This first year of the fifth-generation Olds Dynamic may look like a daunting project sitting there in that junkyard, but it sounds better than it looks. The 1961 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 seen here is a two-door hardtop coupe and it can be found in Englewood, Colorado. It’s listed on eBay with a price of $3,900. The seller has it in his garage and was going to fully restore it, and has started on it, but he already has one so this car goes. The “left, front fender and hood needed to be replaced which has been done.” So, that’s less work for you to do.
Any tv reality show could totally nut-and-bolt restore this car in three days, we’ve all seen that! And, if it’s on tv it has to be real, right? So, no worries, you can do this car up by yourself in a few weeks, or months.. The seller says that this “car has very solid interior floors and trunk pan showing no rust or damage.” I wouldn’t have guessed that from seeing it sitting outside in the elements like this, for who knows how long. But, the owner says that the “frame is solid and straight.” There’s a dent in the LR quarter and there will no doubt be other body work to do, but overall it looks straight and solid. A set of mint-condition wheel covers are there, too. The rear end is pretty sharp on these cars, literally and figuratively. And, the “rear quarters are solid and no attention would be needed here”, at least rust-wise.
The interior sounds like it’s in real nice shape, and this is an AC car with power seats! The seller mentions that they have “all interior door panels, etc. I did remove the seats to clean up the floors and inspect them. They still have the original paint on them.” This car is sounding better and better all the time! They mention that this “car also has the POSI rear end which is very valuable as I have priced them and was told that they run from $2,000 & Up for a good used one.” The dash pad looks decent, they “cleaned it up and no cracks or tears were noticeable. The dash is complete with radio and all control knobs in place.” You’ll be doing some painting and dying on the interior, but overall it looks and sounds good.
This is Oldsmobile’s “Sky Rocket” 6.5L 394 V8. Oldsmobile had about the coolest names for its engines of anyone! This engine has 325 hp and 435 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to show off for Jay Leno. The seller says that they have every part and piece that’ll be needed to restore this car back to perfection. It really looks like a solid car and this generation Olds 88 is sure unique. I think that this car is very doable, how about you, do you think this car is worth restoring?
Love the bubble top and the aggressive look of the view from back of the car
It sure is worth saving. I believe this is the Olds version of the “Bubbletop” models. One site says it’s a “Holiday Coupe”. My uncle had the ’61 Pontiac version. Highly sought after these days, and this is a perfect candidate. I think this or ’62, was the last year for the Olds Bubbletop. Judging by what we see in the background, I’d love to go thru this yard. Great find, although, it will need everything, but well worth it.
This would be a great car to restore. GM divisions had some talented designers back then.
A/C with power seats. Pretty rare on a non-98. And how about the rest of those cars in that yard!
My Dad had one in Gold and it was the first car he let me use to get a job to fund my own car. The speedo had the numbers but no needle it had a colored line that changed color as you went faster. I think it was 0 to 30 was green 30 to 60 was yellow 60 to 90 was orange and red after that to 120. Me and my buddies loved putting that speedo in the red !!! Those were the days and I’m still amazed I’m alive today.
I remember that speedo. Love the dash, and the iconic Olds steering wheel. These big cars could really fly! Great looking car that should be saved.
Dad owned one.
My sister and I would get down right giddy sitting unrestrained in the backseat when the speedo line turned red! I think it was about 75 or 80 MPH.
I had one, boy was it fast!
I think the 61 olds is the prettiest of the bubbletops. Pontiac was the only one that had 2 versions of the bubble, ventura and bonneville.
Nice old car would be good to restore, but if the guy already has it in his garage why post the junk yard pictures? I would show it with the repairs that had been made and the pans and frame pictures.
Well anyway well worth saving!!
I had one, beige colored, I remember the speedo excellerate it in the rain and the tires spinning the speedo would go from left to right changing color from some color to orange then to blood red when it peeked out. Was a good comfortable car would just float down the highway. at high speed.
When I was 17, back in 1970, the corner gas station had one of these for sale for $150. It had a factory 3-speed on the column.
I have never seen or heard of one before or since, and only rarely have I been believed.
I had $96 saved up, a ransom for a 17-year-old kid in those days. I borrowed another $12 from mom and went to make my offer and got laughed off the lot.
A couple of days later it was gone; but I knew where there was a ’61 Imperial…