Hiding in this garage is an unfinished restoration project that will undoubtedly ignite debate amongst our readers. It is a 1948 Oldsmobile 98 Club Coupe, a rock-solid classic requiring the finishing touches to return to its former glory. However, its ownership history rather than its condition will spark interest. The seller holds documentary evidence seemingly confirming that it once belonged to legendary Hollywood actor, the late Steve McQueen. The Olds is listed here on eBay in Cypress, California. The seller set their BIN at $60,000, with the option to make an offer. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this intriguing project.
Oldsmobile’s Third Generation 98 hit showroom floors in 1948 as post-war buyers clamored to secure the latest offerings from Detroit. This car rolled off the line during the first year, with evidence suggesting its original owner ordered it in Nankeen Cream. That color hides below a layer of Brown primer, as the seller admits it is a stalled project due to his deteriorating health. The panels look remarkably straight, and there is no evidence of rust. That is unsurprising if the car spent most of its life in California because that state’s climate is ideal for preserving classic steel. The photos suggest the exterior requires little beyond rudimentary surface preparation before the new owner applies a fresh coat of paint. Every piece of chrome has made a trip to the platers and is in as-new condition. The windshield is new, and the wheels wear the correct hubcaps and trim rings. The celebrity aspect of this car deserves examination because the seller holds the title, seemingly confirming its history. In researching this article, I delved into the online world, hoping to locate a shred of evidence that might substantiate the claim beyond all doubt. McQueen was renowned for his love of classic cars, and his collection included some of the most desirable vehicles ever produced. However, his taste was eclectic, with his garage housing more modest vehicles like a Hudson Hornet and a 1951 Hudson Wasp. Therefore, it is possible this Olds ticked the right box for him. It will be fascinating to see whether you can shed further light on that question.
The interior continues the car’s unfinished theme, although it appears the new owner only faces reassembly to return it to its former glory. The dash wears fresh paint, and every plated component sparkles beautifully against its dark finish. The seller has the seats and other upholstered items, which appear to have been restored. The wheel is in as-new condition, and the dash houses the factory radio. There is new carpet on the floors, and with every item returned to its rightful place, it seems this interior will need nothing.
Powering this Olds is the 257ci flathead straight-eight that sends 115hp and 218 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydramatic transmission. The curb weight of 3,820 lbs means it is hardly a rocket ship, but this Olds should cruise happily on the open road at 60mph. That will be far more relevant to most people than how fast it can cover the ¼-mile. The news for potential buyers is hugely positive, with this classic in excellent mechanical health. The seller converted the electrical system to 12-volts, but includes the original 6-volt components for those craving authenticity. There are also boxes of NOS parts to help keep the show on the road. The Olds has 65,000 original miles on the clock, with the seller claiming it runs and drives as well as it would have when it rolled off the showroom floor.
Celebrity ownership has long been debated, and it will typically only affect a classic car’s value if that person and the vehicle are inextricably linked in the public’s mind. However, personalities like the late Steve McQueen seem to rewrite the Rule Book. A 1953 Hudson Hornet owned by the great man sold in 2019 for $165,000, a figure which was approximately three times the price it would have fetched if its previous owner was “Joe Average.” Therefore, the seller’s BIN on this 1948 Oldsmobile 98 appears justified if its history is confirmed beyond doubt. The big question is, are you willing to pay the price to rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty?
That was the address of McQueen’s Solar Productions.
Not sure why there’s no pic of the VIN.
The Vin is there as VEH ID.
Here it is decoded.
https://www.v8cars.hu/oldsvin/decode.php
Sorry, you meant the actual Vin on the car not the title.
At least the decoding checks out.
I think you need to add a zero to the buy it now in the article, it’s 60,000 not 6,000. At first I thought wow one heck of deal, but now I’m not so sure.
A big thanks to both yourself and PaulG, geezerglide 85. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how often I proofread something, I manage to miss the obvious. It’s fixed now, and I hope you enjoy the article.
Adam, you need to add a zero to the price
I was ready to pounce at 6k!
Neat car, someone might pull the trigger…
Must have been typing as geezerglide 85
was…
While the car has some appeal being one of cars belonging to the “King of Cool”…$60k is a tall order in this condition. If it were a complete survivor – maybe, but this needs allot more work – than ‘finishing touches’!!! I wish the gentleman good luck with that.
There are a lot of cars I could buy for $60,000. And this would not be one of them.
Say what you want, my gut tells me McQueen never owned this Olds. Given his ‘eye’ for what tripped his trigger I can see McQueen going for a `49 model Olds with the new 303 OHV V8, and not the prehistoric straight 8. Call it a hunch. HOWEVER…..I can also see him owning this LONG AGO, perhaps early in his career sometime late 1950’s or early `60s when it was just a second hand car.
