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Happy Holidays! Restored 1955 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday Coupe

With the holidays rapidly approaching, I’d love to find this ’55 Olds in my garage with a big bow on top of it this Christmas morning. That would be a December to remember for sure. The 98 was the flagship of the Oldsmobile lineup in 1955, and you’re looking at the sweet-looking Holiday Coupe.  It’s had a frame-up restoration and is looking for a new home. Currently located in Brooksville, Florida, this white and coral creampuff is for sale here on eBay through Mission Classics. As of this writing, 19 bids had been placed with the highest one hitting $25,600, but not meeting the seller’s reserve. Another debt of gratitude to our pal, Larry D, for sending this good-looking Olds our way.

1955 was such a monumental year for the auto industry with a record 8.3 million autos sold, a 43% increase from 1954. Let those numbers sink in. And Oldsmobile had their best year to date, with a record 583,179 units sold which earned the division fifth overall in sales. Nothing says 1955 like a two-tone coral and white anything, especially if it’s a car. This was the year Oldsmobile really touted their “color and comfort” leadership and offered other iconic mid-50’s colors including Turquoise and even Chartreuse. The seller says this Holiday has had a new Polar White and Coral repaint along with refinished chrome and brightwork. The wide whitewall tires and spinner wheel covers completes the package on the attractive coupe.

The Holiday carries the coral and white color theme inside and it’s a stunning display of “color and comfort, 1955 style.” I wish there were more photos of the interior, but the seats, door panels, instrument panel, padded dash, and steering wheel look very good. Being the flagship, this 98 is loaded with power steering, power drum brakes, power windows, power seat, AM radio, an electric clock, a handbrake light, and the courtesy light package.

There are plenty of photos in the ad, but oddly, they’re more in the “artistic details and closeups” category with filters used that darkens the color. Straightforward images would be better in my opinion and there are no photos of the engine and engine bay. We’ll have to take the seller’s words that the engine bay is clean and tidy and houses a 371-cubic-inch, 4-barrel carb Rocket V8 that’s married to a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission. Mileage is listed at 44,700, but there’s no mention if that is original and nothing is mentioned if the engine or transmission were rebuilt during the restoration. 1955 would go down as one of Oldsmobile’s finest years and its easy to see why. The styling, proportions, and everything about this Olds shows they got it right. And the buying public agreed. This is one classy coral and white coupe. Happy Bidding!

Comments

  1. art

    Beautiful car and in superb shape.
    Buyer will have to track down the correct vintage window switch(es).
    The car looks well cared for and will turn heads every time it’s on the road.

    Like 4
  2. Norman davis

    the hubcaps are the wrong year the bottom of the dash is the wrong color
    if the engine is a 371 it is a 1957 engine

    Like 1
  3. Bob Reid

    The 371 cu. in. engine was not introduced until 1957. This model year would have been furnished with the 326 cu. in. engine. If the ad has not misquoted the engine size the 371 is a nice performance upgrade for a car of this weight. Very nice looking car…

    Like 0
    • Rex B Schaefer

      Sorry pal but 324cu in!

      Like 0
  4. fliphall

    Of all the cars my family owned, the one I wish I still had was the 56 olds convertible, turquoise and white, sweet ride and super valuable now. Who knew?

    Like 2
  5. Homer

    A friend’s dad had a four door 98 same year, super comfortble and a great road car. Gas was cheap.

    Like 1
  6. local_sheriff

    If it has a 371 that’s not the correct Rocket engine – in ’55 it was 324, the 371 arrived in ’57 I believe.

    Not that it matters much, this is still a darn nice Olds. There’s a local gray head who owns a loaded unrestored ’55 98 2dht always family-owned wearing Glen Green+Mint Green which IMO is an even nicer color combo

    Like 4
  7. Chuck Dickinson

    The interior may have been restored, but it was done to the owner’s choice, and in no way is it close to original. All-vinyl/leather interiors were ONLY on convertibles. This car came with a cloth/vinyl/leather combo originally. The ‘spinner’ caps are aftermarket copies of the 56 Fiesta design, much different than the 55s.

    Like 4
  8. 370zpp 370zpp Member

    Begs the question; What was the first year power windows appeared in production cars and who had the first?

    Like 0
    • CaCarDude

      MY guess on the PW setup would be Cadillac, not sure the year. They were the GM flagship ride back in the day. My father always drove a Cadillac until I was about 12 years old then he was into the Oldsmobile line up and in the early 60’s drove a beautiful Baby Blue ’54 Olds 88, 2 dr hrdtp. I drove it in HS starting in my Jr year. Wish I had that beautiful Olds today!

      Like 0
  9. benjamin root

    ben here in fla know the car and the shop nice guy honest the car is a nice driver and cruise car not all org but we didnt want them that we we added our touch its a nice car for the money bens detailing empiourm and classic cars hernando fl

    Like 0

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