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1958 Oldsmobile
Dynamic Eighty-Eight
Series
88 Sedan
4 Door, 5 passenger
Color: Heather
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MSRP: |
$2,574.00 |
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Model no.: |
3669 |
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Produced: |
60,429 |
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Engine type: |
V-8 OHV |
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Displacement: |
371 cu. in. |
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Horsepower: |
265 @ 4,440 rpm |
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Torque: |
390 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm |
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Compression
ratio: |
10.0 : 1 |
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Carburetor: |
2-bbl "Econ-o-way" |
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Transmission: |
Jetaway Hydra-Matic Drive 4-S |
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Tire size: |
8.50 x 14 |
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Shipping weight: |
3,985 lbs. |
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Brochure for 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic Eighty-Eight
Sedan (Heather), similar to Grandpa's extended family
sedan. |
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Big bad 371 V-8
Oldsmobile Rocket
Air cleaner decal |
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Brochure for 1958 Oldsmobile Dynamic Eighty-Eight
Sedan (Autumn Haze) |
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Check out this air ride
suspension system!
It was dubbed New-Matic
Ride... Olds
enjoyed Everthing-Matic and
problematic. |
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It appeared
that 1958 was an experimental model year for automakers.
And, Oldsmobile didn't miss their opportunity to remain
on technology's cutting edge. New-Matic Ride is
one such example. A more accurate moniker would have
been Problem-Matic Ride, which became a joy-ride. Those
were the days, when function followed form, as well as
the formation of NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. |
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Another NHTSA inspired feature...
"The new gas port is beautifully
concealed, even up close. It's easy-to-reach,
easy-to-open... yet there's nothing vis-able to mar the
smooth, unbroken sweep from new front end to the
sparkling Twin Blades."
However... one spark from the tailight
wiring would mar it from a fuel fire. This easy-to-torch
mobster feature... proved once again the need for NHTSA.
There was more than one reason Olds called it a Rocket.
My brothers and I loved to demonstrate
this magical gas port feature, over and over to each
other. One day the gas flap finally broke off in our
driveway. We quickly put it back in place, thinking it
would just magically stay put.
Kid tested - the gas port was eliminated
the next model year, probably along with the engineer
responsible.
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Hi Grampa we love you, but we want
suckers first. (Operant conditioning promotes tooth
decay.) |
Curbside-Matic candy pickup was the preferred
feature of this Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight model. Here
we are as kids, smothering Grandpa's '58 Olds,
anxiously awaiting ceremonial trunk opening and
distribution of Tootsie Pops. Neighborhood kids also
attracted like ants.
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1962 Oldsmobile
Ninety-Eight
Series 98 Town Sedan
4 Door, 6 passenger
Color: Willow Mist
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MSRP: |
$3,984.00 |
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Model no.: |
3819 |
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Produced: |
12,167 units |
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Engine type: |
V-8 OHV |
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Displacement: |
394.25 cu. in. |
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Horsepower: |
330
hp @ 4,600
rpm |
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Torque: |
440 lb-ft @
2,800 rpm |
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Compression
ratio: |
10.25 : 1 |
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Carburetor: |
Multi-Jet 4-barrel (Roch.) |
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Transmission: |
4-S Hydra-Matic |
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Tire size: |
8.5 x 14 |
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Shipping weight: |
4,258 lbs. |
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Brochuret for 1962 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Town Sedan (Willow Mist) |
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"Power-packed Skyrocket Engine with
Multi-Jet carburetion delivers a full 330 h.p...." |
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 Grandpa's
first Olds Ninety-Eight was an immaculate tanker in
Willow Mist metallic green. A large carpeted trunk, he
always kept his golf clubs handy and stored with a box
of Tootsie Pops for his grandkids. Whenever he pulled up
to our curb he'd open the trunk and pass around suckers.
These trunks were so big, often you heard stories of how
three teens could be smuggled into drive-in theaters for
the price of one.
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Oldsmobile Sky Rocket
Ultra High Compression
(Use Premium Fuel)
Air cleaner decal |
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4-S Hydra-Matic
Accel-A-Rotor Action |
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Ratios
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First: |
3.64 : 1 |
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Second: |
3.03 : 1 |
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Third: |
1.51 : 1 |
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Fourth: |
1.00 : 1 |
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Reverse: |
3.74 : 1 |
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The 4-S Hydra-Matc Drive and was standard on the
Ninety-Eight models in 1962. It was actually a
four-speed automatic transmission with four four-stages
and ratios, even though the shift quadrant indicated
only three speeds. In the familiar Oldsmobile shift
quadrant,
P-N-D-S-L-R, the "S" quadrant was for "Super"
and not second. "S" was actually third gear, allowing
1-2-3 shifts. The "L" position was actually 1st and 2nd
gears, holding the transmission from shifting above 2nd
gear.
