The moment that I saw this Oldsmobile my first thought was that I’d just hop in and drive it as it is. Listed for sale here on eBay, it is located in Campbell, California. Offered for sale with a clear title, this car has a BIN of $10, 900.
This Oldsmobile is about as solid as you’ll find for a car that is now 68 years old. It has spent its entire life owned by the same family, so it also has a nice solid history behind it. The paint is worn, but it is the original paint. It has never had a dent, repair or any rust. Looking at the photos shows a car that is absolutely as solid as a rock. All of the external trim is present. Some of it is beginning to show its age, but that is in keeping with the overall exterior presentation.
The interior is in terrific condition. The upholstery on the seats is virtually flawless. The door trims aren’t perfect but they are quite serviceable and would probably be improved with careful cleaning. The carpet and headliner are also intact. They are both faded and may improve with an application of dye, but I would only touch them if I were considering undertaking a full restoration on this Olds.
Under the hood is the 257ci side-valve engine. Things certainly don’t sparkle under here, but the condition certainly appears to be in keeping with the rest of the car. The transmission is the 4-speed Hydramatic, which is said to operate perfectly. The electrical system on this Olds has been converted to 12-volt operation, which is probably a sensible upgrade. The seller emphasizes how well this car drives.
Normally I would look at a car like this and would start to plan a full restoration. If I owned it then that’s the path that I would probably eventually follow. However, something deep down inside me says that this car is 68 years old and would be happy to be driven exactly as it is….and that’s probably exactly what I’d do. Get out on the road and enjoy it.
Wow. This might be the perfect classic car– I love the late 40s / early 50s GM designs (especially the fastbacks). If I had the money, this is where I’d spend it. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
I would probably drive it as is also. Too bad she got clear coated. If I were to drive a patina car, it wouldn’t be shiny.
Like Adam, somewhere down the line I would restore her too.
I really love the old flathead sixes, glorious in their simplicity.
Don’t you dare “restore” that car. It’s fabulous!
I love it ! clear coat is fine if you drive it a lot, just spend half a day with a scotch brite pad.
A 68 year old one-owner ANYTHING this solid is a true find. By this time, most cars have passed through 5-6 owners, if not more. These folks treated this beauty to some TLC and it shows. And yes–I’d plan on a frame-off for this beauty somewhere down the line too.
I would question why a one family owned car has a california plate from ’92/’93.
That would give you more background on what has happened with the car.
That was my thought as well, since in California the plates stay with the car. Of course, “same family” could have first been located elsewhere and then the car moved and got a California title/plates in the nineties.
Miguel, Plates change for all kinds of reasons. I had plates stolen once. Maybe the grandson liked the newer plates, it might even be the great grandson. It says same family, not same owner. My brother is still driving a 1997 Ford that I sold him in 2012, that I purchased from my daughter. He could sell it and say it has been in the same family for 21 years. LOL.
When a car is this old you have to look at the condition, not the story.
This one looks good for its age and is at the top of the price imo.
I would rather have a 1950 Olds 88 with the rocket V8 for 15K even with the 4 doors.
Jeff, I know that which is why I said knowing what happened with the plates will tell you more about what has happened with the car previously.
It might have been first sold in another state. Who knows.
It was just an observation and how, when I was buying cars in California, I used the plates to ask more questions about the car.
…somewhere not too far down the line, for me. Resto Mod comes to mind and I shake my head, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. Okay, here we go: safety issues taken care of. Clean the engine bay. Consider a newer power plant… not too big. Rotisserie the body. Be extremely careful with the interior. Basically it’s a gorgeous car. But, at some time, things have to be upgraded unless you want a trailer queen. I want to drive it.
I too, thought where is the original Cali black plates for this one owner??? It would defiantly make it more valuable. It sure does raise an eyebrow…
We are going to say “technically” original black plates.
This car was plated with the long yellow/black plates when it was new.
$12K seems like a lot of money for a fairly nondescript car. It is still at least $25K away from a complete restoration. Driving it around looking like it does would qualify buyer as a “dork.” It looks like $4500. to a high 0f $6500.00 to me.
