Posted on 05/12/2014 9:16:05 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
Oldsmobile died 10 years ago this week. On that day, the final Oldsmobile (an Alero) rolled off the assembly line, and from then on, the oldest-surviving American car company was no more. Its departure was largely bittersweet; Oldsmobiles final vehicle lineup wasnt very impressive, filled with bland front-wheel-drive cars, and so many believed that its time had finally come.
But it was a good run, and while the end wasnt necessarily stellar, Oldsmobile managed to produce some seriously badass cars throughout its 107-year-long history. Below, we take a look at what we believe are the five best Oldsmobiles to ever leave its production facilities.
¡GIGITTY!
VERY nice, Bender.
I’ve always found that car to be very bold looking...so close, yet so far.
:(
LMAO
Yuuuuuuuck.
Mid-60’s vintage 98 Police Interceptors.
Not too shabby...
That is simply... stunning...
LOL! My kid actually had me dissect all the terminology in 'Little Deuce Coupe' and 'Hot Rod Lincoln'...
Kids today like to brag it up... how much more power is coming off the factory line... They don't understand that back in the day, you could take a stock car and a few hundred bucks and make a fair ground-pounder (if you had the right connections and a couple duffers that had the knowledge).
Most every kid I knew back then had that ingenuity and drive. Nowadays they throw a chip in it, and everything else is about the sound system *shakes head*...
Interestingly about the 348 with 4bbl...they either screamed and burnt rubber for a quarter mile or were dogs. Mine has tri-power with a lame Powerglide automatic tranny, but no guts. Still, love her dearly...my favorite Chevy design of all time. They can keep there iconic 1957 which I thought was an awkward design. Actually preferred the boxy look of the 55 and 56 Bel Airs.
Imagine the above 1958 with all its trim in Cashmire (light) Blue with duel front fender mirrors; duel rear antennas, fender skirts, and best - continental package on the rear. That alone gets many looks. 1958 Impalas were not known for Continental kits. It's in great shape, but just what's called a "survivor". Not show material, although I keep replaceing stuff as I can afford.
Also, had an interesting conversation here about the first "muscle cars". So many say it was Mopar with the early sixties Charger or the same era Olds 442 and such. Yes, they would put you back in the seat, but they are ALL wrong. THE very first muscle car was the 1961 Chevy with the 409. There's a reason the Beach Boys wrote a song about, "409".
Some day I will put either a 427 or 454 under the hood just to move that tank along quicker. Of course, I will have to upgrade the tranny and suspension - just a dream for now. Still, she is so beautiful and I love every moment I work on her and/or polish her.
I remember when regular was 25 cents a gallon even in California before Carter years. A few bucks and you could fill up. Was driving a 1954 Hardtop (no post) Chevy at the time. No, I'm not that old, just bought older cars that I could afford.
My first car at 16 was a 1939 Buick straight eight I bought from a junk yard. Although the radio, turn signals, clutch worked great, the motor blew up some 6 months later. And I mean really seized up with smoke bellowing out and all. Sheesh, standing by the side of the road way before anyone had thought of cell phones. Had to hitch-hike home. But then, what did I care? I was a teenager! Har!
My classics include:
1939 Buick Sedan with suicide doors;
1954 Chevy hardtop;
1954 Mercury hardtop;
1956 Ford Victoria;
1958 Chevy Impala;
1963 Chevy Impala;
1964 Chevy Impala;
1986 Chevy SUV, similar to a Bronco;
1987 Corvette;
2000 Corvette (currently still own).
And now my 1958 Chevy Impala.
Bikes:
1966 Honda Scrambler (250);
1948 Indian Scout;
1971 Harley Sporster;
1971 Harley SuperGlide;
1984?Honda 900;
1995 Harley Wide Glide that is for sale. Low mileage. If interested send me a Freepmail.
Loved every one them except for the Honda 900, even though it was my first electric starter. Just damn ugly.
Sheesh, what an ugly front end/grill. However, the lines flow nicely towards the back.
That’s a real car? Think I recognize the Chrysler emblem. They actually made that gawd awful looking car? The only thing worse was the Gremlin.
I owned a ‘64 442 with bad brakes, graduated to a ‘66 Chevy L-78 (solid lifter motor.) I took a detour and owned a series of Jaguars from the 50s and 60s.
All fun.
Damn, Navy, you had as many cars as I did over the course of my life...
I’ve had the whole gamut - really nice to mediocre to complete junk and back again...
