West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional and always completely rust free example of this mostly all original 1956 Oldsmobile 98 4 Door 324/240HP V8 Holiday Hardtop in it's beautiful original and very rare 'Gold Mist Metallic & Antique White' color paint with a gorgeous condition matching 'Gold &White' Nylon & leather interior with standard options including a front seat armrest, full floor carpeting, electric clock, power windows, front & rear fender stainless trim, lined luggage compartment, safety padded instrument panel, power steering, original spare wheel & jack, deluxe wheel covers & Whitewall tires.
The car boasts its original 324 CID 240HP Rocket 4 BBL V8 engine matched to it's original Jetaway Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and included factory added options of:
DeLuxe Heater & Defroster ($77)
Air Conditioning ($430)
DeLuxe Radio ($96)
Autronic Eye Headlamp Dimmer ($46)
Power Windows ($90)
6 Way Power Front Seat Adjustment ($86)
Tinted Glass ($30)
Power Brakes (37)
The 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday 4 Door Hardtop carried 6 passengers comfortably and was the flagship model of the Oldsmobile lineup with many enthusiasts considering the 1956 edition to be one of the best combinations of styling, engineering and performance ever offered by Lansing, Detroit. They were one of the highest priced cars of its day - and with good reason - fifties excess had virtually was reached its peak with Detroit boasting bigger cars with more chrome and accessories than ever before! These cars bristled with the latest in modern appointments and had few rivals in the luxury market with a recession making owning one only for the very privileged few, especially a fully loaded example like this particular car with air conditioning, heater & defroster, power brakes, seats, antenna and windows to boot!
Oldsmobile were to continue with the Rocket and Space theme for 1956 with the 'Rocket V8' engines that were the signature Oldsmobile characteristic receiving a 20-25% increase in horsepower this year. The Super 88 remained the 'performance' line and it actually shared it's high power engine with this luxury top-of-the-range 98. A new version of the popular Hydra-Matic automatic transmission known as the 'Jetaway' Hydra-Matic was touted as Oldsmobile engineering triumph that produced more smoothness, power and economy. The Jetaway also introduced the added convenience of an all new positive 'Park' position! Prior to this time most automatic transmissions did not have a 'Park' position so typically the driver would have to shift into 'Reverse' and set the parking brake. The '56's received an all new gaping 'mouth' grille and interiors now had sleek new 'Starfire' styling and new features including a safety padded instrument panel, a wider rear view mirror and new two-tone paint colors and fabrics! The instrument panel continued a horizontal theme with an oval pod at each end connected by tons of chrome.
This particular southern California example is in exceptional condition throughout in it's original and very rare 'Gold Mist over Antique White' color with a matching color keyed interior. The paint and the interior is quite exemplary, the car has re-plated chrome, all the stainless is highly polished, the trunk boasts it's original lining material and it's original factory AM 'Wonderbar' radio. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust-free and the car was a very highly optioned car and fully loaded for it's day boasting factory air conditioning which cost an additional $430 + alone (the equivalent of $4,139 in 2020 according to the CPI inflation calculator!), therefore making this one option alone a very rarely purchased option! This fully loaded Oldsmobile 98 4 Dr Holiday Hardtop was one of the highest priced cars of its day - and with good reason - the car bristles with the latest in modern appointments and had few rivals in the luxury market with a recession making owning one only for the very privileged few.
Recently purchased from long-time southern California family owners and obviously always garaged and cherished. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are original and have obviously always been solid and rust-free and the car has no signs of any major accidents - obviously an always cherished 'Garage Queen' since new. The 324/240HP 4 barrel 'Rocket V8' engine is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an absolute pleasure to drive! The car has always been well maintained and all the power options work as they should including all the power windows. The car boasts its original spare wheel and jack in the truck!
This is an extraordinarily rare opportunity to own a very striking and great daily driving example of a 1956 Oldsmobile 98 4 Door Holiday Hardtop with almost every possible factory available option. Reportedly one of the original 1956 GM Motorama 'show cars' at San Francisco's Cow Palace (The General Motors Motorama was an auto show staged by GM from 1949 to 1961. These automobile extravaganzas were designed to boost automobile sales with displays of fancy prototypes, concept vehicles and other special or halo models) where one of each of GM's marques were to be displayed to show a glimpse of some of the styling changes slated for the next three model years. This particular example is now available and turn key ready for the Oldsmobile enthusiast or simply any classic American car collector!
