The Olds 98 was the GM division’s most luxurious automobile during the back half of the 20th Century. Riding on a longer wheelbase, it was senior to the Olds 88 and was on par with the Buick Electra and Pontiac Bonneville and nearly equal in class to the Cadillac De Ville. This Custom Sport Coupe from 1964 looks like it just emerged from a time capsule. It looks as nice as it did on Day One, but since a dealer is involved in the sale, little history is provided on this classic ride.
Fifth-generation 98s (also Ninety-Eight) were produced between 1961 and 1964. The seller indicates that nearly 4,600 copies of the 2-door hardtop were assembled, this one in Pacific Mist paint with an aqua cloth and vinyl interior. We assume the car has never been repainted, but if it was, they did a masterful job. The overall condition of the automobile suggests the 55,000 miles on the odometer are correct. Though no photos of the engine compartment are provided, a 394 cubic inch V8 should be present (345 hp) paired with a 3-speed Roto Hydramatic automatic transmission.
If luxury and sportiness are your pleasure, this Olds comes with bucket seats and a console up front rather than Grandpa’s bench. Though the seller does not paint a picture of what this vehicle has been up to since new, it was built during the middle of the model year (April 1964) in Lansing, Michigan, the only Oldsmobile plant that was assigned to build these 98 coupes.
The rest of the listing has a marketing spin to it, but that shouldn’t detract from what is a stellar vehicle. It’s not likely a stretch to say this Oldsmobile 98 might be the nicest one left of its era. From a dealer’s facilities in Brooksville, Florida, this nifty cruiser is available here on eBay where the latest bid of $8,000 won’t cut it in terms of cracking the seller’s reserve.
This looks like a winner 🏆!
You know, a whole generation, or 2, will miss out on what great cars our folks had. As said, the old man had a ’63 and a ’65, both 98, 4 doors. These had already gotten to barge status compared to the ’62. GM figured there were a lot more people like my old man, that wanted bigger cars. Not sure why he bailed on GM after the ’65, the next car I remember him having was the ’68 Lincoln. The motors more than stood up to his abuse. My dad was the frugal type, and while these required premium gas, he ran them on regular. Pinged like a Geiger counter in Nevada, they did. More than once, he subjected them to the “Italian tuneup” when they ran poorly. Floor it in neutral until it “cleared out”, filling the garage and our lungs with lead deposits. 60s were a time for travel by car, and all the car makers pulled out out all the stops to have the nicest road car. GM sure nailed it with these.
My dad’s version of the “Italian tuneup” was to floor it on an open stretch of road to “blow the carbon out”. Huge cloud of smoke left in his wake. Good times.
It seems like there were (maybe still are?) “carb cleaner” products that you would spray into your carburetor and then either floor it in park or neutral, or while going down the road (my preferred method). I remember a cloud of smoke that would result in EPA fines if done today. And the car would run better afterwards.
I had a ’63 which included a large knob on the driver door – linked to the cruise control. Once, as a traffic light turned green I spun the dial and the pedal plunged to the floor. I was unexpectedly pressed against the back of the seat. Now that’s a fun way to do an Italian tuneup.
This Oldsmobile would garner more than a few admirers in Springfield Missouri at the Oldsmobile Nationals occurring right now. From the bumper gaps to the original floor mats, this is one nicely sorted and very clean Olds. I am not well versed in the minutiae of 98s but I cannot find much of anything to nitpick. It definitely looks like it was someone’s pride and joy.
I’m crying now because I was just in Springfield MO on July 22 and 23rd but was unaware. I would have totallu adjusted my travel plans if I would have known. I’m an Olds man from way back. Sigh.
Dad was a lifelong Olds guy and had a ‘63 Super 88 sedan in this same color as this car, as the 98 was outside of his budget until he got a used one in ‘68. Our cousin also had a ‘63 Super 88 like my dad’s but it was more of an aqua shade. We have home movies where our cousin was taking 8mm movies while driving back home behind dad after my first communion, with the two Super 88’s in caravan. Early version of a dash cam, I guess. The subject car is a wonderful example for someone with Olds nostalgia.
Anyone know what the “Reverberation” switch was/is for?
I once had a Motorola console stereo with Reverberation control. Great sound, something like a slight echo and dynamic concert hall effect. Never have seen this on a car or another home stereo.
My ’64 Imperial Crown has a “reverberator”….adds like a concert hall “echo” to the sound.
Aunt Jane, a real car person had a ’65 Catalina convertible. And she was very excited to show me how the reverb switch worked, kinda putting one speaker on a nano-second of a delay to the other speaker. Guess it was supposed to give the listener the sensation of stereo. Yes, it was cool, but it WAS only AM radio.
The reverberation switch would change the sound of the music to an echoic harmonic effect. I believe stereo followed then quadraphonic then the equalizer.
My aunt had one of these-64 98’s. Great car-that rode well. There was a switch on the floorboard(under the carpet) that would change the radio station. I asked many times “why did the radio change the station”
My ’63 98 had the same floor button. I had just purchased the car and while cruising one night I, not knowingly, rested my foot on the button. Suddenly the radio dial spun ahead. I was ready to bail out!
My Aunt Becky from Beaumont, TX used to drive one of these, replacing it every couple of years for another. We would visit her annually at her summer house in West Swanzey, NH, way back when. A true, classy southern lady.
