1942 Oldsmobile Series 98 Convertible

Ransom Eli Olds founded the Oldsmobile Coupe in Lansing, Michigan in 1897. It remained in operation until 2004, at the time making it America's oldest manufacturer of automobiles.

For 1942, the Oldsmobile Company introduced their 'Fuselage Fender' design, a stretched pontoon carrying through the front door. The rear of the car had the same design philosophy with similar lengthy fenders which ended in a taper. This gave the cars a swept-back and streamlined appearance. Another new feature was the revised two-tier grill consisting of many differed layered components stacking up to the hood.

Also for 1942, the name was formally changed from Olds Motor Works to the Oldsmobile division of General Motors.

Production was shortened due to manufacturing changing over to help with the war effort. The factory tooling was switched to produce aero parts, ammunition, and machine guns. These would be the only products the factory would produce until the war ended in 1945.

For 1942, 216 examples of the convertible Custom Cruiser 98 were produced. This example s finished in Sea Foam Green over a matching green interior. It has faux-wood dashboard with a radio. The 257 cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine is fitted with a single Twin-Choke carburetor and mated to a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. There is an independent front suspension, live rear axle, and four-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018