Get in touch with your inner Bonnie and Clyde with this slightly sinister-looking 1936 Oldsmobile Six two-door coupe for sale here on craigslist in Parkersburg, West Virginia for $6,500. OK, Bonnie and Clyde were Ford people but this black coupe with running boards makes you think of The Untouchables, Elliot Ness and all of the gangster-themed movies set in the late thirties. But, had the crime couple had more upscale aspirations, they may have been very happy with an Oldsmobile. Special thanks to Barn Finds reader Matt H for the tip!
By 1936 Oldsmobile sales were on the rise after faltering severely during the darkest days of the Great Depression. Their body designs were more streamlined than other GM divisions and Olds offered both six cylinder and eight cylinder engines in inline configurations. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes and knee action front suspension rounded out the advanced engineering features in these cars.
This 1936 Six Coupe is claimed to be a “Fresh barn find” and that it has been in dry storage, but for how long we aren’t told. The exterior photos show a car that has been used as intended for many years. Small dents and scratches are evident and there is some rust bubbling around the trunk opening. The glass is foggy and one pane is shattered but since it is flat, it shouldn’t be difficult to replace. The exterior chrome is in fair condition with the bumpers looking the worst.
The interior is a bit lacking in upholstery with mostly springs visible where a seating surface should be. The floors that we can see appear to be solid, but they do not have any kind of covering. The streamlined styling touch applies to the dashboard as well with a lot of attention to detail in the trim around the gauges and the ornamented center controls. As a bonus, there is a footlocker in the front seat that looks like it could contain some spare parts. Always a good thing!
Power comes from a 213 cubic inch straight six-cylinder flathead engine producing 90 horsepower with drive sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed floor shifted transmission. The seller says that the car runs but there are no other details provided. A restoration might be out of the question but I think it would make a cool rat rod.
I would not rat this car well I wouldn’t do that to any car. But I would mildly customize it. For starters restoring an interior is very costly but four matching leather seats in good condition could be had for a fraction of the price. Remake your own door panels. And head liners are surprisingly easy to sew together. As for the engine I’d restore it as well as the transmission. Brakes i’d upgrade to disc. We need to stop as fast as the new cars out there. I’d rematch as closely as possible they wheel with more modern ones and reuse the hub caps its the only way you’ll get the disc callipers in there. I’d repaint with single stage glose paint and I’d base coat clear coat the bumpers metallic silver. Which work pretty well with the rest of the bright work as it is all stainless steel and won’t shine like new chrome anyways. I’ve done or will do all of these things to my dodge and as a reusult of being a good scrounger and DIY guy may materials cost have yet to exceed $4k. With my projected total not going over $5k. If you can get this cheep enough you could have a very cool car for under $8k. Of course this just my opinion but I have succeeded in doing this plan of action on my car. I refer to it as a simpathetic restoration with some custom touches.
This method of restoration is “Pooh-poohed” by the AACA crowd, but it is rapidly becoming the only way a car like this can possibly stay on the road. If it’s between this and restomodding or ratrodding, I vote for this. When you are done, you can get most of your money back when selling.
The market for pre-war cars is dying as fast as the folks who remember driving them are. The only buyers for cars like this are going to resto-mod them, or drop the body onto a modern chassis.
Not sure I completely agree with you, Evan. I started out in the hobby longing for the Camaros and Mustang fastbacks that my friends had. As I got older the ’50s and early ’60s cars started to appeal to me. Now, I lust after a stock late ’30s coupes as do several of my similarly aged friends. Each decade back you go the more the driving experience is enhanced by increased driver involvement with the vehicle. You can drop an LT1 into just about any car. Not sure why you’d pick a ’30s body to do that when there are a lot of cars more suited to higher speed and driver comfort.
I only have one question.
What ate the interior and is it still in the car 😱
Offhand, I’d say 65-70 years of rats, mice, raccoons, and other assorted vermin. This Olds has sat, (I’d estimate) at least since the late 40s. Easy.
Time alone is pretty cruel just by itself.
Good looking, like virtually every GM car from about 1934 to 1940.
In time, these 1930s cars will have Tesla drives. Their size makes an electric motor no problem with so much space for batteries. A car like this with a Tesla large (or even small drive at 250hp) drive with a standard battery pack (or with a standard + ) batter pack would be a hell of a sweet ride good for more than 300 miles. Gen 3 charging in less than 1 hour and BOOM! You have a car for another 80 years.
I think this is a sedan, right?
Yes, this is a sedan.