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1966 Oldsmobile
Ninety-Eight
Series 38400
& 38600 Town Sedan
4 Door, 6 passenger
Color: Sierra Mist, and Ocean Mist - white
roof
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MSRP: |
$4,308.00 |
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Model no.: |
38669 |
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Produced: |
38,123 units |
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Engine type: |
V-8 OHV
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Displacement: |
425 cu in |
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Horsepower: |
365 hp @ 4,800 rpm |
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Torque: |
470 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm |
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Compression
ratio: |
10.25 : 1 |
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Carburetor: |
Quadrajet, 4-bbl. |
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Transmission: |
Turbo Hydra-Matic |
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Tire size: |
8.55 x 14 |
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Shipping weight: |
4,268 lbs. |
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Picture from sales brochure of the 1966 Oldsmobile
Ninety-Eight Luxury Sedan (Lucerne Mist) |
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Another image from '66 sales brochure
(Sierra Mist) |
The color of Gramps' second Ninety-Eight LS was Sierra
Mist. It was more luxurious and ostentatious. He loved
the power and mashing the accelerator to the floor when
turning onto highways. The trunk also carried his golf
clubs, a few loose golf balls and box of Tootsie Pops
for his grand-kids.
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It'll ping if you put Regular in... |
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1966 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight four-door
hardtop (Ocean Mist) |
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I also owned one of these heavy bombers, and bought
it off a friend for about $500. The paint was
two-tone, Ocean Mist lower color (as above) except
with Provincial White upper color. In '66,
Oldsmobile had a new carburetor on their Super
Rocket High Compressio n
V-8 engine. The 4-barrel Rochester Quadrajet was a
spread-bore with vacuum secondaries. It deservedly
earned the nickname "Quadrabog" and quickly drank a
tank full of Premium.
It was the second year Oldsmobiles had Turbo Hydra-Matic
Drive, which was GM's new heavy-duty transmission. The
Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 three-speed had a variable-vane
torque converter, built to meet the demands of increased
horsepower and curb weights. The rear axle was a Locking
Type "Anti-Spin" Differential (G80) RPO code. It was
still able to smoke the tires good.
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1968 Oldsmobile
Ninety-Eight
Series 38400
& 38600 Luxury Sedan
4 Door, 6 passenger
Color: Willow Gold
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MSRP: |
$4,471.00 |
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Model no.: |
38669 |
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Produced: |
40,755 units |
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Engine type: |
V-8 OHV
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Displacement: |
455 cu in |
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Horsepower: |
365 @ 4,600 rpm |
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Torque: |
510 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
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Compression
ratio: |
10.25 : 1 |
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Carburetor: |
Quadrajet, 4-bbl. |
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Transmission: |
Turbo Hydra-Matic
400 |
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Tire size: |
8.85 x 14 |
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Shipping weight: |
4,273 lbs. |
Oldsmobile Rocket 455
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1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Luxury Sedan
four-door (Willow Gold) with black vinyl roof |
It the '60s the going price for Oldsmobile iron was
about $1 per pound. Believe it or not, the Ninety-Eights got
even bigger and heavier than this one. The standard
engine was a 455 CID V-8 4-bbl rated at 365 horsepower
and produced a whopping 510 lb-ft. torque.
My uncle drove one of these and it was the perfect car
for his frame. Ironically, he was also a B-17 pilot
stationed in Europe during the war. These late '60s GMs
were real bombers, or ships as crew called them. Rightly
so, they listed sharply while turning around corners.
Especially, if you were late heading to the office. |
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Oldsmobile Rocket 455
Air cleaner decal |
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1970
Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
Series 38400
& 38600 Town Sedan
4 Door, 6 passenger
Color: Sherwood Green
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MSRP: |
$4,451.00 |
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Model no.: |
38469 |
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Produced: |
9,092 units |
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Engine type: |
V-8 OHV
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Displacement: |
455 cu in |
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Horsepower: |
365 @ 4,600 rpm |
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Torque: |
510 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
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Compression
ratio: |
10.25 : 1 |
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Carburetor: |
Quadrajet, 4-bbl. |
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Transmission: |
Turbo Hydra-matic
400 |
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Tire size: |
J78 x 15 |
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Shipping weight: |
4,257 lbs. |
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Ad brochure 1970 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
(Sherwood Green) |
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The 1970 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight was the Grandpa's last
car, but his was a four door. Every four years he got a
brand new Oldsmobile starting with a 1958 Eighty-Eight,
1962 Ninety-Eight, 1966 Ninety-Eight, and this model. It
was a lot car for a guy his age, who stopped driving
shortly after getting it. Maybe he felt, by buying a new
car, he was still in the game. Who knows. |
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Rocket 455 air cleaner decal
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Photos courtesy of Coopers Classic Cars:
www.coopersclassiccars.com.au/ |
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Work your keister off and you can buy
one. |
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Living room on wheels,
includes a luxurious couch and fender
skirts. Oldsmobile sales couldn't overcome
the word "old" and that image, even tried
calling it a youngmobile". But, GM's cruise
ship division went down on April 29, 2004.
In its 107 year history, it produced 35.2
million cars, with some 14 million built at
its Lansing, Michigan factory. |
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