Absolutely stunning...It's a real treat to see an old factory hot rod that didn't just get the shit kicked out of it...27,000 mi? There can't be too many left...Thanks guys
I still have my first car it is a 1957 Rocket 88 coupe with a J2 Rocket engine and 3 speed manual transmission that gets 21 MPG on the highway. I bought it in 1978 and in 1985 I found 1957 88 Fiesta station wagon that was sitting in a hay barn from 1969 until I bought it with 87,299 miles on it. I flushed out the engine block and replaced the radiator and heater core and all new brakes. Too get it drivable again now in 2023 it has 108,559 miles on it and runs like new.
Those wheel covers are 1963 Oldsmobile deluxe full wheel covers. most of those late 50's wrap around windshields were called knee busters. Try getting in or out in a big hurry and you will find out why!
Buick was "the Doctor's car"...and was the marque just beneath Cadillac. Then Olds, then Pontiac then Chevy. These cars got maybe 10-14 mpg (gas was around 25-28 cents/gallon), had drum brakes and rode very smoothly on highways however, they didn't corner very well and probably did 0-60 in about ten seconds or just under. 1958 was the "King of Chrome" year...58 GM full-sized cars were slathered with chrome, as Harley Earl was trying to compete with Chrysler's new lower look that was introduced in 1957. In an accident, these things proved deadly...no seat belts, the steering column became a spear, and passengers were often thrown right through the windshield. No one wanted to really talk about safety back then. (No such thing as child seats then). Air conditioning was close to $900 or even just short of $1,000, so that was a very very rare option...equal to about $9000 in today's money. AND...it didn't work very well, especially on really hot days! If you had power windows, you were considered "rich". Olds was always a bit sportier than Buick, though and Oldsmobiles felt a little more athletic than Buick felt. They called the cars at the upper end of the price spectrum "Fine cars" and cars at the least expensive end were referred to as "in the lower price field". My dad had a '56 "88"...power steering, power brakes...and felt like he was the "king of the road". Then, a cousin ordered a '61 Chevy Impala convertible WITH air conditioning...that was the bitter end! My dad's next car was a '63 Dynamic 88 2-door Holiday Coupe with air conditioning...a $750 option in 1963. Options: a rear defroster (blower-type), A/C, AM radio, manual antenna, wind-up/down windows, and the A/C worked pretty well. No door locks, no cruise control, no power seats, no seat heaters, no tilt/telescope wheel, manual outside mirrors, etc., etc. The car was priced at $3,500, quite a pricey car at the time.
EVERY reference I've seen for A/C was well over $500. Jay Leno also made a statement on his UA-cam show that A/C was a very expensive option, often exceeding $650 (his term was 'back in the day'). In 1963, Oldsmobiile's sticker-price for A/C was $750. Also: I met a man (he was 94 years old!) who actually purchased a brand-new 1956 Cadillac with factory A/C and he told me it was between $750 and $800 back then (he gave the car to his grandson and the A/C still works!) ...and for the 1956 and 1957 Lincoln Mark II, A/C was the only option and it was $850 (the car was $12,000 and A/C made them nearly $13,000 THEN!). These cars, pre-1956 had the air exchanger in the REAR...and offered either package shelf air discharge OR used plexiglas tubes to transfer the cooled air from the rear package shelf to overhead vent discharges located in the roof, just above the doors. That proved expensive! Then in 1957, GM moved the discharge vents from the rear package shelf to the windshield's bottom (top of dashboard) but later learned that rear-seat passengers did NOT feel the cooled air. Chrysler did the same in 1959 with the Imperial: Chrysler offered "rear-seat" A/C in their 1961 Imperials because the front seat (dashboard top) discharge vents couldn't effectively cool the rear passenger area especially in Imperial Limousines. But A/C was well over $600 in 1961 in Imperials. @@anthonybianchini5144
The 1959 Olds had power brakes, but the brake booster was located under the brake peddle and below the floor. Access was to lift the carpet and open a trap door and there was a screwed down dip stick to check the fluid. Most likely this 1958 Olds had the power brake booster in the same location. I had to have my 59 booster rebuilt and it was a real bear to remove it.
Prior to '56, no "Park" detent on Hydramatic, others like Buick's Dynaflow, Chevrolet's Powerglide, Fordomatic, Packard Ultramatic, etc., etc., had "Park" from the 40s...
Absolutely stunning...It's a real treat to see an old factory hot rod that didn't just get the shit kicked out of it...27,000 mi? There can't be too many left...Thanks guys
Thanks and we agree, super cool Hotrod! 😎👍😎
I still have my first car it is a 1957 Rocket 88 coupe with a J2 Rocket engine and 3 speed manual transmission that gets 21 MPG on the highway. I bought it in 1978 and in 1985 I found 1957 88 Fiesta station wagon that was sitting in a hay barn from 1969 until I bought it with 87,299 miles on it. I flushed out the engine block and replaced the radiator and heater core and all new brakes. Too get it drivable again now in 2023 it has 108,559 miles on it and runs like new.
