1958 Oldsmobile Super 88

1958 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88 2DR HARDTOP
HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND RARE ONE OFF YEAR PRODUCTION OLDSMOBILE. 1958 WAS THE YEAR THAT GM PUT THE MOST CHROME ON THERE CARS ACROSS THE WHOLE OF THE GM BRANDS, BUICK/ CADILLAC/ CHEVROLET/ PONTIAC AND OLDSMOBLE, PARTICUALLY BUICK AND OLDSMOBILE CARS, WHICH I THINK WEAR THE MOST CHROME. AS TIME HAS GONE ON 58 YEAR PRODUCTION GM CARS HAVE SKY ROCKETED IN PRICE DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOVE/ DEMAND AND CAR SCENE CULTURES BOTH IN THE US AND OTHER COUNTRIES FOR THEM (THE UNIQUE STYLING AND RAREITY ONE YEAR PRODUCTION).
THIS PARTICULAR 58 OLDSMOBILE HAS LOTS OF HIGH END FACTORY OPTIONS ON IT, SUCH AS FACTORY AIR CONDITIOING WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN ON ANOTHER 58 OLDSMOBILE AS YET, IT ALSO BOASTS THE HIGHER OUTPUT FACTORY 371 CUBIC INCH 6. 1 V8 WITH THE FACTORY UPGRADED J2 TRI POWER 3X 2BBL CARBURETTOR SET UP WHILST STILL WEARING THE ORIGINAL J2 AIR INTAKE ON TOP (WHICH ARE NOT FACTORY REPRODUCED AND CAN FETCH UP TO $1800 - $2000 FOR ONE (IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND AN ORIGINAL ONE NOW) I BELIEVE ITS THE ONLY J2 AND A/ C OPTIONED 58 OLDSMOBILE HERE IN THE UK. THAT BEING SAID I THINK THERE IS ONLY A HANDFUL OF 58 OLDSMOBILES THAT ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN THE UK. THESE OPTIONS ON THE CAR ALONE MAKE IT EXCLUSIVE AND RARE AS VERY FEW HAD THESE FROM NEW.
THE CAR RUNS/ DRIVES AND PERFORMS FAULTLESSLY, THE GUTSY 6. 1 V8 HAS PLENTY OF PULL IN IT DUE TO THE BOOSTED 312 HP HIGHER OUTPUT FROM THE J2 TRI POWER OPTION. THE 371 V8 IS MATED TO ITS FACTORY ORIGINAL 4 SPEED HYDRAMATIC AUTO TRANSMISSION WHICH SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND QUIETLY. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, MAKING THE CAR EASY TO MANOEUVER AND STOP WELL (BOTH I FIND ARE KIND OF IMPORTANT DRIVING NEEDS AND MUSTS). AMOUNG SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THIS CAR BOASTS ARE, FACTORY WINDSCREEN WATER BOTTLE, TISSUE DISPENCER AND THE COOL STYLING REAR FENDER SKIRTS.
FANTASTIC PAINT AND BODYWORK ALL OVER, YES ITS HAD A REPAINT AT SOME POINT, BUT DONE IN THE ORIGINAL ONYX BLACK, AND SHINES LIKE A PIECE OF GLASS. CHROME AND BRIGHTWORK ARE AMAZING AND ALL INTACT, FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS HAVE BEEN RE-CHROMED.
INTERIOR TRIM IS LOVELY, AND MOSTLY ALL ORIGINAL, THERE WERE 2 WORN BITS OF VINYL ON THE TOPS OF THE FRONT BENCH SEAT WHERE SUN DAMAGE OVER THE YEARS HAD WORN IT AWAY, LUCKLY SMS AUTO FABRICS IN OREGON STILL DO THE ORIGINAL VINYL AND CLOTH FOR THESE CARS, SO I ORDED 1 YARD OF THE NEEDED VINYL AND GOT MY LOCAL CAR/ BOAT TRIMMER TO RE-TRIM IT. NOW IT LOOKS AS GOOD AS NEW. ALL CHROME DASH AND INTERIOR TRIMS ARE STUNNING, FEW GAUGES AND BACKING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, I GOT THEM SORTED SO NOW A FULL HOUSE OF DASH LIGHTS, GAUGES AND FOOTWELL LIGHTS. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS INCLUDING NUMBER PLATE LIGHT AND REAR BACK UP REVERSE LIGHTS ALREADY WORKED.
WHEN I BROUHT THE CAR NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO, MY GUYS IN TEXAS CARRIED OUT FULL ROAD SAFETY CHECKS, ALL DRUM BRAKES HAVE BEEN CLEANED/ RE-GREASED AND PARTS REPLACED WHERE NEEDED. THE BIG EXPENSIVE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISMANTLED AND RE-BUILT. BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ALSO FULLY BLED AND FLUID REPLACED. EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND SO WERE THE EXHAUST HEAT EXCHANGER UNITS SO YOU GET A LOVELY SMOOTH SOUND THROUGH THE EXHAUSTS WITHOUT ANY BLOWING.
THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IS COMPLETLY ORIGINAL WITH NO WELDING/ CUTTING OR RUST. CHASSIS IS ALSO BEAUTIFULLY SRAIGHT, SUSPENSION AND BUSHES ARE TIGHT, ALL SILL PANELS ARE ORIGINAL WITH NO DENTING OR CRUSHED AREAS, THEY STILL HAVE ALL FACTORY DRAINAGE LOUVERS IN PLACE AND RUBBER DRIP TABS.
THE CAR COMES WITH WORKSHOP MANUAL AND SERVICING MANUAL, THE OLDSMOBILE ACCESSORIES BOOK AND THE 58 OLDSMOBILE SERVICE POLICY BOOKLET. THE MAINTENANCE BOOK SHOWS YOU A FULL IN DEPTH SET OF DIAGRAMS OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE CAR, FROM WIRING TO ENGINE/ GEARBOX TORQUE AND BOLT READINGS TO SERVING OILS AND FILTERS, SO YOU CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS CAR, FEW OTHER BOOKS AND MAGS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS KEPT OVER HIS 20 ODD YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH THE CAR ARE ALSO THERE. INSIDE THE BOOT IS THE FACTORY SPARE WHEEL AND JACK WITH BRAKER BAR AND THE ORIGINAL OLDSMOBLE FENDER COVER MATTS THAT YOU LAY OVER THE WINGS WHILST YOU WORK ON THE CAR TO PROTECT THE PAINT AND TRIMS.
THE FACTORY A/ C WILL NEED ATTENTION BY SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS OLD SCHOOL A/ C SYSTEMS, ALL PARTS ARE THERE AND IN GOOD SHAPE, BELTS AND PULLEYS ARE ALL CONNECTED UP AND TURN FREELY SO IM WONDERING IF A SIMPLE RE-GAS WILL SORT IT. BLOWERS ALL WORK INSIDE THE CAR SO ITS HALF WAY THERE.
ONE OF THE FENDER CHROME STRIPS (FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) HAS A SMALL THUMB DENT ITS NOT DAMAGED THE CHROME AT ALL. I HAVE SENT A PIC OF IT TO TORONADO AUTOMOTIVE WHO HAVE DONE WORK FOR ME BEFORE AND SAY IT CAN BE PRESSED OUT AND POLISHED TO RESTORE IT BACK TO NEW.
THE CAR RUNS/ DRIVES GREAT, SHIFTS SMOOTHLY WITH NO NOISES AND WILL KICK DOWN NICELY IF YOU PUSH THE ACCLERATOR FLAT DOWN. THERE IS NO SMOKE FROM EITHER EXHAUSTS, AND NO WANDERING ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING.