Said to have 98% of its original parts (not 97 and not 99 but 98%), this 1950 Oldsmobile 98 Club Sedan is rumored to have belonged to U.S. Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager (sound barrier breaker) in the fifties. The seller adds, “This is unconfirmed, but this is what the previous guy told me about the car’s history“. Huh, really? Well maybe, maybe not but does this car have the right stuff to be turned into something more than what it is? We’ll see. Located in Daggett, California, this Rocket-powered Olds is available, here on craigslist for $12,500.
We’re told that besides its original paint, the body of this 98 is “straight as hell” and added is, “Really honestly the body is so great I’d restore this one“. Well, it does look straight and appears to only possess surface rust (known today as “Patina”) though the seller does state that the floors are rusty. No worries, since he’s in the restoration business, he could perform the repairs for a prospective buyer. The trim looks to all be intact though the driver’s side rear bumper guard is missing. An extra NOS passenger side fender is included in the sale.
There are no images of the interior so I’ll throw up another of the exterior but it, unfortunately, reveals nothing of the interior through the side window. Anyway, the upholstery and fabric wiring are said to be “toasty“. The good news is that the seller has, “cleaned all the rat turds out of it and got it very clean inside” – there’s a sales enhancer! All of the interior trim is present, straight, and useable though the driver’s side window crank is missing.
Rocket power is provided by a second-year 135 gross HP, 303 CI V8 engine though the carburetor is missing so this one’s a non-runner. Instead of the often found Hydramatic automatic transmission, this Olds has the standard three-speed manual gearbox. The seller adds that the engine compartment, minus the battery, is otherwise complete.
The seller suggests, “It needs resto but if you wanna build this car it’s the one to start with. Or make a bad-a$$ custom“. I would probably lean towards a restoration as this Club Sedan’s great lines just scream 1950 and a long-ago discarded design. It’s not a first-year “revolutionary” 1949 model, the one with Old’s brand, spankin’ new OHV V8 but it’s close enough. The resto-mod route is tempting too as this fastback body style would handily lend itself to that endeavor but passing on a stock restore would just seem to be a missed opportunity. Of course, there’s also the little matter of the price – that’s one aspect of this 98 that may not be the right stuff – Chuck Yeager ownership or not, right?
This could be a great project if it was a few thousand:-)
A few thousand might get you the bumpers and a couple pieces of trim..
Its 2022
If you want cheap, buy a Kia
Too much money for too much work. Don’t have to replace the engine as you can overbore to 311 ci, different cam and carbs and pull plenty of horsepower out of it. The 3 on a tree manuals aren’t bad but the the 4 speed Hydromatic is really the best one if you want more speed. Agree there aren’t a lot of these cars left.
Be tempting to do what hot rodders did back in the day: find a 394 and bolt that in place of the 303. :-) TJ
Love it but I’m in agreement on the price. Maybe I’m wrong but the buy in is gonna eliminate any real hobby builders. IMHO. Still, really cool car.
Great project and really cool old Olds. Yeah you can remove the rat turds, but I’m not sure you can ever entirely remove the smell of rat pee from the rear seat springs under the upholstery.
You ought to try cleaning the interior of a car that was used as a chicken coop. Gave up and changed the body.
Obviously, California has a “disease” that makes Covid look like a runny nose. $12grand,,,what’s wrong with these people? Greed City, USA.
Rant aside, it’s hard to believe, at one time, specifically 1950, THIS tank was the hottest stick out there. It’s not like this car had to compete with hemi Challengers, the V8 was revolutionary, and with most cars still running old anemic “flatties” ( Hudson excepted) suddenly these tanks were the fastest cars. It was short lived, when enterprising backyard mechanics stuffed these motors in Henry Js, and drag racing was born. The Olds V8 was a huge part of that era.
$12 grand, they’re nuts. I’m awaiting an ER visit bill that I spent maybe an hour in, couple Xrays, will surely be in the THOUSANDS that I’m hoping Medicare handles it, but how can one justify 5 figures on a toy like this? It’s not a “hobby” anymore, it’s how much you can bilk your neighbor for personal gain.
