1963 Oldsmobile Super Eighty-Eight

Oldsmobile produced the Eighty-Eight from 1949 until 1999, and it was the marque's top-selling line from 1950 until 1974. During its production lifespan, a large number of variations in nomenclature were seen including the Futuramic, Super, Golden Rocket, Dynamic, Jetstar, Delta, Delmont, Starfire, Holiday, L/S, LSS, Celebrity, and Royale were all used at various times with the 88 badges, and Fiesta appeared on some station wagons in the 1950s and 1960s.

The 1963 Oldsmobile Super Eighty-Eight rested on the smaller 123-inch wheelbase platform of the Dynamic 88 and powered by the larger 98 Sky Rocket V-8 engine. Body styles included a sedan, 2- and 4-door Holiday Hardtop, and the six-passenger station wagon. Prices ranged from $3,400 for the two-door Holiday Hardtop and rose to $3,750 for the station wagon.

The Super 88 was powered by a 394 cubic-inch V8 engine with hydraulic valve lifters, a 10.25:1 compression ratio, a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and delivered 330 horsepower and 440 lb.-feet of torque. A three-speed manual transmission was standard and a three-speed 'Roto' Hydra-Matic was optional.

The 1963 Oldsmobile Super 88 was part of the fifth-generation models first introduced in 1961. That generation change introduced an all-new body and chassis with a perimeter frame and all-coil suspension replacing the prior leaf springs. The wheelbase remained the same as in 1960, however, the overall length was reduced slightly and the bodies underwent extensive body and trim revisions for 1963. Most of the underlying basic body structure and rooflines were carried over from 1962 with new exterior sheet metal replacing the previous years' sculpted mid-sections, with slab sides and sharper edges being used overall.

1963 introduced GM's straight angled windshield 'A' pillar on all full-size production vehicles, replacing the 1961 and 1962 reverse-curve treatment. The drivetrains and model designations remained unchanged from 1962.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020