42k Mile Survivor: 1949 Oldsmobile 88

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?