The first Oldsmobile rolled out of Ransom E. Olds’ first Detroit factory in 1897. In 1908, the Oldsmobile Company became part of General Motors and would continue to produce a variety of vehicles including trucks and luxury vehicles until 1999.

In 1940, Oldsmobile pioneered a new style of transmission known as the Hydramatic. While not the first automatic transmission developed by an automobile manufacturer, it was certainly the most successful. By placing this transmission in the Oldsmobile, General Motors began a tradition of using some of their most innovative engineering and design features in their Oldsmobile models.

After the conclusion of World War II, Oldsmobile, like most of the other American vehicles, were “warmed up” versions of their prewar predecessors. By changing the front grille and some of the other external trim, the “new” postwar Oldsmobiles continued to share the same success in sales as the prewar counterparts. This design continued through 1948 when General Motors completely redesigned the Oldsmobile’s look.

The new Oldsmobiles for 1949 used a new design style dubbed “Futurmatic” by General Motors. This new design style used cues taken from aircraft and the earliest forms of space ships that were just in their infancy. The new designs incorporated long, continuous lines, and more rounded quarter panels, which were complemented by rounded and integral hoods and trunks. Underneath the new body designs, a new overhead valve V-8 engine replaced the inline six-cylinder engine, which had been used with modifications by Oldsmobile since the 1920s. The new engine was called the Rocket 88. With its new V-8 engine and the Hydramatic transmission, the new Oldsmobiles were quite powerful and soon became widely used for road racing and would become one of the first vehicles to be modified for use in the new NASCAR stock car racing circuits.

For 1949, Oldsmobile built three models, the Seventy-Six Series, the Eighty-Eight Series and the Futuramic Ninety-Eight Series. The 88 series was offered in six different body styles: the two-door convertible, two-door hardtop coupe, a four-door sedan, a town sedan, a two-door sedan and a station wagon. The four-door sedan was the most popular model and nearly 47,000 were produced and sold in 1949 and had an average selling price of $2,120.

This example is equipped with several factory original accessories including the Hydramatic transmission, fender skirts, external sunvisor, bumper guards and whitewall tires.

Upon inspection, this example appears to have been an excellent and well-preserved original vehicle that was cosmetically restored in recent years, and today remains in very good overall condition. The body appears extremely straight and solid throughout with no signs of any damage or repair. The doors fit the body with excellent alignment, even body margins and good gaps. The trunk and hood lid also have an excellent fit. The four fenders do not appear to have any damaged or repaired areas. The paint remains in good to very good condition. The gloss is even throughout the vehicle and the paint shows no signs of cracking or bubbling, just some minor areas of scratching and wear. The chrome and stainless trim items are in good to very good condition.

The interior has been completely restored and remains in excellent condition. The two-tone gray seats show no signs of aging and the coverings are like new. The matching carpets, headliner and door panels are also in excellent condition. The dashboard is in excellent condition and is complete with all of its proper gauges and controls which are also very clean and nicely detailed. All of the window glass is excellent and the roll-up windows are all in working order.

The engine bay was restored, and while showing typical signs of usage, remains clean and presentable, but would benefit from a good cleaning. The engine has its signature Rocket 88 value covers, correct carburetor and other accessories. The car retains its original Fisher body tag. The chassis is in similar condition and would benefit from a good detailing. All of the suspension components appear to be in good condition as does the chassis frame. The wheels have been properly restored and have newer tires, which are in very good condition.

Overall, this example is an accurate representation of a popular, first generation 1950s Oldsmobile sedan. This example is an accurate restoration of a very original and well-preserved car and is ready to be used, exhibited and enjoyed in its current condition.