- Seller: Evan F (Contact)
- Location: Auburn, California
- Mileage: 42,560 Shown
- Chassis #: F361234
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 213 cui Flathead Inline-6
- Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
The 1930s saw a marked shift in automobile appearance as manufacturers began focusing on aerodynamic efficiency. Oldsmobile was no exception, with legendary designer Harley Earl wielding his pen on the company’s new F-Series range. This 1936 Olds F-36 is a perfect example of that approach and is in remarkable condition for a survivor that has hibernated for forty-five years. The current owner recently revived this gem, and it needs only minor work to be considered genuinely roadworthy. However, the time has come to slim his collection, leading him to list the F-36 exclusively with us at Barn Finds with an asking price of $9,500.
Oldsmobile’s F-Series range first hit showroom floors in 1928, with a substantially updated Second Generation released in 1933. Greater emphasis was placed upon better integrating items like the headlamps into the smoother shape, while the curved grille cut through the air more efficiently than its predecessor. This F-36 left the line in 1936, appearing to wear what could be its original Glyndon Green paint. Its lack of significant panel imperfections and absence of penetrating rust would make a cosmetic refresh fairly straightforward. Alternatively, liberal use of a high-end polish and treating the visible surface corrosion would allow the buyer to preserve this Olds as a proud survivor. Either approach is valid and would ensure that this classic turns heads wherever it goes. The bumpers would benefit from a trip to the platers, but the remaining trim and the glass look pretty nice.
Oldsmobile’s Second Generation F-Series range received a few welcome upgrades compared to its predecessor. The engine was still a flathead six, but with the capacity increased from 197 to 213ci, it placed a very healthy 90hp at the driver’s command when this car rolled off the line. A three-speed manual transmission fed the power to the rear wheels, with stopping power provided by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The owner confirms that this F-36 hibernated from 1980 until 2025. He recently revived the car, confirming that it runs and yard drives. He discovered a hairline crack in the cylinder head during the replacement of the head gasket, indicating that the buyer may need to source another head. Other tasks awaiting the buyer include cleaning the gas tank, replacing the tires, and bleeding the brakes. However, with that short list complete, this beauty will be genuinely roadworthy.
This Oldsmobile’s interior is complete and comfortably accommodates five people. I am particularly drawn to the dash, which features some beautiful and quite subtle Art Deco touches. The front seat sports a slipcover, but the remaining upholstered surfaces appear original and in good condition for their age. Performing a deep clean may improve the appearance without costing a fortune. Otherwise, the wheel is crack-free, and the interior is comfortably serviceable in its current form.
When you scrutinize the new cars on display in showrooms today, it is interesting to pause for a moment to consider how many of those vehicles will still be around in another ninety years. This 1936 Oldsmobile F-36 is only a few months away from achieving that milestone, and the indications are that it could easily repeat that feat. It represents a fairly straightforward restoration for enthusiasts seeking a first project candidate, although it would command equal respect if preserved as a genuine survivor. Regardless of which approach you may be considering, the asking price represents an affordable entry into the world of classic car ownership. That makes this Olds worth serious consideration.
I don’t know why – maybe it’s the cool green (original?) color and the fastback styling – but I really LIKE this car.
Did anyone see “ A Christmas Story”? I believe this was the car that the old man drove. O fudge.
I think the one in ” A Christmas Story ” was a four door.
I really like that, and I think that it’s a fair price too. Looks in really good nick for its age, and the front end – without the bumper fitted – has something about the lower metalwork that reminds me of a Lancia or an Alfa. Just in the curves and how they fit together, I think.
It would be nice candidate to refurbished daily driver. I would love to…
Here’s another, this car sat ( inside) for more than that. Anchors Aweigh in 1941, and never came back. It’s entirely possible to put 42K on in 5 years, but I doubt this car moved since then. A nice find, got resto-mod plastered all over it, but that’s okay too. Anyone know what that canister thing is behind the horns?
More than likely it was a little old couples car that didnt drive much , as opposed to an unfortunate soldier killed during the war – My mothers old Rambler was in our family from 1968 to 2001 , and in that time it only had 68k on it ; for most of its life it went out once every other week for groceries and didnt start racking miles up until my sister got an after school job and my mom had to take her to and back from work
The Christmas Story car was a ’37 Olds.
My buddy Stu at Patterson Brothers turned one of these into the “Turtle” in the 90’s
From the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon
Chopped and sectioned
Radical modifications
Big hit in the NY custom car scene
I bet it’s got that good old car smell.
It’s a shame about the cylinder head. Because of that, I would be tempted to replace the engine with a 292 Chevy 6 cylinder. And maybe a T5 5 speed transmisdion. Clean up the rest and drive it. Just keep it looking stock. What a great car! Good luck to the seller!
Cylinder head on a flathead is a glorified lid. Any competent welder can easily repair it.
This IS your father’s oldsmobile. This would be a simple project, fix or replace the head and a tune up. Refresh the paint, and interior, new brakes, tires, battery, etc.. It would make a great driver for not a lot of money.
Like Howard I’d like to know what the canister is. My guess would be that it’s a vacuum tank. This is a great project with lots of potential. GLWTS.
The old man’s car in Christmas story was a f37 1937 suicide 4 door. Very cool cars but not my choice of car.peace!
That canister behind the horns has a threaded conection, maybe a 1/4 inch that you could screw in a tube into, and it has a cap on top that looks like you could unscrew to fill it with something. So what is it ???
And the casting on the top looks like the other half is missing as it looks as though there was a diaphragm in between the halfs. The “filler” cap is another puzzle. Some kind of shifting servo? Hudsons had “Drivemaster” shifting assist. But I only remember it using vacuum assist. Nothing hydraulic. I belive it was some type of accessory shifting assist. There has to be an OLD Oldsmobile guy out here somewhere. Please help our puzzlement!
It does look like half a fuel pump on top of the canister – almost for sure a diaphragm in there but what moves the diaphragm ? The canister looks tight enough to pump up, but for what?
Sharp!
90 HP is very impressive for a flathead 6 of that size and era!
I wish I had 9500 I could see. My grandson and me cruising this beauty
Canister may have held the fluid for the hydraulic brakes. I see nothing else to fullfill that requirement.
Kenn, I looked up the brake-master cylinder for the F-36 and it is the typical for the era, sealed w/a cap, unit that mounts under the floor boards on the frame, so I doubt the canister is for the brakes. I’ll continue to research what it might be. G
(a few days later…) Perhaps it is a windshield washer reservoir and pump?
To the good, it is all steel “Turret Top”, and all steel framing, no canvas over wood slats insert. To the good, at least to me, it is a slant back, not a hump back. I really like it for an everyday 30’s car.
In the early 1980s I was between cars, and found a 1936 4dr Chrysler with a rebuilt straight 8cylfor sale $2,200. All new front end parts also, in boxes. Everything original paint interior, bud vases, it ran great. Mom said she would lend me the money. I thought different knowing that it would be my only car…just not practical for modern freeways and zoomie little compacts!
When you google 36 olds there’s no sign of a canister like the one here. I think its an after market gadget to increase oil pressure ( this is my guess ) . I’m open to other guesses/opinions. Whatda you think?