Inventory Listing

53,714 original miles. Factory A/C, power windows, power seat. Incredible original interior, excellent paint and trim, ready to enjoy.

I hesitate to use the word survivor because it has been repainted in its original Alcan White over Charcoal Gray color combination, but the rest is as it was built in 1956. The repaint was extremely well done, wrapping the two-tone combination even into the door jambs with razor-sharp masking between them, suggesting guys who really cared about getting it right were on the job. The chrome bumpers are so nice we have to believe that they were restored when the car was painted, and some of the stainless trim shows very faint buffing marks, so it was likely polished up while it was off the car. You’ll also note the wonderful space-themed emblems fore and aft, which show crisp details and are likely excellent original pieces. In back, the wonderfully ornate taillight lenses are in excellent condition with no fading or cracks and we love the cleverly hidden trunk lock assembly.

The jewel in this Oldsmobile’s crown has to be the 100% original interior, which is remarkably well-preserved and absolutely beautiful. The cloth and leather upholstery remains in first-class condition with no split seams, cracking, or any significant fading. Some of that can be attributed to the custom-fitted plastic seat covers, which are a recent addition and are perhaps the best I’ve ever seen and were tailor-made just for this car. Noteworthy options include power windows, a power front seat, and factory A/C, which is housed in its own pod under the center of the dash. The carpets are also original to the car and show minimal wear and fading, with the only notable issue being a hole about the size of a silver dollar adjacent to the accelerator pedal where one’s foot might rub during driving. Sadly the clock is not functional, but all the gauges, all the courtesy lights, and even the AM radio which features both front and rear speakers that are switchable via a toggle under the dash, work as they should. The trunk is completely original, right down to the multi-piece liner, although there is no spare tire or wheel (a correct GM wheel should be relatively easy to procure).

Oldsmobile’s Rocket V8 displaces 324 cubic inches and with under 54,000 original miles, it’s barely broken in and it runs superbly. There’s an electric fuel pump to help with starting, but once it’s running, the brand new mechanical pump does all the work. The engine bay is tidy but original, so it’s not sparkling clean, yet on the other hand all the original markings are quite visible, making this a slam-dunk in preservation classes. The view is dominated by the giant Frigidaire A/C compressor, but there’s also a big air cleaner that’s been painted to match the bodywork, the only notable deviation from stock. It burbles quietly through a brand new dual exhaust system and thanks to a giant radiator up front, it never threatens to get hot. And, of course, on any car this size, power steering and brakes are standard equipment.

Underneath, the chassis is quite original but in excellent condition. The original floors are protected by a textured undercoating but you can clearly see that there’s nothing to hide. In 1956, the GM Hydra-Matic was supplanted by the Jet-Away 3-speed automatic transmission, which is a lot smoother yet gives up nothing in durability. In back, we believe it has 3.23 gears, so it’s a superlative highway cruiser that’s always on its toes and with new shocks, it has a wonderful luxury car ride. It sits on recent 235/75/15 Coker wide whitewall radials, which are fitted to the original wheels with correct space-themed factory hubcaps.

In terms of sheetmetal for your dollar, this big Olds will be tough to beat, but you’ll also find that you get sparkling performance, a unique look that stands out, and a lot of features that few cars of the era could match. Come see it personally, but be warned, you’re going to fall in love…