Series L; Model 34418. 90 bhp, 240 cu. in. L-head inline six-cylinder engine, single downdraft Stromberg carburetor, three-speed synchronized manual transmission, semi-floating rear axle, and four-wheel Bendix hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 119"

• Exceedingly rare; one of five known examples

• AACA show-winning restoration; handsome and highly equipped

The second nameplate in William Durant’s fledgling General Motors, Oldsmobile overlapped market segments with several other GM marques until Alfred P. Sloan established a price hierarchy in the mid-1920s. Despite early market leadership, Oldsmobile’s fortunes slipped by the 1920s, yet survived the Great Depression by simply providing tangible value for the money; their cars were solid, well-engineered, and stylish with advanced features. This strong focus helped Oldsmobile earn its reputation as the “engineering” division of GM, and by 1934, its future was secured with a major expansion of its tooling, assembly lines, and shipping facilities.

While Oldsmobile was ultimately discontinued in 2002, it will forever retain its status as the sole North American automobile manufacturer with history touching the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. This handsome eight-cylinder L-34 convertible coupe from 1934 is a wonderful example of Oldsmobile’s remarkable growth during the mid-1930s. Quite rare when new, and even more so today with only five known to exist, it was restored by Anderson Restorations, of Wisconsin, to award-winning standards, with AACA Senior Grand National First Prize and Senior National First Prize awards to its credit.

In addition to the jaunty rumble seat, desirable features include striking, painted upper-body and wheel accents, a Haartz cloth top, dual Trippe lights, rare dual side-mounted spares, dual “trumpet” horns, dual windshield wipers, wide whitewall tires, chrome wheel-trim rings, and Oldsmobile’s beautiful Art Deco-inspired “Goddess” radiator mascot. A handsome wood grain dash treatment and deluxe gearshift ball round out the interior. Beautiful, desirable, and highly equipped, this 1934 Oldsmobile Eight Convertible Coupe exemplifies the stylistic and engineering leadership of Oldsmobile, one of GM’s earliest divisions. As such, it is sure to make a key addition to any serious collection of fine prewar American automobiles.