PS, I always have a bit of remorse posting a comment that continually rips on Californias lifestyle. I feel, they are the smoking gun that turned the tables on the classic car hobby, eliminating many of us from what we love, and clearly “shakes up my soda”. I spent my entire life as a gearhead, with classic vehicles being a huge part of that. It’s tough finding a “new” hobby at 67, one I can afford, anyway and hopefully explains some of my frustration. I doubt I’m alone here in this thinking.
I’m with you 100%, Howard. I’m 6 weeks away from 67, and I’m just hanging on to what I have until gas is priced out of reach, and we arrive at the intended consequence of all-electric transportation.
$12K, and THEN, he’ll start restoring it for you! At $150 an hour.
The seller’s obviously banking alot on the supposed ‘rumor’ of Chuck Yeager having owned this. But without documentation, that’s all it is; a “rumor”. The price is about $8K or more over what it’s worth as is. This guy will be sitting on this for awhile longer, and perhaps one day wake up to the fact that his dreams are a bit lofty. This is WELL worth restoring, not hot-rodding, since it’s an original 303 c.i. OHV Olds V8. There’s a place in history for these, and they are well-remembered. Sorry it’s not an automatic, but nice anyway.
I think this is the first time I have seen commenters saying that they would rather have an automatic gearbox than a stick shift! Me, I take an auto over a stick every time I buy a car here in UK. If you have ever been stuck on our M 25, known as the biggest car park in the UK, then you know what I mean.
What is M 25 anyway ?
Maybe the seller should hit up Jonathan Ward at Icon, this looks like something he would build for one of his ‘money is no object’ customers…
One of my ‘wish list’ cars. I’ll keep searching
for one that’s very clean. Great style here!
Rocket engine?
Chuck Yeager? I could see how they could assume that he owned it.
It makes total sense!!!!
Take a look at the Rocket hood emblem, they make a great spear. In Wichita, Ks in 1956 I was going very slow around a clover leaf in a snow storm when 3 kids ran out from behind a sign and one of them got speared in the thigh and fortunately did not hit an artery or vein so no bleeding. I immediately loaded the 3 in the car and took them to the hospital. The policeman asked why I left the scene of the accident. I don’t remember what I told him.
I’m always skeptical of restoration shops that want to sell cars that are good to restore – why don’t they restore it if it’s so great what’s wrong with it? Check the frame and engine – I’d give him 5k for it not 12500k.
5 ?!?ya, mr cool.. heres a reality check for you :
the car is exceptionally cool, in exceptional condition and from 1950, 70+ years ago.
Its worth MUCH more than 5, and you know it.
Theres a number of guys on this sight thay are likely not in a healthy financial state that like to degrsde the vehicle they wish they could afford..
Its not the car, its you, its a dream car, even to rich people, and even rich people groan and moan about costs.
This charriot is worth 10k all day, and this seller, as is with nearly all sellers is open for negotiation.
So, please grumpy ol men, focus on the beauti of the car, the luck of the find, the memories..
but California and all its tens of millions of residents are not the wrong doers in modern car values; yup you and i again H.A. sigh
If you want a car with minimal rust, California has em, and YES, they are definitely worth more money.
Ahhh
Anyway
WOW what an awesome car huh ?!, like all time greatness for craftsmanship, quality, design, original paint, a legendary motor ..
truely great car .
I want to apologize to SOME of the people in California. I have family in L.A., obviously, they aren’t all money hungry fanatics. The “reality check” you speak of is coming, but not for “us”, the people that live on what people ask for their vehicles a year, have been through the “reality check” already, and Californias exploitation of this hobby will end soon, so enjoy it now.
I do agree, I need to focus more on the vehicles and the memories, than the few that are heck bent on the making most money. I apologize, that while California may have initiated this farce, its traveled across the country, in the latest “get rich quick” fiasco, and it’s more addictive than heroin, while the “rest” of us sit at the kitchen table belching out our memories.
I don’t mean to single you out, but a show of hands,,how many here, have a kindred interest in this car, Uncle Phil, dad, maybe even your 1st car, now, for say, $5 grand, and maybe a couple grand to get it going with the kid, heaven forbid, maybe paint the dang thing, plenty of folks would go for it, but at 5 figures, plus ANOTHER 5 figures this vulture wants to restore it, it limits interest considerable, and that’s my gripe. In 10 years, nobody is going to give a rats pitootie about a $50,000 Oldsmobile, sorry.
