At first glance, this 1956 Oldsmobile Super 88 (more about the “Super” in a moment) looks like a dilapidated old car. It’s not even cleaned up for the pictures in the ad where it’s for sale here on craigslist. However, if you look a little deeper into the details of the car, which is located in Whitehouse, Ohio, you’ll see some carefully added components that might make the 1956 Olds tagline of a “power personality” very, very accurate! The seller is looking for $15,000 for this Super 88 that T. J. was kind enough to send in.
One of Oldsmobile’s problems for 1956 was distinguishing between their various models. I’m including this dealer poster to show you what I mean. Although the Ninety-Eight was somewhat larger, the styling of all three main lines (88, Super 88 & Ninety-Eight) was so similar that it took me 25 minutes of searching to find out whether or not this car was an 88 or a Super 88 (turns out the extended chrome trim on the window sills is the key external differentiator, experts feel free to add/correct me). I did find out, however, that the Super 88 2-door sedan was the lowest-production 1956 Oldsmobile model with 5,465 made out of 485,458 total cars. But how do you get to $15,000? Read on, friends!
Hmm. Do those wheels stand out to you? I’m sure whoever added them to this sleeper intended them to fly under the radar. Not so, at least to enthusiasts! Those are actually 17″ steelies. The seller also tells us that the wipers don’t work, there’s a crack in a side window, the speedometer is non-operational and the heater is not hooked up. So what’s so appealing about this car besides the wheels and tires?
For one thing, it only has relatively minor rust, mainly in the rocker panels. The paint may even be original, although the seller doesn’t state that.
Although the front and rear seats sport matching blanket covers, I don’t think that’s the key either. Let’s look under the hood.
“Evil, Wicked Mean & Nasty” is what the pinstriped air cleaner says, and I’d have to agree. What you are looking at is a 454 cubic-inch big block Chevrolet engine that has been doctored to look like an Oldsmobile Rocket. Now we’re getting somewhere! The car has also been treated to a new gas tank, new stainless steel fuel lines, an electric fuel pump, rebuilt brakes with all-new lines, a new aluminum radiator with an electric fan, and a Turbo 400 transmission to handle the torque! Now the price tag at least makes some sense. So is $15,000 too much for a sleeper like this? What do you think?
The ’70’s all over again – A Chevy engine in an Oldsmobile.
All this going on while we were putting Olds engines in Fords and Studebakers.
Another project that’s scary, brakes that were marginal to begin with with lower speed limits. Now add a big block Chevy, more weight and more power and stomp it, now try to stop it. When will some people learn. Always, always upgrade brakes when you add power.
….and the suspension, I’d guess…
It’s worth about $7k tops. Nice car, but it needs dollars n’ work to get it there.
This car should be a restomod tubbed with slicks and powered with a big block and a blower. Four speed too.
All black primer inside and out including the chrome. One bucket seat.
Bob
Nascar tribute candidate.
Other people’s projects..
As noted above under braked. What else should have been upgraded bit wasn’t?
Olds ” Rocket” valve covers on a BBC?
Jesus wept.
So much more interesting than the tri-five chevies
I’d upgrade the brakes and suspension, replace the wheels with 15 inch ones and Olds dog dish hubcaps, and drive it.
“Evil , wicked , mean and nasty” Don’t step on the grass, Sam…aging myself indeed.
I think 15 K is not a bad number depending on what you plan to do with it? Will you be able to flip, I doubt it. Could it be a very COOL RIDE, yes and you would have way less in it than a Tri Five Chevy.
” front and rear seats sport matching blanket covers”. Love it!
I would be concerned with all the fluids that came out under the hood when they turned that car upside down for the trunk pic.
Faux-mobile!
finish what you start for crying out loud what else did you not finish
He did finish it, obviously not to your standards, but it runs and drives. Buy it and “finish” it yourself. You’ll save a lot of $$$
great set of wheels;wroth more ,just for storing all these years