1953 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Fiesta Convertible

1953 was a very significant year for General Motors. The Oldsmobile division was now celebrating its 53rd year of business, and the exciting GM Motorama had entertained the American public for five years. GM decided to celebrate the 1953 Motorama with a series of low-volume, highly-styled convertibles. These convertibles were to be the top-of-their divisional respective lineup, and featured many styling cues and options that were not available on any other models.

The Oldsmobile entry was named the Fiesta and it featured a unique wraparound windshield and the soon-to-become famous spinner hubcaps. The Fiesta shared the stage with the Buick Skylark and the Cadillac Eldorado. Owning and driving one of these very visible models with the top down drew a great deal of attention as you cruised down the highway of the 1950's.

While it arrived on the same 'train of collective thought' as the Eldorado and Skylark, the Oldsmobile Fiesta was the least-known, as well as the rarest, of that 1953 trio, perhaps because it was the least-promoted. The only promotional literature published for the model, according to 'Automobile Quarterly', was a small two-sided postcard, proclaiming it 'a custom classic with a festive flair!'

Oldsmobile's seeming lack of enthusiasm for the Fiesta may have been because it was imposed on the division by GM Styling chief, Harley Earl, rather than hatched from within. Nevertheless, it made its public debut alongside the other two at the 1953 Motorama. While it shared most of its sheet-metal with the regular 98 Convertible, from which it was derived, it boasted a wrap-around windshield similar to the Eldorados that was fully three inches lower than the standard 98 windshield. Needless to say, it was a hit, as it spread through the GM lineup in 1954.

While it didn't look that different from other Oldsmobiles, the Fiesta was loaded with virtually every factory option of the day. Its amenities included leather upholstery, an Autronic Eye headlight dimmer, backup lights, power-operated brakes and steering, hydraulic power windows and front seat, a heater/defroster and a Super Deluxe 'Wonderbar' radio.

As with the other two cars, air-conditioning was not offered as it was then considered superfluous on a convertible.

Rather than the wire wheels of the Eldorado and Skylark, the Fiesta's oversize 8.00x15 wide whites were highlighted by full wheel covers with three radial 'spinners' that reflected light, especially at low speeds. Ironically, those wheel covers became the most lasting legacy of the Fiesta as their design was appropriated by countless custom-car enthusiasts for years to come.

The Fiesta had its own engine variant, too - a modified 303 cubic-inch Rocket V-8, rated at 170 horsepower - five more than the standard engine. It drove through a four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission.

Unlike the other two Motorama special-edition models, which were revised and continued in 1954, the Fiesta existed for a single year (although its name was later revived for a line of station wagon).

Of the 458 total 1953 Oldsmobile Fiestas built, this particular one holds the distinction of being the only unit originally built with a Black exterior (Black Code 99) and a Black and Ivory interior color scheme. This massive for its day car was powered by Oldsmobile's famous Rocket overhead valve HV V8 engine displacing 303 cubic inches that produced 170 horsepower. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for this car was $5,715, or nearly double what a mid-model Oldsmobile would cost.