BTW- Description speaks about “ribbon style speedometer & factory AM radio.”
Is NOT a ribbon style speedo. Not sure what you call it, but it’s your basic needle-like indicator. And the radio is AM-FM.
But it still looks gorgeous.
Quite possible that the seller does not know that by sliding the “OLDSMOBILE” tab on the radio faceplate above the numbers, it will change from AM to FM and back, and you can set the pushbuttons to both AM and FM depending on the slide setting.
At first glance I thought who would want this car. Now that I have looked at the listing, I know who would want it; ME. Even though it would need its own zip code, I wouldn’t care!
Go Fast Buckets and Console, that is Too Kool
Beautiful! Cars like these made Oldsmobile great. If I remember correctly, Jane Mansfield had a bad accident and died in one similar to this. She was a star and this Olds had star appeal. Too bad GM lost their way. People used to be impressed by their products. Now, they are just a bunch of boring trucks.
The market lost its way. The Malibu hung on as long as it could. Boring trucks make money and the domestics never applied themselves toward making profitable small cars turning that segment over to the imports. It would be important to recognize that we’re only part of the global community and that the Toyota you buy here is sold around the world. Most of our vehicles are sold right here. Too bad too as we could probably use a modern interpretation of a Falcon, Nova or Valiant right now.
This looks like an every option car. The only options I can see that it doesn’t have are Cruise Control and the wire wheel covers. Beautiful example of a 64 Olds. My Father had a 64 Super 88. After he died, I put factory air in it from another 64, found an AM/FM, added the reverb and the wire wheel covers. It was a sweet heart. My mother didn’t have a driver’s license so it sat in the garage unless I drove it. I tried to buy it from her but she wouldn’t sell. I guess it reminded her too much of him. Then one day it was gone. She would only say “it was time”. I never saw it again. I often wonder what happened to it. I really loved that car.
The faux wire-wheelcovers may have been an option but I think the ones this car is wearing were the highest-cost wheel treatment one could order for a 64. They’re argent in-painted magnesium castings, sortof heavy and I think, very handsome on these cars. Seldom-seen! My buddy’s 64 Dynamic88 had them and if iirc they were bolted to the wheel’s lug pattern with 3-of-5 Nuts that straddled the 5 equally-spaced Wheel-mounting lugnuts.
Beautiful car. 1962 and 1964 are my favourite years for the full-size Oldsmobile. I’d buy a 1964 Olds 98 if there was one close to where I live. This one looks brand new, like someone had bought it from an Olds dealer. Given its beautiful condition, I’d be willing to pay in the neighbourhood of the US $13,300.00 asking price.
Car Nut Tacoma you are aware that cars are available to be shipped OR you can travel to look at it buy it and and drive it home. The lazy don’t acquire anything but make excuses. The mountain isn’t coming to Muhammad.
It’s good to see the writers are at the caviar buffet choosing choice selections. It’s good to know bespoke classics still exists that don’t require any restoration as some of the other atrocious camera breaking tetanus trash.
Just beautiful. My best friends grandma had a 63 98 in these same colors we were in 4th grade then. She kept it perfect. She still had it when we graduated high school. How the once mighty GM has fallen.
581 views in last 24 hours on Ebay ad – this is a real beauty!
What a first class interior – richly detailed… and a 21 gallon tank, AC, floor shift & tachometer!
This is ringing the bell for a lot of us.
Someone will be getting quite a classic.
I had a 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 that I got up to 185,000 miles with a 394 Ultra High Compression V-8 and a Jet A Way Transmission. Those cars were strong and would go forever. When the seat belt law came into effect in NY, I went to Sears Roebuck and had Seat Belts installed with the Crome buckle. I got 10 miles to the gallon on the Highway and 8 miles to the gallon on the side streets. Gas was cheap around 29 to 32 cents a gallon depending on the grade. Sonoco had 106 Octane Sonoco 260. They don’t make cars like that anymore. You could fit six people in that car. Oldsmobile was around for 100 Years. Gasoline and Diesel-Powered engines last a long time. The Three Speed Automatic Transmission is still the Best Transmission. Sometimes it pays to keep things simple. When FM Radio became popular in the late 60’s I added a $19 FM Convertor that converted all the FM stations to 1400 AM with that good monoral sound. I had to mention that.
I like the original Oldsmobile hub caps better than what it is currently wearing. Easily corrected. Nice unit!
Even though I love the big Ponchos from this era this is one gorgeous Olds which I wouldn’t mind owning. Proof that they don’t make cars like this anymore.
Absolutely GORGEOUS!! If it had dual power bucket seats, power vent windows, and cruise control, I’d be all over this beautiful 98 by Oldsmobile, definitely “Your Father’s and Grandfather’s Car” in 1964!!
this a rare olds98 with buckets, console and a tach. almost like a starfire inside. first time have seen this in a 98. sweet ride.
Jane Mansfield was riding in a Buick Electra when she was killed. It happened June 29, 1967. 3 of her children were asleep in the back seat and survived with minor injuries. One of the children is Mariska Hargitay, of Law and Order fame. She was only 3 years old at the time of the accident. I was 14 at the time and was visiting my grandma and asked what decapitated meant. Just a sad journey down memory lane.
Isn’t that Brad Hamiltons car from fast times at ridgemont high?