You’re looking at Oldsmobile’s most prestigious offering in 1954: the Ninety-Eight Starfire convertible of which only about 6,800 were produced. I’d like to know how many are around today. The seller is very scant with details and the history of this drop top and only shares, “1954 Oldsmobile Rocket 98 convertible barn find. The car has been in dry storage for 20 years and is in solid condition. The car runs, drives, and stops but it will need restoring to be a show car.” Currently residing in Assonet, Massachusetts, this ’54 Olds is for sale here on eBay and had generated 37 bids as of this writing with the highest bid hitting $10,300. 

“The Dream That Couldn’t Wait…Oldsmobile proudly presents its greatest car of all time – one full year ahead of time! – the matchless new 1954 “Rocket” Engine Oldsmobile!” The sales brochure for ’54 wanted readers to know that the new Oldsmobile was scheduled for completion in 1955, but was rolled out a full year in advance. Apparently the original design for the ’54 Olds was scrapped by GM brass for continuing the “lumpy” styling of the ’53 models. With the in-development 1955 models far enough along, the decision was made to push them up a year and they made their debut in January 1954 (instead of the traditional Fall of 1953). Although it retained a similar grille design from the previous year, the new 1954 Oldsmobile was 3 inches lower and definitely had a sleeker, longer, lower look, and Olds was also very proud of its new “sweep-around panoramic windshield.” In reviewing the photos, it looks like a solid car that is all there. I’m not seeing rust and I’m assuming the paint (that looks presentable) is the Flare Red and Polar White colors that were offered in 1954. The distinctive knife blade side trim that separates the red and white still looks cool and would continue through to the 1956 model year. The black convertible top looks okay but is showing its age, the bumpers and grille have some rust and will need attention (and the rear bumper needs straightening), the passenger window looks cracked, and there appears to be gaps in the hood and trunk lid. The four original wheel covers are present, but the Olds would look spiffier with the correct whitewall tires.

The “Custom-Lounge” interior, as Oldsmobile described them in 1954, will need attention. It looks like someone didn’t finish a custom interior (that looks far different the the 98’s original interior). The “Safety-Padded” instrument panel top is peeling and there’s surface rust on the white paint of the glove box door and instrument panel. The driver’s door panel could be original, but it’s showing a split armrest and fabric ripples, and the passenger door panel is of a different fabric pattern with no armrest. The front and back seats look relatively new, but I’d prefer the pattern and design of the original seats. This 98 has power windows and I’m assuming power brakes.

There’s only one photo of the Oldsmobile “Rocket” Engine as it was called back in the day, which should be a 324-cubic-inch, 185 horsepower, 4 bbl carb V8. It appears to be mated to a 4-speed automatic Hydra-Matic “Super Drive” transmission and a generic “100,000” is listed as the odometer mileage. The all new Oldsmobile was popular with buyers in 1954 and 354,000 units found new homes. That success moved them from #6 to #4 in sales behind Chevy, Ford, and Buick, and was Oldsmobile’s best showing since 1905. Many questions remain about the history and condition of this ’54 Oldsmobile 98, but on the surface, this low production luxury convertible appears to be solid and ready to be taken to the next level.