What is the one Oldsmobile U wished U owned!

[Steve Moskowitz]

Hey, this is your lucky day, the car has been offered for sale! That is if you have a spare $450,000 or so!

[tomchaney]

Chris & Steve: I've got to agree with your choices of a Limited or Autocrat! What a thrill it would be to pilot either one. In the meantime, a mid-50's convertible would be fun too!

<img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[royale 75]

My 75 Royale convertible was at least close to the end - built April 16, 1975 in Lansing and delivered to Troy, MI. in June. Glenn, do you know how many they produced that year? Seems I've seen a couple conflicting numbers.

[Steve Moskowitz]

Numbers from the Olds History Center:

7,181 produced

[Guest]

Well I am not one for the older cars but here is what I would build to represent the Olds family. I would build a 1939 Olds coupe. I would put it on a complete chromoloy tube chassis, stuff the biggest cube Olds I could in there, run it on Nitrometh, big injector hat, shooting for mid 6's and run it as a Pro Mod in either IHRA/NHRA events.

Second car would be a 1964 F85 with a moderatly built 455 and nothing but Monster-Tude! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

PJ

[Guest]

My fathers 1971 Delta 88 Royale, 4dr, Ice Blue/White Vinyl Roof, stock 455, no special needs except for gas (lol). This car could beat the pants off of any of these tricked out Honda's and the other 4 bangers I am starting to see around town. It was just a BIG family car, my favorite name - "A Sleeper"!

The above was the "kid" in me coming out. I really am looking for a Sleeper to replace my current car BUT finances won't alow it for another year or 2. I've got a family of six and a '71 or '72 Delta would/should be able to hold everyone AND the luggage for us.

[Guest imported_DaveZZZ]

Well, I guess I am lucky, since I got the Olds I always wanted- the 67 98 convertible (although, what a PITA looking for parts if a kid is working the phone- he always seems to think I have some sort of 1998 oldsmobile).

It is true, with the exception of the Caddies, the C-Bodies seem to go largely unappreciated today. BUT, I think I get more looks from non-car folks than my friends Chevelle, which around here (NH) seem to be growing on trees.

Other than that, I suppose I like the 98s back into the 50s too. Has to be convertible, though- to me the demise of the full-sized drop top is one of the biggest tragedies to befall modern auto styling. And I say that while acknowledging that almost all current styling is a tragedy.

(I'm into rant mode now) I have been asking for years why Ford doesn't put out a Crown Vic convertible. The car has a full frame, and on touring package cars (HPP for civilians, Cop pkg for agencies) it has a full box frame. I have owned two, and I can tell you that giving up 2 feet of trunk for the top would still leave you a trunk substantially larger than most cars have. Very nicely equipped these go for about $30K. I'd bet all that I have that for 35 in convertible form they wouldn't be able to make them fast enough.

-Dave

PS- I would go on in the same manner about a GM model, except that the General has decided he doesn't need no stinkin' full sized RWD body on frame cars any more.

[6219_Rules]

A great thread, Steve! I think, all things being equal, that had I the choice I would like a 1947 Oldsmobile 98 cruiser or a 1956 Olds Hoiday coupe in black and white with the black and white trim.

I miss my Holiday.

[Guest]

The cars that I have dreamed about and have paid many visits to at car shows are

1970 442 W-30 Conv.

1976 442

1977 Cutlass Salon T-Top - this dream just came home from Texas to Michigan

1983 Hurst Olds

1987 442

Rob

Portland MI

[sysmg]

1948 Olds Coupe

1966 442 W30 w/Tri-Power

1966 Startfire (I own now)

1966 or 67 Toronado

[The Continental]

49/50 88 Club Sedan, Holiday, or Pace Car

54 F-88

57/58 coupe or Fiesta

61 Starfire

66/67 Toronado

70 442 convertible

Pretty much any H/O could be cool, but 72 is probably favorite

[PONTIAC1953]

the 1954 oldsmobile F88 concept/show car, charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.

[starfireelvis]

Wow, guess we resurrected this old thread! Fun reading stuff going back a decade ago, especially about that '54 Olds F-88 concept car that was available at one time for a half-million, but later sold for $3M.

Would like a 1958 Olds Ninety-Eight Coupe (though I would settle for a convertible-- the coupe would have more chrome!) Any color would be great, but black, with the "sparkly" carpets, as my Mom used to refer to it as, would be super. And, you know it--a J-2 triple-carburetor set-up! THAT would be cruisin' in style--no matter what all the naysayers say--gimme that jukebox chrome every day of the week!

