Sometimes luck just smiles on you when it comes to cars. While some of the cars we feature have engines that are completely locked up due to improper storage, many more are a long way from starting due to other forms of neglect. Most commonly, gasoline has gone bad from the tank to the carburetor. Luckily for the seller of this this gorgeous 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Coupe, found for sale on eBay in Grand Junction, Colorado, the car fired up and ran smooth after 37 long years of indoor storage. With a little help, of course. Those years of protection will obviously pay off for some lucky buyer. This dreamboat is currently being offered for a starting bid of $12,500. Thanks go to reader Ikey Heyman for tipping us off!
To be fair, the seller replaced all of the hoses and rebuilt the carburetor first. No mention was made of refurbishing or replacing the gas tank or fuel lines. Still, the clues lead you to believe that this car was stored correctly with a drained fuel system and oil drenching the cylinders. The story on this car is that the previous owner was forced to take the car in a package deal for a 1954 Oldsmobile convertible. Having no interest in this car, it was unceremoniously shoved into a corner of a storage building. After sitting for all those 37 years, the previous owner died a month ago. A nephew ended up with the car, but sadly has placed it on the market.
Perhaps the nephew has no idea what a fantastic gift this car is. Both the 88 model line and the famous Rocket V-8 engine debuted in 1949, and quickly became a top seller for Oldsmobile. In 1950, the Holiday body style was added to appease customers looking for a “hardtop coupe.” This was a styling gimmick where as much glass as possible was used to make a coupe have the open and airy feel of a convertible. Oldsmobile’s innovations paid off both on the sales floor and in NASCAR in 1950. Oldsmobile managed to win 10 of 19 races in the Grand National Division and Hershel McGriff managed to snag an outright win in the Carerra Panamericana road race through Mexico.
Going back to this particular car, the body and interior are in excellent shape for their age. The seller tells us that there is one noticeable older repair on the driver’s side of the car. We are also told of some rust through in the lower rear portion of the trunk. Other than that, the car looks tip top. The pictures can be confusing though. The Ivy Green Metallic paint looks quite shiny in some pictures, yet looks dull from a different angle. A talented detailer could likely make this finish quite presentable. The chrome and stainless trim is also very useable. Spots of rust on the front bumper seem to be the only real issue that might need to be dealt with.
There is also a bit of work needed inside. Tears in the driver’s seat and the disintegration of the material covering the package tray warrant a trip to the upholsterer. A stout detailing of the rest of the upholstery might bring the rest of the interior back to life. The vinyl used to upholster 1950s cars is usually tough stuff. One major disadvantage is that the seller removed the carpet in the car to display the near perfect floors. Too bad we never got to see if it was salvageable.
In the expansive engine compartment rests the legendary Oldsmobile Rocket 88 V-8 engine. Displacing 303 cubic inches and putting out a stout (for the time) 135 horsepower, this engine arguably started the postwar V-8 craze among customers. Soon after this engine hit the market, manufacturers were scrambling to come up with their own V-8s. Automotive historians could even argue that the inability of a few smaller manufacturers to offer V-8s in a timely manner killed their companies before they even knew it. At any rate, the engine bay is mostly clean and doesn’t seem to be missing any major parts. The inline plastic filter leading to the world’s wildest carburetor and air filter assembly alludes to a little more of a contaminated fuel problem than the seller has disclosed though.
It is hard not to get excited about this Oldsmobile. The condition is spectacular, the styling is gorgeous, and you probably couldn’t find a better car to do classic car tours in. Buyers went bananas over these cars in the early 1950s, and they still pack a lot of appeal today.
What price do you think it will sell for?
Hard to speculate on the price it will sell for. The asking price seams to be fair but also at the top end of value. As much as I like early 50’s cars I also know they’re not the big money cars especially in 2018 even though this car needs some work it is not far from a driver. All I want know is why don’t I have an uncle that will leave me a cool old car like this. I’d keep it and do what ever it needed to fix it up and then I’d drive it. The truth is if I had to pick it would be the 54 convertable that would be sitting in the corner.
Just beautiful worth every penny
Nice car and worth every penny he’s asking, but where are the fender skirts?
The car doesn’t look right to me without
them. But that’s minor compared to the
rest of the car, which to me looks road
ready. Would love to fly in and drive this
back to my home in Florida. Since i suffer from Empty Wallet Syndrome,
however, I’ll have to pass. Great story
Jeff, nice find Ikey!
