Vehicle Description
1949 Oldsmobile 76 Sedan
Following up on its all-new 98 line for 1948, Oldsmobile released
its new Series 76 and 88 models for 1949, based on the B-Body
platform shared with GM siblings Chevrolet and Pontiac. In
particular, the new Oldsmobiles were fresh and modern looking with
design cues inspired by sleek fighter planes studied by GM
designers before America's full-scale entry into WWII.
This 1949 Oldsmobile 76 Sedan is quite likely the finest,
lowest-mileage car of its kind in existence anywhere today. Owned
by General Motors from new, it was sold from the renowned GM
Heritage Collection in 2009 and collector-owned ever since,
including the famed Blackhawk Collection in California and most
recently, the noted automobile collection of former New Orleans
Hornets NBA team owner George Shinn. Offered in outstanding,
original and as-new condition, this 1949 Oldsmobile 76 Sedan has
accumulated under 18,711 miles from new and comes with the
2009-dated GM Certificate of Origin attesting to its amazing
provenance.
Exterior
Finished in virtually impeccable Seamist Green paint, accented by
outstandingly preserved chrome bumpers and stainless trim, the
Oldsmobile retains original-appearing glass with no sign of
delamination, chips, or cracks. Gaps are well minded and all
trimmings are super shiny. Big chrome leads the way upfront with
fat grill surrounds and an even larger bumper below. A nice big
bulbous hood with its jet age hood ornament, and central globe with
a ring around and O L D S M O B I L E badging on the very front.
For 1949 there is still a hint of an exterior fender not integrated
totally into the body, but it's nonetheless sparse. It has a
beautiful horizontal trimming in its center, and a big stainless
pad attached to its forward panel. Fender skirts are on, and in
back some of the WW2 fighter plane design influences the aero look.
More big chrome back here to frame the back's bottom end. This car
floats on wide whitewalls, wrapping yellow painted wheels with
large shiny dog dish style wheel coverings on all 4 corners.
Interior
The dark gray interior and door panels remain in showroom
condition, utilizing vertical striped black and gray broadcloth,
painted sills, and a smooth vinyl lower. Handles are nice and shiny
and a few horizontal chrome bars delineate between the various
materials used on these panels. The steering wheel is uncommonly
nice and devoid of the usual cracking seen in vehicles of similar
vintage. It utilizes gallons of bakelite along with a beautiful
inner horn ring and central badge. A two tone light and gray dash
presented in full metal jacket has a wonderful clean half circle
speedometer with more big chrome bezels. Knobs and pulls cascade
downward next to this speedo, and in the dash center is a push
button radio with a clock on the upper dash. The benches are like
the door panels using striped broadcloth inserts and smooth fuzzy
gray bolsters and upper backs. The seats present as like new. Gray
carpeting floods the floors and above is a tight gray cloth
headliner. All interior trim is clean and shiny and all intact. A
shout out to the trunk which has the spare with jack and is lined
in vinyl and a vintage suitcase made it along for the ride.
Drivetrain
A toss upwards of the large hood, and we shake hands with a
beautifully presenting engine bay. In the center is its star player
in the form of a 238ci inline 6-cylinder dubbed "The Big Six".
There is a 1-barrel carburetor on top complete with an oil bath air
cleaner and a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission on back.
4.10 gears make the 6 popper seem more powerful. All beautifully
preserved.
Undercarriage
Nice and shiny, no rust and independent coil springs upfront with
leaf springs on back. Drum brakes are all around and a stock
exhaust is on.
Drive-Ability
It was a short drive due to the mileage, but all was working fab
save for the horn and the radio, and it was a wonderfully smooth
ride. While certainly amazing in visual terms, this 1949 Oldsmobile
76 Sedan operates as well as it looks. The Big Six starts with the
push of a button and runs great; the Hydra-Matic automatic
transmission shifts as it should. The engine and engine compartment
are clean and extremely well detailed, providing an irreplaceable
glimpse into how the car appeared when it left the factory in
Lansing.
A car can only be original once. This amazingly preserved 1949
Oldsmobile 76 Sedan is just that and with provenance including its
first 60 years of existence at General Motors, followed by two
famous collections. It's a great design utilizing the aerial war
effort to have some influence on said design. Also plenty of new
conveniences like a push button radio, heater, turn signals, and
Hydramatic transmission. Can you say "Da Bomb!"
VIN DECODE
496M14692
49-1949
6-Seventy Six
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
14692-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 49 3569d-1949 Seventy Six Sedan
BODY NO L4018-Lansing Body #
TRIM NO 2-Gray Cloth
PAINT NO 49C-Seamist Green
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
