1951 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe 4 Door Sedan

The Oldsmobile 98, (spelled Ninety-Eight from 1952 to 1991, and Ninety Eight from 1992 to 1996), is the full-size flagship model of Oldsmobile that was produced from 1940 until 1942, and then from 1946 to 1996.  The name, reflecting a "Series 90" fitted with an 8-cylinder engine – first appeared in 1941 and was used again after American consumer automobile production resumed post-World War II.  It was, as it would remain, the division's top-of-the-line model, with lesser Oldsmobiles having lower numbers such as the A-body 66 and 68, and the B-body 76 and 78.  The Series 60 was retired in 1949, the same year the Oldsmobile 78 was replaced by the 88.  The Oldsmobile 76 was retired after 1950.  This left the two remaining number-names to carry on into the 1990s as the bread and butter of the full-size Oldsmobile lineup until the Eighty Eight-based Regency replaced the 98 in 1997.  Occasionally additional nomenclature was used with the name, such as L/S and Holiday, and the 98 Regency badge would become increasingly common in the later years of the model.  The 98 shared its General Motors C-body platform with Buick and Cadillac.  Since it was the top-line Oldsmobile, the series had the most technologically advanced items available, such as the Hydramatic automatic transmission, the Autronic Eye, an automatic headlight dimmer, and Twilight Sentinel, (a feature that automatically turned the headlights on and off via a light sensor and a delay timer, as controlled by the driver), and the highest-grade interior and exterior trim.

This 1951 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Sedan is quite likely one of the most original and well preserved cars of its kind in existence anywhere today.  Owned by the same person for over 50 years and having only been driven 600 miles from 1965 until 2023, this is a true survivor and one for the record books.  Having just clicked over the 100,000 mile mark, wearing most of its original paint and interior as well as remaining invasive rust free, this car is a definite trip back in time Sherman!  

Exterior
Finished in a large majority of the original Black paint, accented by outstandingly preserved chrome bumpers and stainless trim, the Oldsmobile retains original-appearing glass with no sign of delamination, chips, or cracks.  The gaps are well minded and all trimmings are super shiny.  Big chrome leads the way upfront with fat grill surrounds and an even larger bumper below.  A nice big bulbous hood with its jet age hood ornament, and central globe with a ring around an O L D S M O B I L E badging on the very front.  For 1951 there is still a hint of an exterior fender, not integrated totally into the body, but it's nonetheless sparse.  It has a beautiful horizontal trimming in its center, and a big stainless pad attached to its forward panel just below each chrome trimmed headlight.  In back, some of the WW2 fighter plane design influences the aero look with a divided rear window, gently sloping trunk lid and rocket cone tail lamps mounted at the end of each slightly finned fender.  More big chrome back here to frame the back's bottom end.  This car floats on thin whitewalls, wrapping red painted wheels on all 4 corners and comes with an extra set of wheels with wide whites and the factory covers.

Interior
The gray interior and door panels remain in preserved condition, utilizing horizontally stitched nylon panels above surrey gray stitched nylon lowers and painted sills all showing some water staining and damage.  The handles are nice and shiny and a few horizontal chrome bars delineate between the various materials used on these panels.  The steering wheel is uncommonly nice and devoid of the usual cracking seen in vehicles of similar vintage.  It utilizes gallons of bakelite along with a beautiful inner horn ring and central 3D globe badge.  A two tone black and gray dash presented in full metal jacket has a wonderful clean half circle speedometer with more big chrome bezels.  Knobs and pulls cascade downward next to this speedo, and in the dash center is a push button radio with a clock on the upper dash.  The benches are like the door panels using striped broadcloth inserts and knitted gray bolsters and upper backs.  The seats present much as the rest of the car, well preserved with only minor soiling and a few small tears.  Black rubber matting is seen in front and in the back, gray carpeting floods the floors and above is a tight mohair headliner.  All interior trim is clean and shiny and all intact.  A shout out to the trunk which has the spare with jack and is lined in vinyl.

Drivetrain
A toss upwards of the large hood, and we shake hands with a beautifully presenting engine bay.  In the center is its star player in the form of a 303ci V8 dubbed the Oldsmobile Rocket.  There is a rebuilt 2-barrel carburetor on top complete with an oil bath air cleaner and a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission on back.  3.64 gears make the 8 popper seem more powerful.  All beautifully preserved with a full redux on the cooling system including a new water pump, belts and hoses, and the ignition system has been completely gone through.

Undercarriage
Very clean and honest with factory undercoating applied to the miles and miles of strong Oldsmobile steel.  A peppering of surface rust is seen on the usual suspects and providing the ride are independent coil springs upfront with leaf springs on back.  Drum brakes are all around and a stock single piped exhaust is on.  We note a new fuel tank and a rebuilt fuel pump to ensure reliable fuel delivery.

Drive-Ability
It was a great trip back in time with all working fab save for the clock, and it was a wonderfully smooth ride too.  While certainly amazing in visual terms, this 1951 Oldsmobile 98 Sedan operates as well as it looks.  The Rocket V8 starts with the push of a button and runs great; the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission shifts as it should. The engine and engine compartment are clean and extremely well detailed, providing a real look at how things were over 70 years ago.

A car can only be original once and this amazingly preserved 1951 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Sedan is just that.  It's a great design utilizing the aerial war effort to have some influence on said design.  Also, plenty of new conveniences like a push button radio, heater, turn signals, and Hydramatic transmission. Can you say “Da Bomb!”

519W4181

51-1951
9-Ninety Eight
W-Wilmington, DE Assy Plant
4181-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

STYLE NO 51 3869D-1951 Ninety Eight Deluxe 4 Door Sedan
BODY NO BW2473-Wilmington Body #
TRIM NO 3-Light Gray Surrey & Dark Gray Nylon Broadcloth
PAINT NO 50-Black

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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 www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.