Vehicle Description
Who would have thought an Oldsmobile would be part of the "dare to
be different" school of thought? But that's exactly what this
gorgeous 1936 Oldsmobile Business Coupe streetrod is: a fresh take
on a familiar theme. All-steel body? Check. Slick Silver paint
stretched neatly over a spacious and luxurious cabin? You betcha.
And a powerful 350 V8 drivetrain to boot? Well, if you like to
stand out (without getting too weird), this beautifully built Olds
hotrod might be right up your alley.
The 3-Window Business Coupe was the most popular (and best looking)
of all the 2nd Generation F-Series Oldsmobile body styles, so
selecting one as a base for this high-end build was a no-brainer
once the decision was made to go with one of Ransom E. Olds' bunch.
Hot off the design floor of Harley Earl's "Art and Color Section"
at GM, the swooping lines and gorgeous curves of the elegant
3-Window coupe make for a dramatic shape that practically begs for
a bit of customization. And given the relative rarity of any '36
Oldsmobile, this one sure came together beautifully. All the usual
Pre-War streetrod elements are there, plus a few maybe you haven't
seen before, and it's doubly cool simply because none of it was
able to be ordered from a catalog like you can with a Ford or
Chevrolet. The body is 100% steel, including the fenders and
running boards, which is a good thing because those swooping,
oversized wheel covers are the most prominent part of the profile -
starting off as bulbous, shapely pieces that ultimately terminate
into contrasting sharp creases in the rear. The bumpers were
deleted to emphasize the crouching profile, making way for smoothed
custom valances fore and aft with integrated, flush-mounted LED
turn signals up front and taillights in the rear. There was no need
for a custom grille insert because the original V-shaped Art Deco
unit is loads cooler than anything you can buy, and the bullet
headlamps at the flanks represent the very best of 1930's-era light
design. The top portion of the hood lifts off to reveal the
beautifully dressed engine inside, and we're particularly excited
that the builders emphasized the louvers in the side panels, as
those were original trademark trim pieces that made the F-Series
cars instantly recognizable in their day. The functional cowl vent
draws the eye toward the smoked V'eed windshield, sporty side
mirrors were added at the flanks, and the license plate holder was
frenched-in out back, but beyond that the steel body looks just
like it did back in 1936 (including the molded body 'spear' at the
top), which is a testament to how timeless this design really is.
With that being said, the Titanium Silver paint is definitely
deeper and more lustrous than anything mixed up in the 20th
Century, but it too manages to look period-perfect when stretched
over this gorgeous streetrod. It was expertly laid down when the
car was built and still retains a gorgeous, glossy shine today,
with nary an imperfection to speak of short of a miniscule chip or
two picked up from the road. There are no goofy graphics or gaudy
customizations that get in the way, meaning nothing detracts from
the timeless 3-Window design and thanks to high-end, professional
craftsmanship and modern paint, this Olds will look this slick for
a very long time.
The completely custom interior is just as elegant as the exterior,
featuring gorgeous beige leather hides wrapped around a pair of
sporty, high-back bucket seats, bespoke door panels, and a custom
wooden dash. The modern buckets feature Oldsmobile's most recent
logo embossed into the seatbacks, thick, plush carpets line the
floors, and light-tan tweed upholstery lines the interior of the
cabin and headliner and insulate it from the outside world. The
woodrimmed, banjo-style Grant steering wheel was a perfect choice
to man the cockpit, and it's mounted atop a tilt column that gives
the driver plenty of room at helm. The wooden dash was filled with
a full array of gold-trimmed VDO instruments that keep an eye on
the upgraded drivetrain, whereas the super-cool chrome 'Oldsmobile'
badge over the glove compartment probably means someone's 1998
Bravada is missing it's rear nameplate. Modern conveniences include
power windows, an AM/FM stereo that manages the upgraded speakers
inside the door panels and the custom panel behind the seats, and
power brakes that make this Olds streetrod a bonafide cruiser.
Everything remains in great condition thanks to meticulous care,
including the sizeable and fully-upholstered trunk out back.
Power comes from a great-running 350 cubic inch Chevy V8, neatly
nestled inside the reworked, detailed, and beautifully painted
engine bay. Topped with finned polished valve covers and a matching
air cleaner, the feisty small block looks as nice as it runs, and
features an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock polished
aluminum intake, powdercoated headers, and an HEI ignition that all
add performance and reliability. An aluminum radiator with
auxiliary fan keeps temperatures at bay, while those long-tube
headers feed into a throaty dual exhaust system with Thrush
mufflers that sounds fantastic. Modified for regular driving, the
neatly detailed and painted frame now offers a Mustang II-style
independent suspension up front with power front disc brakes, a big
swaybar up front, and upgraded shocks all around that will leave
you impressed by the way this vintage coupe handles. Thanks to some
careful measuring, it also sits just right with a classic hotrod
rake atop a set of flashy Boyd Coddington wheels and staggered
Yokohama radials that perfectly stuff the big wheel wells.
Rare and beautifully finished, this '36 Olds is the hotrod for the
guy or gal who loves the '30s but is looking for something just a
little bit different. Call today!
