The last year for Oldsmobile’s Super 88 series, you’d almost need a PhD to decipher the lineup for the fifth-generation 88s from GM’s 88 family of cars. This 1964 Oldsmobile Super 88 is a Holiday Hardtop Sedan, and you can find it posted here on craigslist in St. George, South Carolina, and the seller is asking $7,500 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Super Rocco B. for the tip!
Oldsmobile offered three very similar light blue colors in 1964, and I’m betting this is Bermuda Blue. It’s sad that four-door cars don’t get that much love here. I typed in “1964 Oldsmobile 88” on the Barn Finds search line and came up with six cars going back to 2018, and they were all two-door body styles. Most of us grew up riding around in four-door cars, and I would think the nostalgia factor would be pretty big, but I guess almost everyone wants only two doors these days.
Speaking of four-door Oldsmobiles, our 1970 Olds 98 had this exact same trunk lip rust as you can see here, being hidden by some duct tape. My dad fixed it, and it was the only place that car ever had rust that I know of. It must be an Olds thing. Speaking of an Olds thing, the company offered the Super 88 one last time for the 1964 model year, and they only came in two models, both with four doors: a Celebrity Sedan and a Holiday Hardtop Sedan as seen here.
The formerly perfect front “Morocceen-and-cloth” and bench seat and SMS Fabrics has matching fabric listed on its site, but I don’t know if they have enough material or if they just have enough for samples. It’s an interesting teal color interior for what appears to be a light blue exterior, sort of like red pants and an orange shirt. I’m wondering if the body color was different at one time? The seller doesn’t mention that; all they say is that it was with the previous owner for over 50 years, and they mention the trunk rust and say there’s a bit in other places. The back seat doesn’t need any matching fabric; it looks perfect. The Holiday Hardtop Sedan had a fold-down armrest in the center of the rear seat.
The engine has a heavy layer of surface rust, no doubt from the humid climate in South Carolina. This is Oldsmobile’s 394-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 330 horsepower standard with an available 345 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. We don’t know which one this is, but it’s backed by a Turbo-Hydramatic, and the seller says it runs and shifts great, and everything works. This looks like a nice example, one that a person could either leave as is and maintain it, or take it to the next level. Which of those would you do with this Super 88?
I prefer the 4 door hartops too Scotty. Great lines. ( Well….. OK I di like the 2 door hardtops as well, but, honestly there’s something about an Olds 4 door hardtop that just appeals to me. As for the rust. The bottom piece of chrome held in moisture unfortunately. My Dad repaired the rust when ours was probably only about 3 years old sadly. Also, the chrome strip on the hood and other pieces pitted when it was new surprisingly. He never knew why. This one is very nice, I’d go all in and faithfully restore the interior if I could. Nice find here Scotty!!!
In case no one noticed the 1276 posts I made previously, our Ninety Eight was a 1970 Model. I forgot to mention that. But I think you get the gist, chrome strip holds in moisture. Rust makes a home in there.
Here’s another in the seemingly endless cavalcade of “grandpas classics”, coming on the scene. Lot of 60s/70s stuff to bolster my claim, all bought new, I bet. I was just talking to my brother about dads Oldsmobiles, a ’63 and a ’65 98s, and he seemed to think one was a Starfire. However, our old man would never have gone for a Starfire, his business partner, however did have one, a ’63 I believe. Most of us here recognize what a magnificent find this is, if you’re over 50(?), that is. I’m not so sure young people want to be seen in a frumpy, OLD Oldsmobile. What is amazing, you never know what is going to show up here. Great find for us old fogies. Seriously, is there anyone here under, say 27, that would like a car like this? (crickets)
Under 27 you say Howard??? What if you’re in you 50’s but your brain still thinks your 27 and work and move like your 27 until you’re body very sternly reminds you of how old you really are???
If that counts, then yes!!! I want it.
4 door cruise missle from the good Dr. Olds. 🏁 👍
My family had a powder blue white top 64 Jetstar 88 which was the same body but decontented trim, the “new for 64” 330 cid thin wall casting V8 and the 2 speed super turbine 300 tranny. My Mom’s favorite although even at 9 years, I felt it was a downgrade from our 63 Starfire. But the Jetstar proved to be a great comfy family car and we traded it for a vista cruiser after 3 years. Our Jetstar was garage stored and regularly simonized and even being a Florida car, the door bottoms rotted away in 3 years. Unlike the Chevy full size, it had a perimeter frame vs the “X” frame.
For what it’s worth, John, I agree with your nine-year-old self: the Starfire was the more impressive car.
When I was 16 and working part-time in a gas station/repair shop, my boss would sometimes let me to use his black ’62 Starfire convertible to “chase” replacement parts for his customers’ cars. Almost 60 years later, I remember it for it’s sleek styling and, perhaps, for being the fastest, most powerful full-sized car I’ve ever driven–and I’ve driven many.
Assuming the decal on the air cleaner is original, this is the 330HP version. The 345HP version would have been labeled “Starfire” instead of “Rocket.”
That is great info, sir, thanks much!
And we always had 2 door cars, including the ’63 Dynamic 88. I always hated having to push the front seat forward to get into the back seat. Always thought, how nice it would be to have your own (rear) door!
Always been odd and continue to keep that tradition.
Four door sedans of this era looked stodgy, but a four door hardtop looks clean without that B pillar. The price is a bargain for this Olds. I would repair the upholstery and deal with the rust later.
Mom had the Dynamic 88 same body same engine same color except top was also blue ours didn’t have duck tape on the trunk lid. I remember mom taking us to school one day and someone in a little Toyota made a left the into the left front of the car dented the fender and broke the emblem the Toyota was almost totaled.
Toyotas had crumple zones before they were required. /s
Lovely looking car. I love 4 door sedans and station wagons. 1962 and 1964 are my favourite years for Oldsmobile.
Very nice indeed. I can still recall
Derwood Kirby selling these on the Gary Moore Show on CBS. In
fact, the image that I conjure up has him sitting in one of these cars and telling you how easy it is to drive and park. In fact, Olds and Cadillac were the most conservative looking cars in the GM lineup that year. Me, I had a ’62 Starfire hardtop with a 394 J2
option on it. And boy was it a beast with those 3 deuces on top of the engine. For a large car, that thing would really fly! 125
MPH was as fast as we drove it after the throttle linkage got stuck on wide open going down
Route 66 near Bloomington in the early ’70s. My parents liked it so much that they took my car on vacation that year while I was on
my first ever tour. If I had the cash, I and someone I trust would be flying in and driving it back to
my place in Florida. Just plug your phone charger into the lighter socket, and you have GPS.
I’ll bet it floats down the road and gobbles up the miles as it goes.
Derwood Kirby, Gary Moore. Oh, the memories . . .
My Father had a 1964 Super 88 sedan. His last car. Wish I had it.
This Olds should have the 3 speed “Slim Jim” Transmission. Oldsmobile didn’t get the Turbo Hydramatic until 65.
Thanks, Marty! I automatically typed “Turbo” there, but you’re right, it should have the Roto-Hydramatic three-speed automatic.
I agree. I don’t understand why GM cars were only offered with 3 spd. manual or a 2 spd. automatic.