If you didn’t buy a new car in 1942, you had to wait until 1946. That’s because of World War II and the need for U.S. automakers to focus on producing equipment needed by the military, not John Q. Public. Before car production temporarily ceased, only half as many Oldsmobiles were built in 1942 compared to the year before, like the seller’s Special Club Coupe. A beautiful vehicle that has collected several awards, more info is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds. It’s also listed here on eBay and is located in Polk City, Florida for $19,500.
Oldsmobile marketers boasted that their early 1940 cars were “built to last”, but they probably weren’t thinking 80 years out. The Special Club Coupe was a 2-door sedan offered in the Series 66 portfolio, complete with a six-cylinder engine (an inline-8 was in the Series 68 cars). Some 3,800 copies of the I-6 edition were built like this black beauty which has older restoration written all over it. The seller says this vehicle was the subject of a Hemmings article and we assume this is it. But that was published six years ago, and the antique tag contains a different number, so perhaps it has changed hands in the interim.
If this is the same car, its engine has been rebuilt twice. And the owner in the article acquired the automobile in 1989 so whatever work has been done was likely on his/her watch. And, because of the passage of time, other repairs may have included a makeover of the fuel delivery system. The current odometer reading is 81,000 miles and we suspect every one of that has been enjoyed. It’s said to be a solid runner that should be ready to go at a minute’s notice.
If you’re looking for a nice post-war vehicle where the heavy lifting has been done to keep it in that kind of condition, this Olds might be it. The buyer will get to tote home all of its trophies, maintenance records, and some spare parts for down the road. Unlike the cars of today, these machines are relatively simple to operate and take care of.
Beautiful car with a vapor lock issue. I would assume this came with a heat shield under the carburetor like most did. I doubt the insulation on the rubber fuel line helps much.
Wow! A car even older than me! 🎵 Come and ride 🎶
with me 🎵Lucille 🎶 in my 🎵 merry Oldsmobile! Every body loves ❤ Lucille. 😉 Hope someone will RANSOM this beauty!
” This is not your Father’s Oldsmobile ?” Sounds like part of an old Oldsmobile ad from long ago ! That’s an extremely RARE year with only a small number of vehicles produced for 1942 . It’s probably safe to assume that very few even exist today some 80 + years later , making these Oldsmobiles even rarer. Surely , this one will find a new home and show up at future auto shows ! Happy Motoring
Looks like mid-40s Chevrolet tail lights …
This is a prewar vehicle.
The US declared war with Japan on December 8,1941. The 1942 US car model year was still very young. I consider 1942 US cars to be neither “prewar” OR “postwar”, just “war”. In other words- A unique year in US car history.
If someone who is ignorant puts the 10% ethanol blend in older cars like this, then vapor lock is a certainty. Luckily, pure gas is available in some areas.
The war started in 1938, so this is a during the war vehicle. well, for Canadians at least.
Nice car but I always thought the 42 was a step back for Oldsmobile; the 41 was one of GM’s most attractive designs.
how many pedals?
If it IS the car from the old Hemmings article, Then it has 2 pedals (Hydra-Matic).
Beautiful rare Oldsmobile. As an Oldsmobile lover, who has several newer versions, if I had the room it would be in my garage.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the ’42s — they made such a limited number of them. The 1946-’48 cars were warmed-over ’42s, for the most part, with the art-deco styling-touches and earth-toned interiors left behind. Still, the modernity, combined with art-deco, which made the 1942s uniquely interesting, also rendered them as something of “odd ducks” on the roads. 1941 models were all over the place, as were ’39s and ’40s — and after the War, ’47s and ’48s. 1946s were somewhat less often seen, and ’42s were uncommon enough to get noticed. Then everything flipped-over in 1949! But 1942s are fun — and it’s nice to see folks preserving them.
Well Harrison, I’m sending my thoughts on this old “Olds”. I’m 78 yrs old now, but just before I entered the first grade in Boulder City, Nevada this was a car my dad had. Thought it was the ugliest car then as well as now. It was very good to us then and brought us from New Jersey to Nevada and remained the family car for years. Outside of being ugliest car I’ve had to ride in, something happened to the hood 9It few up and over the car so my dad replaced it with a blue hood! Oh Gosh, how awful I felt being dropped off at school ! Long time ago. Funny what we never forget.
In retrospect to the vapor lock issue..this would not and is not to a problem as with the gas formulation of today..there are sources out there that have 6 volt electric fuel pumps available..These cars are made to drive.not sit a be gawked at .If you don’t want to endure the adventure of driving the nostalgic vintage iron…by an EV ..It’s like like buying a dead horse.. Buy it, drive it, enjoy it..Life is too short not too!!!
A face only a mother could love, this is as ugly as the 42 Continental
Fun Fact: The 1946+”frown” that would be an Oldsmobile grille for the next near decade was a cost cutting move (fewer parts, easier to share stampings with Buick..) I agree that Lincoln’s “jukebox” grille was not right for the Zephyr body, But this grille is fine for a 1942 Oldsmobile. I like it, AND it’s not “aping” any other GM car.
Hello, Al! Sorry I missed your musings on being a boy in one of these. I never saw them as being ugly — but that’s me. That front grille was a bit odd — and Olds must have thought so, too, since they totally re-worked their ‘nose” for 1946. I am Autistic, so I am oblivious to what others think of what I wear or what I ride in or drive. My father had a 1939 Packard at the time, and my mother had a 1942 Nash. When the Nash needed a muffler, she traded it in on a 1948 Plymouth. My father tradad the 1939 Packard in on a 1951 Packard, which was a rather drastic change! My mother’s cousin had a 1940 Ford Standard with one taillamp and a 60hp V-8 (I think) that couldn’t get out of its own way: Riding in that car was like a sensation of always having the brakes on. She was a school-tracher in Greenwich, Connecticut — and we lived in Scarsdale, not all that far away. There were lots of open and rural areas in Westchester County, then. As I remember it, the Oldsmobile was one of the more common ’42s. I liked the 1942 DeSoto with those black-out head-lamps hidden into their front fenders.