Honorable mention would be (these have been growing on me lately) a '66 Toronado. I find the wine-colored Dubonnet would be attractive, though the Trumpet Gold would be appealing as well.

These would be nice additions to the stable, for sure!!

[Guest]

Thought I'd try to get a little more activity on the discussion part of this forum. So here goes, might be pretty interesting and might tell who is really on this site. What is the one Oldsmobile ever made that you wished you owned?

I will give it a start. As much as I would love a Limited or a Fiesta Convertible which both are among the most valuable Oldsmobiles for collectors, my pick is a 1912 Autocrat Speedster. It looks like a Stutz Bearcat, a 2-seater and I have always dreamed of owning one.

I'm amazed that so many people answer your question with multiple car choices when you only ask for one. Here is my ONE choice;

http://www.uploadimages4free.com/upload/big/1954_oldsmobile_f_88_concept_car_gold_high_rvl-8007.jpg

[GARY F]

36 L model, 4 dr.

[D Yaros]

I did own it, but no longer do so, dammit!

A 1960 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Sceni Coupe with a 394 c.i., 4 bbl. carb and a factory stick (3-on-the tree). No PS, PB or PW. Black with red/white interior. Ordered new from Walter & Lennertz Oldsmobile, Merrillville, IN.

[JO BO]

Hi; Curved dash olds the older the better. 1901-04 etc.. Loved them since I was a kid but will probably never have one. :(

[NTX5467]

Olds, having built so many neat and interesting cars, there are many that I've liked or kind of desired to own over the years.

Cadillacs were always "too much", but "right" in the appropriate surroundings and context. But when they toned things down for the '65-'67 models, "tastefull" took on a new meaning. Buick had some good cars, many of which I've come to better appreciate now that I've learned more about them. Still, the thoughts of elderly relatives come to mind . . . but the '70-'72 Skylark GS 455 cars were nice. Some might take issue with my next comment, but many times it seemed that Pontiac was "pretending" with some markets. Always flashier than a similar Chevy, whether in additional bright trim or multi-color interiors, but never really seeming to have a purpose other than to provide a step between entry-level Chevy and upscale middle class Olds. The '69 Grand Prix was one neat car, though! Later rwd Grand Prixs didn't seem to meet that earler WOW factor, as they aged.

Chevy seemed to do a better job of "pretending" than Pontiac, though. Especially with the Caprice and Monte Carlo. With the right equipment combinations, right colors, these "common man's car" vehicles would look very nice and expensive. Enough so that Cadillac was always complaining about the '71+ Caprices. Chevrolet, like Ford, had learned how to make things look nice without a lot of additional expense . . . something which Pontiac didn't seem to do quite so well, by comparison.

Oldsmobile? If there was only ONE, it would probably be a '72 Cutlass Supreme Convertible, maybe a hardtop. When they were new, these cars just looked great to me. Enough "flash" to look interesting and enough "dash" from the outstanding Olds 350 4bbl V-8. Add in the chassis handling package upgrades and some power options and it made one GREAT combination of parts! And, back then, it being an "Oldsmobile" meant something about your upscale orientation of things . . . "instant acceptance" so to speak. Kind of like Olds and Buicks used to be in prior times . . . driving and owning one of these brands of vehicles said "I'm 'going places' with my life . . . GOOD places."

For some reason, in those earlier years, I always felt comfortable in Oldsmobiles. Don't know why, but I did. Just as I felt comfortable in Chrysler products. Perhaps it was their engineering orientations (especially Oldsmobile compared to other GM divisions) and more efficient ways they did things? To me, Oldsmobiles were just "neat cars" and the particular Cutlass convertible seemed to be the epitome of the line back then. Can't forget the great "98" models, though!

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

[Guest]

Olds, having built so many neat and interesting cars, there are many that I've liked or kind of desired to own over the years.

Cadillacs were always "too much", but "right" in the appropriate surroundings and context. But when they toned things down for the '65-'67 models, "tastefull" took on a new meaning. Buick had some good cars, many of which I've come to better appreciate now that I've learned more about them. Still, the thoughts of elderly relatives come to mind . . . but the '70-'72 Skylark GS 455 cars were nice. Some might take issue with my next comment, but many times it seemed that Pontiac was "pretending" with some markets. Always flashier than a similar Chevy, whether in additional bright trim or multi-color interiors, but never really seeming to have a purpose other than to provide a step between entry-level Chevy and upscale middle class Olds. The '69 Grand Prix was one neat car, though! Later rwd Grand Prixs didn't seem to meet that earler WOW factor, as they aged.

