1953 Oldsmobile Super Eighty-Eight Convertible

Oldsmobile updated their Eighty Eight models during the 1950s, including a one-piece windshield unit as the replacement of the two-piece windshield with the addition of the Holiday Hardtop to the Oldsmobile line. A three-speed manual transmission with column shift also became available as a 'delete for credit' option to the HydraMatic automatic transmission. Oldsmobile dropped the 76 lineup after the 1950 model year as the Eighty Eight now outsold the previous line.

The 1951-53 Oldsmobile Super 88 was a replacement for the 1949-50 Deluxe 88. The previous 88 line with its full range of body types was reduced to just two standard trim sedans (it was called the Deluxe 88 for 1952-53) to make room for the Supers, which also rode on the smaller GM B-body and, for 1951, the same 'Rocket' V-8 found in all Oldsmobiles.

In the years that followed, the base 88s had less horsepower than Supers or top-line 98s. For 1952-53, the Supers were given 25 more horsepower thanks to a higher-lift cam and new 'Quadra-Jet' four-barrel carburetor. An expanding line of power and options, an ever-improving HydraMatic, power steering for 1952, and power brakes for 1953, kept sales of the 88 strong.

This 88 Convertible is painted in its original factory Turquoise Iridescent. It is one of only 8,310 convertibles built by the factory in 1953. It has many great factory options such as 12 volt factory electrical system, autronic eye, power windows, backup lights, courtesy lamps, fender skirts and chrome vent shades. The car is powered by its original Rocket 88 303 cubic-inch engine rated at 165 horsepower and mated to an automatic transmission. It has the correct factory style knee-action shocks in place and the odometer shows just 49,294 miles which are believed to be correct and original.

In 2009, this Eighty-Eight Convertible was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction in Seabrook, Texas, presented by Worldwide Auctioneers. The lot was estimated to sell for $65,000 - $75,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $62,000, plus buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2009