Vehicle Description
Affordable antique cars are definitely out there, and it's hard to
go wrong with a mid-30s General Motors product. Since Day One,
Oldsmobiles were some of the most modern cars on the road,
featuring reliable and smooth inline-six engines, new hydraulic
brakes, and streamlined styling that made even the bread-and-butter
cars like this 1936 Oldsmobile F36 2-door sedan look upscale.
Restored some years ago, this is an excellent entry-level hobby
car. If hot rods aren't your thing and you appreciate the style and
feel of days gone by, you just can't go wrong here. The body is
straight and completely unmodified, so it's good news that
everything here is in excellent condition. The single-tone blue
bodywork is a traditional look that may not be entirely correct,
but for 99% of the population, it just won't matter; this is just a
cool old car that looks great as it cruises down the road. There's
a receipt with the car for the paint job, and it wasn't exactly
cheap, and while there's some evidence of time and use, you need to
get close to see any of it. Rubber on the running boards is
correct, although these mats aren't quite the right stuff, but
again, nobody is really going to notice or care. The chrome shows
well, the deco grille is extremely straight, and it's full of those
slick details like a cowl vent, big vent windows, and a single
bullet-style taillight that make cars of this period so much fun to
own.
The interior wears striped fabric that closely resembles the
original style and materials. The Oldsmobile F36 was the upscale
offering, and while the 4-door was their volume seller, that
doesn't mean they were cutting corners with the 2-doors. The
button-tufted upholstery offers authentic-looking vertical stripes
with matching door panels and contrasting piping and wind lace. All
the gauges appear to be original, with an Art Deco look that
perfectly captures the era, along with a big banjo steering wheel
that gives you a commanding feel on the road. Radios were still an
expensive and rare option in 1936, so this car goes without, and
since it comes from a warm climate, there was no need for a heater,
which was also optional. And with a large back seat and a
good-sized trunk, this is the most practical old car you can own;
guys in roadsters will envy you the moment the sun goes behind a
cloud.
Power comes from Oldsmobile's rugged 213 cubic inch inline-six,
which despite its flathead configuration, makes plenty of power and
feels lively out on the road. Unlike the Chevy Stovebolt, the Olds
featured full pressure lubrication, an external fuel pump, and a
smooth demeanor that was the envy of even more expensive machinery.
The engine bay was clearly restored with the rest of the car, but
it runs superbly and again, this is how you want your tour car to
look so you don't have to worry. Corporate green paint on the
block, new plug wires, and a correct downdraft carburetor and oil
bath air cleaner ensure that it runs like it should. The original
3-speed manual shifts easily thanks to standard synchromesh, and it
cruises pretty happily at 55 MPH. And as I mentioned, Oldsmobile
offered hydraulic brakes for the first time in 1936, so handling
and braking are surprisingly modern compared to, say, a 1936 Ford.
6.50R16 wide whitewall tires have been fitted to matching steel
wheels with original chrome hubcaps.
A great starter hobby car, this Olds offers sophisticated road
manners, reliability, and great parts availability, all wrapped in
a handsome 2-door body. Call today!