Chevy seemed to do a better job of "pretending" than Pontiac, though. Especially with the Caprice and Monte Carlo. With the right equipment combinations, right colors, these "common man's car" vehicles would look very nice and expensive. Enough so that Cadillac was always complaining about the '71+ Caprices. Chevrolet, like Ford, had learned how to make things look nice without a lot of additional expense . . . something which Pontiac didn't seem to do quite so well, by comparison.

Oldsmobile? If there was only ONE, it would probably be a '72 Cutlass Supreme Convertible, maybe a hardtop. When they were new, these cars just looked great to me. Enough "flash" to look interesting and enough "dash" from the outstanding Olds 350 4bbl V-8. Add in the chassis handling package upgrades and some power options and it made one GREAT combination of parts! And, back then, it being an "Oldsmobile" meant something about your upscale orientation of things . . . "instant acceptance" so to speak. Kind of like Olds and Buicks used to be in prior times . . . driving and owning one of these brands of vehicles said "I'm 'going places' with my life . . . GOOD places."

For some reason, in those earlier years, I always felt comfortable in Oldsmobiles. Don't know why, but I did. Just as I felt comfortable in Chrysler products. Perhaps it was their engineering orientations (especially Oldsmobile compared to other GM divisions) and more efficient ways they did things? To me, Oldsmobiles were just "neat cars" and the particular Cutlass convertible seemed to be the epitome of the line back then. Can't forget the great "98" models, though!

Just some thoughts,

NTX5467

Just how do you mean Pontiac was just pretending, and in what era? When they were left alone, or when sometimes when corporate on the 14th floor wasn't paying attention, they did things NO division would do... ever. The division and more importantly their division heads and underlings put their careers on the line many many times to bring products to their customers. Sometimes they succeeded - NASCAR, DRAG RACING, WIDE TRACK, GTO, TEMPEST-engine in front and transaxle in rear, # 3 in overall sales for most of the sixties. Sometimes corporate took things away and made Pontiac do as best they could such as; not letting Pontiac introduce it's ready and waiting V-8 in 1953 (because Olds and especially Buick protesting), Not letting Pontiac introduce it's OHC engines of the 389 & 421 for the middle of the sixties, Taking the Tiger theme ( huge marketing tool ) away from Pontiac after 1966, Removing Pontiac's sports car when they got wind of it when the cars was secretly going to be unveiled at the Waldorf Astoria and then telling Pontiac to make it's own version of the Camaro instead. Not permitting Pontiac to show aggressive driving in commercials, after they had proven them as sales tools, After Pontiac broke the rules regarding the GTO and it was unveiled corporate refused Pontiac to have disc brakes and radial tires in later production 64 GTO's after Pontiac already had Kelsey Haynes do the tooling for free, taking away Tri-Power carburetion in 1967 - a performance option Pontiac had from 1957-1966.

I can go on and on.... it's a wonder they survived as long as they did.

Just think of it if there was no breaking corporate rules with the GTO there would be NO SS 396's, 442's or Skylark GS's.

Pontiac was not pretending on anything, they accomplished much with what they were allowed to have. Pontiac was like a great race horse whose hamstrings were cut by it's owner...period.

D.

Edited August 4, 2012 by helfen (see edit history)

[PONTIAC1953]

Just how do you mean Pontiac was just pretending, and in what era? When they were left alone, or when sometimes when corporate on the 14th floor wasn't paying attention, they did things NO division would do... ever. The division and more importantly their division heads and underlings put their careers on the line many many times to bring products to their customers. Sometimes they succeeded - NASCAR, DRAG RACING, WIDE TRACK, GTO, TEMPEST-engine in front and transaxle in rear, # 3 in overall sales for most of the sixties. Sometimes corporate took things away and made Pontiac do as best they could such as; not letting Pontiac introduce it's ready and waiting V-8 in 1953 (because Olds and especially Buick protesting), Not letting Pontiac introduce it's OHC engines of the 389 & 421 for the middle of the sixties, Taking the Tiger theme ( huge marketing tool ) away from Pontiac after 1966, Removing Pontiac's sports car when they got wind of it when the cars was secretly going to be unveiled at the Waldorf Astoria and then telling Pontiac to make it's own version of the Camaro instead. Not permitting Pontiac to show aggressive driving in commercials, after they had proven them as sales tools, After Pontiac broke the rules regarding the GTO and it was unveiled corporate refused Pontiac to have disc brakes and radial tires in later production 64 GTO's after Pontiac already had Kelsey Haynes do the tooling for free, taking away Tri-Power carburetion in 1967 - a performance option Pontiac had from 1957-1966.

