Greetings,

My Uncle, now passed, passed onto me what we think is a 1950 Rocket 88, could be a 49 (no current clean papers, last registered out of state). She's pretty rough on the inside, motor hasn't run in a decade but the body is pretty clean and she has all her parts. He passed this car on to me a year before his death, some 10 years ago, my hope was to restore her at the time...well you all know how it goes and time slips away...but I'm graduating my last kid from high school this year and figure it's now time to get started.

I want to research the car and find the right parts before I get started but my dilemma is not knowing the year, any experts out there that can help me get that part nailed down? Are there going to be obvious differences? While I am mechanically inclined, I am new to the auto restoration game...so I'll doing a lot of reading here and hope the forum will be a good resource.

Cheers!

 

Welcome from Houston!!! There are quite a few Texas boys on here...I hope you find all the answers you need!

Steve

 

the 1950 I believe had a 88rocket emblem on the trunk and the 1949 did not. been awhile but I think that's right....

 

Welcome to CO, Fire1Tex, from Big D! Am sure that others will provide more exacting information as to how to determine whether it is a '49 or a '50, but one obvious visual is above the tail lights (running front to back, looking at the car from the side) is a chrome strip, part of the whole TL assembly. The '49 almost follows the body contour at the top, whle the '50 deviates an "sticks up" more. Sort of hard to describe, and no pictures. Otherwise, very similar in all respects as far as I know. Love that year, would drool over having a 2 door sedan, LOL! If no other responses, send me a PM, can put you in touch with a couple of guys (not on CO) that can really steer you in the right direction.
Aron

 

Welcome to the site! Glad to have another Texan aboard...
There are several who will have knowledge of this beast - just have to wait till they come about.

 

Based on the hood ornament, I believe you have a 51, but a rear view would help. Also the tail lights might have the year printed in the bottom. I just can't remember when they started that for sure. Also the vin # might have an indication.

 

'49 had the split windshield.

 

Looks like it has a lot of potential with all the parts present. That surface rust "patina" is popular in the hot rod crowd so I would be tempted to leave as-is if there is no serious body/floor/frame rot and focus on getting it road worthy.

 

Welcome to CO. There sure a lot of Texans coming aboard lately. Maybe we should get together and throw a real TEXAS PARTY!!!!!

 

Hood ornament indicates it's a 51 Standard/Deluxe 88 which was a carryover from 1950 until the Super 88 was introduced. It's often referred to as 88-A (for A-body, S88 was Olds' first use of the larger GM B-body) and was discontinued during the 51 model year.

Since the hood could have been changed sometime over the past 60 years, see if the VIN plate is still in place in the left front door jamb. If it starts with 50, it is a 1950. 51 indicates a 1951. Post the first four characters in the VIN and we can nail down year, series, and assembly plant.

 

X2 on 1951. The 1950 had Oldsmobile spelled out linearly between the hood lip and the rocket insignia whereas the 51 is above and semi-circular like yours above the insignia. Of course as rocketraider suggests the vin will nail it down. Gramps had a 49 split window vert and 51 88-A...cool sleds!

 

Well see...I was thinking 49-50 but not 51, will post a pic of the VIN later, would like to emulate the original paint, swatches hard to find to match to? It looks like it was a sky blue with black roof. I have seen the paint code under the hood...will pic that too.

 

That underhood data plate tells you original color and interior codes and sometimes Fisher Body plant options.

For paint chips- www.autocolorlibrary.com . It's not dial-up friendly and is a cluttered and "busy" website, but will have a paint chart you can view and match your paint codes.

You can contact SMS Auto Fabrics www.smsautofabrics.com , give them the interior trim code, and they will send swatches of any fabric they have available for the car. Be warned- they ain't cheap, but they almost always have the correct new old stock fabric you need.

Alternately- I think the 88-A interior fabric was similar to the Chevrolet and Hampton Coach http://www.hamptoncoach.com/ and LeBaron Bonney http://www.lebaronbonney.com make Chev and Buick interior stuff. LBB shows they make a 1950 Olds 88 4-door sedan kit. My guess is a 51 88-A sedan will be the same.

One of my body parts books covers back to 1951 and shows trim codes 1 and 1A for 1951 88-A closed cars. 1 is light/dark gray chevron pattern cloth, 1A is light gray striped broadcloth.

 

Well you guys are good, great info, here's what I've found. It is a 1951 and the original paint was Black over Algiers Green. Posting some more pics so you guys can see where I stand today. It's the interior that scares me the most.

My next plan of attack is to inventory the car, document it with photographs, make a preliminary list of replacement parts, then go to the heart and pull the motor and tranny and see what kind of shape that in. If they are going to be salvagable without a ton of $$ I like to keep them, if not I will mod and go with a crate motor. I do not plan a "body off" resto on this, it's clean up, paint up, new interior and get it running project.

 

...and a few more pics...

and one last thing the VIN is located where? Looked all over...dash...doors...engine...what am I not seeing?

 

The vin plate is on the drivers door jam. It is just above the door jam switch.
It is a '51
Don't cheap out and put a chubby in the car. Keep it OLDSMOBILE.

Gene

 

Welcome! Good to see another 51 on here. I have a 51 Super 88 2 Door. If you need some parts let me know cause I shaved a lot of trim off of mine and I have a complete frontend also.

 

If it were mine I would try to get it going before I would pull it down, you can tell a lot about an engine while it's still in the car. but some how I feel a 350/350 coming on.....Tedd

 

x 2
:d