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Ken Leonard | all galleries >> Galleries >> Temecula Spring Rod Run 2005 Vol #1 > 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe - click on photo for much more info
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Feb. 26, 2005 Copyright 2005 Ken Leonard

1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe - click on photo for much more info

Temecula, CA

Nikon Coolpix 8700
1/46s f/3.2 at 10.0mm iso50 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Bill Bolerjack 03-Mar-2011 02:18
In 1962 I had a 54 Olds Super 88. In street racing this car with 2 4 carbs would take Chev 409's and Ford 406's.Yes I sure miss that car. Before you Chev. guys say no way man just remember I was there, I know what it beat. I traded it one something faster a 1960 Ford Sunliner. This 54 looks real good. Thanks Bill
Ernie 18-Feb-2011 16:42
I have a 1954 Olds Super 88 two-door hardtop for sale. It is the same black/white color combination as in this picture. So if Michael L Jamieson or Jeff Paul are still out there looking, please email Ernie at litaernie@hotmail.com. It has the original 324 with a tri power Offinhauser intake and Rochester carbs, hydromatic 4-speed automatic trans, straight body, good paint, nice black/white interior, all gauges/lights/horn/heater work fine. Most importantly there is no rust on the car except for very slight surface rust underneath. I am asking $16,500 for her. You will not be disapointed.
MICHAEL L JAMIESON 15-Jan-2011 19:23
Anyone have a 54 super 88 hardtrop for sale? Thanks.
Jeff Paul 10-Nov-2007 01:32
Your 1954 Oldsmobile looks spectacular!! My first car was a 1954 Olds 88 2 dr. HTP. It was light green and dark green and I had it for 5 years. I'd love to have it or one like it today! I haven't had much luck finding one ... it seems most of them possibly were "crushed". If you know of one - for sale - please E-Mail me. My greatest appreciation!! Jeff
Rick Johnson 18-Sep-2005 22:48
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe'.
Oldsmobile styling was mainly derived from two convertible showcars at the 1953 General Motors Motorama, the Fiesta and the Starfire. The Fiesta actually went into limited production in 1953 along with the Buick Skylark and Cadillac Eldorado. It was based on the "98" series convertible, and at a hefty price of $ 5,717, it found only 458 buyers. By comparison, the Buick Skylark was a much cheaper $ 5,000, and 1,690 were sold, over three times the number of Fiestas sold. The Starfire was a sleek, low-slung concept car that was named for the Lockheed F94B Jet fighter plane. Both of these showcars previewed features that were used on the 1954 production Oldsmobile, including curved glass, wraparound windshields, dipped beltlines, chrome side trim, and bladed spinner wheel covers. Just like on the Fiesta and Starfire, 1954 Super 88 and 88 side trim began at the beltline as an angular verticle chrome slash that extended down just beyond halfway of the rear quarter panel, and then became a horizontal strip that extended to the rear of the car. This chrome strip became a demarcation point that allowed for colorful two-tone treatments that featured a darker contrasting color on the roof, trunk, and rear quarter panels of hardtops and sedans, and on the trunk and rear quarter panels of convertibles. As an example, the Super 88 Holiday Coupe' in Ken's photograph features the same dark green metallic over white that was a popular color combination of the limited production '53 Fiesta convertible.

1954 Oldsmobiles were offered in three series. The top of the line "98" series was offered as a hardtop, two and four door sedans, and as a convertible. The "98" convertibles were called "Starfires" lifted directly from that '53 Motorama convertible showcar. The 98's had a wheelbase of 126 inches. It was powered by a 324 cubic inch engine developing 185 horsepower. The Super 88 was the middle series that also used the same engine found on the 98's at the same rated horsepower, but rode a 122 inch wheelbase the same as sister Buick's Century and Special series. It was offered as two and four door sedans, a hardtop, and a convertible. The "88" was the entry level Oldsmobile that also rode a 122 inch wheelbase, and the same 324 cubic inch engine, but had a reduced horsepower rating of 170. It was available as a two or four door sedan, and in the ever increasingly popular two door hardtop. Prices ranged from $ 2,272 for an "88" two door sedan to $ 3,249 for a "98" Starfire convertible. Total Olds production for 1954 was 354,001, for a best ever fourth in the Industry.

I believe the introductory paragraph from the 1954 Oldsmobile brochure best captures the emotion and excitement for a new car introduction during the fifties, at a time when most new car purchases were based on styling and emotion:

"OLDSMOBILE 1954........THE DREAM THAT COULDN"T WAIT shaped on Oldsmobile's drawing board many years ago.....scheduled for completion in 1955...perfected a full year in advance! This is Oldsmobile for 1954-breath-taking beauty and record-breaking performance translated into reality! The fresh, original concept of this Oldsmobile finds brilliant expression in its new lower, longer, lovlier styling. In the daring new slant of its sweep-around panoramic windshield...the modern magnificence of its Custom-Lounge Interiors...the hundreds of dramatic innovations from new "World" crest to contoured taillight! And, to match Oldsmobile's dream-car design with power-a new 185-horsepower "Rocket" Engine! A "Rocket" that broke all records for power, dependability and economy! Oldsmobile proudly presents its greatest car of all time-one full year ahead of time!-the matchless new 1954 "Rocket" Engine Oldsmobile!
Guest 18-Sep-2005 22:46
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe'.
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