I can go on and on.... it's a wonder they survived as long as they did.

Just think of it if there was no breaking corporate rules with the GTO there would be NO SS 396's, 442's or Skylark GS's.

Pontiac was not pretending on anything, they accomplished much with what they were allowed to have. Pontiac was like a great race horse whose hamstrings were cut by it's owner...period.

D.

thank you don, i couldn't have said it any better, i notice you also chose the same one oldsmobile to have that i did, thanks for the beautiful photo of it. i am always ashamed of general motors for treating pontiac like it was an unwanted red headed stepchild (no offense to those who might have been or is a redheaded stepchild). well they killed pontiac for all the wrong reason, the same thing happen to oldsmobile. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.

[Guest]

thank you don, i couldn't have said it any better, i notice you also chose the same one oldsmobile to have that i did, thanks for the beautiful photo of it. i am always ashamed of general motors for treating pontiac like it was an unwanted red headed stepchild (no offense to those who might have been or is a redheaded stepchild). well they killed pontiac for all the wrong reason, the same thing happen to oldsmobile. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor.

Hi Charles, glad you agree.. I just couldn't let that one go. I forgot to mention that a Well kitted out Bonneville of any year even going back to 1957 is not a pretender as far as luxury goes nor is a Starfire or 98. By the middle sixties a Bonneville or Caprice have all the Same goods a Cadillac has at a lower cost so.........who is really pretending. Just go down the line on the components and see. Just check the list price for a control unit for your climatic control A/C back when you could get one from a dealer, it has the same part # on a Cadillac or a Pontiac or Olds. The only thing different is the price.

Edited August 5, 2012 by helfen (see edit history)

[NTX5467]

With all due respect, I've read the DeLorean book about his time at GM and Pontiac in particular. I'm also aware of the many political decisions which were made at GM in earlier times . . . as in how Buick GNs couldn't be faster than Corvettes, so they got computers with the normal top speed fuel shutoff. The introduction of the ohv Pontiac V-8 decision was probably similar.

From my perspective, not to discount all of the racing victories which Pontiacs had back then, but Pontiac was one notch "better" than Chevrolet, yet it could NEVER be the luxury brand that Olds and Buick were. 1950s Pontiacs could have leather interior, but probably only because "leatherette" wasn't out yet, I suspect. So, Pontiac had to go for "performance" and "flash" rather than true luxury in their top models. They did very well with that orientation, during the Knudsen years. From what I understand, one way the mid-'50s Pontiacs were "better than Chevrolet" was that their rear shocks were mounted to a crossmember over the rear axle, whereas Chevy rear shocks mounted directly to the rear floorpan . . . hence Pontiacs rode quieter on rough roads, not hearing the shocks do their things . . . AND that crossmember was a bolt-in addition to those Chevys, if some desired it. Buicks and Oldsmobiles "B" platforms had their own unique things which added to the luxury feel of their automobiles, but other than "Switch-Pitch" transmission parts, I suspect that few ever made it (to be) under Pontiac sheetmetal . . . other than some rubber body mounts and convertible top mechanisms.

From the middle-1950s until about 1973, EACH General Motors division had some very interesting "halo" engine project which never quite got off of the ground . . . including Oldsmobile. Much of this was probably political as some was probably done as "engineering exercises" for things which never could happen. OHC, FWD, DOHC, and Fuel Injection were all in the mix. IF GM had been able to successfully put Rochester RamJet fuel injection on all of its upscale engine options in 1958, it would have caught Chrysler off-guard and Ford being Ford. The normal "standard V-8" 2bbl, a "PowerPak" 4bbl, and an upgrade larger cid FI engine as the top power options. More power with better fuel economy and less emissions . . . but FI was still so exotic that only Corvette could justify using it. Plus the "serviceability" and "production cost" factor. Still, that would have been one great leap if GM could have made that happen back then PLUS getting their cars on the front cover of ALL car magazines of the time. Larger volume would have brought the cost down. Yet Buick spent millions on their upgraded Triple-Turbine DynaFlow that only lasted a few model years!

