with standard style two tone paint and full wheel covers. It was wearing a 1956 issue Illinois license plate, and was enjoying the remnants of what appeared to have been the first good snow of the season. Oldsmobile’s new automatic transmission, the “Jetaway Hydra-Matic Drive”, was now standard on Super 88 and Ninety-Eight models.
A new restyle came on board for the 1957 model year, and this one lasted just two years. Also new for the year was a redesigned Rocket T-400 V8, now with 371 ci and 277 hp. The 400 in “T-400” signified the torque rating. Later in the model year the J-2 Rocket V8 was introduced, with three dual barrel carburetors and 300 hp.
The resale red example above was a 1957 Golden Rocket 88 Convertible Coupe with a 1958 Illinois license plate.
And another 1957 Golden Rocket 88, this one in Holiday Coupe form. The “Golden Rocket” name was used on the base 88 models for this year only. The “Jet Age” was taking off, and it was exploited in design, trim, and especially advertising/promotion. In this case it was Oldsmobile’s 1956 Golden Rocket Motorama show car they were attempting to highlight.
On the other side of it was a white over green 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan, and a black over coral 1955 Buick Super.
Chrome must have been cheap in the late 1950’s, as they sure took advantage of it on the 1958 models. They were a reskin of the 1957 restyle, and the results looked like they had a contest to see who could have the largest number of different designs on the same car. And then they were all highlighted in chrome.
The one above was a 1958 Super 88 Holiday Coupe.
Our final image was a gentleman that did not seem to be concerned that he was loitering in a Ford neighborhood with his 1958 Super 88 Holiday Coupe. It was equipped with a spotlight/mirror combination, power antenna, and whitewalls. This view better shows the side and its array of design touches.
The Fords in the background were from the left, a white over blue 1956 Customline Fordor Sedan, and a black over white 1957 Custom 300 Tudor Sedan. The one on the far right I am unsure about.
Thanks for joining us and to all good day!
Wow, I’ll take that dark blue ’54 Coupe…It looks great in single-tone paint with basic hubcaps.
Tri5 Chevys are nice but the Tri5 Olds rule the roost in my opinion
My dad said his grandparents were to give him their 1956 Oldsmobile in 1967 when he was 17; but he said that it was a four door and rather bought his uncle’s 39 Chevy coupe for $300 😂. My parents said having a car with four doors in the mid to late 60’s made you unpopular bc you were driving a grandma car
Had a ’56 S88 Hardtop like in the picture, but mine was solid black with red interior. Gave $50 with a blown motor, first engine I ever rebuilt. Ran it for many years then sold it to a retired body man who turned it into a show winner.
At one time a good friend who once had a ’50 Olds fastback was a bigtime Olds fan, to the point of having a ’60 Olds (updated from a ’58) motor in his ’40 Ford and a later ’60s Olds motor in his ’62 Corvette. But as the ’50s progressed the love for the sheetmetal waned. He refers to the quarter trim on the ’58s as the Tomato Trellis.
Tomato Trellis–I like that. All the ’58 GM cars were garish with their lashings of chrome, but IMO the Oldsmobile was the worst.
I read that the stylists put musical note paper cutouts in the “staff”
Loved them Oldmobiles in the 50’s we had a shit load of them in the family back in those days. My sister’s had them, my dad, along with an old Caddy that had a back seat as big as a bedroom for Christ sake. My uncle bought a brand new ’58 with all that chrome shit on it. Musta been a top of the line model. He brought it out to the farm to show us, it was lite up like a Xmas 🌲 tree. Wow, I was just a kid then, but I was truly impressed. I still have one his old mobiles. A ’67 that was passed on down to me.
My dad bought a 54 88 4dr sedan from his nephew who had to go in the service. Don’t remember but I think it was a Super 88. 2 tone green. Great car.
I am puzzled why so many car photographs show them parked on lawns, fields, and weeds, rather than pavement. The turquoise one is parked diagonally across that driveway. Nobody drives their car that way. The two tone green 1954 seems to have a gravel road or driveway in the photo foreground but is parked on the grass, by a fence. The dark 1951 4 door is parked on a dead winter lawn against the hedge.
People do not drive on their lawns, so why are cars so often photographed there?
Shit, we had a big lawn. We parked on it all the time. No big deal.
I learned something new today, that the Hydramatic was standard on both the 98 and 88 in 1949 (only). That would mean that the stock car racers that took to the new 88 V8 in 1949 were driving automatics? Inquiring minds want to know.
I suppose that wouldn’t have been a big deal, as the pure stock class really was for “stock” cars. Still, it had never crossed my mind before.
I would never had thought they would have been raced with the early version Hydramatics. Wonder how that worked out?
Had to add to this post with a picture of older brother, Mom with our cat Smoky, and goofy little me. The picture might have been taken about 1956, perhaps in one of our many moves cross-country to another Air Force base. The car is our 1955 Olds ’98’ two door Holiday in turquoise & white. I assume Moms matching color 1955 Starfire convertible was being shipped with our furniture to the next post.
In Moms arms is Smoky our cat. Smoky traveled with us coast-to-coast many times in our 1955 Oldsmobile’s. Second picture is Dad holding me with my broken leg, during another cross-country move, older brother holding Smoky. Typical me, break a leg just days before another cross country move. Hard to believe older brother, who became an auto designer, now in his late 70s runs marathon races and wins in his age class. I spend my time reviewing auto related websites having an afternoon vodka & tonic.
Sorry, see below response for first pic.
Add pic.
Looking at these now clearly shows how owning one of these new meant you really had ‘arrived’ .
-Nate
Great decade for Olds, including the not shown but totally new ’59. I had a ’50 98 sedan, ’56 98 Holiday sedan like the one shown, ’56 Super 88 convert, ’57 Super 88 convert, and ’58 Super 88 sedan. The ’56 convert in White and Rose Mist with tan leather was my favorite, and all were excellent cars, but definitely not as roadable as the ’58 and ’59 DeSotos and Chryslers I’ve had.
My other observation is that once again I find the combination of standard hubcaps and the optional wheel trim rings on the first Olds is more attractive to me than the full wheel covers. I’ve actually come to dislike full wheel covers more and more with time. I need to put together a gallery of wheels with hubcaps and trim rings.
“Smokey” got around!
My brother bought a ‘ 56 Olds 2 Dr Hdtp 394 4 Barrel Automatic w/the Super Gear . He needed 125.00 so he traded keys for cash . I turned breather lid up-side-down to hear 4 Barrel kick-in . I drove off my parents back yard onto Brooks side yard to sidewalk , turned around , Ist gear , gas pedal foot to floor into 2nd , drive , and @ 70 mph into super , @ 80 mph I turned to left , off a 2 ‘ Bank of dirt and grass down onto parents hay field and @ 90 mph cranked power steering to left w/Rt foot on floor an 4 Barrel carb open OLDSMOBILE spun round n round flattening the tall grass . 2 more days same joy ride . 4 neighbour boys heard the 4 Barrel and spinning wheels and wanted to ride too . Once wasn’t enough so 2nd ride but turning around I backed into tree and caved in trunk lid ! OOOPS !! After 2nd spin out I let them out @ sidewalk an did a 3rd spin out . My Father made my brother sell his OLDS. And brother wasn’t too pleased w/me as he was saving up to get OLDS Safety Checked . I was 15 yrs old and didn’t care . Ha ha !
My father had a brand new 57 Oldsmobile 98.I still have color photos of it.