There are many contenders for the title of “First American Muscle Car.” Surely the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 must be among them. “Muscle car,” as we now understand the term, refers to a large, powerful engine in a small or medium size lightweight body. The archetypal muscle car is inarguably the Pontiac GTO, but the Oldsmobile 88 is from much the same mold.

The first part of the muscle car recipe, a powerful engine, came from GM’s big technical advance for 1949: two high-compression, overhead-valve V-8s, one from Cadillac and one from Oldsmobile. They were similar, yet different. The second part of the prescription, a light body, was the province of Olds alone, for no Cadillac could ever be considered lightweight. With GM’s corporate body program, that part was easy: the A-body, as used by Pontiac and Chevy, was the ideal candidate. Thus was born the Oldsmobile 88, a new “80 series” with an eight-cylinder engine, adhering to the traditional Olds naming scheme. The 88 was a big hit, the best-selling Olds series, with 99,276 built for 1949.

The Deluxe convertible coupe offered here, one of 5,434, is a highly original example, finished in its factory color of Seafoam Green with a two-tone green interior and black power top. It is equipped with Hydra-matic transmission, AM radio, heater, locking gasp cap, and dual fog lights, and has recorded only 29,800 actual miles, which the consignor believes to be the original miles from new. It is offered with a set of service manuals and with the original bumper jack and spare.

This is a superb example of one of the original American muscle cars.