Ransom Eli Olds and his 'Curved Dash Olds' were among the most innovative, reliable, and popular automobiles of the early days of the motorcar. It is recognized as the first mass-produced motorcar and a marvel of engineering. Power was sourced from a water-cooled single-cylinder engine that offered five reliable horsepower. Production of the 'Curved Dash' continued through 1907 with just over 19,000 examples built. The following year, Eli sold his business to General Motors and soon lost control of the company he started. Oldsmobile would remain a fixture of the automotive landscape, helped along by the deep pocks of General Motors, and remained in operation through 2004. The company's legacy over its 100+ years of operation had several chapters, including the performance heritage forged during the early 1950s. The company set new standards by winning nine Grand National events, with their 'Rocket' V-8 power. The victories and publicity resulted in sales in the showroom, allowing the company to place seventh for U.S. auto production. The 1953 Oldsmobile line was longer and lower than previous models, a trend that would continue throughout the industry for many years to come. The lineup included the 'entry level' Deluxe Eighty-Eight, the intermediate Super Eighty-Eight, and the range-topping Ninety-Eight. Body styles on the Deluxe included a two- and four-door sedan; the Super Eighty-Eight had a two- and four-door sedan, convertible, and a Holiday hardtop; and the Ninety-Eight had a Holiday Hardtop, sedan, convertible, and Fiesta Convertible.
Both the Deluxe and Super Eighty-Eight rested on a 120-inch wheelbase platform with an overall length of 204 inches. The Ninety-Eight had a 124-inch platform and measured 215 inches in length. The Super Eighty-Eight and the Ninety-Eight were both equipped with a 303 CID V8 with 8.0:1 compression and a Rochester or Carter four-barrel carburetor. It developed 165 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. The Fiesta had a higher compression (8.3:1) version of the 303 CID V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and developed 170 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The 1953 Oldsmobiles, except the Fiesta, had a three-speed manual, column-shifted transmission. The Fiesta came standard with a Hydra-Matic which was optional on the other 1953 Olds for an additional $132. All 1953 Oldsmobiles, for the first time, were equipped with 12-volt electrical systems. The most popular 1953 Oldsmobile model was the Super Eighty-Eight with over 198,000 examples produced. The second most popular model was the Ninety-Eight with 100,330 examples built, including 458 examples of the exclusive Fiesta.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016
Roughly 32,800 examples of the Deluxe Eighty-Eight were produced with the majority being the 4-door sedan, accounting for approximately 20,400 sales. Power was from an overhead valve V8 engine displacing 303 cubic inches and offering 150 horsepower. Standard equipment included an electric clock, cigarette lighter, lined trunk, dual horns, bumper guards, chrome moldings, and twin interior sun visors. 15 two-tone color combinations and 17 colors were offered. Pricing began at just over $2,000 for the two-door sedan.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016
Related Reading : Oldsmobile 88 History
Introduced in 1949, the full-size Oldsmobile 88 was produced until 1999 and became the top-selling line for twenty-four years. Produced in Wentzville, Missouri, and both Flint and Lake Orion, Michigan, the Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight was a representation of an image. Especially during the beginning three years, the Oldsmobile 88 was one of the best performing automobiles. This was most likely due to its....
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