Hi,

I hope to be at the right place here to ask for some help what means to take a look at a 1953 Oldsmobile 98.

After buying my first oldtimer last year it seems to be like flu

So I found a nice guy that showed me some pics of his '53 Olds 98.

Maybe some of you guys that are used to see such cars can take a look at it and tell here what you think about that car.

What I am looking for is a sunday driver that is allowed to show his age, but technics have to be in good condition and I do not want to buy some troubles with the car.

I am 51 yrs old and able to do some mechanics work, but I dont know too much about cars like that. So I am not sure to do the right thing if I buy such a car that no one knows here in Austria. Also I dont know if some manuals, wiring diagrams and so on are still to find anywhere, without that it would be double difficult for me.

So if you wanna help, please look here :

http://s1057.photobucket.com/albums/t385/oldspics/

(PLEASE tell me everything about such cars, weak spots as strong things, general also as just for the car shown on the pics. I know exaktly NOTHING about such a car but I think it is worth to survive for long time in my garage)

 

Welcome aboard

I'm gonna let the 53 guys advise you.

 

Your car looks awesome, and welcome by the way.

The things I would be concerned about not knowing your car would be the wiring, wiper motor, fuel pump,brake lines and brake related items, anything that is rubber or parts that have rubber in them that are liable to be unseen and deteriorating after 50+ years.
I believe 53 was the last year for cloth covered wiring so wiring would be my first suspect .Wiper problems are always a concern in these era cars also. The lack of vacuum from the pump and to much drag from wore vacuum
motors makes being caught in the rain a serious problem.
The new gas here in the states causes big problems with any rubber parts exposed to it, if your carburetor gas lines haven't been replaced you might as well do it now, something if you still are running with old cracked brake lines and a old master cylinder that will leave you stranded or worse.
As far as I know the 53 is a stout well made car and suffers only from the problems that all cars of that era do ,old age and having to up date because of changes in fuel additives that are mandated. I'm sure other parts could be a problem but that is what comes to mind now . Good luck and have lots of fun with your new ride ...Still lost in the fifties... Tedd

 

thank you, next days I will get another video and some more Details I hope.

Then I will have to decide if the car will be mine and get delivered to my home in a couple of weeks

Is the "autronic eye" disturbing other light functions if it doesnt work or can I switch it off easily ?

 

My car doesn't have that option( I wish it did) but I am sure it could be disconnected if it became a problem. I can remember long ago when road signs started using reflector buttons and tapes the reflection would cause the lights to switch to low beams on occasion but it didn't seem to be that much of a problem,now there is reflectors on everything so it may be an issue now....Tedd

 

A decent looking car, but Tedd, I don't believe that he has purchased it, as he is Austrian, and the car appears to be in the U.S. southwest. I believe that he is looking for advice, trying to make an overseas decision on the car.

 

you are right, I want to hear all opinions before I send an inspector to check the car, check is nearly 500 US-$ so it is better to listen before to the ones that could know some bad spots.

So for example I didnt know that there could be cloth covered wiring, so I will ask for some pictures of wiring.

Each Detail can help.

 

seems as the deal is getting more and more perfect

just one more question for now :

which white wall Tires would you recommend for a 53 oldsmobile 98 ?

the now driven tires are too old I think so the seller will try to find some for me, what should we order ?

 

Unless you start to show your car in point type events I would stay away from period correct bias type tires and go with a good set of radials. The radials will out last and ride much better than bias constructed tires.

Diamond makes radials or I should say they add white walls to someone else's tire with the correct hight white wall. Cooper also makes radials and bias with white walls that is if you want white walls, they actually sold more black walls when your car was new but wide whites do look classier. I keep two sets of tires one for shows and one for touring but I probably could get by with a set of radials and be done with it it's a pain swapping them back and forth....Tedd

 

There needs to be a correction on the previous post tires should be Coker not Cooper....Tedd

 

Here is my 2 cents (opinion). If you plan on making such a $$$$ purchase, it may be well worth the time to visit the USA and look at the car in person. Compared to what you are going to spend on the car (purchase and shipping, customs, duties, taxes etc.) this is a small expense.

If that is not possible, perhaps you can tell us what city the car is in and someone in that area on this forum, can look it over for you. Also, have the owner take the car to an AAA authorized repair facility and have a 150 point inspection done and have him scan and email that to you. You can pay half for this. If you buy the car, you do so with more knowledge as to the condtion of the car. If you don't at least the owner knows exactly where his car stands, paid half price for an inspection and could even lower the price more fitting to its condition.

You've already made one smart move, you came here for help. Welcome to the forum and good luck on your car hunting.