I love it! My mother received her driver’s license in 1957. Since Dad had the 1957 Plymouth all day it was decided that she needed her own car. We lived on the Roseland area of Chicago then and the place to look for a cheap used car was Halstead Street. So once Dad got home from work and all of us were fed. It was time to go look for a car for Mom. She was shiftless then, so the pickings were few as far as automatic transmissions were concerned. So when a brown 1950 Fastback Olds 2 door with “HYDRO” painted on the windshield and a huge external sunshade appeared it was an (please excuse the pun) automatic possibility. Instead transferring the whole family for the test drive, it was decided that Mom take off by herself. So off she goes driving an unfamiliar car, in an unfamiliar area, with no purse (which means no driver’s license) and limited visibility because of “HYDRO” painted on the windshield. She proceeds to go around the block, but the next street is one way the wrong way, so she carries on. Quite soon she has lost her way. She keeps driving around to see something she recognises and she finally does. And goes for home. Unfortunately, 4 hours has now transpired, my new born baby sister is screaming because she is hungry, my other sister is happy to just take a nap, and I am enjoying my Dad bounce the car trying to rock my new sister to sleep. Meanwhile the owner of the used car lot is having a coronary. As he is sure that the woman that he put in his car has stolen it and had taken this opportunity to abandon her family. (postpartum anxiety has taken over completely) Mom has let herself in the house with the key “hidden” beneath the flower pot and is trying to figure out what to do. She finally decides to try and call every used car lot on Halsted Street in hopes of finding one where people are still there waiting for her return. It is now about 11PM. Sizemore’s (I think that was the name.) was pretty far down the list but the phone rang and a person (if you picture an older fat balding guy smoking a cigar you have the “person”) having a heart attack answers the phone. We end up bringing him home with us to sign the papers and buy the car. We had to, it was the right thing to do.
It was a great car for Mom. No problems ever with the car, other than one time she forgot to put it in park on a hill and the car just let it’s self wander on down the street very slowly and stopped in the middle of an intersection. She had to do some fast talking to the police officer not to get a ticket. As it had been over three hours since we had “parked” the car. The ’50 was later traded for a ’55 Rocket 88 2 door hard top. (2 tone blue) which had better visibility for driving in the city.
Great story, you had me laughing.
I don’t think a ’50 Olds had a “park” position . If I recall correctly you put it IN “LOW” with the engine running , turn the engine off and then put it reverse .It was supposed to hydraulic lock or some such magic . I would have used the parking brake .
Wow.
Wow.
And also wow.
Normally not a fan of anything that old, but this beauty really rustles my jimmies.
Just plain beautiful exactly the way she sits.
Now all I have to do is convince the ‘boss’ that cars like this don’t go down in value, unlike the neighbor’s brand new Buick, so this is the smarter buy.
How could no one in that family want to keep such an heirloom?
Beautiful. One of the best years/bodies for an Olds. If it were an 88, it would be practically perfect in every way! 🙂
Why is it, when someone buys an old car, he feels somehow obligated for some reason to leave his mark on it, DO something to it, – like a dog marking his territory, – paint it, “restore” it, clear coat it, scotch-bright it, or any of a score of other horrible things people do to their cars other than simply enjoy and love them. This car appears to have been driven, cared-for, maintained, and loved for every one of its 68 years, why not simply continue that wonderful tradition. That’s what real “patina” is all about.
The engine doesn’t appear to have been maintained.
Which mechanic in his right mind, DOESN’T at least clean the engine down and rub it with an oily rag ?
Also, HOW do you get that car paintwork ”rubbed” through like that ?
I smacks to me of of having been ”Scotch-brighted”, to give it ”that” patina.
Why is there NO vehicle history report ?
It’s old enough to have a history.
Just because the engine isn’t covered in oil doesn’t mean it isn’t cared for, the plugs look clean and possibly replaced not too long ago – or at least gap adjusted, there are some new battery cables, the air cleaner looks clean and probably tended to on a regular basis, and there are some other signs as well. A greasy engine won’t make it run any better.
Many years of regular washing, cleaning, and waxing will wear right through the paint down to the primer just as it has on this car.
These Oldsmobiles were “hot” in the 50s. Fast and good looking….
I found this car in Mexico. The ad didn’t say what year or model it is so I had to go looking.
I think it is a cool looking car.
It turned out to be a 1941 Oldsmobile Sedan Model 168. The owner is only asking 12K USD for it which doesn’t seem out of line.
I haven’t seen too many of these anywhere.
It does look like there is a ’50 model in the background plus the ’58 9 passenger sedan (Cadillac).
Here is a better angle from the side.
This is the last picture the seller listed.
Miguel Thanks for all the great posts. Whenever I’m in Mexico I’m always amazed at the vehicles you get there that we don’t get in Canada as well as how long they last. Yea, I know no snow, no road salt. Keep it up.
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I do not think a frame off is always a necessity, especially solid, clean it up, redo brakes, update interior and sand her to the bare metal and repaint to original color.
Know of two rebuildable early olds V8 and yes IMO no harm in plunking into auto.
Add air and hidden stereo.
$5 -7000 max to me.
The V8 of that period will keep up to 65 mph on freeway.
Nice Olds,and an enjoyable well written used car purchase story!😀