Locating a classic where an owner has spent a considerable sum to ensure the vehicle is in excellent health is always a welcome find. It is also the story behind this 1963 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Hardtop. The seller has invested $23,000 in this gem since 2010, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Bruce M for spotting an exceptionally tidy survivor that is a turnkey proposition. The seller has listed the Olds here on Facebook Marketplace in Dighton, Massachusetts. They set their price at $20,000 but are willing to consider offers.
Oldsmobile marketed its Fifth Generation 88 range from 1961 until 1964. Although it wasn’t a “clean sheet” approach, the latest offering featured a new body and frame. Many of its mechanical components were carried across from its predecessor, while the styling was crisp and contemporary. The first owner ordered our feature Super 88 Holiday Hardtop in a winning combination of Willow Mist Metallic and Provincial White. The seller is candid in their overall assessment of this classic. They admit that a close inspection will reveal minor paint and panel flaws and imperfections, but the overall first impression is positive. The paint retains a healthy shine, with no evidence of patchiness. There are no massive dings or dents, and this Olds is said to be rust-free. The trim looks exceptional for its age, and the glass is crystal clear.
The interior could be this Holiday Hardtop’s greatest attribute. Trimmed in Green cloth and vinyl, it is in fantastic condition. There is no evidence of wear or mistreatment, and nothing has succumbed to UV exposure. The carpet is slightly worn and faded, especially under the driver’s feet. There are also a few minor trim marks and imperfections. However, if viewed purely as a survivor-grade classic, it is comfortably acceptable. The interior also holds its share of luxury touches. These include air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, and a pushbutton radio.
It is disappointing that the seller supplies no engine photos because it appears that much of the $23,000 spent on this classic since 2010 was below the surface. It should allow the 394ci V8 to deliver the 290hp and 413 ft/lbs of torque that it would have produced when the car was shiny and new. A three-speed automatic transmission tackles shifting duties, with power assistance for the steering and brakes lightening the driver’s load. The seller states that the engine runs well, a claim supported by the embedded video in their listing. It drives nicely and is ready for action with a new owner behind the wheel.
This 1963 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Hardtop isn’t perfect, but that could be one of its greatest attributes. Pristine classics invariably turn heads at shows and on outings, and this car can still do that. However, its minor paint flaws will allow the new owner to hit the road for motoring pleasure, safe in the knowledge that an errant stone won’t mar perfection. The recent big spend by the seller has left the car in excellent mechanical health, but is that enough to tempt you to fly in and drive this Olds home?
I might have to lose the fender skirts “Might” but either way this is one beautiful Olds at a very fair price.
IMHO fender skirts rarely look good, especially if they are hiding a nice looking set of wheels. They often ruin the lines of the car.
Powerful Olds. Hydramatic autoloader, beautiful cruiser. Agree w Rustytech.
If it’s a 3-speed automatic, it’s not a Hydramatic. More likely a Jetaway unit.
Not a jetaway! A rotomatic! Pontiac called it the slim jim! Not a good trans!
Wasn’t the Jetaway a 2 speed unit? AKA the ST300, but that made its debut in 1964.
The write-up claims this car’s transmission is a three-speed automatic, which means it’s what GM called a Jetaway but what my crowd, back in the day, called a Slim Jim. In any case, this looks to be one hulluva car.
I think a super 88 had more like 345 gross hp due to a slightly higher compression ratio and duel exhaust.
Personally I like the skirts on full size GM cars from this era. This is one gorgeous Olds!!! Very handsome styling, nice formal lines. Gm had some of the nicest designs during these years, second favorite to Pontiacs for me at least.
Not a jetaway! A rotomatic! Pontiac called it the slim jim! Not a good trans!
I like the skirts on this car.
My family had a 63 star fire and a 64 jetstar 88. I believe the 63 super 88 had the same engine as the 98 but just slightly less powerful than the skyrocket put in the star fire. It came with a 3 speed auto. The interior looks just like our 64 jetstar which came withe the first year 330cidV8 and a 2 speed super turbine 300 referred to as the jetway. This is a nice comfortable car with a full perimeter frame unlike the chevies and others from GM that had an X frame. The 394 was fully developed from its earliest size of 303ci from 1949 and would be retired in 1964 to be replaced by the modern thin wall casting 425 big block to power the full size cars.
Beautiful car. Wish it were mine!
That’s a really nice looking Olds. Usually, I am not a fan of skirts, at least not on cars, but I’ve to admit, they look pretty good on the Super 88. What I really appreciate is, if you remove the skirts (like in a couple of the ad’s pics), you’ still have the rear wheel well trim. That is one thing I dislike, when skirts are removed from a car, there is typically no trim around the wells, while usually the front wheel wells have trim. That makes the car look incomplete to my eyes. I would like to see engine, trunk compartment and undercarriage pics, but judging from the rest of the car, I doubt I’d be disappointed. It appears that someone likes what they’ve seen as the ad shows pending. Good luck to the next caretaker.
What a beauty! I don’t doubt that the seller spent some serious coin on this baby, but why couldnt he take at least one pic under the hood? Fender skirts are a matter of opinions and personal preference. I left mine off of my 64 Impala because I updated the rims and the skirts hid them. Very fair asking price for this turnkey Olds.
Always liked this style. Dad had a 63 Olds Super 88. It had bucket seats and a console. It must have been a special order, because I am told they didn’t come with buckets. Never did see that car after he sold it. Keep the skirts.
It’s hard to tell, but has this car been lowered a little?
Very nice clean unmolested nostalgic example. A high-school neighbor and friend had a red Starfire this year. Oldsmobiles had a subdued ground rattling rumbling growl that said don’t mess with me.
Love this car! Wish I could own it!
I had a 1964 Oldsmobile Super 88 with 4 door sedan. I wished mine did have fender skirts to look better. The 394 V8 gutless for 5 seconds, then once it moved it was gone like a shot. Solid body not like the new cars now adays.
The only other problem is I did not keep it.
Spending $23k on a car over the last 14yrs wouldn’t mean a whole lot. Spending $23k over the last 2yrs would be a big deal. Nice car!
The skirts dont follow the body contours awfully well; lose them and lower the air shocks! The only other issue is the typical 1960s Hair-Lip front bumper from a parking lot or garage wall nudge.
Bumpers can be straightened… or… left as they are…
I can remember the day my father brought home a 1963 Olds 98 LS coupe for my mother. It had a taupe body and a cream colored top, bucket seats and a center console — it was the most elegant car I’d ever seen. She cried when she first saw it.
Awesome memory.