1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Hardtop

If you think a fuel injected Chevy Bel Air was the top of the General Motors luxury/performance food chain in 1957, allow me to introduce you to this 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 with the 371 cubic inch engine.  For 1957, the basic 88 was officially named Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show car.  However, the only badge identifying it as such was a simple super ”88" in back of each headlight on the front quarter side.

For consignment, a super Super 88 hardtop from 1957 and Oldsmobile sporting a mere 46,990 title verified miles.  This one has a 371ci V8, a 4-barrel carburetor and a Hydramatic transmission, although our consignor states this is a factory J2 car and the J2 intake manifold and carburetors are included with the purchase,  but that statement is nearly impossible to prove.  Restored and hot-rodded in the early 2000's and the winner of a Goodguys 2022 show, this steel missile, all bathed in black for the exterior and a mix of black and red for the interior nearly guarantees you will have a sure-fire winner no matter where you go.

Exterior
Cosmetically, Super 88s have Super 88 nameplates on the front fenders although this one has had those emblems shaved, as we're in custom territory now ladies and gents.  All bathed in deep Onyx Black paint, panels are very straight and true to their gaps.  Within the bumper upfront O L D S badging fills the horizontally ribbed smile in the center of the bumper along with round turn signal lights.  More chrome for the single round headlight that has chrome for the bezels and visors.  In the center of the hood is yellow and red flourish pinstriping that leads your eye up to the hood ornament which could be a futuristic freight train engine.  The ornament carries your eye to a trimming that runs through the center of the hood to the windshield.  Starting just under the curved front glass surround trimming is a stainless-steel swoop spear which serves as a background for the door handle and moves downward to make a mad dash to the middle of the rear quarter.  Here it runs into the large tail light which has tri bar ornaments within them a ribbed stainless plate below and bumper ends with fake exhaust ports in them.  Spider web pinstriping graces the tops of the rear quarters and more flourish pinstriping is on the middle of the trunk along with "Elvira" at the lower right.  On all 4 corners are wide white wall tires that wrap gray slotted steel wheels to fill up the sweeping wheel wells.  Lightly smoked glass and clean brightwork frame the passenger compartment, and I can't get enough of the 3-piece rear windshield.  Fabulously adorned in black and chrome and not a hint of rust.
 
Interior
The entire interior was restored to original, including the red rounded metal dash top which remains original.  More ovals for the dash front with the speedo being a large chrome bezel oval and in the dash top a molded into the metal oval clock.  In the dash center more chrome gleams in a strip which resides between the black dash top and a white painted lower, and this just gleams and includes a restored AM radio.  A red rimmed steering wheel fronts the dash and the shift lever and horn ring, (yes with an oval center appear to been re-plated).  Fancy schmancy two-tone vinyl covers the front spit back and rear solid benches.  Black tuck and roll inserts and smooth red bolsters have a red and black piping and these float in a sea of perfect black carpeting.  The door panels are also wonderfully represented with the use of red and black for the multi pattern embossed covers.  Shiny handles and cranks abound as also worth noting the seats are in chromed tubs.  Keep up the excellence look at the trunk where we note the included J2 intake manifold atop the neatly installed black carpeting and not a mark on it.  I'm moving in, TV near the spare tire and couch on the other side!!

Drivetrain
Lifting the massive hood now showing a gold painted block and valve covered 371ci V8.  It is topped with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor.  A 4-speed Hydramatic tranny is on back and it throws power from the Rocket engine to a 3.41 gear final drive.   Like new kids!

Undercarriage
Unrestored and not undercoated, we see the factory flooring and frame with a healthy patina finish along with surface rust, but all remaining structurally solid, just the way it was intended.  Up front we note an independent coil spring suspension arrangement and an upgrade to power disc brakes.  Meanwhile, in the rear are leaf springs and power drums.  A dual exhaust with glasspack style mufflers does in fact exit prior to the bumper, (in front of either rear tire as a matter of fact), on either side so the ribs in the rear bumper are fake!  All solid steel here folks.

Drive-Ability
She fired right up and I rocketed, (88), to the test track.  Here it cruised like a dream, rode like it was on a cloud, and accelerated to beat the band.  All that chrome and steel floats around while I sat in vinyl and chrome comfort staring at all the ovals and the speedo needle ever rising.  What a great experience!

I just love these chromed large and in charge cruisers from the late 50's.  Nearly bordering on wretched excess, but you still cannot get enough of it and desire more.  And with this car you get it and it's all like new and working perfectly.  Every aspect has been painstakingly attended to and some liberties taken to give that just right Kustom vibe.  The sorrow for our consignor selling this rarely seen piece of iron will be short lived though as it's not going to take too long, so get your butt over to our Hallowed Halls and snap it up! 

577M01120

57-1957
7-Eighty Eight
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
01120-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.