The 88 (or Eighty-Eight) was one of Oldsmobile’s longest-running nameplates. 88 badges appeared on Oldsmobiles between 1949 and 1999. The Dynamic was one of many sub-names used during this time, like this futuristic-looking “Sceni-Coupe” from 1959. An older restoration, this vehicle seems to still hold more than its own and is available through a dealer in Torrance, California. Sporting a “Rocket V8,” this Space Age land yacht is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $26,625, the reserve is unmet, and the cut-to-the-chase price is $35,500. Thanks for another cool tip, “Curvette.”
General Motors did a redesign of its products in 1959, hoping for a better sales year than recession-ridden 1958. The 88 returned once again as the breadwinner and gateway to the bigger and more luxurious 98 models. These cars featured a “Linear Look” as the marketing types professed, a copy of the “Forward Look” Chryslers of 1957-59. These cars used a lot of glass, which created a greenhouse that many called the “bubble top.”
Standard was the 371 cubic inch Rocket V8 that produced 270 horsepower. While many of these cars came with a “Jetaway” Hydramatic automatic transmission, the seller’s edition surprisingly is said to have a 3-speed manual (“3-on-the-tree”?). We are told this vehicle has previously been restored, though we don’t know how many years may have passed since then. It still looks quite nice and does not appear to be wanting for anything but some highway time.
You do not see many of these Oldsmobiles anymore unless you happen to run in circles with collectors of those automobiles. It is a shame the Oldsmobile brand went away early in the 21st Century. My family owned several of them over the years, including my favorite – a 1983 Cutlass Supreme. This beauty may only have 53,000 miles, meaning lots of life should be remaining for your cruising pleasure.
That’s it!!!!! Curvette….. You and I are going car shopping!!! Of all the tailfind designs of GM s ’59 lineup, Olds is my favorite. I used to feebly attempt to draw cars when I was a kid and a ’59 Olds was one of them. Russ touched on a memory. My father bought a used ’59 Eighty Eight and he used to call.it the Oldsmobubble. This is a really nice ine and hope it finds a good new home.
We owned this car back in the late ’80s. Ours was all white and an auto. This has added power steering (I did the same mod) and that’s almost essential for a car this long and heavy. It is easily the most beautiful car we’ve owned and got the most comments. Rolling art.
I would love to have it back or have this one, but that price is WAY outside of any reality. Worth it, IMO, and somebody will love driving this beauty
Another great tribute to the pregnancy stage of the muscle car era.
Back in 1966, I was working at a used car dealer. A 4 door sedan version of this rolled into the business. The driver was from either Kentucky or Tennessee. The car had the original engine but had been upgraded with a lumpy cam and dual quads, and of all things, a 4 speed. Obviously, someone’s home made project. Car looked reasonably nice. He traded it in on a 1958 Chrysler 300D. Hard to forget one like that.
sweet olds. these thin pillared big GM cars all looked good. the bid price now is where i would like to be, but it is a dealer listing so they are looking for all the money
Heading up the GM ladder of cast iron lead sleds culminating in the standard ultimate form of luxury that being Cadillac, the same sized sled, but priced a couple G’s less, these Oldsmobiles had enough attitude to satisfy just about any big man with deep pockets.
There was also a 394 available in its debut year, producing 315 horsepower.
Nineteen fifty eight was indeed a recession year, as the write-up states. Yet I wonder how much of that year’s relatively low vehicle sales were attributable to economic factors versus a widely disparaged industry-wide trend toward a bulky, heavily chromed aesthetic that affected all manufacturers but especially GM.
My Dad had a gold 59 Oldsmobile I used to like watching the speedometer change colors as my dad went faster.
I have always liked the deep dish steering wheel on these. And the mile long shift lever to go with it! The dash board is a thing of beauty. The body lines on this car are definitely rocket inspired. Just the thing to go along with the “rocket 88” engine!
Beautiful car. I love the front end appearance of the 1959 Olds. I hope whoever buys this car enjoys it and takes care of it.