A friend of mine was browsing craigslist recently, and sent me this 1950 Oldsmobile 98. According to the map, this car is located just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. I find this really interesting because having grown up in that area, old cars aren’t typically hiding away under carports like this one appears to be. The seller claims that this Oldsmobile has 59,000 original miles, runs and drives, and is all original save for one repaint. This car can be found here on craigslist with an asking price of $8,500.
Under the hood is the original 303 Oldsmobile “Rocket” engine, which reportedly runs. It looks intact and appears to be wearing its original 2-barrel intake manifold and carburetor. From this picture, the amount of dirt on top of the intake suggests to me that perhaps mice have found their way in there at some point, though all of the visible wiring appears intact. It looks like there are some newer parts in there as well. Though the seller states the car runs, I would probably do a basic tune-up before hitting the road!
Since I have always been an avid car enthusiast, I attended a lot of car shows as a child. New cars were neat, but old cars were king and I went to every show I could get my parents to take me to. I saw a lot of similar Oldsmobile 98s during my childhood, and I remember that because the emblem on the hood always stood out to me. Of the various 98s I saw, I don’t recall ever seeing a fastback like this one. With production of 1950 Oldsmobile 98 Club Sedans at 2,270, this makes this a pretty uncommon car!
As with many cars being sold as projects, the trunk is full of things that the new owner will need for this car! As the seller mentions, all of the exterior emblems and trim appear to be in place and in good condition, with the wheel covers being the only missing attribute. There appear to be at least three of them in the trunk, and the seller notes “original hubcaps” in the ad so hopefully they are all there! There is also a fresh-looking 4 barrel intake manifold in the trunk, which could be a fun upgrade for the right person. There are no interior pictures, but I think with some minor work and a good buff, this car would be ready to cruise!
I suspect this fastback is going to get sucked up pretty quick.
The asking price is in the ballpark so you could be right.
What a load of crap (for me) because gawd do I want this!
Too damn far away and definitely no moola………..why is life so cruel!?!?!?
That is the perfect car for me, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn.
In 1950 America was at the start of a cold war and still exhausted from the hot one. Detroit (and Kenosha, and South Bend, as well as St. Louis, LA, etc.) were pumping out mostly nondescript upgraded variants of ’40-42 & ’46-48 models as fast people could unblinkingly buy them. Major redesigns were still five years away for retail. But THIS? For stodgy 1950 this was one sexy beast. And that V-8 Rocket would move along it just fine. Room to have your own little private party in the back, and the fastback coupe just screamed “family, what? Not me, daddy-o!” This car was for a man (and it would have always been a man in 1950) who thought, who deliberated, on his purchase more than the average joe. And you have to wonder which drunken proto-beatnik at GM approved this mad idea?
Man, if I had the money. I’d buy it in a second. Keep it as is, just make it safe, maybe throw on that 4 bbl, and cruise it like it was originally meant to be driven. It’s called a FASTback for a reason (“you can get fast inside, -and- out!”) This will not last long at all, even at $8500.
Beautiful automobile, and a nice lil’ lump of early hedonistic hot rod history.
Oh, yes. Stodgy old designs from South Bend. This is from a 1950 brochure. Practically a Conestoga Buckboard, it is.
1950 Was A Milestone Year For GM In 1949 Both Cadillac & Oldsmobile Introduced There All New V8 OHV Engines The Cadillac Was A New Design As Well As To The Oldsmobile & Buicks.Dont Know How Much U Know About American Car History Post WW2 But By 1949 Most Of The Big Three Had All New Product.
2 me looks more like $5K, but I agree it will go fast, as a Fastback should.
I wish it were a standard .
Exactly the kind of car that got me into this whole obsession. Of course I would have paid about $500.00 maybe.probably 300.00. then. If the market says this is worth 8500 bucks I’m way out of touch. At 3500.00 I’d jump a plane.
$3500 for a 50 Olds fastback? Good luck. With the over inflated prices these days for $3500 you’re lucky to get a Gremlin or a Pacer.
First by far with a post war car – the 1948 Studebaker’s….
“Some rust through in the floorboards” with no pics? In fact, no pics of the interior at all? Yikes. Love the 2-door fastback sedanettes of that era but I would make sure the rust is only restricted to those areas the seller mentioned. No pics of the interior always raises red flags for me.
But I do love that body style, a lot!
Buy it, pull that 303, build a 394–stroked into the 450 range, four speed Hydromatic, , this all bolts in nice and stock like, polish the body and go! These things are a rocket—Oh yea,, a Rocket 88
My high school buddy had that 303 Olds engine in a 48 Ford. I’m not sure it had any motor mounts, you could grap hold of the carb and thrash the motor all around the engine compartment. Hooked up to a 39 ford trans, everyone wanted that one for the floor shifter.
In 1957 Mom got her driver’s license. She wanted her own car. (had to be an automatic as Mom was shiftless at the time) Dad took her to test drive the twin to this car. She took off in the car while Dad and us kids waited. (this was approx. 6:00 pm in December) She never came back! She got lost, (Chicago) did not have her driver’s license, and it was dark. The used car lot owner was sure that she had abandon the family. (a 4 year old, a 3 year old and a baby) At approx. 11:30 pm. The phone at the car lot rang. Mom had found something that looked familiar and drove home. She stated calling every used car lot in the phone book until someone answered. We had to buy the car! I wish I had it now!
Wayne, man! Love your story….I could just picture it. Your poor mother and glad it had a happy ending. Great stuff ( and a great car for sure!!) My Pop always loved the ’50 88 but I always thought the 98 was pretty cool in it’s own way. Ha!