Have to agree, the rocket V-8 would be the one to save. But you may be correct, ling before he collected anything this is a set of wheels.
The seller claims in the listing that he bought the car in the 70s. The issue date on the paperwork with McQueen’s name on it is dated 3/31/78. So if the current owner did indeed buy this car in the 70s then McQueen could have only owned the car for maybe a year or year and a half.
The car’s owner on the title in the eBay listing was McQueen Steven T. McQueen’s birth name was Terrence Stephen McQueen. His film debut in a 1952 short credits him as Stephen McQueen but by 1957 he was using Steven not Stephen, which by 1959 he had shortened to Steve in film credits.
I found a 1962 Solar Productions document online he signed as Steven T. McQueen — same as the car title — which suggests this car was owned by McQueen, especially if the Beverly Blvd. address was that of McQueen’s Solar Productions. That building is multi-million-dollar condos today but it was an office building when it opened in 1964.
Steve McQueen, one of my favorite actors. But to me, celebrities are like everyone else, they put their pants on one leg at a time, I never saw any reason an old car should be worth any more, just because it was owned by a celebrity, especially when the car is no longer the same as when the said celebrity owned it. Who’s gonna spend $60,000 for this, granted it would be a beauty when finished. The new gen’s aren’t interested in these old cars, and most wouldn’t even know who Steve McQueen was, nor would they care, maybe if the car was owned by some rapper, that might draw some interest. Anyway, hopefully some old timer with a lotta money and spare time finishes what’s been started
I don’t care who once owned it. I wouldn’t give a third of that for this car.
McQueen owned a lot of cars and not all of them stellar rarities like a Jag XKSS. Back in the 70’s he bought a Packard from my father (through an auction in Santa Monica).
Where it is now, who knows !
Similar to the 51 Chevy (convertible though) he drove in his final film “The Hunter”.
I know a guy who knew a guy who had John Voight’s LeBaron…
Did it come with a pencil with bite marks?
The thing that jumps out at me here is the fact that this car is listed on Ebay.
Call me a cynic, but if the paperwork all checks out, and the seller can authenticate prior ownership by THE Steve McQueen, this car should be listed with an auction house. There are still plenty of McQueen fans who would pay far more than what a 1948 Oldsmobile of this caliber is worth just because of the link to the man. That it is instead being offered up on Ebay in a somewhat haphazard manner suggests that the seller knows something doesn’t add up or that he’s already run it past an auction house or two and they wouldn’t accept what he has.
Sounds like a mystery to me but if this car has the 4 speed hydromatic transmission in it that old flathead engine will move smartly from a standstill. My experience with a ’49 OHV Rocket engine with the 4 speed transmission in my ’53 Studebaker coupe and the ’52 Pontiac convertible with the flat 8 and 4 speed hydromatic that I had time in prompts my comment. If they only had stall converters in those days….
I know this really has nothing to do with THIS particular car. But it reminded me of a VERY old, (before my time LOL), Disney cartoon entitled, “Susie the little blue coupe” https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=gkg4OTlMLNQ
Most car guys love these old cartoons IMO
Several years ago I visited the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. I signed up for the Hollywood Vault Tour that takes place in the museum’s extensive basement storage facility. Among the cars affiliated with Hollywood stars was McQueen’s 1956 JAGUAR XKSS. I recall another of McQueens cars in the PAM collection that was more of a daily driver, a Chevy or Hudson, in which he would drive his son Chad to school, if I remember correctly. In any case, the Peterson Museum staff may have some knowledge of other cars in the McQueen stable.
Add these to the list:
James Dean’s Porsche
Tom Mix’s Cord Phaeton
Bonny & Clyde’s 1934 Ford V8
Name your favorite.
Beverly Hillbillies car in the opening intro to that show…
I dont know why the writer assumes this was a special order car , Its very doubtful that ANYONE special ordered a car in ANY color in 1948 ; people were buying cars as fast as the car companies could ship them out. No one except the very rich with multiple cars would want to wait for a car of a certain color to come in, and if they did, it would be a higher line car than an Olds
For the money, the seller’s 409 ’62 Impala (also on Ebay) looks more interesting to me.
I agree. That looks like a sweet project car.
Car looks to be in very good shape with from what I can see all the original hard to find parts. The engine looks untouched or with the stock head gasket.
These cars had pretty good front push in a corner with the tires of the day but the straight eight sat low enough to give decent weight transfer. With better tires and a few engine mods could get at least 30 more HP.
McQueen has larger than life star following. And was an actor that continued to refine his craft. McQueen loved wheels of every sort. And the 48′ would have clicked for nothing but having the 8 cylinders and the auto 4. Super easy to work on and easy to drive. With him it fit the bill at the time in his life where he did not need complicated time consuming problem iron. And the eight with auto 4 was that, dependable.