Good memories, huh? It’s god to talk about things other than politics sometimes...
Don't remember the words to "Hot Rod Lincoln", but could sing "Little Deuce Coupe" verbatim. But then, you probably don't want me to do that...har! What's there not to know for your son? "My four speed duel quad posi-traction...409". He doesn't get a 4 speed tranny, nor a duel quad 4 barrel, nor posi-traction?
"They don't understand that back in the day, you could take a stock car and a few hundred bucks and make a fair ground-pounder (if you had the right connections and a couple duffers that had the knowledge)."
Yes, add a Weber quad or even advance the timing or change out the exhaust/headers and get more power from a stock car.
However, I have to admit that the nitro Japanese cars are on par with major American muscle cars as far as off the line. Ever watch the first and second Fast and Furious movies? Although, I always thought unfair. The Asian motors had nitro at a push of a button. The American muscle didn't - think if they did like a dragster? The horsepower and torgue would literally blow those wimpy CID's off into another planet.
Give me American muscle anytime. Although I would prefer modern suspension as they do on "Overhauling". My tri-powered 348 rides like a boat, but then it is a cruiser, so who cares? Never been a big hotrod fan...more the stock cruiser type. However, my 2000 Vette still gives me a thrill when I punch her. Ask your son what "punch" means.
Had a 1980 Delta 88 2 door, diesel. We later dropped a 350 in it, still geared for the lower RPM diesel..now that was fast! Chewed up the transmissions though(thank you, aamco for your lifetime warranty at the time). The front end wore out so bad you could turn the steering wheel 1/4 turn before any response.
Now I wish I had that car again!
i had a ‘77 toronado brougham. as i recall, small aircraft could take-off and land on the hood.
Heh! We'll do a harmony and chase everybody outta the bar! : )
He doesn't get a 4 speed tranny, nor a duel quad 4 barrel, nor posi-traction?
More like ported and relieved, stroked and bored, and leg pipes - I hear in some places they are called 'lake pipes', but they are 'leg pipes' wherever I've been...
Don't get me wrong... that was when he (they) were young. Being a redneck, I started them off on old iron, and if they broke it, they fixed it, both my sons. So they know now, though the younger one tends toward rice-grinders.
Yes, add a Weber quad or even advance the timing or change out the exhaust/headers and get more power from a stock car.
Yeah, I',m a Chevy guy, and I will testify that simply hanging fat dual exhaust on a chevy motor makes it a whole 'nuther thing... An astonishing difference in performance... Hang headers on it and be astonished sommore.... flat-tops, a decent cam, a good intake and a Holley double-pumper, and you will have to have the glee surgically removed from your face... : ) And ALL of that is *nothin'* in the used market...
However, I have to admit that the nitro Japanese cars are on par with major American muscle cars as far as off the line. Ever watch the first and second Fast and Furious movies? Although, I always thought unfair. The Asian motors had nitro at a push of a button. The American muscle didn't - think if they did like a dragster? The horsepower and torgue would literally blow those wimpy CID's off into another planet.
I dunno - a nice set of slicks and that Detroit iron is gonna come out of the hole like a slingshot... It has always been the problem... Getting all them ponies to hit the ground... But then, it won't turn... All I can say is that I have always had enough to keep the red-and-blues fading in the rear-view, and that was mostly enough for me. And while I admit my career in that sort of thing has now passed me by, I never once got my a$$ handed to me by a tuner. Especially on mixed surface. Of course, maybe they've come into their own by now.
Give me American muscle anytime.
Yeah. Me too. Pre-85, preferably 65-75, with a few exceptions.
Although I would prefer modern suspension as they do on "Overhauling". My tri-powered 348 rides like a boat, but then it is a cruiser, so who cares? Never been a big hotrod fan...more the stock cruiser type.
Never been a cruiser, but if I were, it would be a Caprice or Bonneville... Maybe a late 70's early 80's Bonneville with a 428 interceptor. If I had the money, maybe a 50 Olds Rocket with some major ground-up upgrades...
My thing was always midsize hot-rods. Chevelles are my bag, and El Caminos. But it's been a while since I had a tight ride - Kinda got distracted by BIG 4x4, so suspension took on a totally different meaning : )
However, my 2000 Vette still gives me a thrill when I punch her. Ask your son what "punch" means.
Heh... they both know... tho one of them turned out to be a cop, which might turn out to be awkward one of these days : P
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