1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Hardtop

　　If you think a fuel injected Chevy Bel Air was the top of the

　　General Motors luxury/performance food chain in 1957, allow me to

　　introduce you to this 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 with the 371

　　cubic inch engine. For 1957, the basic 88 was officially named

　　Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show

　　car. However, the only badge identifying it as such was a simple

　　super "88" in back of each headlight on the front quarter side.

　　For consignment, a super Super 88 hardtop from 1957 and Oldsmobile

　　sporting a mere 46,990 title verified miles. This one has a 371ci

　　V8, a 4-barrel carburetor and a Hydramatic transmission,

　　althoughour consignor states this is a factory J2 car and the J2

　　intake manifold and carburetors are included with the purchase, but

　　thatstatement is nearly impossible to prove. Restored and

　　hot-rodded in the early 2000's and the winner of aGoodguys 2022

　　show, this steel missile, all bathed in black for the exterior and

　　a mix of black and red for the interior nearlyguarantees you will

　　have a sure-fire winner no matter where you go.

　　Exterior

　　Cosmetically, Super 88s have Super 88 nameplates on the front

　　fenders although this one has had those emblems shaved, as we're in

　　custom territory now ladies and gents. All bathed in deep Onyx

　　Black paint, panels are very straight and true to their gaps.

　　Within the bumper upfront O L D S badging fills the horizontally

　　ribbed smile in the center of the bumper along with round turn

　　signal lights. More chrome for the single round headlight that has

　　chrome for the bezels and visors. In the center of the hood is

　　yellow and red flourish pinstriping thatleads your eye up to the

　　hood ornament which could be a futuristic freight train engine. The

　　ornament carries your eye to a trimming that runs through the

　　center of the hood to the windshield. Starting just under the

　　curved front glass surround trimming is a stainless-steel swoop

　　spear which serves as a background for the door handle and moves

　　downward to make a mad dash to the middle of the rear quarter. Here

　　it runs into the large tail light which has tri bar ornaments

　　within them a ribbed stainless plate below and bumper ends with

　　fake exhaust ports in them. Spider web pinstriping graces the tops

　　of the rear quarters and more flourish pinstriping is on the middle

　　of the trunk along with "Elvira" at the lower right. On all 4

　　corners are wide white wall tires that wrap gray slotted steel

　　wheels to fill up the sweeping wheel wells. Lightly smoked glass

　　and clean brightwork frame the passenger compartment, and I can't

　　get enough of the 3-piece rear windshield. Fabulously adorned in

　　black and chrome and not a hint of rust.

　　Interior

　　The entire interior was restored to original, including the red

　　rounded metal dash top which remains original. More ovals for the

　　dash front with the speedo being a large chrome bezel oval and in

　　the dash top a molded into the metal oval clock. In the dash center

　　more chrome gleams in a strip which resides between the black dash

　　top and a white painted lower, and this just gleams and includes a

　　restored AM radio. A red rimmed steering wheel fronts the dash and

　　the shift lever and horn ring, (yes with an oval center appear

　　tobeen re-plated). Fancy schmancy two-tone vinyl covers the front

　　spit back and rear solid benches. Black tuck and roll inserts and

　　smooth red bolsters have a red and black piping and these float in

　　a sea of perfect black carpeting. The door panels are also

　　wonderfully represented with the use of red and black for the multi

　　pattern embossed covers. Shiny handles and cranks abound as also

　　worth noting the seats are in chromed tubs. Keep up the excellence

　　look at the trunk where we note the included J2 intake manifold

　　atop the neatly installed black carpeting and not a mark on it. I'm

　　moving in, TV near the spare tire and couch on the other side!!

　　Drivetrain

　　Lifting the massive hood now showing a gold painted block and valve

　　covered 371ci V8. It is topped with an Edelbrock 4-barrel

　　carburetor. A 4-speed Hydramatic tranny is on back and it throws

　　power from the Rocket engine to a 3.41 gear final drive. Like new

　　kids!

　　Undercarriage

　　Unrestored and not undercoated, we see the factory flooring and

　　frame with a healthy patina finish along with surface rust, but all

　　remaining structurally solid, just the way it was intended. Up

　　front we note an independent coil spring suspension arrangement and

　　an upgrade to power disc brakes. Meanwhile, in the rear are leaf

　　springs and power drums. A dual exhaust with glasspack style

　　mufflers does in fact exit prior to the bumper, (in front of either

　　rear tire as a matter of fact), on either side so the ribs in the

　　rear bumper are fake! All solid steel here folks.

　　Drive-Ability

　　She fired right up and I rocketed, (88), to the test track. Here it

　　cruised like a dream, rode like it was on a cloud, and accelerated

　　to beat the band. All that chrome and steel floats around while I

　　sat in vinyl and chrome comfort staring at all the ovals and the

　　speedo needle ever rising. What a great experience!

　　I just love these chromed large and in charge cruisers from the

　　late 50's. Nearly bordering on wretched excess, but you still

　　cannot get enough of it and desire more. And with this car you get

　　it and it's all like new and working perfectly. Every aspect has

　　been painstakingly attended to and some liberties taken to give

　　that just right Kustom vibe. The sorrow for our consignor selling

　　this rarely seen piece of iron will be short lived though as it's

　　not going to take too long, so get your butt over to our Hallowed

　　Halls and snap it up!

　　57-1957

　　7-Eighty Eight

　　M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant

　　01120-Sequential Unit Number

　　Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special

　　interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale

　　with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle

　　barn find collection is on display.

　　This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,

　　Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia

　　on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is

　　and our phone number is (888) .

　　Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the

　　vehicle in person.