I’m a sucker for vintage wagons. The awesome styling combined with the nostalgia of cross-country road trips and the endless custom possibilities really gets my imagination going. This 1957 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight is no exception. It can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $14,250, but the seller is accepting offers. Currently located in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the ad says the car has been sitting for over 40 years! While it looks like there are some pieces missing, a lot of them appear to be safely stored in the inside. Let’s take a look!
Here you can see the rear bench seat has been folded down to give a good view of the rear cargo area. Some of you reading this right now might have memories of riding back here.
The interior still retains some of the classic stylings from 1957 but appears to need a little work and the seller admits there are missing pieces. Although some pieces are missing, some of the valuable parts are located on the driver’s seat, but the lower half of the dash appears to be missing. Take a look at this one to see what a complete dash looks like.
The engine is an Oldsmobile Rocket but for some reason, the seller hasn’t tried turning it to see if it is free. They do say the car rolls fine, so loading it on a trailer with a winch shouldn’t be an issue.
As you can see the car currently has vintage wire wheels. The ad says that the factory wheels are included as well. Overall, this looks like a good candidate for a restoration or a resto-mod. Wagons continue to be very popular and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of slowing down. What do you think of this wicked wagon?
Just a guess, but I think the hole in the LR fender was for the mount of a HAM radio antenna.
Love the style, this one will take a lot of work to bring back. Sitting over the dirt will rot the underside badly. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the frame is shot, or in need of some major repair.
My church group restored a ’56 Holiday sedan. I like the long roof layout more!
The holes unfortunately are from the lighted reflectors someone put in the car , which means both fenders and quarters will need work. Its still a solid looking body, I hope it gets restored !
Yep, a lot of people after 1968 thought installing these cheapo side lights or reflectors updated their old ride to the current mandated standard. I had an older MG Midget with them. Previous owner went to the trouble of cutting round 1 inch circles into the fenders, mounting each unit with electrical splices into the head and tail light wiring. Peterson was one of the more popular brands available at the auto parts store. Totally out of place on a 1957 Olds with all this body sculpting.
I’ve never actually seen one of these. That dashboard looks stunning when restored!
The fact that is a hardtop wagon makes it even cooler. An original restoration would be a huge operation. A resto mod would make parts finding a little easier but either way it could be a worthwhile project. I could not resist painting it three tone, light and dark green and white.
Of more interest to me is the 4? door orange Bronco in the background. Is that one of those Mexican mkt 3 door trucks?
Someone told me that the truck is a Ford Caballero, a Surburban-class vehicle not sold in North America. I concur that the left fender hole is probably from a ball/spring antenna mount commonly used on early CB radio installations. When the service was introduced in 1959 this mount was all there was
Nope. The hole was left when the aftermarket side marker/reflector fell off. This car was repainted around the side marker. That’s all. Doubt it’s from an antenna mast but in the end who cares? This vehicle looks like it was loved and accessorized a LONG , LONG time ago… I would instantly remove the velour upholstery and door panels then do away with those undersized wire wheels. Maybe recast the dash pad with a 3D printer. Wonder why they thought taking the tailgate off would “prevent further damage?”
Very Interesting !
I like the Fiesta ,the cabellero is dressed too much restomod some flake or deep hue .
Sitting in New Mexico is a good thing. It is very dry in most places.
The hole on the left “quarter panel” was for an aftermarket side marker light; check out the right side.
Well….
I’ll be darned. That flew right by me, good eye.
I guess I didn’t even consider markers on a car of this vintage, LOL!
They were readily available, in fact, the white T-bird in American Graffiti has them.
I’ve only seen a ’57 Olds wagon IRL once, as a fresh painted restoration project. Never seen a completed one, but it’s still one of my favorite wagons. This one is bound to be restored but needs an owner/builder with means and capabilities way above my own and most home mechanics’ level. Its color combo seems unusual for a 50s car and I hope it’ll wear same colors when done
Being the hardtop Fiesta, this one’s INSTANTLY collectible. You don’t find these just anywhere. The `57 Fiestas in general have not survived in any great numbers. The interior trim pcs. are the parts hardest to locate. I see door panels missing or incorrect, etc. so this one will take some investment. When properly restored (No…no restomod!) it’s worth every penny you put into it, plus some.
Fav year Olds. Test drove a J-2 pink 98 convert in early 1964.
Restore to original, what ever the body plate says, and stick too it. You will be rewarded.
I bought a 61 Plymouth wagon in a wrecking yard in Bloomfield, New Mexico.
Lots of old iron in that area if land developers keep their grubby hands off
I love the 57 Olds in general, but I’m biased because Ma had a 57 black 88 convertible that was the 1st car I drove. Unfortunately, it didn’t have power steering and at around 5K lbs it gave her trouble parking. The massive chrome front bumper was amazing and the rear fins were subdued.
As to the instance SW, the asking price is absurd for a car that needs $50large at least, probably more, to bring it back and it would be hard not to be under water with it. Sourcing parts will be hard. Body work (likely extensive underneath), paint, interior, running gear….whew…lotta work.
’57 is the best looking Olds ever built. The hardtop Fiesta wagon was only available in ’57 and ’58 (’58 is the ugliest Olds ever built). The Buick version of this wagon, in both ’57 and ’58, was called the Caballero.
Ten years ago this would of been a 400 dollar car , thanks to all of the car shows
Maybe 40 yrs ago – we had the Buick version in the yard…..and old man Fry got about $2500 from it in the early 1990’s – to bring it down from the top of a three high stack of cars.
That yard had been grandfathered since the 50’s – just a mile west of downtown Dallas….sadly we didn’t make it into the new century – closed in 1998 – five years after he passed.
I bought a 58 Fieste wagon in 68 for $50.00. A woman owned the car and had bought it new. It originally had air suspension ride, but had been replaced with coil springs and new ball joints at some point. When the transmission went out she had it rebuilt, but bought a new car in the meantime, so the car was parked. My dad worked with her husband and mentioned that I needed a car. The man told my dad about the Olds and said I could have it for $50 bucks. It was pink & white with a black top but I didn’t care it ran great.
God bless America
I offered 5000.00 and it didn’t fly already have one doing art Morrison frame and 409 aluminum big block 509 cubic inches and 650 hp 640 lbs of torq a Limar Walden motor. Just needed trim peace over passenger drip rail. Expenses peace wouldn’t you say lmao
In 1967, my family was driving in Gardena, Ca., when a small plane lost power, hit telephone wires, and smashed into our car. The car we were in was an old wagon like this one for sale in Barn Finds. Our family of six all survived. Unfortunately, the four people in the plane perished in the crash. I don’t think we would have survived in any other car. NOTHING LIKE OLD AMERICAN VEHICLES.