Vehicle Description
1940 Oldsmobile Series 90 Custom Cruiser Sedan
R.E. Olds founded Oldsmobile Motor Company in 1897. He sold out in
1904 to the Smith family, who soon sold it to Billy Durant, who
formed General Motors Corporation in 1908. Oldsmobile Motor Company
became a part of General Motors Corporation at that time and would
remain so until it disbanded in 2004.
For consignment, a Harley Earl design influenced, big rounded
fender, close set headlight, and all trimmed with chrome, a Detroit
iron creation. This 64,418 actual mile 1940 Olds has style, class
and oozes 1940's design and looks. Owned and lovingly maintained by
our consignor for the last 25 years and occasionally taken out for
fun, this bulbous skate has been treated to all the required
maintenance as necessary and even has a new wiring harness
installed to ensure things are working exactly as old Harley Earl
felt they should. We proudly offer to you this 1940 Oldsmobile
Custom Cruiser sedan...sparkling with new ideas in comfort,
safetyand style!
Exterior
All sides have their highlight features including the side view
where trim spears run from the beltline of the hood through the
doors and to the rear quarter. Dressing the lowers of the pontoon
style front fenders is a wide horizontal ribbed trimming that runs
just a short distance rearward mid wheel well. Another teardrop
pontooned fender dresses the rear of the car and accentuates the
sloping lines of the rear of the car. On the back, a rounded trunk
lid sports chromed exterior hinges, a license plate light and on
either side a rectangular chrome trimmed tail light standing off
from the body. An art deco styled bumper is below and has been
sprayed with silver rattle can paint and shows some light surface
rusting. Upfront wide curved front fenders wrap around the bulbous
hood and the key feature is the distance between the headlights,
which has been greatly reduced for this design. A curved grille is
in the center and another bumper, this time in chrome with guards
and guard ties rests below the yellow tinted for lights. Split
front windshield leads the way for the 4-door passenger compartment
and we note the door handles neatly tucked into the trim spears at
the belt line. On all 4 corners we see wide whites wrapping black
steel wheels with polished trim rings and dog dish caps. The
entirety of the body is finished in black with some rust pitting,
as well as cracking and a few dings, and some repaired areas of
surface rust.
Interior
A swing of the door and we are greeted with a richly appointed door
panel in fuzzy tan broadcloth as the background for chromed
bakelite escutcheon cranks, a leather arm rest in dark brown, some
metal painted faded faux wood grain above, and nicely chromed thin
dividers showing an art deco design pattern. More broadcloth for
the full benches inside which are now covered with blankets with
the condition underneath unknown. For the rear bench, wider
armrests grace the sides and there is plenty of legroom. Upfront we
find more art deco styling with the use of rectangular chrome
bezels, a vertically ribbed chromed dash front, a brown dash top
and a brown instrument cluster background highlighted by clear and
clean white lettering. On the passenger's side is a corresponding
rectangle with a clock in the center. Below the dash is a lineup of
more chrome in the form of an ashtray and more knobs and
embellishments of the art deco style and the factory AM radio
within a yellowed and cracked bakelite band. Below the dash is a
heater box which hovers above worn and soiled black ribbed rubber
flooring. The headliner is mohair and shows some signs of slight
water staining but remains tight.
Drivetrain
Under the long rounded hood we can see the 257ci inline 8 cylinder
engine. This presents with a coating of gray paint and surface
rust. It sports a rebuilt 1-barrel carburetor on top and has a
3-speed manual transmission on the back. The rear axle weighs in at
a 4.30 ratio. All in an unrestored engine bay but with a recent
coolant flush, new fuel pump and rebuilt generator.
Undercarriage
Underneath we spot a cleaned and resealed fuel tank attached to a
surface rusted undercarriage. It is an X frame design and appears
structurally sound. A coating of orange paint graces the metal on
the rockers and shows a few areas of invasive rust near the lower
pinch welds. A surface rusted single exhaust pipe runs from the
engine rearward and is bolted to a stock style replacement muffler.
Recently gone through drum brakes are noted all around and we see
independent coil spring suspension in the front and a 3 link and
coil spring in the rear.
Drive-Ability
A quick startup and off to the test track where it exhibited smooth
acceleration, and easy steering when moving. We noted the fuel and
temperature gauges do not work. Also the horn on the steering wheel
doesn't honk, but a replacement button on the dash does the job
nicely. The interior is comfy and the ergonomics are good.
A not often seen example, which is shocking with thousands of this
model car made for the year. Beautifully art deco design inside and
outside, it presents very nicely as a survivor and runs and drives
well. A little bit of TLC and you will have an interesting and
somewhat rare item!
TRIM TAG
STYLE NO 40 3919-1940 Series 90 Custom Cruiser Sedan
BODY NO L1655-Lansing Body #
TRIM NO 1-Tan TuTone Cloth
PAINT NO 40-Black
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.
