Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Ransom E. Olds began producing automobiles in 1897. Oldsmobile was the first company to use the assembly line, but Ford Motor Company later added the conveyor belt. General Motors acquired Oldsmobile in 1908 and Mr. Olds later pursued another of his inventions, the power lawn mower. The Ideal Power Lawn Mower began production in 1914 and was eventually sold to the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1945.
1938 was a year of firsts and lasts for Oldsmobile. This was the last year General Motors would offer a rumble seat in any of their cars. It was also the first year that GM shared a common body among divisions (Cadillac, LaSalle, Buick and Oldsmobile). This was the first year for Oldsmobile to offer the safety transmission, which was an automatic transmission with a clutch. This car is one of 330 'L' series convertible coupes built in 1938; 16 are still knwon to exist. Approximately 21 were built with safety transmissions and this may be the only convertible coupe in existence with the safety transmission.
The top-of-the-line Oldsmobile for 1938 was the L-38 Convertible Coupe. Powered by an inline eight-cylinder engine, the exhibited L-38 is also equipped with the 'Automatic Safety Transmission' option. This unit provided semi-automatic shifting...the driver had to engage the clutch to get the vehicle moving, but could then shift up and down through the gears without declutching. In 1940, Oldsmobile introduced the General Motors Hydra-Matic fully automatic transmission.
The L-38 Convertible shared its basic Fisher body shell with the 1938 Buick, LaSalle and Cadillac 60 Series convertible coupes. Like them, the Oldsmobile came with a rumble seat - these were the last GM cars to offer such a configuration. The Olds exterior was distinguished by its advanced frontal design, with headlamps moved out onto the fenders. Inside, the instrument cluster was an unusual unit that suggested designs to come. Cars equipped with the Automatic Safety Transmission had a column shift in lieu of the conventional floor shift provided with the regular manual transmission.
The L-38 Oldsmobile Convertible was - and is - a rare car. Only 407 were built, including 77 for export. It is estimated that about 20 were equipped with the semi-automatic. This freshly restored example had been street-rodded before undergoing an exacting professional restoration to factory specs. It is finished in its original combination of Starlight Blue Metallic with grey top and red leather.
1938 was a year of firsts and lasts for Oldsmobile. This was the last year General Motors would offer a rumble seat in any of their cars. It was also the first year that GM shared a common body among divisions (Cadillac, LaSalle, Buick and Oldsmobile). This was the first year for Oldsmobile to offer the safety transmission, which was an automatic transmission with a clutch. This car is one of 330 'L' series convertible coupes built in 1938; 16 are still knwon to exist. Approximately 21 were built with safety transmissions and this may be the only convertible coupe in existence with the safety transmission.
The top-of-the-line Oldsmobile for 1938 was the L-38 Convertible Coupe. Powered by an inline eight-cylinder engine, the exhibited L-38 is also equipped with the 'Automatic Safety Transmission' option. This unit provided semi-automatic shifting...the driver had to engage the clutch to get the vehicle moving, but could then shift up and down through the gears without declutching. In 1940, Oldsmobile introduced the General Motors Hydra-Matic fully automatic transmission.
The L-38 Convertible shared its basic Fisher body shell with the 1938 Buick, LaSalle and Cadillac 60 Series convertible coupes. Like them, the Oldsmobile came with a rumble seat - these were the last GM cars to offer such a configuration. The Olds exterior was distinguished by its advanced frontal design, with headlamps moved out onto the fenders. Inside, the instrument cluster was an unusual unit that suggested designs to come. Cars equipped with the Automatic Safety Transmission had a column shift in lieu of the conventional floor shift provided with the regular manual transmission.
The L-38 Oldsmobile Convertible was - and is - a rare car. Only 407 were built, including 77 for export. It is estimated that about 20 were equipped with the semi-automatic. This freshly restored example had been street-rodded before undergoing an exacting professional restoration to factory specs. It is finished in its original combination of Starlight Blue Metallic with grey top and red leather.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1938 Oldsmobile Series L Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Oldsmobile Series L
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Coupe 'Safety Transmission' Chassis#: L215175 Sold for USD$55,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1938 Oldsmobile Eight Two-Door Travel Sedan Chassis#: CL-187561 Sold for USD$13,475 2021 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1938 Oldsmobile Eight Sold for USD$31,350 2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction | |
1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Coupe 'Safety Transmission' Chassis#: L215175 Sold for USD$55,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Open Roads, North America | |
1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Coupe 'Safety Transmission' Sold for USD$72,600 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1938 Oldsmobile Eight Convertible Coupe Sold for USD$49,500 2015 Auctions America - Auburn Fall | |
1938 OLDSMOBILE L38 CONVERTIBLE COUPE Sold for USD$137,500 2007 Worldwide Auctions - Houston Classic 2007 |
Oldsmobile Series Ls That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Oldsmobile Series L's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 Oldsmobile L38 Business Coupe | 2022 Mecum : Glendale | $50,000 | |||
1938 Oldsmobile Two-Door Travel Sedan | CL187561 | 2021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads February | |||
1938 Oldsmobile Two-Door Travel Sedan | CL187561 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction | $18,000 | $25,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $59,204 range.
1956 BMW 502 'Marburg' Coupe by Autenrieth Chassis#:59090 Sold for $58,800 2024 RM Sothebys : The Junkyard : Rudi Klein Collection | |
1956 FORD F-100 CUSTOM PICKUP Chassis#:F10D6R52464 Sold for $59,400 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
2007 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:SCBDR33WX7C049081 Sold for $59,400 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 Chassis#:1G1YY26Y165100097 Sold for $59,400 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
1937 Cord 812 Custom Beverly Chassis#:9180 Sold for $59,400 2024 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1961 Chevrolet Apache Pickup Chassis#:1k144l110972 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy Fall Special | |
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Chassis#:124870n591501 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy Fall Special | |
2024 Ford Bronco Everglades Chassis#:1fmee4hh0rla26968 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Dallas | |
2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee Scat Pack Widebody Chassis#:2c3cdxgj2ph649107 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Dallas | |
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Chassis#:1zvbp8jz4d5264215 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Dallas | |
1970 Pontiac Firebird Chassis#:223870l600064 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shakedown Chassis#:2c3cdzfj6ph557866 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
1962 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop Chassis#:21847j248595 Sold for $58,850 2024 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
1966 Oldsmobile 442 Hardtop Chassis#:338176m226475 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1997 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Chassis#:wp0ca2999vs341206 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1962 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Chassis#:20867s102066 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1966 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Chassis#:6r08a156689 Sold for $59,400 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
1987 Chevrolet V10 Pickup Chassis#:1gcev14k3hj110149 Sold for $58,850 2024 Mecum : Indy | |
2003 Aston Martin Vanquish Chassis#:SCFAC23313B500837 Sold for $59,462 2024 RM Sothebys : Monaco | |
2012 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT Chassis#:SCBFR7ZA5CC072130 Sold for $59,400 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach |
1938 Oldsmobile Series L
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Oldsmobile Series L model years