Vehicle Description
This 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible was one of the quickest
full-sized cars you could buy in 1963. And as always, they remained
powerful, comfortable full-sized cruisers with respectable
performance and a ton of amenities, making this affordable Olds
ragtop a great bang for the buck both then and now.
There are no replacement panels for these cars, so everything you
see is 100% OEM steel that has survived the last 56 years rather
nicely. The color is called Willow Mist, code J on the cowl tag,
and is a wonderful, subtle color that looks exactly right on the
big Olds' clean body. It could almost pass for original paint, but
if we had to guess, we'd say it's an older repaint that does a
credible job of looking factory-applied. Chrome is still in nice
shape, as is the simple grille with horizontal bars. The split
taillights blend into the stubby tail fins and are the origin of an
Oldsmobile styling trend that lasted more than two decades. And
you'll definitely dig the stylized rocket on the trunk,
Oldsmobile's symbol up to the very end.
There's not a lot of flash in the interior, but it is stylish and
comfortable and entirely appropriate to early '60s buyer tastes.
The seats wear two-tone green vinyl, and the front bench features
split backs to allow easy access to the surprisingly spacious back
seat area. The carpets are probably replacements, but everything
else looks like it might be original, attesting to the overall
quality of this clean car. Spanning the entire width of the car,
the dashboard houses a wide speedometer housing and simple knobs
for things like the headlights and windshield wipers, and a slender
gear shift lever hangs from the steering column. The original AM
radio is still in the dash and yes, it still works! Overhead
there's a nice-fitting white power convertible top and it includes
a matching green boot for a clean top-down look. And as an
Oldsmobile, you already know there's a giant trunk out back,
complete with full-sized spare tire and jack assembly.
The standard engine in Dynamic 88s was a 394 cubic inch V8 making
280 horsepower and a stump-pulling 430 pounds of torque. Nicknamed
the Rocket, which is proudly spelled out on the air cleaner, it
makes this Dynamic 88 a lively performer. This Rocket engine was
bathed in bright red engine paint, which isn't original but sure
looks good. Other than routine maintenance items, however, it
remains completely stock and original. Key it up, and it fires with
that characteristic Oldsmobile sound, breathing through stock
exhaust manifolds into a single exhaust system that has just the
right wound. The rest of the chassis is clean and dry, and the
Jetaway automatic transmission works as it should. It rides on a
set of steel wheels with stock hubcaps and a set of 215/75/14
whitewall radials.
The timeless styling is less common than an Impala, and the
sophisticated color gives it a grown-up look that a lot of cars
these days are missing. And with all that room, taking your family
and friends with you is a pleasure. Fans of the rocket, this is one
you shouldn't overlook. Call now!