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From: Pacific Northwest
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....they said I was crazy (& they may have been right). But it seemed like a good idea to me.
Last spring I purchased (virtually sight unseen, off the world wide web, but from a very nice, very HONEST man) a stock (ish?) 1955 Super 88, 4-door.
Then got myself all the way back there to Sturgeon Bay, WI, so-as I could road trip the new, vintage automobile slowly home to Spokane, WA. during a 2 week period.
2,400 miles, $486 worth of gasoline (9 MPG in the city, 18 MPG on the open road), and 1/2 a quart of oil later, the Oldsmobile's generator finally gave up the ghost (believe it or not: the car finally died RIGHT in front of my house).
For the most part, I caught HELL for buying a 4-door, and something which wasn't a Chevy. At least I did until folks SAW the Super 88 up close and personal. What's-more: I made it all that way without so much as a flat tire....and THEN the nickle and dime-ing began.
Last summer I had the generator rebuit and replaced the voltage regulator at the same time; I had the radiator rebuilt (I found a slew of empty "stop leak" containers hidden away in the trunk after I returned home).
I was able to perform a complete brake job (brake shoes, turned the hubs, replaced the wheel cylinders, rebuilt the master cylinder....all of this with the help of a much more knowledgeable neighbor)....I also replaced any hoses and the fule line wich looked to be corroding.
....I also drove her around town quite a bit (no power steering, no power brakes: so it was almost like EXERCISE!).
I reeked the most havoc when I had the muffler replaced, and the exhaust system re-done because I decided NOT to dual it off. Which caused nearly EVERYONE to freak out. As a result.....she doesn't rumble up the road with that throaty little roar, but simply glides quietly into place.
(Personally: I LIKE the theory of an automobile that big, and that beautiful....still being able to sneek up on people)
It's actually such a wonderful time capsule that I really see no need to mess with it much. No stereo system will replace the factory installed AM radio (although I need to replace the tubes; which I already have)....it won't get lowered....no flames will be painted on its sides....& for the most part, I'm going to leave it as-is. And treat it as a fun, summer driver.
Unfortunately, I'm not much of a mechanic....so the learning curve is definately a big part of the process. But so what. It's paid for, it's mine, and crazy or not....it's been a lot of fun.
Marc Harger
Last spring I purchased (virtually sight unseen, off the world wide web, but from a very nice, very HONEST man) a stock (ish?) 1955 Super 88, 4-door.
Then got myself all the way back there to Sturgeon Bay, WI, so-as I could road trip the new, vintage automobile slowly home to Spokane, WA. during a 2 week period.
2,400 miles, $486 worth of gasoline (9 MPG in the city, 18 MPG on the open road), and 1/2 a quart of oil later, the Oldsmobile's generator finally gave up the ghost (believe it or not: the car finally died RIGHT in front of my house).
For the most part, I caught HELL for buying a 4-door, and something which wasn't a Chevy. At least I did until folks SAW the Super 88 up close and personal. What's-more: I made it all that way without so much as a flat tire....and THEN the nickle and dime-ing began.
Last summer I had the generator rebuit and replaced the voltage regulator at the same time; I had the radiator rebuilt (I found a slew of empty "stop leak" containers hidden away in the trunk after I returned home).
I was able to perform a complete brake job (brake shoes, turned the hubs, replaced the wheel cylinders, rebuilt the master cylinder....all of this with the help of a much more knowledgeable neighbor)....I also replaced any hoses and the fule line wich looked to be corroding.
....I also drove her around town quite a bit (no power steering, no power brakes: so it was almost like EXERCISE!).
I reeked the most havoc when I had the muffler replaced, and the exhaust system re-done because I decided NOT to dual it off. Which caused nearly EVERYONE to freak out. As a result.....she doesn't rumble up the road with that throaty little roar, but simply glides quietly into place.
(Personally: I LIKE the theory of an automobile that big, and that beautiful....still being able to sneek up on people)
It's actually such a wonderful time capsule that I really see no need to mess with it much. No stereo system will replace the factory installed AM radio (although I need to replace the tubes; which I already have)....it won't get lowered....no flames will be painted on its sides....& for the most part, I'm going to leave it as-is. And treat it as a fun, summer driver.
Unfortunately, I'm not much of a mechanic....so the learning curve is definately a big part of the process. But so what. It's paid for, it's mine, and crazy or not....it's been a lot of fun.
Marc Harger
Oldsdruid
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,629
From: Southside Vajenya
Sharp car. 55 is as popular in Oldsworld as a common-as-dirt BelAir is in Chevyland, and about ten times the car IMO- both when new, and 53 years later.
What kinda yahoos you hang around with?
Pardon- I can't resist the chance to stick a burr under a Chevy boy's saddle...
I caught HELL for buying ... something which wasn't a Chevy.
Pardon- I can't resist the chance to stick a burr under a Chevy boy's saddle...
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