1956 Oldsmobile 88

1956 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Coupe Oldsmobile entered the 1950s following a divisional image campaign centered on its Rocket engines and its cars appearance followed suit. Oldsmobiles Rocket V8 engine was the leader in performance; its cars were generally considered the fastest on the market; and by the mid-1950s their styling was among the first to offer a wide, open maw grille, suggestive of jet propulsion. Oldsmobile adopted a ringed-globe emblem to stress what marketers felt was its universal appeal. For consignment, an original correct drivetrain, frame off (2015) restoration of the Oldsmobile Holiday. This cars design was ahead of its time for 1956 generally using styling that would be replicated years later by the other manufacturers. A simply beautiful example of mid 1950s success this one drips with class, and chrome. Many extra parts are included with the sale. Exterior From its open maw grille inspired by jet propulsion, wrapped in a massive bumper surround which turns the corners on the bottom of the front quarters, to the two tone paint tastefully broken up by a sleek trim spear, this example is just wonderful. A Glamorous Glennis (Bell X1 rocket plane) hood ornament stresses the jet age inspiration even more. Cirrus Blue befitting a car with a cloud-like ride is over most of the two thirds of the body panels. This has been buffed out to a gleaming deep shine, and jumps over the swoop spear as Artesian Blue, which finishes off the back of this car. This paint is buffed to a spit shine as well and is as beautiful as the Cirrus that floats above it. A wrap around windshield a first for the big three has mirror-like finish and surrounds all the glass. On back the sweep cut fenders are topped by rocket like taillights and on the bottom framed with another massive pristine chromed bumper. Dual chromed tips peek out from underneath this big bumper, and 15 inch highly polished tri pointed star wheel covers are wrapped in wide whites on all 4 corners. Badging is all excellent and is rocket oriented...Look! Up in the sky! Interior Using a pallet of the Cirrus Blue, Artesian Blue and Cream and chrome it all gets mixed together and forms a fabulous designed and tactile interior. Starting with the dash with its oval instrument cluster framed by a large chrome bezel, this magically morphs into a horizontal chrome panel as it races to the passenger door with a centered original Super De Luxe AM radio and ends in a second oval with concentric ovals of chrome with a central pool in black and 50s styled stars and Oldsmobile badging. Artesian Blue metal covers the top of this dash, and Cream is on the bottom. An aftermarket AM/FM CD player is neatly hidden under the dash. Fronting the dash is the original bakelite steering wheel with more stars and badging in the center. Floating above the dash is a metal oval encased compass, an essential for early navigation on back roads. Beautiful 2 tone leather seats with blue tuck and roll inserts form a V in the seat backs of the front and rear benches. These are surrounded by cream vinyl bolster and top panels and are as clean as a whistle. Thick pile deep blue clean carpet floods the floors, and a tight headliner in white perforated vinyl hovers above all this visual eye candy. Drivetrain 324 Cubic Inches bathed in green block paint and green valve covers with Oldsmobile Rocket 88 in yellow paint, grace the clean and fully restored engine bay. A single 4-barrel Rochester Carburetor is on top, and a Jetaway 4 speed Hydramatic automatic transmission is on back of the rocket mill. The rear axle has 3.64 gears for that cruise at low RPM option. Undercarriage A bit of surface rust, and lots of fine aged patina surfaces make up the solid frame and floorpan areas. We can note that all wheel cylinders were refurbished, a new master cylinder with a stainless sleeve has been added, and new drum brakes for all 4 corners have been installed. Independent coil springs for the front, and leaf springs for the rear suspension and we have the fixing for a cloud-like ride. Drive-Ability This car drove like a dream with a quick start up, bit of a warmup, but performed beautifully with decent acceleration, good stopping power, and smooth handling. A few of the knobs (wipers, original radio, fan speed controls were inoperable) Just a beautiful example of 1950s decadence with the overall theory being make it bigger and pile on more chrome, and sprinkle on some tasteful jet age inspired design. Oldsmobile utilizing names like Fiesta, and Holiday, life was one big vacation and party, and this was a fab car to show up in for the game...of life! VIN Decode 567M71779 56-1956 7-88 Series M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant 71779-Sequential Unit Number TRIM TAG STYLE 56 3637-1956 Oldsmobile Series 88 Holiday Coupe BODY L23895-Lansing Body # TRIM 368-Medium Blue PAINT S41 40-Artesian Blue, Cirrus Blue