I read somewhere that for a small fee & you have an I’d # & license, you can get into the archives at the motor vehicles dept & research if Yeager actually owned this car. It might be fun & create that provenance. Value added!
At this ask, I’d hate to see more value added! I’ve never understood the attraction of a certain person having owned whatever is for sale, especially as it raises the ask.
I’m in agreement with Howard. Another way over priced project that will take at least as much as the seller is asking to restore it to the level that I would accept. And that’s if you do a lot of the work yourself. Sorry to pick on this particular sale but personally I am tired of the “Patina” BS. I mean if you’re a restorer and this such a great project why don’t you do it? And without documentation the Chuck Yeager connection is worthless. To top it all off it’s another half baked Craigslist ad. One crappy pic under the hood where from what I can see is rusty all over. Not one picture of the “crusty” interior; which apparently was a former rodent residence. Missing hard to find parts which is another aspect of the old car “hobby” that has gotten overrun by greed and unrealistic prices. I’ll stop my rant now but I don’t think I’m the only old geezer that is turned off by the investment, Barrett-Jackson insanity that started invading about twenty years ago!
Nothing ‘ BS ‘ about patina at all.
Sure, the hipsters got wind of the concept, didnt really understand why and turned it into a sh#t show, like hipsters do.
BUT
‘patina’ came out of the simple fact that a car is original, no uglies or poor repair work hidden under modern cheap shiney paint.
One can see the original car and all its glory.
I couldnt disagree more bob.
The patina on this car, is amazing, and it would probably degrade it to slap some clear coat paint job on it.
I have to ask, AGAIN, this sight is called BARN FINDS right ??
Car Bob & money where mouth is!
Ranting is right, take a deep & remember, it’s just & old car.
Anyone who doesn’t believe in
Provenance or documentation doesn’t know the antique, classic car market.
Now let’s hear the nasties that you are all so good at!!!
Hey $ where mouth is, I would suggest that it’s presumptuous to assume what folks financial situation may be. Speaking only for myself; I have more than enough money to buy this car and many of the other cars that appear on this site. That isn’t the point of my comment. I’m well aware that it’s 2022. Patina is mostly an excuse for those too cheap to pay for paint IMHO. I fully understand the appeal of originality. Surface rust, sunburnt paint and pitted chrome ain’t patina.
Ok, to be clear, i am not here to compete or ego trip or…
to Ken, Howard, Bob, others
Ill keep it short
I was a poor boy growing up, born with a torque wrench in my neck, and a strong artistic sense. One of the first cars i developed an affinity for was and is a 49 Cadi, still hope to attain.
What i witnessed growing up was wealthier families buying their young man some cool car, that the ‘man’ didnt work for, know how to work on, nor really take car of. At the same time saw older young men work hard for a lesser version of those cool cars that the wealthier kids would then nose up to them. Sure this could be an analogy for society. This is not the platform for such explorations i know.
SO, decades later, here i am persuing dream cars. I wish i could get over it, but, yall know how it is, gotta get that one more car before i stop.
Now, the value of a car.
Does the rich kid value his GTO he was gifted for getting decent grades junior year as much as the kid who went to school and work and it took years to finally find a decent lemans and put a euro bumper on it ?
Does a car that is kept protected, to what ever extent, storage paid, taking up space in someones mind, property, dreams for sometimes decades,, enabling the next person/generation a chance at an increasing rare car not keep or more so increase in value ??
Does an NOS part sell for what it sold for new ?
If i sell the Chevelle i bought some 8 years ago and have paid for storage and have flushed all fluids and put only tediously sourced USA made parts in for the same price i paid ??
Ill tell you what gentlemen, wages may not have increased in 25 years but the value of my Chevelle has, and if you want to buy it, its gonna cost you at least close to what i have into it.
Im holding my stance firmly on this Oldsmobile !, its worth way more than 5 thousand dollors. To get a specimen of this caliber for 10 is a score, and without BarnFinds most likely would not ever see another the rest of your life.
Formthose of you that claim to be elders in this ‘hobby’ its time to value what it is you do.