No Fender Skirts!!!
I was coming back from an away basketball game in high school, with a car full of boys in my 389 Pontiac with 4 speed. One of these pulled up next to us at a stop sign and revved its engine, wanting to race.
The guys in my car were yelling “Race him Bob, race him!”
So I started revving my engine!
the light went green and the Olds flew off.
I just sat there for a second and then slowly pulled away. I guess I was the only one that saw the cop in the gas station.
As I passed the Olds at a leisurely rate, he gave me kind of a dirty look!
I wonder what’s happening with the photo of the drivers upper door and hood in one pic on the dealer’s ad. That can’t be the professional repair.
nice…..
Not bad for an almost 70 year old car. A little TLC and it should be a good runner, something you can take to the car show or ice cream parlor.
As rare as these cars are and what these and t their other counterparts by GM bring now days if it were in my stable it would not leave for less than 25k Might not be worth it but most all old cars aren’t.
Quote: In 1950, the Holiday body style was added to appease customers looking for a “hardtop coupe.”
No, the body style was for those who wanted a “hardtop convertible,” because when the windows were rolled down there was no B pillar, just like a convertible with its top up. A coupe has a hard top, but also has a B-pillar “post” and a frame around the door windows. The hardtop is much cleaner looking with its windows rolled down than a coupe is.
Step aside you so-called “Barnfind classic” 956, Vette and 80’s wanna be’s ……a real car just showed up! This car is spot on and the green/white combo takes it to another level for me. Love the 49-52 GM body style. An Olds in this condition at the current price is rare as hen’s’ teeth and a steal. GLWTS.
Super nice Olds. I think it will sell for the asking price, if not some more. I would ask about the fender skirts, maybe they are laying around the Uncle’s house and not in the storage building.
Thanks Ikey for the find!!
Im surprised no one has done this so I will:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0.love me some Ike Turner and this car is beautiful………….
Debated as one of the 1st factory muscle cars. Olds had a short fling with the racing crowd with this car, won 5 of the 8 NASCAR races in 1950. It would be over 25 years before Olds saw any success in racing again. If you were a young man in 1950, and showed up with this car, sent a clear message, you meant business. Very cool, iconic car, the Olds 88.
Okay, I’ve probably sounded fairly cynical on here lately (ya think!) but this one has me saying WOW, just WOW. First fell in love with one sitting in the next door neighbors driveway in 1961. A few years ago one as nice as this appears, even needing more mechanical sorting as this does, would be unheard of at this ask to start. And it took three days to get the opening bid! But times are a changin’. Perhaps this will get some heavy sniping toward the end to give us a picture of where the market is. To me the one piece windshield of the ’50 over the ’49 is a plus. I don’t really have the garage space right now, but man, this is tempting. Talk me out of it………someone…..
Back in the day, a lot of those beautiful taillights found their way onto the fenders of Chevys of the same era – a simple, elegant custom touch for those who couldn`t ( or didn`t want to ) go the full ” lead sled route .
In 1955 I was offered a car just like this one only all black for $295.00, I was only 16 and not making but 90 cents an hr. so I could not afford the car and stay at home too because all my money went to feeding 8 people and paying rent for the roof over our heads.
Nice. Only thing that would make this car nicer is if it were a 1950 Buick.
Buick straight 8 vs the V-8 no way,
Nice. Only thing that would make this car nicer is if it were a 1950 Buick.
This is a very nice car. My favorite body style, the two door hardtop, V8, green paint and in very good condition. It makes so much more sense to buy a car like this instead of some run down junker. It just takes money, up front instead of money invested with sweat equity over time. Back in the heady days of unrestrained home equity lines of credit I could have just written a check. Not any more!
While many think 55 through 57 Chev define GM, IMO, beginning in 1950 through 1957, as to styling and driving, the Caddys, Olds, Buicks and Pontiacs, were the best of GM products.
This appears to be a good solid $15,000 wether for future investment or pride of ownership as cruiser.
Will not just stand up for cruise or show by heads up but as a stand apart head Turner and conversation opener.
When brands had their own sounds and distinctiveness from each other; miss those days.
Nice you mentioned Herschel McGriff, at yhr age of 90 he recently completed a lical NASCAR race in Tucson!!
Funny, it vanished. No idea if it sold or for how much.
Ended as scheduled with 5 bids, sold at $13.3k