Still, though, Pontiac was tied more to "entry level" GM brand Chevrolet than to upscale Oldsmobile, although the entry level Olds and Buick were also "B" platforms. Still, as each GM division had their own chief engineers, when they got the platform they put their own division's respective "flavor" into it, which could have meant more expensive suspension components and such for "that luxury feel", being at higher price points. Pontiac DID occupy a valid niche in the GM vehicle family and did a good job with it, generally. Still, though, there were some limits as to what it had to do to stay within the stated corporate boundaries AND meet the corp accountant's production cost objectives.

Chevrolet could use the Caprice to challenge Cadillac as Chevy was the highest-production and highest profit generating division in GM. Plus, any extra Chevy sales would put Chevy that much (generally) farther ahead of Ford in sales. The high profile sales war was "Chevy vs. Ford" and GM needed for Chevy to win that war however it could.

Even into the later 1970s, Pontiac was "the luxury alternative" to Chevrolet. Interior materials were always better and more durable. Firebird interiors were nicer than Camaro interiors, for example. In the middle 1980s, Pontiacs used a fabric which looked similar to what Caprices used, BUT was TWICE as thick. Unfortunately, few people knew about these fabrics outside of the upholstery shop world.

In the DeLorean book, he mentions about how their corporate research was indicating further fuel shortages in the future, so they did some full-size Pontiacs off of the intermediate Tempest chassis. The clinics they previewed the cars in broughtr back very favorable comments . . . people didn't know they were built from the smaller platform. Smaller engines, better performance and handling, better fuel economy . . . but "management" wouldn't go for it. But I also suspect that what we got as 1977 B and C platform GM cars were highly influenced by those earlier Pontiac proposals. That book if full of things which Pontiac (and DeLorean when he was at Chevy) wanted to do but "upstairs" wouldn't allow it . . . for whatever reasons.

NO intention to besmirch Pontiac's great history, in any way, but Pontiac was never supposed to be a "luxury" brand. To their credit, they did have some very nice cars for the market they were chasing. But when I drove a "Luxury LeMans" home one night in the 1970s (a trade-in), it was obvious to me THEN that Pontiac should not try to be Buick, although this LLM was pretending to be. On the surface it had all of the "look" of a nice Skylark/Regal, but that's as far as it went.

To me, what started the death of Pontiac was the downsized Bonneville in the earlier 1980s. They were trying to lead the way to smaller cars, but when other GM divisions didn't follow them, it killed many Pontiac sales, resulting in the Canadian Pontiac Parisienne replacing the storied Bonneville nameplate in the USA. Things never did recover from that! Then Pontiac tried to gain attention with "different" vehicles . . . as the Aztek. Fiero was good, but needed the V-6 option from day one. Later fwd Bonnevilles seemed to have some unusual styling features and option combinations. (Why put Goodyear RS-A tires on a Bonneville with rear drum brakes? Why put the fog light switch on the overhead console?) There were some bright spots, though, but they couldn't overshadow the fact that, as Jim Wangers stated, (paraphrase) "To younger generations, 'Pontiac' means 'Aztek' rather than 'Bonneville' or 'GTO' (before the last-gen GTO was introduced)."

When GM expanded availability of Tilt and Telescope Steering columns, various types of FM radios, ComforTrons, and other Cadillac-level options (previously available ONLY on Cadillacs or 98s or Electras) on their full-size cars, it was about "scooping the marketplace" with affordable luxury amenities. It took Ford and Chrysler a few model years to catch up, by observation. To GM, it was "market leadership" and ONE more reason to "Buy GM". Power windows, power seats, power steering, and such had been around in the lower price cars since the middle 1950s or earlier, but with possibly very low installation rates. Back then, Cadillac was a very aspiratioinal brand of vehicle, so you could option-out your Chevy or Pontiac, punch the button to move the seat, squint your eyes, and pretend you were in a Cadillac you knew you could never afford.

Best regards,

NTX5467

[Guest rwmerz]

i

would like to have the problem figuring out how to place the 1953Fiesta or F-88Show car or the 1915 Limited or the 1950 88 Woody wagon so i could get them out of the garage !

[rocketraider]

It's simple. Build a bigger garage!

