After WWII ended, the dash to purchase a new car was so overwhelming that no dealer had to do much except take orders: sales were hot even though the same old pre-war sheet metal was all that was on offer. A couple of years passed before new models truly proliferated. Oldsmobile got the jump on the Big Three when it launched its “Futuramic” line, starting with the top-shelf 98 in 1948. Penned by Art Ross, head of Oldsmobile’s styling studio, the Futuramic was hailed as “bringing truly functional design to the automotive field” – a strong assertion, particularly since Studebaker had planted its flag with a new, modern shape a year earlier. The company soon introduced the 88, and it, too, sported integrated fenders and sleek flanks. The tail still harkened to the “bustle” look, with a pronounced bulge before the sheet metal dove towards the bumper – the 98 with its longer wheelbase handled the trunk transition more gracefully. Here on eBay is a 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Futuramic convertible, with bidding at $12,600, reserve not met. The new owner can drive her home from Skokie, Illinois.
The 88 shared GM’s A platform with the six-cylinder 76, but the 88 came equipped with Oldsmobile’s Rocket V8. It took about two seconds for race teams to recognize the potential of the big engine/light body combination. Olds 88s won scads of NASCAR races every year from 1949 through 1952. An 88 driven by Herschel McGriff and Ray Elliott won the 1950 La Carrera Panamericana. These race wins served to boost sales and popularize the 88 culturally, inspiring one of the first rock ‘n roll songs, “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston & the Delta Cats. This example has its original 303.7 cu. in. V8, good for 135 hp and paired with a Hydra-Matic Drive automatic. Remnants of the factory Alder Green color remain in the engine bay.
While this interior will need work, the basics are present – gauges, seats, steering wheel, trim, handles. Oldsmobile reminded customers that the 1950 Futuramic included a newly designed dash and controls, as well as a one-piece windshield. Just a year after this car was made, extra cost equipment included automatically adjustable seats and hydraulic window lifts – pretty advanced for the time. This car has the optional AM radio. The power top is said to work well, and the fabric remains decent. I would probably replace that rear window for safety’s sake.
The Futuramic series was trimmed with restraint – side and rocker trim that complemented the car’s lines; fender-toppers, badging and a hood ornament that evoked aeronautics; strong, unfussy bumpers. Just a few years later, chrome would be found on every surface and every corner of most cars, adding a couple hundred pounds to curb weights. This late 40s/early 50s moment in the chronology of automotive design has some appeal – stylists were reaching for the next new thing and beginning to achieve it. That said, these cars have lost favor in the market lately. This 88 Futuramic convertible sold in 2010 for over $70k, but by 2024, this stunning example managed only $44k. Fortunately, our subject car runs and drives, allowing the new owner to enjoy it on a budget.
My past life keeps coming back to haunt me. First, there sits the engine and transmission I put into my ’63 Studebaker Coupe. Next, spent a good amount of time in it’s sister car, a ’52 Pontiac convertible straight 8 that I wound up making a cross country and back trip in. Either one were the better looking of the era and are great, high speed road cars. A little work and this one will be a beauty visibly and a great one the road.
Interesting to see a car offered from my hometown, Skokie, IL, right outside of Chicago. The best old cars magazine I ever saw was published by a man who lived in our neighborhood and later his son took over the business and they published it out of their business in the neighboring suburb of Lincolnwood.
My Dad bought a ’41 Plymouth new and sold it in ’47 for what he paid for it, such was the demand for cars after WWII. He got on the waitlist for a Pontiac, among others, then discovered extra bucks were “required” to move up the lists. Unwilling to pay the vigorish, he ended up with a ’47 Hudson Super Six Two-door Brougham. The dealer threw in a factory-installed pushbutton radio–with a floor botton, too!!
Hudson, like Studebaker, showed off a “new, modern shape” in 1948. Dad finally traded the ’47 for the “stepdown design” ’51, again a Hudson Super Six Two-door Brougham; I learned to drive on it…
Wise choice to switch to Hudsons. My 3 uncles in Chicago owned Hudsons in the 1950’s, my aunt drove a used Hudson in the early 1960’s, and I owned 2 stepdowns in the 1990’s. Two old timers in the local Hudson club in York, PA were brothers and told the story that in the early 1950’s one brother owned a Rocket 88 Olds and one owned a Hudson. They would drive around together and the Olds owner noticed that he was stopping frequently at gas stations while his brother in the Hudson did not have to fill up that frequently. So he traded in the Olds for a Hudson.
Good story, Steve Mehl…The father of a schoolmate of mine had a ’51 Mercury, and we found ourselves the only cars at a red traffic light one night. Hmmm…deserted streets…no Smokies around…he revved up his Dad’s Merc, I revved up my Dads’ ’51 Hudson, the light turned green, and both cars leaped away…well, they leaped as well as two family sedans could leap in 1952…Who won? Well now, you know I wouldn’t be writing this little vignette if I hadn’t won, right? RIGHT?
Never saw a carburetor like that. It looks more like a pressure cooker from that era.
My engine looked a bit better with the big 4 barrel on top of it. That one does look weird doesn’t it.
Very weird indeed. It must be a Rochester, but a model I’ve never seen.
Could it be fuel injected?
Beautifull example for a genuine restoration.
Looks like Wally’s car
Steve Mehl, with you being a Hudson nut in Illinois. You must have known my Uncle Smitty (Norris) Smith. While growing up in the 1950s, ‘and 60s he always had about 20 Hudsons. My Dad and him always traded cars for vacations. (Never figured put why) So I have spent lots of time in Hudsons. I even owned a ’47 Club Coupe for awhile in high school. (not my daily driver) Mom had a ’50? Olds fast back 2 door as her first car when we lived in the city. (Chicago) I grew up living Hudsons, Oldsmobiles and Plymouths.
Hudson, Olds, Plymouth….3 great makes. All 3 gone. What is the world coming to?