IDK, that suitcase is a bit creepy. If The Untouchables taught me anything, it was shoot 1st, ask questions later.( and ditch the car in a barn) These are the “before” photos of a resto-mod.
Is a 2 DOOR SEDAN, not a coupe. I believe that it still has wood framework in body, 36 was the last year. Nice car though.
Oldsmobile called it a coupe. – – http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Oldsmobile/1936_Oldsmobile/1936%20Oldsmobile%20Brochure/1936%20Oldsmobile-04.html
What most now consider “coupes” Olds called a Business Coupe or a Club Coupe. I agree that this is a 2-door sedan regardless of what Olds literature called it.
8 Grand x4. A 4 passenger 2 door coupe
If you use the horn does it go backwards?
“Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man.”
Old Man (in background): “That son of a b***h would freeze up in the middle of summer on the equator!”
I guess everyone’s old man had similar colorful phrases. Mine, who had a ’38 Buick in the 50’s, called it a “#!&**# Runnin’ Piece O’ Plunder!”
Why would a restoration be out of the question? McDonald’s opinion that it would make a cool rat-rod really disqualifies him from being a Barn Finds editor, the least Barn Finds should do is to encourage the restoration and preservation of historical vehicles. This one is solid, complete, great body, there is no reason to not consider a restoration.
The best reason why this WILL be resto-modded, is because, like Evan said above, interest for this type of car is waning. Younger generations have no connection to this car, but boy howdy, they sure know what an LT1 is and they want it to go 130 mph, not 54 mph, like this car was designed to do. While I’m not a fan of resto-mods, at least they are saving an old car like this, that normally would have little interest.
If interest in antique cars and restoration is waning, that’s really sad. That will result in the destruction of all of our historical artifacts. Most places in the United States have speed limits that other than the interstate, are around 55MPH. This car would be perfect for going on family outings, car shows, to Dairy Queen. Saving our original automotive heritage should mean something, even to “young generations” .
A good shop can update into realy nice restorod and turn a far larger return than a full restoration, IMO.
Was a time quality labor for a full time repair and restore one owner shop was plentiful, but even auto trade grads while they know electronics they are more remove and repace, and dumb as rocks when anything not in mauals arise.
Forget imagination and innovation, and went wages of unreasonable rates.
No ideas of cost/profits ratio, can blame TV car shows and auction pricing.
Progress????¿¿¿¿¿
Why does one have to look at every project with making a ton of money? Why not enjoy a project for the satisfaction of bringing back history?
Duany: never got that either.
I blame all the car porn on TV and the airing of car auctions on a regular basis. They distort the market and encourage speculators and flippers.
A lot of great modest opportunities are overlooked by this dollar chasing crowd, thankfully.
This car is one of them.
Nothing I have done to my cars was with an eye on turning a profit, but to improve them, refurbish,bring them back and keep them on the road.
I have never regretted a dime spent because the return in pleasure can’t be quantified.
Not every bloody vehicle needs to be a Barrett Jackson star.
I would agree with Duaney that many vehicles ARE built, modified or restored for the sense of satisfaction and love of history, And thats why I volunteer with a local car & MC museum, but to disqualify the editor because you disagree with his write up??? Thats just narcissism and lame.
To be fair, when restoring one of my projects i vent, rant and complain when some one parts out, or customizes a better example than mine. But not everything can be saved or practical to save. Plus there is a LOT of orphan parts out there and good use of materials is folks who build something cool out of old parts that would be scrap otherwise. I disagree with the aging out BS, It IS correct that you may be old and crotchety, but that does NOT mean young people dont find this stuff interesting and cool. The problem is the gap between the ages, but while old and crotchety myself I try to support and hang out with young folks who do pursue this stuff and they ARE out there, but most likely you wont like their looks, how they dress or their music either.
But the interest is strong… lots of young folks signing up for welding classes, metal work, auto body and paint,, We offered a english wheel class and it filled up in 2 days.
I have multiple prewar coupes and sold off some over the last few years (each was sold to people UNDER 40 and the 37 Pontiac went to a kid in his 20s) But none of mine are worth restoration, so rat rods they are…. cool pieces of iron full of bullet holes and character. Dragged one with my tractor to the neighbors car show and posted a sign “Work in progress” and pulled more people and pix takers than the shiny $50,000 show cars,,,, “Keep away kids! You might get tetanus!”
A national forum like Barn Finds should encourage restoration and preservation of our automotive heritage. Nothing to do with I’m only thinking of myself, I’m thinking of we should preserve history for everyone. There are many groups and institutions devoted to restoring and preserving buildings, artwork, bridges, and other cultural icons.
