I remember the 1949 Olds 88 vividly!!! I learned to drive in 1940s cars (in 1959) and the 1949 88 was the first car that I drove that had an auto trans and an OHV V8. It felt like a jet compared to the 1940s vintage Kaisers, Frazers, Packards & Chevs that I drove first,
Muscle cars were not known as muscle cars when they were new - the term "muscle car" was popularized during the malaise era of the later '70's and early '80's. It is fair to say that Oldsmobile led the V8 horsepower race of the late 1940's. Oldsmobile post WWII had four model lines: 66, 76, 88, 98. The popular Olds advertising jingle was: "Make a date - with a Rocket 88." The funny thing about Oldsmobile giving up the circle track crown to Hudson was that the Hudson's engine was a flathead 6 cylinder vs. the Olds OHV V8! What propelled the Hudson to victory was not outright horsepower, but rather excellent handling from a much lower center of gravity thanks to its newer step down chassis design.
My grandfather had one and he used to get birds stuck in the grill going a hundred miles an hour down a dirt road. He rolled it and in doing so he saved a ten year olds life who was on a bridge. The chrome almost cut off his left eye lid. He walked home, when his mother opened the door she passed out from the blood.
Yeah but that wasn't until the seventies. His family always bought new cars every four years usually entry level cars. My grandfather always spoke highly of the branch known as Oldsmobile. I miss him.
The Oldsmobile 88 was meant to be a family sedan that packed some great power under the hood, but then came the days that it was all show and no go sadly. Next car I'm buying is going to be a 1949-1970 Oldsmobile 88 with a rocket motor and automatic transmission.
Originally the name 88 came from the size and trim level delineation which stood for Eight Series Eight Cylinders. The 98 came from Nine Series Eight Cylinders.
Having grew-up in the 50s and 60s I was able to work on and ride in and drive some of these wonderful cars, my first car that I remember is my dad's 48 Packard with a flathead straight 8,him and his buddies were what today we call "gearheads" I was young and thought everyone was able to drive their fathers car, no matter what I'm lucky to gotten to see the transformation of the automotive industry into what it is today electric cars that can drive and park themselves, WOW what does the future hold in store for you? 2022 I'm 68yrs old,
4 gauge I suppose that could count too, but that’d be pushing it, knowing there is a clear cut muscle car age during the NASCAR horsepower wars, which was not around in the 30s. But definitely something for consideration
The Ford had 60 hp...but there were an increasing number of high performance accessories available starting with parts made for circle track or "jalopy" races often on dirt tracks from the mid to late 1930's on. And after WW2 forget the speed parts available. INCLUDING the Totally super ARDUN heads.....Ha, even the Lincolns V10'S had Alum. High compression cylinders available.
@@cindylawrence1515 they were making solid cast block/heads (OHV one piece) in the 20s. But, that is $$$ exotics. Mass produced: Ford 'flathead' V8, Olds/Caddy OHV V8, 55 Chevy OHV V8. Hemis were nice too. Then everyone built a "big block" V8. Fun times.
I don't know if you could call it a Muscle Car, as it's engine was not modified compared to a 98's engine, and the car was smooth and quiet, rather than noisy and rough-riding, but is sure was great.
I think the 55 Chrysler 300 was the first true Muscle Car with a capital M, as it had a performance-modified engine and stiff suspension made for high speeds, rather than comfort. But the GTO sure wasn't the first one.
As a hot rodder in high school on a very small budget, we could easily get 200HP out of a 303. The problem was the weight. So we went for the nailhead Buick the best big block in the 50s. Port and polish those heads good headers, carbs and cam 400hp
Honestly I never understood how they could discontinue manufactures like Pontiac but keep around the likes of bUicK. Other than its chinese sales I guess.
You are an idiot. President Obama did not do away with the Olds, and Michelle was not a man. GM destroyed it by trying to make "japanese" cars, not understanding that the people who buy Japanese cars will not buy an Olds, and Oldsmobile buyers will not buy a car that is "Japanesish", and of course, the onslaught of subsidized Japanese cars being sold at fire-sale prices. Your Patron Saint, Ronald Wilson Reagan, is the one who refused to a single solitary thing about it back when they could have been stopped. The Pontiac died for a similar reason - no true Pontiacs were being produced, just "Japanesish" things. By the way, Oldsmobile died in 2004, Obama became president in 2008.
I remember the 1949 Olds 88 vividly!!! I learned to drive in 1940s cars (in 1959) and the 1949 88 was the first car that I drove that had an auto trans and an OHV V8. It felt like a jet compared to the 1940s vintage Kaisers, Frazers, Packards & Chevs that I drove first,
1965 Dynamic 88 with a 425 ultra-high compression ROCKET V8.....oh, the MEMORIES from
THAT tire-frier!
Mom had a Dynamic 88 but it had a 330 in it..
@@packingten That was Olds new small block, which grew into the 350
Muscle cars were not known as muscle cars when they were new - the term "muscle car" was popularized during the malaise era of the later '70's and early '80's. It is fair to say that Oldsmobile led the V8 horsepower race of the late 1940's. Oldsmobile post WWII had four model lines: 66, 76, 88, 98. The popular Olds advertising jingle was: "Make a date - with a Rocket 88." The funny thing about Oldsmobile giving up the circle track crown to Hudson was that the Hudson's engine was a flathead 6 cylinder vs. the Olds OHV V8! What propelled the Hudson to victory was not outright horsepower, but rather excellent handling from a much lower center of gravity thanks to its newer step down chassis design.
