Finding the name “Fiesta” a bit unusual for an automobile model, especially a station wagon, I decided to look up the formal definition of the word. Merriam-Webster states, “Festival specifically: a saint’s day celebrated in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines with processions and dances“. I’m still not getting the direct connection but this 1957 Oldsmobile Fiesta is notable for its hardtop design – no B-pillar, a bit unusual for a four-door station wagon, and certainly a visual statement maker. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this Super 88 station wagon is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $3,561 with nine bids tendered so far.
Fiesta was a model name that Olds first employed in 1953 for a special model convertible. It wasn’t used again until ’57 when GM’s mid-tier brand decided to once again offer a station wagon body style. According to Hemmings, Oldsmobile built almost 20K station wagons in ’57 but not all were four-door hardtops as there was also a Fiesta four-door sedan version available too. An open-ended search, however, will discover many more hardtop body styles than the pillared sedan.
This example has been off the road since 1963 and time has been the avenger. The seller adds, “It has been stored in the family’s run-down, falling apart, leaking barn for the last 59 years“. The body is pretty straight but rust has done a number on the rocker panels and floors. Further stated is, “The car is 99% complete and comes with many extra parts – 2 fenders, 4 doors, hood, bumper, and 2 new rocker panels and 2 dog leg patches” I don’t know how a 99% complete status can be possibly determined but there may be enough additional parts to ameliorate some of the body’s misgivings though that passenger side rocker panel is mostly not there. Fortunately, the unique Fiesta stainless steel trim appears to still be present (minus the tailgate’s letters “M” and “E”!).
Under the hood is a 277 gross HP 371 CI “Rocket V8” (known as a T-400) but it’s a non-runner. If you look closely you can see where the rocker covers are unbolted, as are the intake manifold and thermostat housing. Additionally, belts and some hoses are among the missing. A four-speed Hydramatic automatic gearbox is attached to the back end of the rocket. No word if the engine will spin by hand.
Inside, the most notable thing may be the previously mentioned rusted-away floors. Beyond that, it’s a panoply of worn-out upholstery, surface rust, mold, and deteriorated cargo area plasticized flooring and wheel well coverings. The only standout component is the fairly ornate instrument panel but even that shows as some of its switchgear is missing or broken off.
Existentially, this is a cool car. From a practical perspective, it’s going to take a significant undertaking in time, talent, and investment to return this Fiesta to anywhere near its former “celebrated” grandeur. Worse have been saved, and this one is worthy of restoration but will it be ultimately worth the effort?
You can certainly see the 57 Chevy Nomad coming out in this. I like it!
I think the Chevy Nomad turned and fled.
Parts car
Recycle Bin!
Weld up the rear doors, french the handles and you could have a sweet long roof that will be the envy of every at the coffee cruise.
You can do wonders with a couple of Sarape blankets, a rattle can, and a 44 gallon drum of POR-15.
Don’t forget to wash it first.
Hi Everyone: You can ask anyone who is fully bilingual in both English and Spanish about what is a Fiesta: it is simply a celebration of any subject. It can go from a big Church procession ( Mostly Catholics) to a B.party. It is not different to any group of people that get together and celebrate something or just a BBQ amongst friends. You celebrate, you are happy, its 4th of July or Christmas Eve: Lets throw a party! Lets have a Fiesta.
This car was eye-popping when new. Now it’s just an interesting corpse. I just can’t imagine any sane person tackling this project.
R.I.P.
“can’t imagine any sane person tackling this project”
I can … =]
and that person would have a definite unique ride!!!
For sure Jerry. No telling WHAT the undercarriage looks like???(*&^%#$%^
The beauty about restoring a driver, you don’t have to worry how nice the undercarriage looks when done fixin’ things!
As they say, “if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the oven!”
The biggest problem … when we’re young, we can’t afford or don’t have the time for big projects …
When we’re older, we have the money, but time is running out =[ ….
Irrelevant of the history of this beauty, it’s still a cool ride!
That seems like a whole lot of internal and external rust for just six years on the road.
Can sleeping rough in a rotting barn since 1963 generate that much corrosion? Floorboards? Inside wheel tubs? Entire rocker panels?
Even ’50s cars weren’t that awful for rust, at least the ones I saw commonly back in the 60s when I was a kid in UT and PA.
Dad’s 59 Ford had no rust after 10 winters on PA roads near Chambersburg. The neighbor’s 60 Plymouth Fury had some in the rear wheel wells and lower fenders.
This seems a really worn out piece for having only been on the road for 6 years and in a barn
BTW: thanks to Jim for properly describing this body style without getting twisted into knots.
After 70 or so years since their Post War appearance the definition of a “hardtop” has been long established.
Excellent work.
There’s a line of dinnerware called Fiestaware, known for its vibrant colors. Maybe GM “borrowed” the Fiesta name.
Manufacturers research, copyright, and warehouse product names, sometimes years ahead of actual use. This is why you will (probably) never see the same name or ‘tag’ in competing products.
Together with the ’57 Caballero this must be the coolest longroof ever. Worse cars have been fixed before and this one is worthy a restoration.
This is pure speculation but I wonder just how bad it was when parked in ’63 really…? On the other hand, had it not been put away then chances are it would’ve been Toyotas or Hondas multiple times by now…
Where on earth does the NADA Book Value come up with values of Low-$31,600; Average-$87,400; High-$198,200. These prices are CRAZY in my estimation.
Here’s a ’57 Oldsmobile 88, 4 door hardtop station wagon that at best would fall into the “Restorable” category in the Old Cars Weekly Price guide. The value in OCWPG posted at $7,000 for a “restorable” car and “top dollar” for a restored version is listed at $35,000.
A bid of around $4,000 is much more appropriate for this quite rusty ’57 Olds Fiesta.
My Pops bought a new 57 Super 88 Fiesta. I guess it could have been called a Metallic Mist Green & White. Add a luggage rack, dual mirrors, WIDE whites & Spinners. The interior had power everything you could order. My uncle James had the Holiday 98 2dr hardtop in the same color. They both had the 394/4 bbl and dual exhaust………very nice cars.
There was no 394 until 59.
Marty, you are correct, But, the ad stated that it had a 371 c.i. engine, which is correct for a 1957!
I was replying to RJ, who stated that his Pops bought a new 57 Olds with the 394 CI engine.
Kind of makes you wonder why a six year old car was taken off the road so soon.
There’s some pieces here but it’s really just a parts car.
Then BUY it if you think you could tackle this piecer! Might also make a parts car for a Buick Caballero!
I love the hardtop wagons, hell, I love all wagons/sedan deliveries. If this car was six years old when it went in the barn it was rode really hard and put away wet.
I am not trying to be ” Karnac the Great “”,, but my thought is that someone died, and it just got put in the barn. Too many possibilities to just junk it, they don’t make them anymore. I think someone will have an emotional attachment and save it.
It would be a cool restomod
Vance, they don’t make Yugo’s anymore either. Would you restore an old beater one? Yes this Olds Can be restored, but How much would it cost to do it? Probably more than it would be worth when done, as it virtually needs EVERYTHING!!! Yes, it’s a shame it was left to just rot away like this, but in those years people had no idea there would be such a great demand for older cars in the future!