Gorgeous and rare Olds 98 convertible. Power windows, power
seat, power top. Beautiful paint and interior, extremely clean
undercarriage. Runs and drives extremely well with lots of
horsepower on tap.
This 1961 Oldsmobile 98 convertible is one of those awesome cars
that maybe you never imagined you’d want, but once you see it, it’s
easy to fall in love. Hailing from a warm, dry climate, it’s a very
clean car that has been restored as needed over the course of its
lifetime but apparently never fully disassembled and refinished all
at once. The long, straight flanks are covered in Cordovan Metallic
paint, which isn’t quite burgundy and isn’t quite brick red, and
the metallic mixed into it gives it a fantastic glow in the
sunlight. The lights in our studio just don’t do it justice, I’m
afraid. The sheetmetal is very straight, the paint is well done,
and all the original trim (none of which is reproduced, by the way)
remains in excellent condition. Doors open and close easily,
especially for a convertible, and the long, straight piece of
stainless running down the side doesn’t allow for sloppy panel
alignment. Some of the stainless is original, so there are some
dings and the insert on the rear panel shows some very light
pitting, but these are minor demerits on a pretty darned nice
car.
The interior is GM’s familiar two-tone red leather, which in
Pontiac circles was referred to as “Morrokide.” Here, it’s simply
red but the look is no less dramatic. The deep-dish two-spoke
steering wheel is pure Rocket future-look, with a pointer that
indicates straight ahead inside the horn button. The ribbon-style
speedometer is up top with three pods for the secondary functions
directly underneath: generator and oil lights, a clock, and the
fuel gauge. It’s all in good condition, with the steering wheel
showing a few cracks in the usual locations, but things like the
dash top, door panels, and the painted dash are in excellent shape.
Sadly, the cool speedometer doesn’t work but the odometer does,
suggesting that the problem is in the head unit, not somewhere
else. And, as is typical with old cars, the clock and radio are no
longer functional, either. On the upside, however, the power
windows zip up and down without issues and there’s a brand new
white power convertible top overhead that disappears under a
matching burgundy boot for a clean look. And as a large luxury car,
you’d rightfully expect a giant trunk, which is still wearing what
we believe to be its original mats.
By 1961, the Olds “Sky Rocket” V8 had grown to 394 cubic inches and
a very impressive 325 horsepower. The stout V8 is dressed in red
engine enamel with chrome valve covers and the stock air cleaner,
all of which give it a correct look. You’ll note it is equipped
with both power steering and power brakes, which are probably
mandatory on a luxury car this size, and the original generator is
still making electricity. This sucker always starts quickly and
idles smoothly, kicking down to about 650 RPM after it’s warmed up
a bit. It has no bad habits and pulls the big ragtop around with
genuine enthusiasm—this car is not merely quick for its size, it’s
downright fast!
That big V8 is backed by GM’s new Roto-Hydramatic 3-speed automatic
transmission, which was less complex, less expensive, and easier to
service than the old 4-speed unit. Shifts are crisp and in high
gear, it’ll run from 10 MPH to 100 MPH without a hiccup, showcasing
the flexibility of that powerful V8. The floors are completely
solid and unmarked by rust or rot, the rockers are 100%, and
there’s no evidence that this car has even been hit or bent. A
recent dual exhaust system fits well and sounds great, giving it a
healthy burble that’s never annoying and the front suspension
tracks well with a luxury car ride. Power brakes are drums all
around, but they’re effective as any other brakes of the era and
the car remains a superlative highway cruiser that’s just
effortless at speed. It’s sitting on original 14-inch wheels with
Oldsmobile’s unique color-matched hubcaps as well as a brand new
set of 215/75/14 whitewall radials.
Admit it, you love this car. We sure do! It’s a car we never
expected to enjoy this much, but everyone who sees it in the
showroom stops to take a second glance. It’s not perfect, but a
little TLC on the weekend will take it up a notch, and in the
meantime, you’ll have what’s arguably the best-driving luxury
convertible of the era. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