I believe the Studebaker 'Super Lark's' and Avanti were doing it in 1963.....
The Hawk is SO underappreciated. I t could compete with GTOs
My grandfather had one and he used to get birds stuck in the grill going a hundred miles an hour down a dirt road. He rolled it and in doing so he saved a ten year olds life who was on a bridge. The chrome almost cut off his left eye lid. He walked home, when his mother opened the door she passed out from the blood.
Devin Petersen Wow! Amazing story thanks for sharing. Do you know if he got another Olds after that?
Yeah but that wasn't until the seventies. His family always bought new cars every four years usually entry level cars. My grandfather always spoke highly of the branch known as Oldsmobile. I miss him.
Wow! Pretty lucky!
The Oldsmobile 88 was meant to be a family sedan that packed some great power under the hood, but then came the days that it was all show and no go sadly. Next car I'm buying is going to be a 1949-1970 Oldsmobile 88 with a rocket motor and automatic transmission.
Rock on man
Thank the EPA for the problem of all show and no go.
love this channel, subbed!
Originally the name 88 came from the size and trim level delineation which stood for Eight Series Eight Cylinders. The 98 came from Nine Series Eight Cylinders.
Having grew-up in the 50s and 60s I was able to work on and ride in and drive some of these wonderful cars, my first car that I remember is my dad's 48 Packard with a flathead straight 8,him and his buddies were what today we call "gearheads" I was young and thought everyone was able to drive their fathers car, no matter what I'm lucky to gotten to see the transformation of the automotive industry into what it is today electric cars that can drive and park themselves, WOW what does the future hold in store for you? 2022 I'm 68yrs old,
Olds 88 wasn't the first muscle car though.
Ford built there first one in 1932.
It was Ford's little 2-door coupe,powered with a V-8 at 90 horsepower.
4 gauge I suppose that could count too, but that’d be pushing it, knowing there is a clear cut muscle car age during the NASCAR horsepower wars, which was not around in the 30s. But definitely something for consideration
No, the Buick Century.
The Ford had 60 hp...but there were an increasing number of high performance accessories available starting with parts made for circle track or "jalopy" races often on dirt tracks from the mid to late 1930's on. And after WW2 forget the speed parts available.
INCLUDING the Totally super ARDUN heads.....Ha, even the Lincolns V10'S had Alum. High compression cylinders available.
Great minds think alike -posted the same above. No, I didn't read ALL postings before commenting.
@@cindylawrence1515 they were making solid cast block/heads (OHV one piece) in the 20s. But, that is $$$ exotics. Mass produced: Ford 'flathead' V8, Olds/Caddy OHV V8, 55 Chevy OHV V8. Hemis were nice too. Then everyone built a "big block" V8. Fun times.
Awesome video! I’m going to check one out today.
Ike Turner put out a recording called “Rocket 88” that many consider to be the first rock ‘n roll record. So that’s two firsts for the 88. 😉
The 1949 Packard custom had 160 bhp from it's 356 inline 8, 25 hp more the the Olds.
I don't know if you could call it a Muscle Car, as it's engine was not modified compared to a 98's engine, and the car was smooth and quiet, rather than noisy and rough-riding, but is sure was great.
Ya learn something new everyday
yeaaa m8
WHAT?!?!?! Not ONE
'66 Toronado in this video??
SHAAAAAME , SHAME ! ! 🙁
Could you get manual with overdrive?
I think the 55 Chrysler 300 was the first true Muscle Car with a capital M, as it had a performance-modified engine and stiff suspension made for high speeds, rather than comfort. But the GTO sure wasn't the first one.
Ether this or the Plymouth’s of the late 50s.
It wasn't in the 12's without substantial modification.
WAS THE ROCKET 88 PRETTY EVEN WITH THE HUDSON HORNET?
As a hot rodder in high school on a very small budget, we could easily get 200HP out of a 303. The problem was the weight. So we went for the nailhead Buick the best big block in the 50s. Port and polish those heads good headers, carbs and cam 400hp
Eat your heart out Honda. Lol
No, the first was the 1932 Ford V8.
Wrong the first muscle car was a 1936 Buick century Jerry Mcdonogh😊
Really? The first "muscle car" was the '32 Ford: first mass produced V8, and the cheap hot rod option until the 49 Olds overhead valve V8.
Good point
Bath house barry hated America and done away with Olds and Pontiac😡😡 I couldn't STAND the looks of him or his husband MANchele!.
Honestly I never understood how they could discontinue manufactures like Pontiac but keep around the likes of bUicK. Other than its chinese sales I guess.
You are an idiot. President Obama did not do away with the Olds, and Michelle was not a man. GM destroyed it by trying to make "japanese" cars, not understanding that the people who buy Japanese cars will not buy an Olds, and Oldsmobile buyers will not buy a car that is "Japanesish", and of course, the onslaught of subsidized Japanese cars being sold at fire-sale prices. Your Patron Saint, Ronald Wilson Reagan, is the one who refused to a single solitary thing about it back when they could have been stopped. The Pontiac died for a similar reason - no true Pontiacs were being produced, just "Japanesish" things. By the way, Oldsmobile died in 2004, Obama became president in 2008.
Oldsmobile was canceled in 2002 by Bob Lutz and ceased production in 2004. President Obama wasn’t in office until Jan 2009
@@LlyleHunter Would you believe that one of those idiots on TV thought President Obama was responsible for 9-11, before he was even a politician?
@@michaelbenardo5695 Of course I would. People repeat everything they hear.