In the glow of postwar prosperity, General Motors envisioned its 1958 models as bold declarations of American innovation and luxury with cars tailored to a nation eagerly embracing the future. Nowhere was this vision more extravagantly realized than the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible, the division’s most luxurious and stylistically ambitious offering.

Though it retained the wheelbase and chassis of its 1957 predecessor, the 1958 model featured an entirely new body shell, dominated by sweeping lines and glistening chrome. Long horizontal trim pieces accentuated the rear fenders, while quad headlamps wore elegant “eyebrows” that visually stretched the car’s already imposing length. Massive front and rear bumper assemblies anchored the Jet Age silhouette, with the rear incorporating Oldsmobile’s signature exhaust-inspired tail lamps—a hallmark of famed stylist Harley Earl’s aircraft-infused design principles. It was, as period advertising enthused, “a sparkling span of lighthearted beauty,” and has come to be nicknamed the “King of Chrome.”

Beneath its dramatic bodywork was a 371-cubic-inch Rocket V-8, which, when optioned with the J-2 triple-carburetor setup, produced 312 horsepower and allowed the over-two-ton convertible to sprint from 0–60 mph in around 8.0 seconds. Optional equipment was generous, including power steering, power brakes, dual exhaust, an electric clock, and removable Trans-Portable radio, an ingenious feature highly emblematic of the era’s innovative spirit.

Offered from Sonny Schwartz’s Suzy Q Collection, this tastefully appointed 1958 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible is finished in the striking, period-correct livery of Turquoise Mist over a beautifully coordinated interior in turquoise and cream. Led by the formidable Rocket V-8 outfitted with the coveted J-2 triple carburetor induction system, the car is further equipped with a tinted windshield, electric clock, and Oldsmobile’s ingenious Trans-Portable radio, as well as numerous power features, including power steering, brakes, seats, windows, and convertible top.

A definitive expression of late-1950s American luxury and ambition, this Ninety-Eight Convertible encapsulates an era known for its grandeur, innovation, and boundless optimism.