Fantasy Junction

Description

1950 Oldsmobile 88 Coupe Hot Rod

VIN – 508C20588
Exterior Color – Green
Interior Color – Green and Gray
Engine – 303 cu. in. Oldsmobile Rocket V8
Transmission – 4-Speed Manual
Current Miles – 75,222 miles TMU

General Overview

The post war 1949 Oldsmobile was one of the first to offer V8 power in a stylish and advanced design. A leader in performance, the Rocket V8 introduced customers to the first “muscle car” establishing NASCAR wins as 1950 and 1951 models saw increased sales due to pent up demand from the years of wartime scarcity. Given the power already offered in the new V8, many of these cars saw early hot rod duty, making them vintage historians of the early hot rod era.

Tried and true, mild vintage-flavored hot rods retain the original body and exterior trim, traditional interiors with modest upgrades, while also featuring specially developed features, enhanced suspension, and refinements for more spirited road racing. Such is the case with this unique Oldsmobile 88.

History and Build Details of This Car

This 1950 Olds 88 Hot Rod was purchased by the current owner, a lifelong Oldsmobile hot rod enthusiast with a passion for vintage performance. The car was originally sold to the first owner, a fireman in San Jose, CA. The current owner purchased the car from the third owner after searching for a rare 1950 Business Coupe, the lightest of the Olds body styles, ideal for stock car or hot rod use. The coupe had smaller sliding rear quarter glass, and, for 1950, featured the single piece curved windshield – a technological marvel for this era. When purchased in 2004 by the current owner, the car was complete and solid with minimal rust in small areas, though lacking a drivetrain.

As the ideal choice for his build, the current owner selected a 1951 303 cubic inch V8 Olds Rocket 88 engine fitting it with rare 1957 large valve “number 10” heads with cast-iron valve guides. The block was boiled, mag checked, decked, and the entire rotating assembly balanced. The engine build included forged pistons, Isky valve springs and keepers, an aluminum flywheel, and ARP rod bolts. To increase lubrication, the oil pan was baffled and the pan capacity increased. For induction, an Edmunds 2/2 manifold topped the block with two 1953 Buick carburetors custom fit with two repositioned factory oil bath air cleaners. An Iskenderian hand etched solid roller cam machined by Ed himself with Magnum Track grind was selected and documented with a rare Isky firewall plate mounted to the cowl. Finishing off the engine details, a set of handmade four-port tubular headers were mandrel formed, welded, and coated by Sanderson. A high-speed starter was. installed along with a Mallory dual point distributor and Mallory coil. Though originally outfitted from the factory with an automatic transmission, the owner converted the car to an aluminum Muncie 4-speed column mounted manual transmission with an under dash mounted reverse gear lever.

With the engine and transmission awaiting installation, the chassis, suspension and brakes were carefully addressed, treating the drum brakes to Carbotech racing brake shoes, a modified Tilton master cylinder, and all new solid brake lines and flexible hoses. The stock lever-shock rear suspension was retained but cleverly modified to include Koni shock absorbers with new front shock towers and reinforced lower A-arms, heavy duty front and rear anti-roll bars, and a custom shortened Panhard rod. A 1957 Olds rear end was completely rebuilt by Oliveria Engineering using a 1958 positraction unit and Fabcraft 9.3” 4.10 ring and pinion gear set. Rounding out the chassis, a set of rare 15” American Racing Dragmaster wheels were polished and finished with gold centers and outfitted with Cooper 225/75 tires. Numerous other features were installed during the build including a 25-gallon fuel cell with electric fuel pump, battery located to the trunk, a Hobbs Stewart Warner engine hours meter installed under the hood, a master cut off switch mounted at the rear bumper body panel, and tow hook provisions mounted and marked at each corner.

Attention to detail didn’t stop with the mechanical systems as the owner cleverly selected a subtle two-tone green finish which was applied by Hollywood Auto Body who also performed the metal work, block and prime, paint prep and application of the three-stage finish including High Glamour clear coat. The color scheme recalls the “Green Dragon” Bardahl hydroplane boat from the 1958s which the owner fondly remembered as a child. In addition to the beautiful green paint, all chrome and stainless trim were shaped and polished to excellent fit and finish, including nice exterior touches such as Marchal headlamps and stone guards, a bumper mounted Cibie spotlight from an Alfa TZ, gold foil #40 vintage door numbers, Bardahl and Shell vinyl stickers, and correct Olds 88 emblems and insignias. The interior was also completed to a very high level using two tone green and grey material with gold stitching accents and Dynamat insulation installed under matching green carpet. The dashboard was finished with stock features though modified with a vintage column mounted Sun tachometer, floor bolted roll bar with five-point seat belt, shoulder harness, and headrest, and a clever red oil pressure warning light replacing the clock on the top of the dashboard.

Condition Overview

Today this unique and beautifully finished Oldsmobile is ready to drive and show. The exterior finish is glossy and smooth with subtle darker green metallic paint on the roof and solid brighter green for the main body. The vintage trim and features are in excellent condition throughout the car. Every aspect is beautifully finished and shows a high level of detail. The doors, hood, and trunk lid all open and shut with excellent closure, very nice panel gaps, and great fit to the stock body. The overall body work is exceptional, and the stance is spot on capturing the distinctive vintage era stock car look. The front and rear bumpers, grille, and various trim are polished to a high luster including the window garnish, fender side trim, grille and surrounding trim, and chrome door handles. The dual exhaust terminates just forward of the rear wheels exiting on each side with chromed trumpets. A set of 15” American Racing Dragmaster wheels and Cooper 225/75 tires are mounted.

The interior has been prepared with equal attention to detail using original type materials in correct pattern and color for the front 50/50 bench seat, door panels, and a beautifully painted dashboard. The rear seat has been deleted in favor of finished rear bulkhead and sidewall panels and an embossed “88” package shelf. The stock dash and gauge cluster maintains the original instruments and functional speedometer. The fuel gauge is not functional, though a wood dipstick is included to check the fuel depth in the fuel cell. The column shift 4-speed manual transmission is fronted by a correct vintage steering wheel and a column mounted vintage Sun tach, while other clever touches include a pair of timing watches mounted in place of the radio, a red oil pressure warning light mounted in place of the clock, an illuminated turn indicator lever that flashes when in use, and an under-dash water temp gauge. The interior is finished with beautiful green carpeting, correct headliner, and a pair of tinted green plexiglass sun visors.

Under the hood, the V8 engine and engine compartment is beautifully finished with excellent matching color on the steel firewall and inner fenders, polished and plated parts, and correctly finished Oldsmobile valve covers with dual air cleaners. The underside of the car is in very good condition having been built using top grade hardware, clever engineering, and refined construction, while still maintaining the vintage history associated with early era stock cars and hot rods. Noted upgrades include dual Borla side exit exhaust, Koni shock absorbers, and improved competition brake shoes. There is no visual evidence of structural compromise to the chassis, steel floors, or suspension mounting points.

This is a truly exemplary Olds 88 hot rod with great build details, fantastic drivetrain, and perfect stance. The finish and build quality make it ideal for cruising and showing at any hot rod show, vintage tour, endurance revival race, or custom car event.

Items Included with the Car

This car is accompanied by a set of steel wheels finished in light green, an oil cooler, spare AC Delco spark plugs, a vintage Oldsmobile paint chart, Olds maintenance manual, body and chassis parts book, and other vintage literature.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608