1949 Oldsmobile 88 Club Sedan (fastback) on 2040-cars

1949 OLDSMOBILE 88 CLUB SEDAN (FASTBACK)

“Field Find” Project Car

This1949 Oldsmobile 88 Club Sedan, also known as a “fastback”, is a project car with great patina that is well worth the money. This is one of the most coveted body styles of the ’49-’50 Oldsmobiles and of course, it is the first Rocket V8 Engine that is credited for starting the horsepower race among American automobile manufacturers.

The1949 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe and Club Sedans are also the two most popular bodies that NASCAR Oldsmobile racecar owners and drivers chose to use in the 1949 and 1950 NASCAR stock car races. These Oldsmobiles won 6 out of 9 races in 1949 and 10 out of 19 races in 1950, resulting in a reputation that still stands today. The 1949 Oldsmobile 88 is credited with being the First Muscle Car. Except for the Holiday Coupe and  Convertible Coupe, these two body styles demand higher prices than other 1949 and 1950 Oldsmobiles. I attribute this to their design appeal, relatively low production numbers, and the scarcity of the remaining survivors, especially original unmolested examples like this one.

This Olds was built in the GM South Gate assembly plant in Southern California and spent most of its days in Northern California. The previous owner purchased it in Northern California where it apparently had been abandoned in a field for years. The car was last registered in California in 1982 and still has the black California plates on it. Judging from the rusty floors and the mud and debris still in portions of the frame, it appears that it likely sat in a muddy field much of the time since.

The floor pans are badly rusted, likely from setting in the mud for years, but they’re not rusted from salty roads. New floor pans are available online for $70.00 +/- each. The car was undercoated when it was new and the only other noticeable rust is some minor bubbling on the LF door, a small hole in front of the right rear wheel opening, but the fender skirt brackets are there, the wheel opening has none at all and still accommodates an original fender skirt.

Originally, the car was Seafoam Green and later was painted a version of Praline Brown, also an original ’49 Olds color, but it will need repainting unless you plan on making it a “Derelict Rod”. Then, the patina will be perfect!

There is surface rust on the bumpers and surface rust on the upper portions of the sheet metal due to it having been exposed to the weather and unmaintained for 30-plus years.  There is a 5” long rip in the LR quarter panel sheet metal behind the wheel opening, but all of the fender skirt brackets are there, the wheel opening easily accommodates an original fender skirt. The remainder of sheet metal, bumpers, moldings, and trim also appear to be original. Other than the right hood hinge, the only other thing I noticed missing are the “88” numbers from the LR quarter panel and the RR quarter panel spear molding has some slight damage.

It still has some of the original interior, but blue vinyl now covers the door panels and portions of a white vinyl headliner remain along with white vinyl on the armrests. The original seat fabric was not badly worn prior to being exposed to the elements due to a broken left door and vent glass and a broken right vent glass.

The original 303 Rocket V8 engine and Hydra-Matic transmission are in the car, too. The engine may be seized from setting for 30+/- years, but the spark plugs indicate that it was a clean burning engine without rust deposits, oil deposits, and carbon deposits. It has a Carter WCFB carburetor bolted on an aluminum adapter that is bolted on the original two-barrel intake manifold and the throttle valves are seized. An electric fuel pump is mounted on the left side frame rail. The original radiator, generator, and starter are all there along with the radiator and heater hoses. The original air cleaner mounting bracket and the other various original mounting brackets and hardware remain under the hood. A 5-blade metal flex blade fan is on the engine and the original fan shroud is intact. It appears the hood was left open for an extended period of time and it rained into the engine compartment. The exhaust system is intact, complete, and does not appear to be rusted out. This car also has air bags in all four coil springs.

Sold as is where is and I reserve the right to terminate this listing early.

MAKE ME AN OFFER I CAN'T REFUSE!

Thanks for looking and good luck bidding!

Feel free to ask questions.