Remembering things can be difficult. Time, quantity, and details all make things hard to remember. Someone must have forgotten about this green 1948 Oldsmobile 78 sedan that is stashed in a barn in Kingston, New York. No mileage is listed but it does have a clean title. You can take it home for $2,200. Thank you Adam Clarke for the tip. The seller says if it is up, it is still for sale and you can view the listing on Craigslist.
Under the hood is supposed to be an engine. Where did that go? Oh, yes, it has been put in a truck and is currently apart. That is based on deciphering the listing. At least they remembered where that was. It should be a 257 cubic inch straight eight connected to an automatic 4 speed Hydra-Matic transmission. With the engine not installed, the listing suggests either fixing or parting the car out. That could be quite a difficult decision.
Something that was forgotten in the listing are photos of the interior. It is possible it is still in very good condition. 1948 was the last year of the second generation of this model. Since 1942, 70 series cars had been marketed as Dynamic Cruiser 78. But, in 1948, when the Dynamic name was also put on the 60 series cars, the Cruiser name was dropped, leaving it to be marketed as a Dynamic 78. Try to remember all those digits.
It would be nice to know the story behind this car. It is a text book barn find situation and it seems to be ready to forget the past. Because not only had someone potentially forgotten where the car was, but what the car even was. Written on the rear passenger side door, is the year and make of the car. It could be that it was purchased at auction at one time. However, the most important question is, where did they put the keys?
Poor car. Hopefully she can be saved.
The engine is apart in the “trunk”.
These Olds’ always looked grumpy and sad.
This one is much sadder because of its condition.
That car is worth saving just for the fabulous art-deco grille alone.
Company I used to work for in the early 70s in Kingston had a storage garage in a row of garages at a private house. In the garage next to ours was a 1962? Caddy that was said to be used for transporting recently departed wiseguys to their final rest in the woods deep in the Catskills. Wish I could remember where it was !
Hope someone saves her-but 2200 seems a little optimistic to me.
Engine apart in Trunk
Have a hard time getting a wrecker to tow away for free
Worth it all day long.. great looking cars.. if you can turn a wrench-grab a small block and overdrive transmission and work out the bugs.. You’d have a cool cruiser under $5000!!!
If you can turn a wrench, put the straight right back together….
engine in the trunk was a straight 6, not an 8. I now own the car. It will see the road again although with many hidden updates to make it a driver.
Thanks for the update Floyd!
No problem, car is amazingly solid and will be a fun driver. Found the car listed here after I was already looking into buying it, sat in a barn for 15 or so years and was covered with bat droppings, tires flat to the rims, etc..but the tire tubes actually aired up ok and the car rolled like new…oh and the keys are in it :)
I was *this* close to calling about it! I want a 2-door though, preferably a 41 or 42. Hope you get her going soon!
Good luck in your search! The 2 doors are cool but the big 4 door fastbacks make great hot rods to haul the family around. Dont dismiss them, they are great projects.
Just the old Hydramatic alone would’ve been worth saving! Looking for the straight eight version of this year & body style Olds…..
Would like to find a ‘47/48 like this but the 78 series version! Anyone know the main difference between the post war Olds straight eight & the same era Pontiac straight eight besides the cubic inch displacement?