Is this a 98 Vista?

Tostitos · 04-29-2007, 03:02 PM

I don't know anything about Oldsmobiles, but this car has been sitting in a garage at the corner for years, ever since I was a little kid and would walk by and wave at the owner and his three legged rottweiler.

I live in the south, so I figure that either the old fella doesn't want to sell it, or no one is interested in it for some reason.

My pictures aren't very good. Sorry. I was trying to be stealthy about it.

Thought it would be wise to finally ask people who know about this sort of thing. I'm not sure that I want to try to buy it or restore it (lots of work, lots of money I don't have), but I would like to know more about it.

ozoneblue · 04-30-2007, 06:15 AM

What ever it is would be well worth checking into. Larry

joe_padavano · 04-30-2007, 06:44 AM

The car is a 1960 Olds. Can't tell from the photos if it's an 88 or a 98. Engine will be a 394 with Hydramatic trans.

Oldsmaniac · 04-30-2007, 11:07 AM

Yes it is a 1960 and Im pretty sure its a 98 because it has the chrome divider in the tailights....I believe only the 98's had this....of course someone could have put 98 lights in an 88 too....Cool Car!

Oldsguy · 05-01-2007, 04:48 AM

Buy it and then post pictures!!!!

Oldsfan · 05-01-2007, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldsmaniac

Yes it is a 1960 and Im pretty sure its a 98 because it has the chrome divider in the tailights....I believe only the 98's had this....of course someone could have put 98 lights in an 88 too....Cool Car!

See, in the first picture, I don't see the divider bar on the left, but I think I do on the right, through the foliage. In the second picture I do see a divider bar on the left, but don't think I see it on the right. Strange. My original though was Dynamic 88, but now I'm not sure.

Paul

Tostitos · 05-01-2007, 11:18 AM

I only have $500, and no garage space. I wonder if it's in any decent shape inside?

Oldsguy · 05-01-2007, 11:30 AM

What if the owner would let it go for $100? One of those true "garage finds". That woud be cool.

toolbox · 05-01-2007, 01:19 PM

It's got a full chrome bumper...it's just about got to be a 98. That would give it the 394 for an engine. Whether or not it's a good project for you would depend on a lot of things... If it's in relatively good shape and just some mechanical work to be driveable then it might be ok. If it needs a full restoration, it's probably not a good project given your budget and lack of shop. If it's been sitting for that long, you can just about count on it needing some things all cars need when they sit like that. Count on a complete brake overhaul...expect leaks from seals that have dried out. Gas tank often needs to be cleaned. A lot of times these things become home for small critters that chew things up like wiring... Interior and trim parts are just about impossible to find for these, so I'd make sure it's as complete as possible.

I have a '60 98, and I love it. Here's what mine looked like when I bought it back in 1995:

Here it is after most of the exterior work was done:

I've been working on this thing off and on for 12 years now. I'm still working on the interior right now. Please don't ask how much time/money I've got in this thing

. Great car though. It's rare that I run into anyone that even knows what it is.

Tostitos · 05-01-2007, 01:54 PM

I've wondered about that, but this IS the south (east tennessee) and you'd think some car guy would have made an offer and gotten it if that were the case.

I also don't have the money to do it.. maybe the time, but I'm short on know-how. Even if I got it and put a lot of effort into it, it would never be a show car.

It is really different and unique, though. I wonder how much that engine could pull?

ETA toolbox that looks very, very nice. Excellent work!

Oldsfan · 05-02-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolbox

It's got a full chrome bumper...it's just about got to be a 98.

I thought of that, too. I thought this lower bumper looked painted. I saw a 98 convertible on the web that looked chrome, but the one on the back cover of that year's sales brochure is not chrome:

That 98 has a painted lower bumper. I should check my parts book and see what it says about bumper applications.

Paul

toolbox · 05-02-2007, 07:49 AM

Interesting. I've looked at a lot of '60s, and I've always used the full chrome bumper as an easy way to spot a 98. Check and see what you find...I'd be curious too.

Oldsfan · 05-03-2007, 05:25 PM

Yes, it is interesting. You are right. Parts book says:

1960 88,S88 bar, rear lower (paint) 577571
1960 98 bar, rear lower (chrome) 579229

Something I didn't know before.

