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.