1939 Oldsmobile L Series 80

Ransom E. Olds began automobile production in 1897 and they were the first to use the assembly line, but Ford Motor Company later added the conveyor belt. Oldsmobile became part of General Motors in 1908, and Ransom E. Olds left to form the REO marque. Throughout Oldsmobile's long history, ending in 2004, it fostered a reputation for quality, engineering, and style. They hit the 100,000 sales mark for the first time in 1928, just before the onset of the stock market crash in 1929. The introduction of a synchromesh transmission in 1932 and the 82-horsepower straight eight-cylinder motor failed to increase sales. That was also the year the Oldsmobiles offered an automatic choke and an automatic throttle advance which moved the throttle to a start position when the starter pedal was depressed. It was also the only year Oldsmobile featured a decarbonizer. To operate this feature, the driver pressed a button when leaving the car for the night. The button released a chemical into the engine which cleaned the carbon off the pistons. Sales figures more than doubled in 1933 when Oldsmobile offered a new design, highlighted by what journalists called 'beaver-tail rears.'

Updates for 1934 included an independent front suspension, subtle styling changes, and an increase in horsepower from the 213 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine. Over 82,000 examples were sold earning Oldsmobile sixth place for U.S. auto sales.

From 1932, Oldsmobile offered a six-cylinder model named the Series F and an eight-cylinder model dubbed the Series L. The two-model formula continued through 1939 when a third model joined the lineup. The F Series 60 and the G-Series 70 were both six-cylinder models with the former using a 115-inch wheelbase platform and the latter on a 120-inch wheelbase. The Series 60 was powered by an inline L-head six-cylinder engine displacing 215 cubic inches and offering 90 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. The Series 70 displaced 230 cubic inches and produced 95 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. Both engines had four main bearings, a cast iron block, steel spherical mushroom valve lifters, and a single downdraft carburetor with an automatic choke.

The Series 60 was offered in closed body styles and was priced from $775 to $890. The body styles of the Series 70 were the same as the Series 80 and included a convertible, club coupe, business coupe, and a 2- and 4-door sedan. The Series 70 was priced from $890 to $1,045.

The eight-cylinder L-Series 80 was the top-of-the-line Oldsmobile model with prices that ranged from $920 to $1,120. The L-head, five main bearings, 257 cubic-inch L-head engine produced 110 horsepower at 3,400 RPM and used a dual downdraft carburetor with an automatic choke. Its 120-inch wheelbase was the same size as the Series 70 and both measured 197 inches in length and stood 65.75-inches tall. The engines were paired with a three-speed selective sliding gear transmission with hydraulic internal expanding brakes on four wheels responsible for keeping the vehicle in the driver's control. The semi-automatic 'Safety Automatic' transmission option came with a column-mounted shifter.

All 1939 Oldsmobile models wore updated styling with a new grille design that was similar in appearance but different in detail for each series. The pointed center grille had thin horizontal bars and the headlights were once again attached to the radiator casing. The 1930s Oldsmobile represented a good, solid value for the price and sales steadily increased during the late 1930s.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2022