After discovering the property you’ve just bought includes an abandoned automobile with no glass and a shotgun blasted door, why not try to “make lemonade” and find it a new owner? That’s the back-story of this 1957 Oldsmobile 88 in Mountain, North Dakota. Since this picture was taken it’s been treated to $500 worth of new tires and listed here on eBay with a so-far-unanswered opening bid of $999. Is the finned ’50s two-door worth $499 more than the tires?
Oldsmobile’s stylists gave these upscale GMs “styling that’s poised for action,” with lines that carry smoothly from the front of the roof down the back glass and into the trunk lid. Note the concealed gas filler partially ajar under the left tail light. The floors on this once-elegant Olds will need replacement, and the right door is perforated by shotgun pellets, but the bulk of the metal and trim appears to be in decent shape. Given the post configuration and lack of glass, it might make a decent Richard Petty tribute racer.
The pastel blue and white interior has seen better days. The giant steering wheel makes for easy cruising with the horn ring always readily available in case that Prius next to you decides to sacrifice itself on the altar of your giant protruding bumpers.
The original Rocket V8 is unlikely to be resuscitated on this particular car, but any number of suitable replacements could motivate this 88 as a hot rod. The hood shows signs of distress from fighting against the stubborn hinges.
Truthfully that bumper and most of the trim has potential. Fans of the Tri-Five Chevrolets may notice a family resemblance between those iconic cars and the sister Oldsmobiles. Even when driven casually, this stern face in your rear-view mirror, coupled with the relative braking power of a ’50s sedan compared to today’s cars, suggests that moving aside will be in your best interest. You don’t want to be in front of this rig when an errant pilot locks it up in traffic. Luckily aftermarket braking systems can solve that problem. Do you see potential here or scrap metal?
It needs a lot of luvin, I’d want to restore it even the engine. The glass might be the tough part how ever up hear in Canada they used to run an add with Chrystal glass a company that is still around stating that they could reglass any car I wonder if that is still the case. In 1957 these were by far a nicer car then the try five lineup and with that this was a much rarer 2 door post (coupe) car. It needs to be rescued and restored. It will always stick out from the crowd of Chevies at the show and shine events. Nice find.
I kinda love it but it’s already been used to finish another. Wonder how long it’s been open to the elements?
Owner in North Dakota…. License plate says “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” That’s Minnesota. Sumpin’ aint right here. And it is pretty much trashed. Too much for this guy. The one who bid $999.00 must really want this and have deep pockets
The seller bought this thing twice with the new tires! Not enough left to save; glass alone would be a few grand for this, and there is no telling what the floors/rockers/frame look like. You’re entirely taking a huge chance buying this carcass. Me, I’d spend more and end up with a MUCH more complete car. You’re much better off in the long run.
What a shame it ended up this way. There has always something about this year I really liked.
I can only see this being used to salvage a very rusty, but complete (all glass intact) one just like it. The sheet metal you can see looks pretty solid but I would expect the floors to be Swiss cheese. Make one good one out of two.
It looks like a straight body which is all that is needed for a drag racer.
The missing glass can be replaced by plexiglass and it doesn’t need a title, unless it participates in Drag Week.
It would be nice to see this go down the track next to the all too common ’57 Chevy.
What possessed the seller to spend $500 on tires for this car? It was once a beautiful Olds, alas it will never see the highways again. Pieces of it will, but not the whole car. If the seller too the time to drag her out of her grave, and put new tires on it, why not take one step further and provide pics of the car as it now? Unless that first pull resulted in the frame turning to dust, leaving just a pile of parts. Hmmmm….
Northeast corner of North Dakota, up near the Manitoba border. Winter is snow and cold and it does rain but the climate is fairly dry with about 17-22 inches of precipitation a year. That won’t save the frame and/or floor boards if they come in contact w the ground but it does help the body stay in decent shape.
Nice color, nice styling but I’m thinking the tires were a waste of 💰.
The foliage doesn’t look like ND, either…from what I’ve seen…central ND
So new tires to start restoration? Maybe some glass and a intake and a industrial vac in the car and trunk..
A picture with the tires on it would help too ✅
I would love to see it find a forever indoor garage home with some TLC and glass etc.
The eBay pics provide a better look at how bad the floors and trunk are.
Shame, you don’t see many of these and that rear window is a very unique styling aspect.
What floors? :-)
Pretty much. Would make a good Flintstone mobile clone at this point.
That really is a shame. 😢
Had to be a proud moment taking delivery back in 1957!
Nothing much but a memory now.
It’s approaching winter, so you shouldn’t have to worry about Black Widows..they love to nest in old cars like this.
Vandals got the speedo and passenger side trim. What an amazing amount of that jazzy paint still remains. The seller didn’t do the car any favors parking it again after pulling it out of the weeds. Looks like it could have easily spent 50 years in the location of the second set of “current” photos. And, as others have said…with so much emphasis on NEW TIRES how about a photo of it off the dirt and rolling around? I say Petty tribute if one dares….
How about a Dick Jepson tribute car? Won’t need glass, straight panels or frame!
Is there really $900 worth of parts there? The floors are gone. I bet the frame is too. The “new” tires are now used, making them almost worthless too.
Do you suppose the missing intake was a Tri-power setup? Definetly a cool body style.
Love those pastel colors of the late ’50’s and early ’60’s.
I see Stroker McGurk haulin ass with a load of moon shine in the trunk….
That is one helluva restoration project! However , 55-57 Olds are ultra sexy cars, have never seen a post 57 before, wouldn’t be very common nowadays. If this one could be salvaged,it definatily needs/deserves a dedicated owner/restorer with deep pockets to bring it back to life. Given the prices one have to pay for 50s cars nowadays it might happen…!
Can you imagine how nice it must have been when they parked it??? Probably a blown trans!
Oil pan’s off (in the trunk). Probably spun a rod bearing.
If the frame is good, buy the wrecked Ferrari and stuff the drivetrain in this! After resuscitating the Old’s body and interior.
If it was closer, I’d make it a class act grill and tow to SEC football games.
Maybe we should change the name here to
“SCRAP FINDS” ???