While the Pontiac GTO may be considered by some auto enthusiasts as the first widely billed genuine U.S. Muscle car, others who think further back might give that nod to the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 instead. The Olds doesn’t necessarily look the part on the outside, nor does it boast the same sort of attitude as a goat, but putting a high-compression V8 under the hood of an intermediate-sized car with a lightweight body here was undoubtedly one of the early examples of an automobile that featured this concept. This 1949 Oldsmobile 88 remains highly original all these decades later, with the seller even deeming it a survivor. This one is in St. Paul, Minnesota, and can be spotted here on Facebook Marketplace, where the seller has posted what sounds like a reasonable $14,000 asking price. We’d like to thank reader T.J. for finding this 88 and sending in the tip!
Introduced as a 1949 model, the Oldsmobile 88 caused quite a stir in the racing community, as it featured a new 303-cubic-inch V8 known as the Rocket 88. A horsepower rating of 135 doesn’t sound like much nowadays, but it was a pretty high number in the late forties, especially for a car considered relatively small for the period. It also transformed Oldsmobile from a brand with a mostly conservative image to one associated with performance, with the 88 becoming a consistent winner in the NASCAR circuit. The seller says this one’s only traveled 42,000 miles, and the engine is reportedly running like a top after recent service by a professional mechanic.
For a vehicle as original as this one is said to be, it would be helpful to have more background information, such as ownership history or the reasons this Olds still looks so good after more than 75 years. However, the photos seem to support the owner’s claim that the sedan shows little to no rust on the panels, although the paint is stated to have a couple of rock chips. Fortunately, this one still remains in exceptionally nice overall condition outside, and I wouldn’t even consider doing anything to jeopardize the only original once status here.
Most of the components inside are also well-preserved, with the condition reflecting a car that’s been properly cared for over many decades, and a good indication that the low mileage reading is probably accurate as well. I’m feeling that prolonged preservation is the goal here, with a focus on keeping this first-year Oldsmobile 88 as original as it can be for as long as possible. What do you think?
“Let me introduce you to my Rocket ’88
Yes, it’s great, just won’t wait
Everybody likes my Rocket ’88.” Not only is the 88 possibly the first muscle car but the song immortalizing it by Ike Turner is possibly the first true rock and roll song. I like this car, too bad it’s not a coupe.
Great song reference. I’ve heard the same thing about that being one of the first Rock and Roll tunes from the early 50’s. These early Olds Eighty Eights must’ve impressed a lot of folks.
Certainly impressed me as a ’49 engine and hydromatic trans went into my ’53 Studebaker coupe, with modifications to both of course. The only ’49 car I ever drove years later impressed how quick it was for a big car. That 4 speed trans really got it moving.
I would not want a coupe: FOUR DOORS for ME, Baby!
Easier to get into the back seat at the drive-in movies.
First off, great find here T.J. and a great write up too Mike. Whether this early Rocket Olds is all original or not, I wouldn’t change a thing, other than perhaps period correct white wall tires somewhere along the line. It’s in amazingly preserved condition inside and out, and must have been garage kept since new. This was somebodys baby for sure. And I agree, the HP doesn’t sound like a lot, but in 1949, it absolutely was. If it was hooked up tk a 3 speed stick or 4 speed Hydramatic, these I’m sure took off very well ( I’ve read Hydramatics had a good low first gear) a d I’m sure surprised a few other brands for sure. Hope it goes to a good new home and gets the same care It’s received all these years.
That’s a question for the ages, what was the 1st factory muscle car? Some cars from the 30s certainly qualified, but at the time, not the car makers intent. It wasn’t until the hooligans returned from Dubja, Dubja 2, der, that V8s were the rule, and Olds was one who offered it to the masses 1st. I was surprised to learn, while the car itself was never actually called the “Rocket 88”, the 88( a 76 with a V8) became synonymous with speed. It was the motor called “Rocket 88”, not the car. Sure gave the Hudsons a run, and eventually proved, the V8 was here to stay. Olds had a short fling with that, as by the mid 50s, all companies had V8s, and in much lighter cars, and Olds fell back to its luxury roots, until the 80s. Olds dominated drag racing for a spell, but that was it. While the ending of GM cars was troubling,( Pontiac, Saab, Hummer) the Olds cancellation was the biggest hit in the gut. For shame,,,all hail the Olds 88!!
While you made many good points, I would have to respectfully opine that the biggest gut punch was the cancellation of the Pontiac. I liked the Poncho styling in the 50s much better than the Olds (although they were very similar), and the Le Mans, GTO and 2+2 separated Pontiac from the rest.
Regardless of one’s preference, it’s certainly sad to see GM’s downfall.
Oh, that was a sad day, too, John. Oldsmobile was all over the place, while Pontiac seemed to stay true to its roots until the bitter end. I liked the Pontiacs too, and seemed, Olds/Buick attracted a different crowd than Chevy/Pontiac.
I was of the impression that the first factory hot rod was the Buick Century of the pre-WW2 and post-Korea eras. The ’30s models had the huge Roadmaster engine stuffed into the smaller Special chassis and they would hit (ta-da!) a hundred miles an hour, hence the name. And who can forget tough-talking Broderick Crawford in “Highway Patrol” and his ’55 Century?
To have resurrected the name for the witless suppository of the later iteration was to piddle on the graves of the former ones.
Certainly the motor and transmission in this car cemented Oldsmobile’s reputation for years to come. This one is a beauty.
What a wonderful find!!!!! Thanks for the great write up. At $14k it is an excellent vehicle to enter the classic car hobby. Looks like it is turnkey, so just fire it up and enjoy cruising to the ice cream stand on Sat night..
This is a gem! Cars & coffee? No way! Ice cream? Nope! This is a road car. Start with short runs locally to assure reliability, then put this magnificent Olds on the road! Load the fishing gear, camping equipment and even perhaps a small wagon to haul gear for longer jaunts! Yes, running it deteriorates it, but what a way to enjoy a sweet car in the mountains, rivers & lakes! As constantly related here, the market is drying up for these, I am a decade younger than this unit, so I would run it! Properly cared for on the road it has many years left on the road, not kept in a garage and only taken out for 2 mile drives, worst thing for a roadworthy car!
clean 88.i bet you could get it for 10k
WOW ~ this thing is identical to the one I had in 1964, other than the fact that mine was all one color, the same grey as the top on this one, and mine showed a lot more use and wear. Sure the new big block cars were faster, but it was surprisingly quick for being so old. I remember the 8 volt battery in it ~ the previous owner had problems with the 6 volt system being too weak for easy starting, especially in cold weather, so he had a mechanic install an 8 volt battery and adjust the voltage regulator to keep it charged. It worked. I really liked that car.
I am in love.. holy moly what a beautiful car! I’m with BIll, Id love to take her out and cruse down back country roads, and even cross country.
IMNSHO, the first muscle car was the 1936 Buick Century. Buick put their 320 Cubic inch straight eight into a lightweight body. The Century was capable of 100 MPH.
Beautiful car! Actually the Buick Century in the mid to late 30’s was the 1st affordable performance car that the average person could buy. It had the big Roadmaster engine in the smaller Special body. It was called the Century because it was one of the few cars back then that could do 100 MPH.