Petmil

New to this forum but not to old cars. Am thinking of getting an 1955 Oldsmobile is there much difference in the model lines of this year of olds. The model I can find are the super 88,the Rocket 88 and 98 .Are are there any more ?

Which is the most desirable? What things do I look for on this year of olds and is there a good resource for this year?

I own a 57 Chevy now and the parts are easy to get. Lots of suppliers out there. Are parts easy to get for the olds.

Thank in advance I will be back with more question for sure. Peter

D. Yaros

the 98 is the top of the line. The Super 88 is the mid-range model. The 88 is the low-end ride. As for other models, I believe the Starfire was included in the 55 model year. If so, it would have been a convertible on a Super 88 body, with a far more luxurious trim package.

Olds is not Chevy, so do not expect parts availability to be like the tri-5 Chevys. At the same time, the parts are out there. There a some pretty good Olds suppliers, like Fusick's.

Because Olds is not Chevy, in terms of quality or numbers, it is sure to draw more attention.

Buy the best you can afford and enjoy it!

Petmil

Thanks for that info.

Anything special I should look for in that year. Are there on line manuals and what options are availkiable for these...

Peter

redoldsman

The Starfire actually started in 54. If you buy one, you will develope a love/hate relationship with ebay. Nobody does the repro stuff like they do for 55-57 Chevy's. They are great cars.

Tedd Thompson

Petmil,

There are lots of options: PS, PB, leather seats, a/c, power seats, power windows, tinted or not tinted windows, 4bbl or 2bbl carbs, lots of little stuff like color combos. You could special order,mix and match, most any combo of top and bottom colors that were listed (some 19 or 20 in all.) Also, to add to the body styles, were the Holiday (a non post 4 door and coup,) and the Starfire which was the 98 convertible. The super 88 convertible was just the Super convertible (no Starfire 88's.) Most all Supers and Starfires were leather interior 4bbl cars, but you could almost order anything on a special order basis, so you can find all kinds of odd combos.

We have been swaping parts for almost 60 years now, so it gets hard to find an all orginal car. But try to get the most complete car in the best condition that you can find. Often an old restoration is cheaper than taking a beater and restoring it from the ground up.

Plan on spending at least twice as much on a Olds restoration compared to your Chevy. It just works that way. Olds parts are harder to find and hardly any repops are made for the 50s era cars. It's well worth it! Your car will stand out in the crowd. I have been to shows with 1500 to 2000 cars and I was the only 55 convertible in the show. Not so with 55 Chevys. There were a dozen of them.

Generaly, convertibles and two doors are your best bet as far as resale is concerned. But you will generally tie up more in restoration than what you can recover in re-sale right now. But you'll have something really special.
Good luck...Tedd.

gearheads78

As far as the look of the car the 98 is a longer car. Its real obvious when you see a 88 and 98 parked next to each out. Easy to carry more dead bodies in the 98 trunk

Tedd Thompson

You can still get three in a 88, nice sized trunk....Tedd

Petmil

great info. I know what you mean about doing a retore, It's best to find someone who has done and spent all the money for a good restore then spend the money yourself..

More info pls...Peter

jaunty75

As I understand it, this is the understatement of the millenium. The '57 Chevy is probably THE most popular collector car in the history of collector cars, even more popular than the '56's or '55's. I read once that pretty much every single part that ever appeared on a '57 Chevy is reproduced (ditto for the '56's and '55s), and you can go out and assemble a Chevy from any of these three model years completely from reproduction parts. No way you're going to do that for an Oldsmobile.


In 1955, Olds offered three models, starting with the "Series 88," which came in 2 and 4-door sedan and coupe versions. The base engine was a 324 V-8 rated at 185 hp. Optional was the same engine in a 202 hp version.

Next up was the Super 88, which came in the same four body styles as the 88 plus a convertible. Base engine was the optional engine in the 88.

At the high end was the Series 98, which came as a 4-door sedan, 2 or 4-door coupe, or a convertible which, as noted earlier, was called the "Starfire." D. Yaros is correct in that the name Starfire was first used in 1954. In '53, the 98 convertible was called the "Fiesta." In '52 and earlier, it was just called "convertible coupe" or "deluxe convertible coupe."

The base engine on the '54 98 was the same as the Super 88. Only one engine option, the 202-hp, 324 V-8, was offered in the Super 88 and 98 lines.

Oldsguy

Welcome to CO, hope you find yourself a nice car soon.

55/98

Welcome , and these are one of a kind cars not a lot of them at shows and cruises.

NorTown Olds

DITTOS! WELCOME to CO! Good luck in your search; you can't go wrong w/ a '55 Model Olds; it's one of my all-time favorite 50s Olds around...ALL the models were neat and as has been said; the Combinations and options are almost endless. Happy Motoring!

