1953 Oldsmobile 88

The 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible was acquired in Texas as a project by the seller’s father in 1996 and subsequently relocated to California, where it was refurbished over a three-year period. Work included refinishing the car in metallic turquoise over blue and white upholstery, replacing the power-operated white soft top and various trim components, and rebuilding the replacement 324ci Rocket V8. Equipment includes a four-speed automatic transmission, blue-painted 15″ steel wheels, wheel covers, whitewall tires, power steering, bullet-style taillights, bench seats, a heater, and a push-button AM radio. The car was acquired by the seller from their father in April 2006, and work since August 2017 has included replacing the transmission pan gasket, generator, and tires. This Super 88 is now offered with an owner’s manual, shop manuals, service records, and a clean California title in the seller’s name. Bright trim components were replaced before the car was refinished in metallic turquoise in the late 1990s during the aforementioned refurbishment. Features include a power-operated white soft top, a white parade boot, bullet-style taillights, a hood ornament, 88 badging, and a dual exhaust system. The seller notes that the passenger door handle sticks when opened from the outside. Body-color 15″ steel wheels wear bright covers and are wrapped in 225/75 Coker Classic whitewall tires that were installed in August 2022. A spare wheel wearing an older tire is stored in the trunk. Equipment includes power steering and power-assisted drum brakes. The wheel bearings were repacked in April 2020, and the front brake shoes were replaced in June 2022. The power steering pump was rebuilt in preparation for the sale. The front and rear bench seats were retrimmed in blue and white as part of the refurbishment and are complemented by matching door panels and a painted dashboard. Interior details include vent windows, door-panel armrests, a push-button AM radio, a heater, bright doorsill guards, a center glovebox, and front lap belts. The seller notes that the clock ticks but does not keep time, and images showing discoloration on the seats and other interior wear are provided in the gallery below. The two-spoke steering wheel features a full horn ring and fronts a 120-mph speedometer with subdials for amperage, coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The seller notes that the fuel gauge bounces while the car is being driven. The five-digit odometer shows 50k miles, approximately 6k of which have been added under current ownership; true mileage is unknown. The 324ci Rocket V8 is said to have been sourced from a 1954 Oldsmobile and installed under prior ownership. The engine was reportedly rebuilt under current ownership, the generator was replaced in August 2021, and the oil was changed in May 2024. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission that was serviced with a replacement torque-converter seal, pan gasket, and shifter seal in February 2020. An owner’s manual along with various shop and technical manuals will accompany the vehicle, as will service records from the seller’s family’s ownership.