'55 Holiday 98 in Nice, France
January 17th, 2010, 02:53 AM
#1
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'55 Holiday 98 in Nice, France
Well, here goes ... My first post!
Hello to all Olds enthusiasts. I thought you might be interested to see my 1955 (registered on my birthday) Holiday '98 two door fixed head that I acquired recently in Los Angeles. A one owner, original and rust free car but in 'tired' condition. I have since almost completed a ground up restoration. Just the interior still to be done. The leather seats had all but disintegrated due to the dry, hot Californian climate but I'm trying to painstakingly rebuild them using the original coral leather facings...which is quite an undertaking and by far the most difficult aspect of the restoration. I could use a complete re-trim kit but I would really love to be able to re-use the original leather (I'll post photos of the results of my efforts)! I've fitted a set of American Racing alloys to add a bit more rubber to the road and fill out the arches (fenders) but still have the originals. She looks green in the photos but is actually light beige. I'm amazed by the build quality of the car. Light years ahead of anything available in Europe at the time (or even now)! I've rebuilt cars before but this Olds has been pure joy to work on. I can't wait to get her completely finished and spend the summer cruising the boulevards of the Riviera between Cannes and Monaco!
Hello to all Olds enthusiasts. I thought you might be interested to see my 1955 (registered on my birthday) Holiday '98 two door fixed head that I acquired recently in Los Angeles. A one owner, original and rust free car but in 'tired' condition. I have since almost completed a ground up restoration. Just the interior still to be done. The leather seats had all but disintegrated due to the dry, hot Californian climate but I'm trying to painstakingly rebuild them using the original coral leather facings...which is quite an undertaking and by far the most difficult aspect of the restoration. I could use a complete re-trim kit but I would really love to be able to re-use the original leather (I'll post photos of the results of my efforts)! I've fitted a set of American Racing alloys to add a bit more rubber to the road and fill out the arches (fenders) but still have the originals. She looks green in the photos but is actually light beige. I'm amazed by the build quality of the car. Light years ahead of anything available in Europe at the time (or even now)! I've rebuilt cars before but this Olds has been pure joy to work on. I can't wait to get her completely finished and spend the summer cruising the boulevards of the Riviera between Cannes and Monaco!
Welcome to CO
January 18th, 2010, 03:12 AM
#7
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Location: Melbourne Australia
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I have a '55 Super 88 their nice cars. was your can not two tone originally? What is going on behind those wheels? it looks like there is a sheet of alloy or something simiarly shiney there? I would just be worried about brake fade due to the lack of air.
January 18th, 2010, 07:59 AM
#10
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,295
Dang- that makes me want one! Nice car, in all aspects. I'll say it again- you European guys have my respect for taking on old American iron. It's bad enough finding parts for them here in the States. I can only imagine what you go thru.
January 18th, 2010, 09:12 AM
#11
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Location: new york
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That is a oldsmobile all done 007.JPGBeautiful car.. i know you are very happy with this beauty.. i have a 55 olds 98 holiday too.. and i just love her... i have had other classics but nothing matches the joy of owning this big girl... here is a pic of Lucille...
January 18th, 2010, 11:18 AM
#12
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Location: England
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That car is a credit to your skills, well done. My uncle has a place he uses for over half the year in Antibes. I've been to stay with him and all I can say is you will get many more looks in the Olds than 'yet a nother Ferrari' posing around Monaco.
January 22nd, 2010, 12:51 PM
#14
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Thanks folks for your kind comments! In answer to a couple of questions, Although most 98s seem to have been two tone, my car is unusual as it has always been one color, a creamy beige (different to the green color shown as the photos were taken under fluorescent lights). I'm in a minority in preferring the 98s this way. I reckon two tone paint jobs tend to break up the gorgeous flowing lines of the coupe's body.The car was in it's original paint when purchased and the final color has been computer matched from an area inside the trunk which was unaffected by the bleaching effects of the Californian sun. As for the shiny discs behind the wheels, they are 'wheel accents' simply discs of polished stainless steel that fit between the drums and the wheel. Conceal the rather ugly drums quite nicely I think and I doubt they reduce the drum's efficiency. After all she's a boulevard cruiser not a dragster ...!
January 22nd, 2010, 01:08 PM
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Incidently, I forgot to mention that apart from the wheels the car is totally un-altered and as the boys at Olds built here, even down to the electric antenna (which still glides silently up and down after 55 years)! However, I have a problem with the Delco 'Super Deluxe' original equipment radio. It hums when switched on, the frequency change floor button works perfectly and all the valves light up ... but no sound. It's AM which is petty useless over here in France where everything's FM (although some odd stations are still available at night). It would be great to get it working though, just for the hell of it. Anyone have any ideas if its likely to be a simple fix ... its as if the speaker is not connected but I've been right through it and can't find any obvious problems. Oh... and the clock's dead!
January 27th, 2010, 01:06 PM
#16
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...And here she is in daylight for the first time post restoration ...!! Aren't these '55 98 two door Holidays simply drop dead gorgeous? Definately a contender for one the most beautiful American cars of all time...at least in my book...
January 27th, 2010, 05:55 PM
#19
Welcome! I have seen many 57 Chevy's at shows but I don't think I have ever seen a 57 Olds 98 in person. Very nice car and the best of luck with it. Post pics of the interior when you can.
January 28th, 2010, 01:11 AM
#21
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in response to a previous post, as we have no AM stations in France the antenna is connected to a modern CD/mp3/FM radio player discreetly hidden in the glove box. I also have a memory card loaded with smoochy 50's sounds to really set the mood !!! Just need the weather to improve!
January 31st, 2010, 01:01 AM
#23
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Gorgeous car and a stunning color scheme. I agonized long and hard about the color of mine. The interior is coral and I was very tempted to paint the rear coral as was an option but eventually decided to keep her one color as she left the factory. I understand single color was quite an unusual option. Im still not sure I've made the right decision. I guess they look just great either way! I have the original wheels on cross ply whitewalls and a set of perfect wheel covers. The fender skirts too but they wont fit with the alloys. Only a twenty minute job to change her back to all original though but the ride is transformed on modern rubber! Attached a photo of how she looks in standard trim (prior to restoration)....
February 9th, 2010, 12:10 PM
#25
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Location: Burlington, Wisconsin
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Alors vous parlez francais? Vous habitez en france. Ach... I could string a couple more sentences together but then I'd be guessing. Nice car! I hope I get down by Nice on the next school trip. We did central/northwest France le dernier fois, and this time I hope we go to the South of France. Beautiful country. Provence, Marseilles, Nice...
Anyways, nice 98! I have a 1978 regency myself but nothing can beat that classic 50s look.
Anyways, nice 98! I have a 1978 regency myself but nothing can beat that classic 50s look.
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