If one were looking for an automobile to represent the record-setting sales year of 1955, then this Olds 88 Holiday Coupe checks all the boxes. A classic 50’s two-tone color combination (turquoise and white), tasteful styling – especially being a sporty hardtop coupe, just enough chrome trim, a colorful turquoise and white interior, cool wheel covers, and a respectable V8 engine under the hood. The ’55 Olds also checked a lot of boxes for car buyers seventy years ago as a record number – 583,179 units – were sold and earned the division fifth place overall in sales. The 88 Series was the entry level Olds in ’55 and of the 222,361 Series 88’s built, the most popular model was one like we’re featuring here. Nearly 86,000 of these desirable 2-door hardtop Holiday Coupes found new driveways or garages and it’s easy to see why. They were just great looking, comfortable, and peppy cars.
The color revolution was really rolling in 1955 and Oldsmobile was no exception. Customers could select from 19 attractive paint colors, and given the styling of the ’55’s, most were ordered in two-tone color combinations. Looking at the photos, the Polar White and Turquoise paint is shiny and very presentable and the chrome bumpers, oval grille, and all of the cool 88 rocket-themed trim looks great. I’ve always liked Oldsmobile’s “knife-blade” side trim as well as their fender skirts that accentuated the flowing shape of that distinctive side trim. And those super-cool “spinner” wheel covers helped to give these hardtop coupes a bit of a sporty look.
Like practically all car interiors of 1955, this 88 has a colorful cabin displaying a tasteful blend of turquoise and white (with shiny chrome and stainless trim). The seller says that the only negative are the fabric “wrinkles” on the front seat. I also spotted some on the door panels. This 88 has the factory clock and radio and there’s a photo of a modern AM/FM/CD player unit that’s mounted in the glove box. The seller is also including a cool salesman’s binder for the ’55 Olds that would let customers flip through to pick their car’s options, colors, interior, etc. You don’t see many of these since they were for dealership use only and were rarely saved.
The engine is the 324-cubic-inch Rocket V8 with 25,500 miles on the odometer (which I’m assuming has a “1” in front of it). It’s most likely the standard 324 that generated 185 horsepower at 4000 rpm that’s mated to the optional Hydra-Matic Super Drive automatic transmission. The seller says “This car runs and drives as good as it looks and cruises nicely at 70-75 mph.” The seller also apologetically confesses that he has too many cars and is selling the Olds to make room in his garage for his next project. This most handsome ’55 Olds 88 Holiday Coupe was sent to us from Mike F (who deserves an “A” for finding it) and is currently in Omaha, Nebraska. You can find it listed here on craigslist for an asking price of $28,500 in cash. The seller is also open to hearing reasonable offers and isn’t interested in trades unless it’s a short bed Chevy, Dodge, or Ford in nice shape.
This has got to be one of the nicest mid 50’s Olds Super 88’s I’ve seen on here. Its got the right color combination, Rocket V8, in amazing condition too. An Olds Super 88 2 door hardtop is definitely on my bucket list. And If I was in the market right now, I’d seriously consider this one. Very nice.
Nice car. Never owned one but have 3 years of right seat time in one. Correct me if I’m wrong but those are not the factory spinner hub caps.
Okay, I’ll correct you,
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1622450506/oldsmobile-1954-55-15-inch-hubcaps-set
They appear to be correct. A quick ebay search shows several listed just like these.
Correct. They were ’55 only and changed on the ’56s. Thanks.
The pastor of my childhood church had a car identical to this one; he was, however, an early adopter, and a VW bug replaced it! :-)
My dad had a 1956 88. It was white/dark grey two-tone. I remember the big steering wheel. They got a 1967 Vista Cruiser after that.
My first memory of a car was my parents ‘55 Olds 88 in these exact colors only it was a convertible. I was born in ‘54 and they bought it new the next year. No seatbelts so I just stood on the back seat and leaned on the front seat while they chain smoked. It was a different time…. They traded it for a new 1960 Dynamic 88 2 door in light blue on blue as the 55 was really starting to rust from the western Pennsylvania winters. I’d love to have this car.
Mom had one (1955) the same color and body style in 1961 for a very short time. No one ever made any comment as to what happened to it or where it went. I do remember (I was 8 y o. at the time) going to the supermarket and the throttle going almost wide open and Mom freaking out and just trying to miss things doing laps around the lot. I reached over and turned off the ignition on about lap 3! (lol) Mom helped me open the hood to find the throttle linkage had fallen of the carburetor. After letting it cool down while in the store. I convinced my Mom to let me try and fix it. The throttle shaft nut was still lying on the manifold and once I figured out that I had to remove the throttle return spring , it made it easy to put it back together. I put the nut back on as tight as I could and hooked up the return spring. Mom was still amped when we got home and told Dad all about it. He smiled a proud smile and said we needed to see why it happened. So Dad and I went out to the Olds and opened the hood. Dad checked the linkage and told me to wait. He came back with the proper size wrench, handed it to me and said “complete the repair”! I was proud and Mom was still leary of the car. Maybe that’s why she got rid of it. Replaced it with a 1956 Pontiac 2 door hard top! The next car was a 1963 Impala 4 door sedan, 327 4 barrel dual exhaust and 3 on the tree.
nice car at a very fair price for the condition of it. the buyers for these great cars are passing on and it seems the younger crowd passes these cars over.
This is it. I love this car. The ’55 Holiday 88 is the one I want. I had a shot at a very nice ’57 Olds about 15 years ago for 5k, but it was not a ’55. I just can’t justify spending this kind of money.
Omaha, Nebraska – 35 yrs ago I bought there a 1955 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire Convertible. Black – white car, white top, red leather interior, very good condition. Power top, front bench seat etc. Had it shipped to Newark, then embarked to Antwerp, Holland. Drove it back to Milano, Italy in days and days of late spring effortless cruising through the French countryside. Unforgettable moments, magical car.