RE discussion on Pontiac/Olds/Cad/Buick, I always thought Olds and Pontiac had more in common than either did with Buick or Chevrolet. Likewise Buick/Chev have to me always demonstrated a closer kinship than either did with Olds/Pontiac.

But I did notice in the 60s and 70s that all of them were trying to tread into Cadillac territory, and seemed to me that Buick and Chevy were more aggressive about it than Olds and Pontiac, who seemed to be content with their own niche and persona- both had a nicely defined market and product designed to maintain it.

"Corporatization" of GM had a detrimental effect on all of them- none of them seemed to be as well defined in their markets as they had been earlier, and it was painfully obvious there were a lot of badge-engineered cars coming out of the General's factories. Before, they might have shared a basic body shell and glass, but the styling unmistakably belonged to the individual Divisions. Later cars could barely be told apart.

[Pete Phillips]

1949 Olds 98 fastback coupe.

Pete Phillips

Leonard, TX

[Guest Joe_Varley]

That was probably Dave Higby. He always had a dozen or so he had rescued in So Cal.

[Guest Joe_Varley]

Orange and white '53 Fiesta.

[starfireelvis]

...like Leo Stutzman's, right Joe? His is fantastic; he's owned in since 1956...

[The Continental]

Pontiac was the only companion make to survive, and it almost went out in the 50s. Then came in Knudsen who turned it into a make with some dedication towards performance starting with the Bonneville. The Knudsen nose helped Pontiacs become recognizable until the end, and Pontiacs were probably some of the more easily recognizable cars from the 90s on. As fas as luxury options, after '73 just about anything had luxury options and Brougham. Had the Aztek not happened, and the GTO been closer to the 1999 concept, then Pontiac may still be around.

[Guest]

Pontiac was the only companion make to survive, and it almost went out in the 50s. Then came in Knudsen who turned it into a make with some dedication towards performance starting with the Bonneville. The Knudsen nose helped Pontiacs become recognizable until the end, and Pontiacs were probably some of the more easily recognizable cars from the 90s on. As fas as luxury options, after '73 just about anything had luxury options and Brougham. Had the Aztek not happened, and the GTO been closer to the 1999 concept, then Pontiac may still be around.

Actually the iconic split grille ( starting with the 1959 ) wasn't a Knudsen Idea, something straight out of Pontiac styling department. There are several things Knudsen did do to contribute to styling; One, in 1957 Knudsen told styling to remove Pontiac's brand image since 1935-the Silver Streaks, and to start the gradual elimination of anything that resembles the Pontiac Chief as Knudsen felt the Indian race was a dead race. However for a long time Pontiac kept the use of the Indian head by only using it in the high beam indicator. Two, Knudsen created Pontiac's first Personal Luxury/Performance car- the 1957 Bonneville ( a convertible only for 1957 ) with Fuel Injection. There was a Personal Luxury car before starting with the 1950 Catalina hardtop-with leather! Three, the 1959 Pontiac's and ALL 1959 G.M. cars looked terrible sitting on the old 1958 narrow track chassis...so Knudsen had engineering change the front and rear track so the wheels would fill out the wheel house properly.

Knudsen was sent to the division to save it, and Knudsen also knew that there would be a whole new crowd of Baby Boomers coming of age. The answer was to change the Image of Pontiac, to capitalize on the youth market and to do that Knudsen took Pontiac racing.

Long after Knudsen left Pontiac, Pontiac's styling had turned the split grille theme into by 1968 a split grille with a battering ram nose. I was almost sorry I ordered my 69 LeMans H-O because of this nose as I thought the 68's looked better. I almost put a 68 bumper on my 69. Here is a picture of my car-see what I mean? ;

http://www.pismoderelicts.com/photogallery/new%20format%20937/images/p1020752.jpg

As far as luxury options go, in 1964 Bonneville had a new option called the Bonneville Brougham, and in 1971 that car had morphed into the Pontiac GrandVille.

But I still say the Olds I wish I could own would be the one off F-88!

D.

Edited August 15, 2012 by helfen (see edit history)

[KQQLCAT]

#1 1957 Fiesta Wagon red and white Would be the one for me. #2 Would be a 1961 Starfire black with red interior.