Paul

who cats · 06-11-2007, 04:47 PM

Its a 1960 most likley a 98 . The taillite chrome divider, look like one does
one does not, at any rate try and buy it and resell to someone on the
Olds forum. Someone will want it ,at lest for parts
who cats

04-29-2007, 03:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tostitos Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3	Is this a 98 Vista? I don't know anything about Oldsmobiles, but this car has been sitting in a garage at the corner for years, ever since I was a little kid and would walk by and wave at the owner and his three legged rottweiler. I live in the south, so I figure that either the old fella doesn't want to sell it, or no one is interested in it for some reason. My pictures aren't very good. Sorry. I was trying to be stealthy about it. Thought it would be wise to finally ask people who know about this sort of thing. I'm not sure that I want to try to buy it or restore it (lots of work, lots of money I don't have), but I would like to know more about it.

04-30-2007, 06:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
joe_padavano Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,117	The car is a 1960 Olds. Can't tell from the photos if it's an 88 or a 98. Engine will be a 394 with Hydramatic trans. __________________ Joe Padavano 64 Jetstar 88 Conv 66 442 L-69 Conv 68 W-30 69 H/O 69 442 70 W-30 72 442 86 Caprice wagon (w/307 Olds)

05-01-2007, 04:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,520	Buy it and then post pictures!!!! __________________ Dan '46 2 door

05-01-2007, 11:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,520	What if the owner would let it go for $100? One of those true "garage finds". That woud be cool. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

06-11-2007, 04:47 PM	#14 (permalink)
who cats Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11	Olds in bush Its a 1960 most likley a 98 . The taillite chrome divider, look like one does one does not, at any rate try and buy it and resell to someone on the Olds forum. Someone will want it ,at lest for parts who cats

04-30-2007, 06:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
ozoneblue Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 403	What ever it is would be well worth checking into. Larry

04-30-2007, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldsmaniac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 344	Yes it is a 1960 and Im pretty sure its a 98 because it has the chrome divider in the tailights....I believe only the 98's had this....of course someone could have put 98 lights in an 88 too....Cool Car!

05-01-2007, 11:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tostitos Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3	I only have $500, and no garage space. I wonder if it's in any decent shape inside?

05-01-2007, 01:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
toolbox Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	It's got a full chrome bumper...it's just about got to be a 98. That would give it the 394 for an engine. Whether or not it's a good project for you would depend on a lot of things... If it's in relatively good shape and just some mechanical work to be driveable then it might be ok. If it needs a full restoration, it's probably not a good project given your budget and lack of shop. If it's been sitting for that long, you can just about count on it needing some things all cars need when they sit like that. Count on a complete brake overhaul...expect leaks from seals that have dried out. Gas tank often needs to be cleaned. A lot of times these things become home for small critters that chew things up like wiring... Interior and trim parts are just about impossible to find for these, so I'd make sure it's as complete as possible. I have a '60 98, and I love it. Here's what mine looked like when I bought it back in 1995: Here it is after most of the exterior work was done: I've been working on this thing off and on for 12 years now. I'm still working on the interior right now. Please don't ask how much time/money I've got in this thing . Great car though. It's rare that I run into anyone that even knows what it is.

05-01-2007, 01:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tostitos Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3	I've wondered about that, but this IS the south (east tennessee) and you'd think some car guy would have made an offer and gotten it if that were the case. I also don't have the money to do it.. maybe the time, but I'm short on know-how. Even if I got it and put a lot of effort into it, it would never be a show car. It is really different and unique, though. I wonder how much that engine could pull? ETA toolbox that looks very, very nice. Excellent work!

05-02-2007, 07:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
toolbox Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 37	Interesting. I've looked at a lot of '60s, and I've always used the full chrome bumper as an easy way to spot a 98. Check and see what you find...I'd be curious too.

05-03-2007, 05:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
Oldsfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 424	Yes, it is interesting. You are right. Parts book says: 1960 88,S88 bar, rear lower (paint) 577571 1960 98 bar, rear lower (chrome) 579229 Something I didn't know before. Paul

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