Lighten up Francis! (Duaney)
Once again, you need to see the big picture, your views are singularly narrow, I hate to tell you but sheer force of will you cannot force the world around you to conform to your whims and desires! Just because YOU see things a certain way does not mean its the status quo and it would be very helpful if you can at least accept that others may have different views and opinions.
I am in and have been in a lot of car and motorcycle clubs and this sort of attitude is far too common. Its basic human nature to want or like what is similar to you and comfortable, however its not comfortable or pleasing to others. & THAT is exactly why many organizations are failing, Many of the clubs I am in seem perplexed that there is large groups of people under 30 playing with vintage vehicles but wont join or support clubs that are in place.
In our local vintage bike club there is several people who have run off a LOT of our members in the 30 yrs I have been a member,,
I love restoring and preserving history, and that is WHY I volunteer, teach and organize events, but the world is not one dimensional and neither should you or anyone else. Try to be a little more accepting and I am sure it will pay huge dividends!
Thats why I LOVE the BilletProof shows,, everything from stock to customs are accepted & Celebrated!
See: https://billetproof.com/
Maybe see you in Antioc in Sept???
Same deal with the young guys running The ONE motoshow! (I have the deepest respect and admiration for Thor Drake and his crew, simply one of the years BEST events!)
See: http://the1moto.com/
the concept is simple with the 1show,, “What is the ONE machine that defines it for you?” That could be a wild custom or a perfectly restored 1940 Triumph Speedtwin like my friend Toms…
Heres my car show entry!! Its a 39 Dodge coupe,, Dont mind the chevelle parts sitting on it, I am dropping trees on our farm so moving around machinery and projects, I also have a 39 Plymouth coupe. God Bless America.! I was debating taking one to our cabin and setting it up as an art piece in the front yard with a big American flag pole,, its not junk! Its ART! God Bless America!
( I think its county code that every farm around here has at least one chevy up on blocks in the yard,, I have 2!, 68 & 69 Chevelles!)
Who there don’t know the difference between a coupe and sedan?
They’ve never been called “post” anything for one.
Heritage?
As symbols of automotive history some are icons and then there were no more than a utilitarian transportation.
How many buy and restore to keep old horse and oxen pulled wagons.
Our grand parents bought, used (Used up) and then tossed them aside,
Restoring, is not a poormans hobby, and as to heritage collecting has beenaround for very few years, think barn and weed storage and then forgotten..
In my youth we found and got whatever make up and running, or as hot rod material.
As to muscle cars how many actually owned top of litters, damn few and that period was a mere 15 years.
There are vast numbers of older cars and trucks running glass fenders, bodys,with newer frames, he’ll damn near every 20-30 barnfind ends up as Bonds and newer fillers with aftermarket panels.
How many youths can afford these restored autos, work for pay on others yes, but own, maybe during their midlife crisis.
Muscle cars were manufacturing products, great advertising ploys, one performer for thousands of common run of mill.
It was the speed at first and during dead years fluff that was built on the cheap.
Lets not kid ourselves barn finds is a big dollar trip and sooner than later they will be gone, so we buy and hoping to turn a profit later sell.
Restoring old autos is no high tech feat, old style craftsmanship yes.
Work ethic, sorry but IMO, mostly thing of past.
Still though in no small part of of old auto scene is about the last bastion of personal initiative and imaginative thinking , a heritage of that old American enterprising spirit.
I hope the ” thing” that ate the interior is not in your Bentley..lol. Being a 1936 and needing a complete ground up reatoration that’s a little bit pricey but all older cars should be brought back to brand new. They don’t make them the way they used to.
Just want to share a few picts of my project ’35 olds 2 door 5 pers coupe.
A barn find from Sweden.
I’m restoring it to original. Personaly I like restoring.
Although.. since I’ve done this a few times. I start to get curious about these restomods/ rad rods. Not common here in Holland, at all.
’35 olds barn find fom Sweden .. In Holland.
This is one of my favorite years and brands. I’d restore it to as-new looking but with mechanical modifications so it would be capable of being used in today’s traffic.
Well I sure would like o have this to tinker on. Dad had one years ago. I have a picture him holding my brother on his lap sitting on the bumper. I,d try to restore it and drive it. Who needs a big gas guzzeling motor. That you can,nt buy good gas to run in it? Not me. Ethanol gas has ruint alot of good motors and parts. Get caught going 90 and you loose your operators,plus your insurance goes up. Not counting you may have a accident that might cost someones life. I,d re-do everything . Make it safe and dependable and drive it. I wonder if the guy still has it?