Awesome buddy, love the story!
I’m 27 years old and I love classic cars. I just purchased a 1967 convertible ss clone. Love your videos l!
That’s great buddy! 😎
Those wheel covers are 1963 Oldsmobile deluxe full wheel covers. most of those late 50's wrap around windshields were called knee busters. Try getting in or out in a big hurry and you will find out why!
Thanks buddy 😎
Absolutely nice car
Thanks 😊
One more note: Those aren't '58 Oldsmobile hubcaps. They came off a circa 1963 Oldsmobile Starfire...
Good to know thanks! 😎
Beautiful
Thanks 😎
Beautiful car.
We agree 😎
Buick was "the Doctor's car"...and was the marque just beneath Cadillac. Then Olds, then Pontiac then Chevy. These cars got maybe 10-14 mpg (gas was around 25-28 cents/gallon), had drum brakes and rode very smoothly on highways however, they didn't corner very well and probably did 0-60 in about ten seconds or just under. 1958 was the "King of Chrome" year...58 GM full-sized cars were slathered with chrome, as Harley Earl was trying to compete with Chrysler's new lower look that was introduced in 1957. In an accident, these things proved deadly...no seat belts, the steering column became a spear, and passengers were often thrown right through the windshield. No one wanted to really talk about safety back then. (No such thing as child seats then). Air conditioning was close to $900 or even just short of $1,000, so that was a very very rare option...equal to about $9000 in today's money. AND...it didn't work very well, especially on really hot days! If you had power windows, you were considered "rich". Olds was always a bit sportier than Buick, though and Oldsmobiles felt a little more athletic than Buick felt. They called the cars at the upper end of the price spectrum "Fine cars" and cars at the least expensive end were referred to as "in the lower price field". My dad had a '56 "88"...power steering, power brakes...and felt like he was the "king of the road". Then, a cousin ordered a '61 Chevy Impala convertible WITH air conditioning...that was the bitter end! My dad's next car was a '63 Dynamic 88 2-door Holiday Coupe with air conditioning...a $750 option in 1963. Options: a rear defroster (blower-type), A/C, AM radio, manual antenna, wind-up/down windows, and the A/C worked pretty well. No door locks, no cruise control, no power seats, no seat heaters, no tilt/telescope wheel, manual outside mirrors, etc., etc. The car was priced at $3,500, quite a pricey car at the time.
Awesome info., thanks buddy for sharing!!! 😀😎👊🏻
AC was just under $500 on GM cars in '58... I own a '58 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, with the invoice.
EVERY reference I've seen for A/C was well over $500. Jay Leno also made a statement on his UA-cam show that A/C was a very expensive option, often exceeding $650 (his term was 'back in the day'). In 1963, Oldsmobiile's sticker-price for A/C was $750. Also: I met a man (he was 94 years old!) who actually purchased a brand-new 1956 Cadillac with factory A/C and he told me it was between $750 and $800 back then (he gave the car to his grandson and the A/C still works!) ...and for the 1956 and 1957 Lincoln Mark II, A/C was the only option and it was $850 (the car was $12,000 and A/C made them nearly $13,000 THEN!). These cars, pre-1956 had the air exchanger in the REAR...and offered either package shelf air discharge OR used plexiglas tubes to transfer the cooled air from the rear package shelf to overhead vent discharges located in the roof, just above the doors. That proved expensive! Then in 1957, GM moved the discharge vents from the rear package shelf to the windshield's bottom (top of dashboard) but later learned that rear-seat passengers did NOT feel the cooled air. Chrysler did the same in 1959 with the Imperial: Chrysler offered "rear-seat" A/C in their 1961 Imperials because the front seat (dashboard top) discharge vents couldn't effectively cool the rear passenger area especially in Imperial Limousines. But A/C was well over $600 in 1961 in Imperials. @@anthonybianchini5144
The 1959 Olds had power brakes, but the brake booster was located under the brake peddle and below the floor. Access was to lift the carpet and open a trap door and there was a screwed down dip stick to check the fluid. Most likely this 1958 Olds had the power brake booster in the same location. I had to have my 59 booster rebuilt and it was a real bear to remove it.
Great info. Thanks buddy! 😎
Very cool 🤙 I just drug a complete J2 engine home.
@@kdsboosted4954 nice 👍
Fairly good straight line power, even by today's standards.
Agreed! 😎
Prior to '56, no "Park" detent on Hydramatic, others like Buick's Dynaflow, Chevrolet's Powerglide, Fordomatic, Packard Ultramatic, etc., etc., had "Park" from the 40s...
Love it, you’re a book of information. We love to continue to learn about these old vehicles. Thanks!
Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevrolet - in descending order...
😎
Fisher body started making horse drawn coaches, then for decades make car bodies for all GM divisions.
Thanks! 😎
that steering wheel looks like its upside down..
The wheel is correct as it was an aviation jet age theme and the spokes are like the steering yoke on a plane.