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Fooling around online and came across this 1958 Super 88 4 door. Looks cool, any one have an idea what it's worth? Apparently floods are rotten and interior.
I'm not sure what it is worth, but being in the shape it is in, and a 4 door, I don't think you could come close to selling it, for all the money it would take to restore it. To me I would not spend over $500.
Too bad you can't sell chrome by the pound. I agree with you Tedd, this thing is a parts car or to be sold be the pound. On top of that 58 is probably the least desirable of the 50's Oldsmobiles.
On top of that 58 is probably the least desirable of the 50's Oldsmobiles.
Totally agree. I got into the classic car scene in the 90s, and it was acknowledged that the GM model change of 58 was about the worst thing out there, closely followed by the model change of 73, and you should never buy a 58 or 73 anything General Motors. 30 years later, it seems that nostalgia has altered tastes and some people love the 58s to the point of loudly baying their beliefs that they are just as desirable and worth as much as the 57s, which was not true then, is not true now, and probably will continue in similar fashion until the market goes soft on 50s cars in ten years or so like the model As did a while back.
It probably cost as much to re chrome a 58 as it would to restore the rest of the car. As I look at the pictures it looks like the chrome is in not bad shape. They were the king of chrome in there day..... Tedd
Okay, thanks for the info.
I was just looking to part it out if was able to buy it cheap.
Since J2 was brought up, I have found 2 sets that are almost complete for 600,
they worth snagging?
When you say almost complete that can have a big effect on value. A good air cleaner by itself is worth more than that. If linkage is missing it is going to be hard to find and will have a big effect on value. Most people buying a J2 setup want it to be complete for a restored car and not a hot rod so they are going to look for complete units. Are the sets $600 each or is that for the set?
When you say almost complete that can have a big effect on value. A good air cleaner by itself is worth more than that. If linkage is missing it is going to be hard to find and will have a big effect on value. Most people buying a J2 setup want it to be complete for a restored car and not a hot rod so they are going to look for complete units. Are the sets $600 each or is that for the set?
If you don't take it at that price call me and I will. If that is the case it is a bargain. There was some minor differences in the 57 and 58 I believe but I don't know what they are and it wouldn't matter.
If you don't take it at that price call me and I will. If that is the case it is a bargain. There was some minor differences in the 57 and 58 I believe but I don't know what they are and it wouldn't matter.
There was some minor differences in the 57 and 58 I believe but I don't know what they are and it wouldn't matter.
The air cleaner was the major difference , The '57's had a large "Batwing " air cleaner with dual oil bath cleaners .
The '58 air cleaner was a large round affair with a big paper element . The carbs were different tag numbers , but looked the same externally .
The manifolds were the same . BTW , these manifolds were used on the '58 " Dynamic 88 " 2 barrel models .
They just mounted a carb in the middle , and blocked off the end carb holes with metal plates .
This is why there are so many tri-carb manifolds floating around .
The air cleaner was the major difference , The '57's had a large "Batwing " air cleaner with dual oil bath cleaners .
The '58 air cleaner was a large round affair with a big paper element . The carbs were different tag numbers , but looked the same externally .
The manifolds were the same . BTW , these manifolds were used on the '58 " Dynamic 88 " 2 barrel models .
They just mounted a carb in the middle , and blocked off the end carb holes with metal plates .
This is why there are so many tri-carb manifolds floating around .
Interesting Charlie. I did not know that about the block off plates. There are several listed on ebay and one still has the block off plates on it and is listed for $99.00.
The j2 was problematic from the get go. though the carbs were 2g's the secondary's were vacuum operated and were like a on off switch, many had issues and needed a lot of attention to run consistently. Often the cheap fix was to go to the 2 bbl and block off plates. At the time there were aftermarket suppliers that had progressive linkage setups that worked well but were quite expensive and gas mileage suffered though that wasn't as much a issue in the 50's...... Tedd
Totally agree. I got into the classic car scene in the 90s, and it was acknowledged that the GM model change of 58 was about the worst thing out there, closely followed by the model change of 73, and you should never buy a 58 or 73 anything General Motors. 30 years later, it seems that nostalgia has altered tastes and some people love the 58s to the point of loudly baying their beliefs that they are just as desirable and worth as much as the 57s, which was not true then, is not true now, and probably will continue in similar fashion until the market goes soft on 50s cars in ten years or so like the model As did a while back.
but i bought my nova new in 73, should i crush it lol.
Tedd, I think you were close enough. The secondary carburetors were vacuum operated to open and I believe opened at WOT. A guy I grew up around loved the J-2's. He bored them 1/8" oversize to 394, used Engle solid lifter cams, Jahns high compression pistons and vacuum operated carbs.