[trimacar]

Steve, back to your original wish, my 1931 Pierce lived for many years in a showroom on Corondelet Street (Marty, is that spelled correctly?).....next to it was a 1931 Packard and a 1912 Autocrat....the fellow who owned the Autocrat speedster had restored it, and the first time he tried to start with crank, it kicked back and broke his arm. When he sold it, the to-be-buyer wanted to start it, but he said no...until they owned it no one was touching the crank. Years later, I walked into the front door of a house owned by a SERIOUS Oldsmobile collector (he has more early brass Olds than I thought existed), on the right of the stairs was a Pope-Hartford, on the left....my old acquaintance the Autocrat. "Oh, this is the car from New Orleans..." and he looked at me, stunned that I knew of the car........think there's an Autocrat on HCCA forum for sale, they are few and far between for sure........

[Marty Roth]

The Autocrat Speedster David described would certainly be high on my list.

Even more vivid on my list would be the huge Oldsmobile which Dick Neller drove on Glidden Tours. On the 1992 Glidden in Lexington, Kentucky, Dale and I were behind Dick's Olds while waiting at a train crossing. As I recall, sitting in our little 1927 Chevrolet Capitol AA Roadster (which we got in a trade from David Coco), we could see straight under the big Oldsmobile. As if that weren't enough, the train passed, the gates lifted, and a Big Yellow School Bus full of kids came the other way. THE KIDS WERE EYE-TO-EYE WITH DICK. That sight is burned into our memories.

A somewhat more realistic wish would be the brand-new 1957 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible with the J-2 package. It sat in the driveway of a house where I was delivering the morning Newark Star-Ledger in Linden, NJ. It had fender skirts and a continental kit (as if it weren't long enough already), with a set of castors under the rear bumper due to the steep angle of the driveway. The owner was a local police officer, and as I recall, one morning I heard that he had several pork chops for dinner, and that night he died of a heart attack. I had just turned 15, and had saved paper-route money and band money - almost enough to buy the car from his mother. My parents would not agree tolet me use my "college" money to buy the Olds, especially since the backyard was already home to my 1932 Chevy 5-Window Coupe, and I was still two years away from a NJ Drivers License.

Dad had a nice 1961 Super 88 Holiday.

Edited November 27, 2012 by Marty Roth (see edit history)

[Guest Joe_Varley]

Exactly!! He brought it to the Arizona annual show a few years ago and I must have spent 45 minutes talking with him about it. Have since seen him with the car at a couple of National Meets. He and his wife are great Olds people.

[Ted "Wildcat65" Nagel]

OK, some of the first reponses were 65 4-speed Starfire, and I'm still a fan...with a 66 Tri Carb setup on the 425

[Steve Moskowitz]

David, I know the collection you visited. Wish they were all mine! Dick Neller's car was a 1909 Model Z and of course he was the perfect size for the car. My friend Ohly Ohlendorf tried to crank the 1911 Olds Limited that GM owned when we went to inspect the car to be restored...he also endedup in the hopsital with stitches thanks to a slip and a sharp grease cup.

I have thought about this thread a lot and realized despite my love for a lot of early cars and that I would have killed to own the Bud Ley speedster...I hadmy dream car (1908 Model X Olds) and made the terrible mistake of selling it to GM. It is still in their collection. If I had won the lottery last night I was going to "make them an offer they could not refuse!"

[John_Maine]

1962 Super 88 2 door hardtop, black, grey interior, just like the one my uncle had when I was a teenager. He had it for 8 years, 1963-1971.

[Marty Roth]

Steve,

Do you know where Dick Neller's 1909 Model Z is now?

Is it still in the family?

I think I can remember seeing it again on another Glidden after his passing, but have not seen it again that I recall.

[NTX5467]

Olds had some really neat cars in the '50-'80s timeframe. Many I liked back when they were newer, but if I was going to have ONE, it would be a '72 Cutlass Supreme 2-dr hardtop (a convertible would do, too). Normal 350 4bbl, THM, a/c, etc., with the requisite 14" "rally" wheels. They looked good then, and still do. Nice styling, nice size, good power and economy, too. Little wonder they are now priced over $1K higher than a similar Buick Skylark Custom, as they have been for a long time!

One of the '65 big cars, mentioned above, would be good too. Love that "Olds rumble" from the exhaust when cruising on the Interstate (back then . . . usually in the 90mph range in Western TX).

But the '72 Cutlass was always a favorite.

Enjoy!

NTX5467

[Guest Bob Call]

54 or 55 Super 88 Holiday coupe. Alway thorugh they were best to have ever come our of GM Styling.