Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional and always
completely rust free example of this mostly all original 1956
Oldsmobile 98 4 Door 324/240HP V8 Holiday Hardtop in it's beautiful
original and very rare 'Gold Mist Metallic amp; Antique White'
color paint with a gorgeous condition matching 'Gold amp;White'
Nylon amp; leather interior with standard options including a front
seat armrest, full floor carpeting, electric clock, power windows,
front amp; rear fender stainless trim, lined luggage compartment,
safety padded instrument panel, power steering, original spare
wheel amp; jack, deluxe wheel covers amp; Whitewall tires.The car
boasts its original 324 CID 240HP Rocket 4 BBL V8 engine matched to
it's original Jetaway Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and
included factory added options of:DeLuxe Heater amp; Defroster
($77)Air Conditioning ($430)DeLuxe Radio ($96)Autronic Eye Headlamp
Dimmer ($46)Power Windows ($90)6 Way Power Front Seat Adjustment
($86)Tinted Glass ($30)Power Brakes (37)The 1956 Oldsmobile 98
Holiday 4 Door Hardtop carried 6 passengers comfortably and was the
flagship model of the Oldsmobile lineup with many enthusiasts
considering the 1956 edition to be one of the best combinations of
styling, engineering and performance ever offered by Lansing,
Detroit. They were one of the highest priced cars of its day - and
with good reason - fifties excess had virtually was reached its
peak with Detroit boasting bigger cars with more chrome and
accessories than ever before! These cars bristled with the latest
in modern appointments and had few rivals in the luxury market with
a recession making owning one only for the very privileged few,
especially a fully loaded example like this particular car with air
conditioning, heater amp; defroster, power brakes, seats, antenna
and windows to boot!Oldsmobile were to continue with the Rocket and
Space theme for 1956 with the 'Rocket V8' engines that were the
signature Oldsmobile characteristic receiving a 20-25% increase in
horsepower this year. The Super 88 remained the 'performance' line
and it actually shared it's high power engine with this luxury
top-of-the-range 98. A new version of the popular Hydra-Matic
automatic transmission known as the 'Jetaway' Hydra-Matic was
touted as Oldsmobile engineering triumph that produced more
smoothness, power and economy. The Jetaway also introduced the
added convenience of an all new positive 'Park' position! Prior to
this time most automatic transmissions did not have a 'Park'
position so typically the driver would have to shift into 'Reverse'
and set the parking brake. The '56's received an all new gaping
'mouth' grille and interiors now had sleek new 'Starfire' styling
and new features including a safety padded instrument panel, a
wider rear view mirror and new two-tone paint colors and fabrics!
The instrument panel continued a horizontal theme with an oval pod
at each end connected by tons of chrome.This particular southern
California example is in exceptional condition throughout in it's
original and very rare 'Gold Mist over Antique White' color with a
matching color keyed interior. The paint and the interior is quite
exemplary, the car has re-plated chrome, all the stainless is
highly polished, the trunk boasts it's original lining material and
it's original factory AM 'Wonderbar' radio. The floor boards, trunk
and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and
rust-free and the car was a very highly optioned car and fully
loaded for it's day boasting factory air conditioning which cost an
additional $430 + alone (the equivalent of $4,139 in 2020 according
to the CPI inflation calculator!), therefore making this one option
alone a very rarely purchased option! This fully loaded Oldsmobile
98 4 Dr Holiday Hardtop was one of the highest priced cars of its
day - and with good reason - the car bristles with the latest in
modern appointments and had few rivals in the luxury market with a
recession making owning one only for the very privileged
few.Recently purchased from long-time southern California family
owners and obviously always garaged and cherished. The floor
boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are original and
have obviously always been solid and rust-free and the car has no
signs of any major accidents - obviously an always cherished
'Garage Queen' since new. The 324/240HP 4 barrel 'Rocket V8' engine
is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent
and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be
driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs
like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road
wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that
will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The transmission
shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an absolute
pleasure to drive! The car has always been well maintained and all
the power options work as they should including all the power
windows. The car boasts its original spare wheel and jack in the
truck!This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to own a very
striking and great daily driving example of a 1956 Oldsmobile 98 4
Door Holiday Hardtop with almost every possible factory available
option. Reportedly one of the original 1956 GM Motorama 'show cars'
at San Francisco's Cow Palace (The General Motors Motorama was an
auto show staged by GM from 1949 to 1961. These automobile
extravaganzas were designed to boost automobile sales with displays
of fancy prototypes, concept vehicles and other special or halo
models) where one of each of GM's marques were to be displayed to
show a glimpse of some of the styling changes slated for the next
three model years. This particular example is now available and
turn key ready for the Oldsmobile enthusiast or simply any classic
American car collector!
