Vehicle Description
A vintage wagon remains one the best ways to combine cool and
practical, and this 1958 Oldsmobile Fiesta wagon is guaranteed to
stand out at any event. Upgrades include a modern 5.3 liter LS V8
with all the creature comforts, plus a retro-looking suede paint
job and giant rolling stock, all of which make for one awesome
hauler that will be welcome almost anywhere.
The satin finish on the paint does nothing to dilute the flashy
'50s look of the Olds Fiesta. The top-of-the-line "hardtop" styling
eliminates the B-pillar and gives the wagon a slick profile that's
incredibly stylish. The sheetmetal under that satin paint is in
good condition with nice gaps and smooth surfaces that are probably
unnecessary with the low-gloss paint, but it's nice to see they
went the extra mile to get it right. There are a few signs of use
and some cracks in the finish, but from even five feet away, you
won't see them. It's not perfect, but that means you'll never
hesitate to jump in and hit the road, either. All the original
Oldsmobile trim remains on the car (and wow, there's a lot of it!),
giving this wagon a uniquely Oldsmobile look, from the massive
front bumper to the cool spears on the quarter panels, and most of
it was left original for effect. It's all still functional, but
this is a car that was meant to drive and be worry-free. I'd say
they nailed it!
The interior was reupholstered in two-tone blue cloth and vinyl,
approximating what might have been there in 1958, although surely a
bit less flashy. Dark carpets on the floors provide a welcome
contrast and the door panels are simple two-tone pieces that retain
the original handles and armrests. That giant steering wheel
represents Oldsmobile's continuing fascination with the jet age
(they were, after all, the Rocket Division) and the instruments are
just plain cool, obviously influenced by aircraft. All the factory
controls were retained, but if you look closely, you'll spot an
under-dash A/C unit that was very discreetly added to the spec
sheet, making this a first-rate car for road trips. The back seat
is big enough for real-sized adults and the cavernous cargo bay was
upholstered in matching dark blue carpets so it's ready to haul
just about anything.
The heart of this Fiesta wagon is a modern 5.3 liter LS V8 topped
by a custom supercharger, so it definitely lives up to the image of
the Rocket Division. It's a neat fit in the big engine bay, with
plenty of room for the air cleaner assembly that wraps around the
intake manifold, feeding the side-mounted Magnuson supercharger.
Take a few moments to look around, because there's a lot of clever
engineering going on under that hood, and with mostly stock
components, it'll be reliable and easy to service in the future.
It's also incredibly smooth, torquey, and from behind the wheel,
you'll never know it's supercharged except for the ultra-flat
torque curve that makes this giant wagon feel downright quick. Part
of that feeling is undoubtedly due to the quick-witted 4L60E
transmission, which was rebuilt and fitted with a shift kit to
sharpen things up a bit. There's a custom dual exhaust system with
Flowmaster mufflers, plus a custom 9-inch Ford rear end out back,
as well as power front disc brakes for a welcome bit of added
stopping power. The stock suspension was lowered a bit and those
20-inch steel hoops are just too cool on the old wagon.
Nicely built, very competent, and with a slick vintage look, this
is the car that you drive every day, even if you're not going to a
car show. Call now!