For the millenials that pay MORE than asking price on a home thats been on the market for two days, they can pay a respectable amount for a 1950 Olds fastback arrow straight V8 with original paint.
Seriously guys, think about it.
Peace from So Cal ;)
Where the mouth is full of grandeur, in his fantasy world maybe 12 grand for a runner. In my market here maybe 6 grand . It all depends on the location, rarity, and how much someone is willing to spend. I’ve seen the market all over the place thru the years and a car that i bought for 800 bucks in Alaska went for 5000 bucks in LA.
A very clean 1950 ’88 was recently on Ebay. Only two bids and 6G was the high bid. It didnt meet the reserve. If a really nice Olds cant get more than two bids and only 6 grand, Why would a tired , non running 98 in a less popular body style that needs everything sell for 10 Grand ? If this was a coupe, it would have more interest, but not many people are in the market looking for one of these to restore and 10 Grand is way to much for this, rare or not
Sorry Bill “Jesse” James. The M 25 is the ring road that goes around London to enable traffic to reach other parts of the North, East, South and West of England without having to go through Central London. Much like the saying “All roads lead to Rome” well here in UK most roads lead to London. The problem with it is that if there is an accident the police will close the road on the side of the accident in order for the recovery to reach the site of the vehicle/s involved but they also close the other side of the motorway because of the rubberneckers might have another accident while trying to see what happened. A relatively minor accident can close both sides of the motorway for several hours! Hence the description “UK’s biggest car park.
Yeah mon, pass it over here, don’t be stingy with that stuff. Like i said, depends on whatever someone is willing to spend. Stupid people do and say Stupid things .
12k ?? Only way that’s happening Are if chuck Yeagers ashes packed up the tailpipe . This is what’s killing the antique car hobby for the working man ..I own several antique cars that due to prices like this I could never afford to buy now if I wanted to go buy another , good thing I’ve owned em 20 plus years , but I’d be ashamed to ask a price Ike that for a 3 or maby 4k car tops . Lol good luck buddy.
Ya, thats called inflation.
Lots of comments on this one. That’s one of the best parts of this Website. We all have our different views about these cars that become available for sale and we all have our opinions about what is going on with our hobby. This is all good. I can only speak for myself but as someone who got his first collector car (1950 GMC pickup) in 1974 for $300 in nice condition; I have seen a few changes in the hobby and the unrealistic price expectations are the hardest for me to accept. Enough said.
Unless and until the prices at the big auction houses drop prices on “collector” cars, regardless of condition, will continue to be out of sight for the average Joe or Jane looking to get their own. All the complaints on this site notwithstanding.
Again, like the previous fast back GM generation, one of GM’s best designs. I have never seen the Olds 2 door version in real life, and I thought I had seen everything.
I’m surprised nobody has made a comment about John Voight’s Chrysler LeBaron …… Maybe there’s a pencil in the Oldsmobile’s glove compartment with Chuck Yeager’s teeth marks on it !
I don’t get too wound up over prices since I am not a buyer anyhow. I just like cars and this one is sure unusual. I’m glad he posted it. Prices? In my real estate days I had a listing that wouldn’t sell because it was right next to a busy Rail Road track and when the train came through you would literally have to stop talking until it was past. Thought it would never sell until one day I was showing it to a guy and here came the train. He got a smile on his face and later said “WOW that was just like being a kid at my Grandma’s house again!” He bought it. Some things aren’t priced for you and me, but there could be a buyer out there for this unusual & very cool Olds. :-) Terry J
As they say “There’s a bum for every seat.”
What a story! I was in the railroading business for years and I used to get calls from RE agents about train schedules next to properties that they were representing. For security reasons we wouldn’t disclose that information (and the fact that we couldn’t run a train on time to save our lives was part of it too). I’d just say, “Always expect a train”.
The best was when new, irate homeowners would call and say, “A train just trundled through here and the agent said that line was abandoned!” and I have to say, “Not today it isn’t”. One guy from Dennison, Texas actually called me and told me that a boxcar we had left on a very infrequently used siding, near his trailer, was blocking his satellite TV signal – Friday night and he was peeved! Boy, I could go on and on…
JO