 

for sure you are right, car will be checked for sure before buying it.

Actually I am talking about that with some companys that are specialized for such things because its not possible to do it myself. ( I would love it, I have been very near of that car in Phoenix 7 months ago, I have been in Flagstaff. If I would have known that day I would have driven all night to see the car)

Bad for me that they for sure are not real specialists for '53 oldsmobiles.

But they can check the car for safety and healthy engine and maybe hidden things.
(But I dont expect that, seller seems to be very honest)

So I have to wait for some answers of that companys.

P.S.

What would that AAA repair facility ask for that 150 point inspection ?

 

I'm in Canada so I don't really know. The CAA here does it for about $100 CAD. The Canadian dollar and the US dollar are almost the same value currently, however I suspect it may be cheaper in the US.

 

car inspection is ordered.


in the meantime the seller has posted some more videos of driving and so on

what do you guys think the car is worth ?

(I know its hard to say if not seen in nature, price range will help also)

 

Stocli26, very nice car that looks as though it spent most of it's life in a low rust environment. The only problem I could pick up on that you might not know about is the possibility of the heater control valve being broken and he is controlling the heater with a add on valve on the heater hose. This is a hard to find expensive unit in the states and probably impossible in Europe. I couldn't get a good look at the knee action shocks but the area around them didn't show any stains from leakage but you might have someone take a closer look, these are also are getting harder to find or to get someone to rebuild.

Things that I thought were especially good were the lack of oil around the bottom of the engine and transmission, most often there is a little seepage at the rear main area or the transmission and this car was quite dry for being 50+ years old.

This car didn't appear from the pictures to have been apart recently so mileage may be original to the engine and transmission but it sounded good for it's age. Just a few observations from afar.

Not knowing the peculiars on the car and it being a four door I would think it would probably be in the $15000 range. You could not build a car in that shape for that kind of money though. Just curious what is the asking price if you don't mind me asking.... Tedd

 

what size / width would you prefer ?

(must not be the original, better safe to drive and to brake)

so maybe not the smallest one and not the highest one I think ?

Are there white wall tires available in a (I think) safer size ?

 

Here is a link to Coker Tire ... you can use the "Shop Tires by Vehicle" function to find bias-ply and radial tire options that are correct for your model and year: http://www.cokertire.com/

Just comparing the pics of the car to my own '53 Super 88 it really looks mostly original and in pretty good shape overall. Here are a few things I noted:

- It does have the original canister oil filter (just to passenger side of the oil pan) ... Rock Auto carries replacement filter elements - WIX part number 51121 (stay away from FRAM if at all possible) ... here is a link: http://www.rockauto.com/

- Everything under the hood looks correct except the valve on the heater hose - not sure what that's for

- It does have the correct OEM style 12-volt battery in what appears to be the original battery holder (however it should have a snap-on type battery cover that seems to be missing)

- It does appear the column shift boot is missing ... here is a link to a replacement part that I have verified does fit the '53 (available only in gray or black I think but link is to the gray one): http://www.profitautointeriors.com/p...5/RP-33-F.html

Hope your inspection turns out well and you get to purchase the car! Best of luck.

 

Most original
Your car came originally with bias ply 760 x 15 and had A 2 9/16 wide whitewall although I think 3 inch though not correct for your year look much classier and really make the tires stand out.

Radial equivalent
I run 215/70/ R/15 as my travel tires this tire matches the odometer reading of my 760/15 tires so they are very close but this is on chrome reversed rims so someone else who runs on regular steel wheels should advise you on this.I don't see any problem but I would feel bad if I advised you on something and you had to return it 4000 miles. A call to Coker would be wise , they will steer you correctly.Coker or Diamond would have or will make you the whitewall width you desire......Tedd

 

Just curious how the inspection went?

 

dont really know what you mean ....

but no problem, water pump is replaced, car is bought by a crazy austrian

new coker Tires are ordered also, hope the car will arrive soon here in Austria.

 

hallo stocki26

willkommen im chat. Komme aus der Schweiz und habe eine 56 98 cabrio. Habe eine Garage hier und falls ich Dir irgendwie helfen kann lass es mich wissen.

Grüsse aus der Schweiz

Hermann

 

Danke, ich komme darauf zurück falls nötig !

btw, yesterday was pick-up-day ....

 

today was Panama-day

wwww1115.jpg

 

Cool! How long will it take to get across the ocean?

 

more than 3 weeks to arrive, then european customs

So too late for christmas

 

not really, customs was quick and I picked up the Olds yesterday

first pic at shipping company, next in new home

 

Wow, it looks like there are a lot of American cars imported to Austria!!

Gene

 

Congrats! A nice looking Olds.