1955 oldsmobile 98 - original rocket help

[Keath]

Hello everyone. I'm keath from CA. Last week I found what I think is an amazing car at a unbeatable price. 1955 oldsmobile 98. I'm already falling for this car way to fast. She is beautiful and for me atleast the first thing I do when I get a classic car is figure out exactly what I have and what it was originally. From the start I'm seeing lots of conflicting info or info the is so general from 1949-1960 that I can in no way consider it accurate.  So here we go...step 1 day 9. Engine vin location.  I'm trying to locate the vin to see if I have the correct year and with some outrageous luck possibly matching numbers.  Anyone has some guidance.  I read a post of a member offering to scan his 1956 shop manual for a guy with questions on his 1955 98.. this is incredibly generous and I would like to see if the 56 shop manual was later scanned. I would think that although vin location maybe different much of the rest of that manual will help me dust this girl off the proper way and get her on the road turning heads again.. thanks in advance for any help.

[John_S_in_Penna]

Keath, the serial-number plate (VIN in modern terms)

may be on the driver's side front door jamb.  (That's where

it is on my 1957 Buick.)  Maybe other forum-goers can

confirm for your Oldsmobile.

 

Whether your car is a good buy depends on several things.

You can probably have a lot of fun in that vehicle.

But do you want an authentic, complete car?  Your car looks

like it has been modified, and may be missing a few things,

such as an upper grille bar.

 

Don't worry about "matching numbers."  That's really only

for high-performance muscle cars and Corvettes, where

having the original engine affects value.  For those, people

want to know that their muscle car came that way from

the factory, and wasn't just created artificially from a

plain Jane coupe.

 

The old-car hobby is a lot of fun.  However,

don't feel obligated to buy the first car that comes to your

attention.  If you are patient, you may find a complete,

authentic car just like that for $6000 to $8000.  It would

probably be a 4-door car, would look almost perfect from

20 feet away, have only minor imperfections, and would

need no or very little work.  Such a price is certainly more

than you would pay for the car pictured;  but in the long run,

it will save you money, because bringing a car up to a

higher standard always costs more money than it's worth.

People improve and restore cars for the love of it.

Edited June 16, 2019 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Robert G. Smits]

Get on the Web and Hagerty value guide to get an idea of average pricing.  From what I can see your car is probably no better than a #2.  Oldsmobile's from that era are not in high demand and as John said you can probably find a much better one for less than the cost of refurbishing.  Just my TCW

[Robert G. Smits]

Also the upper grill bar extensions (the part attached to the fenders) are impossible to find,  You could spend $1500 to 2000 just restoring the chrome on the front of the car.  

[Keath]

Thanks for the reply and all the positive vibes..lol just joking. First I do have the vin off the body I'm looking for the vin for the engine. For some reason the different sites are conflicting on the location and none seem to be correct.  The vin on the body online when keyed in came up 1955 oldsmobile 98 sedan made in Texas.  NADA guild has the model value in 3 condition 8k , 20k and 38k . As for this modified car. With the exception of the rear window, keys and the spare. It have ever piece of chrome trim emblem, nod, handle hubcap. Every thing has been removed and taped to protect it by the previous owner. And matching numbers does not hold more importance for. Mopar or muscle car owner. Since ppl have been buying and RESTORING old cars having a resSo if for a moment we can get past the incorrect assumptions and return to the question. And this time I'll give you all the info...ok I just got the car and it has all the parts in the trunk ready to go one once the paint is done.. I have not see the numbers on the block that show it was or was not the engine that was in it when it came off the ... can I get some help with that. Questions s are welcome... negative assumptions I'll pass thanks

[Keath]

Oh and I got it for 1000.00 ..#winning

[Robert G. Smits]

Good start.  Having the original motor is of little value.  I would be more interested in the condition of the motor that is in the car along with the transmission assuming it is an Olds motor.  If I were buying this car I could care less if it was original as long as it ran well.  Again just my opinion.

[The 55er]

The 1955 Oldsmobile VIN number is located inside the driver's door pillar on a rectangular plate just below the upper door hinge. The engine number can be seen on top of the block on the driver's side between the first two cylinders from the front of the engine, look just above the exhaust manifold. The numbers on your car are not going to match. 1950's Oldsmobiles are not numbers-matching cars from the factory!

[GARY F]

Did you get a title for it?