Vehicle Description
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe
If you think a fuel injected Chevy Bel Air was the top of the
General Motors luxury/performance food chain in 1957, allow me to
introduce you to this 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 with the 371
cubic inch engine. For 1957, the basic 88 was officially named
Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two passenger show
car. However, the only badge identifying it as such was a simple
super "88" in back of each headlight on the front quarter side.
For consignment, a super Super 88 Holiday Coupe from 1957 and
Oldsmobile. This one now has a Chevrolet 383ci stroker V8, a
4-barrel carburetor and a worked over 3-speed automatic
transmission. Our consignor has treated this car to a complete nut
and bolt frame off restoration with all the paperwork and receipts
for the work being included with your purchase. Always garage kept
since the completion of the build and having clocked about 1,000
miles on the odometer, (which reads 98,608 title verified actual
miles), since completion, this car was built to be driven with
power steering, power brakes, a modern stereo and Vintage AC. All
bathed in red and white for exterior and stunning black and chrome
for the interior, this car can generate your own 1 man, or woman
parade down Main Street any time you pull out of the driveway.
Exterior
Cosmetically, Super 88s have Super 88 nameplates on the front
fenders. And this one does and chrome that would say...and then
some. All bathed in eye-catching Festival Red and Alcan White
paint, panels are very straight and true to their gaps. Within the
bumper upfront fills the black egg crate smile in the center of the
bumper along with round turn signal lights. More chrome for the
single round headlight that has chrome for the bezels and visors.
In the center of the hood is an oval with 50's style gold stars in
a white cloisonne background and chromed crossbars stretching
through it. This leads your eye up to the hood ornament which could
be a futuristic freight train engine. The ornament carries your eye
to a trimming that runs through the center of the hood to the
windshield. On the tops of either front quarter are more trimmings
in the form of chromed jets. Starting just under the curved front
glass surround trimming is a stainless steel swoop spear which
serves as a background for the door handle and moves downward to
make a mad dash to the middle of the rear quarter. Here it runs
into the large tail light which has tri bar ornaments within them a
ribbed stainless plate below and bumper ends with fake exhaust
ports in them. This spear also delineates the red from white, which
covers the roof, uppers of the rear fenders and expansive trunk
lid. Another oval star studded emblem is on the middle of the
trunk. On all 4 corners are like new blackwall tires with dog dish
ribbed hub caps that also use crossbars in the center. Fabulously
adorned in red, white and chrome and not a hint of rust.
Interior
The entire interior was restored including the black rounded metal
dash top. More ovals for the dash front with the speedo being a
large chrome bezel oval and in the dash top a molded into the metal
oval clock. In the dash center more chrome gleams in a strip which
resides between the black dash top and a black painted lower, and
this just gleams and includes a modern AM/FM radio. Just below all
this excellence is an added duct panel for the Vintage heat & AC
unit as well as a trio of added black face gauges. A thick rimmed
modern steering wheel fronts the dash atop an adjustable column.
Fancy schmancy black leather covers the front spit back and rear
solid benches. Black inserts and black bolsters have nice stitching
and are all excellent. These float in a sea of perfect black
carpeting. Door panels are also wonderfully represented with the
use of black and red but just for the airplane wing profile insert.
Shiny handles and cranks abound as also worth noting the seats are
in chromed tubs. Keep up the good looks in the trunk where it is
miles of black steel and the relocated battery in it. I'm moving
in, TV near the spare tire and couch on the other side!!
Drivetrain
Lifting the massive hood now showing a chrome and polished aluminum
dressed block and valve covered 383ci V8 making 455 dyno proven
horsepower. It is topped with a QuickFuel 4-barrel carburetor and
the valves are actuated by a Howards .530i/.545e lift camshaft. A
professionally built TH400 3-speed automatic tranny is on back
fitted with a Hughes GM25TH torque converter and a TranGo shift kit
and it throws power from the stroker to the 3.64 Positraction
equipped rear axle. Like new kids and as a huge bonus, our
consignor is including the original 371ci J2 V8 engine and
Hydramatic transmission if the buyer so chooses to keep them.
Undercarriage
The frame was stripped and painted, front independent coil spring
suspension rebuilt, and rear leaf springs resprayed. Power brakes
are spec'd out with Wilwood discs in the front and drums in the
rear, and a dual exhaust does in fact exit under the bumper on
either side so these ribs are fake! All solid steel here folks.
Drive-Ability
She fired right up and I rocketed, (88), to the test track. Here it
cruised like a dream, rode like it's on a cloud, and accelerated to
beat the band. All that chrome and steel floated around while I sat
in leather comfort staring at all the ovals and the speedo needle
ever rising. What a great experience. I only had 2 frowns in that
the clock did not keep time and the reverse lights did not light
when prompted. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
I just love these chromed large and in charge cruisers from the
late 50's. Nearly bordering on wretched excess, but you still
cannot get enough of it and desire more. And with this car you get
it and it's all like new and showing near perfectly. Every aspect
has been painstakingly attended to, and this consignor may shed a
tear when it goes out the door. The sorrow will be short lived
though as it's not going to take too long, so get your butt over to
our Hallowed Halls and snap it up!
E578L01677
E-Incorrect VIN Digit
57-1957
8-Super 88
L-Linden, NJ Assy Plant
01677-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE 57 3637SD-1957 Super 88 Holiday Coupe
BODY NO BL190-Lansing Body #
TRIM 372-Unknown
PAINT 31 30 10 31-Allegheny Green, Ice Green, Black, Allegheny
Green
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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