1949 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible

Oldsmobile introduced new styling on its Ninety-Eight series in 1948, while the other models in the lineup wore pre-war designs. In 1949, all Oldsmobiles would wear the modern styling of the Ninety-Eight introduced the previous year and both the intermediate and top-of-the-line models (the Eighty-Eight and Ninety-Eight respectively) came equipped with the new-for-1949 303 cubic-inch Rockey V8 engine. Together with Cadillac's similar unit, it was the first of General Motors' postwar, overhead-valve, high-compression V8 engines. With 7.25-to-1 compression and hydraulic valve lifters, the engine developed 135 horsepower. The engine was paired with a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission which Oldsmobile had pioneered in 1940. Among the list of standard equipment included fender skirts, an E-Z-I rearview mirror, and a solenoid starter.

This particular Futuramic 98 convertible is one of 12,602 examples built for 1949. It was given a restoration around 2012 and given a Nankeen Cream paint over a burgundy with tan whipcord interior. The suspension, brakes, and fuel and hydraulic systems were all reportedly rebuilt.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022