Vehicle Description
Tired of looking at Tri-Five Chevys and their sky-high prices? What
if we could offer you a car that is just as handsome, offers more
space, an updated chassis, and better performance, all for a
fraction of the price? Take a good, long look at this awesome 1955
Oldsmobile 88 and decide if a Bel Air is really worth twice as
much. I think you'll find that there's a lot to love here.
If you wanted horsepower with your luxury, Oldsmobile delivered.
With a lovely restyled body that was cutting edge in 1955, the Olds
definitely looks the part of a heavy cruiser from the '50s. The
two-tone combination of Polar White over Twilight Blue is
definitely 1950s cool, and the dazzling trim that separates the two
colors was an Oldsmobile exclusive that made these cars easy to
identify from a hundred feet away. Paint and bodywork were finished
in the 1990s, and even thought it has some time and use on it, this
Olds looks great even close up. Of course, chrome is a big issue on
any car of this period and you're in luck because all the
brightwork is in good shape, from the massive grille up front to
the delicate taillight surrounds with bullet-shaped lenses.
The 88 was Oldsmobile's bread-and-butter, but that didn't mean
skimping on luxury. The handsome two-tone interior complements the
paint job, and shows a restraint that was uncharacteristic of the
era. The interior was restored in the '90s as well, and the used
NOS fabric so it looks exactly right. Given that it has been
properly maintained and driven only seldom, things like the carpets
show only a little wear, the interior plastics are in great shape,
and the gauges are still bright and fully functional, even with the
late-model powerplant under the hood. There's another globe in the
center of the steering wheel, and GM's symmetrical dashboard design
works particularly well here. The original radio is in the center
of the dash, and it works in conjunction with a cassette player
stashed in the glove box to offer a bit more variety in your music
choices. In back, there's a fully finished trunk with gray mouse
fur mats, as well as a matching tire cover. There's also a correct
jack assembly stashed alongside the spare tire.
While the 88 was a great performer, this car got a comprehensive
upgrade thanks to a chassis swap from a mid-70s Chevy Impala. It's
actually a very neat fit and the wheelbase is the same, so you
won't even notice the change from outside. That updated chassis
gives the Olds much more modern moves and the 350 cubic inch Chevy
V8 is considerably more powerful than the original 324 cubic
incher. It's disguised under an Oldsmobile-labeled air cleaner, and
you'll note that power steering and power front disc brakes are
part of the package. There's also a TH350 3-speed automatic
transmission and a GM 10-bolt rear end, all of which make this Olds
incredibly easy to service and maintain. A mellow dual exhaust
system sounds just about right under the '50s cruiser and there's a
fresh gas tank hanging out back. Original Oldsmobile wheels and
hubcaps were reinstalled, along with a set of 225/75/15 whitewall
radials for just the right look.
This is a heck of a lot of car for the money, and if you're
shopping for a '50s cruiser, this might be the biggest bargain
we've ever offered. Call today!