Curt Cummings

Hi out there Olds guys. I to just picked up a 1955 Olds Rocket 88 two door hardtop with 74k miles on it. It runs like a top even though in storage for many years. The only thing missing is the door lock button on the passenger side door. I looked around on line for one but nothing has come up so am wondering if any of you out there have a spare in your bits and pieces boxes that you might turn loose of? My Olds has the original owners manual in the glove box with the original sale date, dealership and buyer in it. So Cool. Thanks. Hot rod Curt.

redoldsman

In '53, the 98 convertible was called the "Fiesta." In '52 and earlier, it was just called "convertible coupe" or "deluxe convertible coupe."

A slight correction on this one. They did make a 98 convertible that sold for $2,963 and 7,521 were produced. The Fiesta was a cousin to the Buick Skylark. It sold for a whopping $5,715 and only 458 were produced. A decent 53 Fiesta is easily a 6 figure car today.

Tedd Thompson

The door handle is repoped and aviable from Fusick, part# ODH546 andODH59 sold in pairs only and they are cheep at only $115.00 a pr. Boy I should buy a dozen....Tedd

Curt Cummings

WOW! That's a pretty penny. Thanks for the onfo, the old girl is not a show car so I'll have to figure something else out.

I have another question though. There are small square holes ( not drilled) in the rocker panel on the lower edge of the fender and under the door. They appear to be for a stainless trim strip but there is no evidence that there was ever one installed on the car. I have looked at many photos on line and none of the 88's have a stainless strip there, although several of the 98's have had one. Was that an option for the 88? If so are they re-popped? Thanks. Hot Rod Curt

64Rocket

Here is a great one to pick up.
If I had money and space, I'd be on it.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2935686669.html
Gene

redoldsman

The rocker panel moldings were an option on the 88/Super 88 and are not reproduced. They are very rare.

Curt Cummings

Thanks, that's good to know. My 1955 98 Holliday 4DHT ( parts car ) has them on it but they are pretty squished.

Tedd Thompson

They are now reproducing the rocker moldings, Fusick #566338/9. Be glad they are at any price, they weren't when I did mine and I paid a kings ransom for a pair of NOS.

The square holes presented a problem for me when I tried to install with the fasteners that came with it, I couldn't make them work at all, ended up making a few out of strap steel and the rest I bought at a fastener store that finished the job up.
Those tail tale square holes tell me that this was a factory option, rare in a 88....Tedd

64Rocket

How about this one?
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/2917852854.html
Or this one
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/2928007542.html

Gene

1969w3155

Well Curt, now we need pictures of your new ride!

Curt Cummings

My Olds projects are coming along. I finally got the 88 2D HT running but it still needs some help. The correct tune up parts are on order. Looking forward to a cruise soon. The 98 4DHT is still setting in the carport looking at me every time I walk by. :-)

Curt Cummings

HELP!!! I need to know how to replace the heater core in my 1955 Olds Super 88, 2 door hardtop. I purchased a shop manual but heater core replacement is not listed. Where can I find a instruction sequence to do the job. Thanks.

Tedd Thompson

The best as i remember.



Disconnect heater hoses (on the firewall)

Remove the defroster cable from the valve at the top of the heater body( inside the car)

There should be 6 or 8 Phillips head screws holding the defroster outlets remove these and this should free up the defroster housing from the heater box (You are still inside the car dash)

The heater core is now behind a sheet metal cover,remove the screws holding it and the heater core should be exposed and removable.

As I remember it most everything comes out from inside the dash, I probably have missed somethings but once you start pulling it apart it should be obvious.....Tedd

Curt Cummings

Hey Man, Thanks allot. I was stumped. I thought that I had to remove the heater box inside the engine compartment. I appreciate your reply. Take care and have a great Olds day. Curt

kirkwoodken

I know this is an old post, but any time you remove heater hoses, you should consider them sacrificial. Gently cut the hoses lengthwise from firewall in a couple places with a razor knife. Then peel the hoses off in a circular manner. You want to use as little force as possible on heater hose removal. The cores are very easy to break just by pulling and twisting the hoses.

I just replaced my heater core. About $275 to get the original recored with V-core, the same core used in the original. I had a hard time getting the old one out. With all the screws removed, it didn't want to move. Ended up using a crowbar gently to get core unstuck from the original sealer used around the core. There are two screws behind the shroud that hold the core frame to the shroud. When you pry it out, pry around the far right side of the shroud, closest to the right fender, as that is the stiffest part of the shroud and core frame. There are no screws going from the under hood box to the heater shroud inside the car.

I also got the original clock to work. Ask if you are interested.

Erik Berkey

Looking for some window molding for a 55 olds to door 88 rocket wondering if anyone out there has some leads

Tedd Thompson

You should start a new post (probably in the vintage forum) rather than hijack this old post.

When you do post a new thread are you looking for weather striping or fuzzes in the window channel/ wind wings. A picture or better description would help. And yes they are viable through Fusick or Steel rubber products...... Tedd