Dynamic Deluxe - 1941 Oldsmobile Dynamic Cruiser Deluxe

When it comes to the cars of the era immediately preceding World War II, Oldsmobile is an undeniable standout; in those years, the company produced some of the most finely detailed, exquisitely designed automobiles available, especially when considering the realm of production cars built for the masses. Although this was the end of the Art Deco era, the 1941 models still showed traces of that Parisian design influence in their standout exteriors.

Even though the 1941 models were introduced just before the U.S. entered World War II, a time when car buyers were pinching pennies and holding off on purchases, the public was captivated by their decorative, yet clean, design. The siren song of great looks, no doubt aided by the sense that "this could be our last chance at a new car for a while," led to a sales bonanza: Oldsmobile witnessed a 46 percent increase in production, a number that included 47,098 new-for-1941 Dynamic Cruiser club sedans, such as the example featured here.

General Motors' fastback design had existed previously, but in 1941, it was new to the two-door coupe. At Oldsmobile, the attractive 211-inch-long body sat atop a lengthened 125-inch wheelbase, rigid-girder type frame, complete with a massive X-member. Also known as the Series 70, the Dynamic models were available in two nearly identical guises: Model 76 and Model 78 (the last digit, "6" or "8," represented the number of engine cylinders).

Oldsmobile's venerable Econo-Master straight-six engine dated back to the late 1920s, but through developmental evolution, it was bored out to 238 cubic inches by 1941. Equipped with a single downdraft Carter carburetor with an automatic choke, the L-head engine developed an even 100 horsepower. Period literature failed to provide a flashy name for the slightly more powerful 257-cu.in. straight-eight engine, which Oldsmobile first used in its 1937 lineup; however, this engine, with a 110hp rating achieved in part thanks to a dual carburetor induction system, was not available in Series 70 models until 1941.

Oldsmobile's tried-and-true column-shifted, three-speed manual transmission was standard, and was accompanied by a fairly low final drive gear ratio of 4.30:1. The increasingly popular Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic was available as a $100 option. Period advertising touted the Hydra-Matic's 10 to 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency, but little mention was made of the higher 3.63:1 final drive gear ratio it was paired with. Fuel efficiency aside, Oldsmobile certainly insinuated that without the clutch pedal, driver comfort was greatly improved.

To provide all five passengers with a boulevard-smooth ride and to minimize body roll while cornering, Dynamic Cruisers were equipped with an independent front coil spring suspension with unequal-length control arms and an anti-roll bar meant to reduce body lean. This rather conventional setup was complemented by a rear system consisting of coil springs, trailing arms and a second anti-roll bar, which was rarely fitted to cars back in the day. Double-acting hydraulic shocks were positioned at all four corners. Braking consisted of a standard four-wheel hydraulic drum arrangement.

Ride and comfort were further extended to the passenger compartment; the front and rear cloth seats were "cushioned with individually wrapped and tied coil springs covered with thick padding," while passengers were also provided with a pair of front seat armrests, Fisher No Draft ventilation and a right-hand sunvisor. Carpeting was also standard, and while chrome trim was present, it was tastefully applied throughout.

Glovebox door flips down, revealing back of clock.

For owners who wanted more opulence from their Dynamic Oldsmobile, there was the Deluxe package. It provided upgraded upholstery with foam rubber seat cushions and armrests, a deluxe three-spoke steering wheel, an upgraded instrument cluster with "clear vision plastic facing," and a deluxe clock within the glovebox door, as well as an interior lamp. To make the outside match the interior's opulence, the Deluxe package also provided exterior upgrades: larger 15 x 5.50-inch wheels fitted with 7.00-15 tires and chrome trim rings; a chrome hood ornament incorporating a stylish plastic insert, and chrome "speed lines" that adorned the front and rear fenders behind each wheel opening.

Our Dynamic Cruiser feature car is owned by Huntington, New York's Paul Jacobs, a longstanding Oldsmobile enthusiast. The car was originally ordered with the Deluxe package, although the missing fender ornamentation would leave one compelled to question its original build status. Of course, it's also possible that the previous owner neglected to reapply the trim after the car was repainted from its original black to a model year-correct Garnet red. Paul was able to clear the air around that issue by disclosing that his Olds had been built late in the model year--June, to be precise--at a time when chrome was in short supply, as Detroit switched over to war materiel production. As a result, his Deluxe-optioned Dynamic coupe left the assembly line without the fender trim. Additionally, the fender grilles and dash trim of Paul's car are painted stamped steel instead of stainless or chrome-plated steel as on examples produced earlier in the model year.

"I've always been impressed by the Art Deco styling of the pre-war era of automobiles," Paul told us. "When I discovered this Olds for sale, it immediately brought back memories of the cars I admired as a child, when they were already 10 years old. This coupe was in fair to good condition, and very nearly complete, but it also needed work. My intent was to bring it back to its original appearance and operating condition without undertaking a costly restoration."

Mechanically, the engine had received a nondescript valve job by the previous owner, and sometime in its past, the Dynamic's transmission had been rebuilt. With that in mind, Paul reconditioned the worn shock absorbers, overhauled the brake system and carefully examined the rest of the suspension for excessive wear, replacing only what he had to; he also replaced the gas tank. Extended service from the engine was ensured when Paul opted to remove the oil pan and clean out all the years of sludge buildup. With the engine still in place, he undertook the difficult task of replacing the rear main seal on the crankshaft. Finally, he performed a tune-up and rebuilt the carburetor.

"I later replaced the original cylinder head, the one with the spark plugs located between the valves, with a redesigned Oldsmobile head that featured the spark plugs over the intake valves, which was the stock replacement head for this engine," stated Paul. "Having milled the original head, the car ran much better than when I purchased it, so I figured the redesigned cylinder head would only improve it further. So far as I've been able to determine, nobody has a clear answer as to why Oldsmobile made the change, other than speculation about improved combustion within the chamber. I have not noticed a difference in performance using this particular cylinder head."

With his Oldsmobile mechanically roadworthy, Paul turned his focus to its interior and exterior appearance. He was able to purchase and install a set of NOS front grille bars; more challenging was the refurbishment of the fender grilles, which he repainted. Paul was also able to locate NOS taillamps, a license lamp assembly and rocker panel trim--when he purchased the car, the rocker trim had been riveted into place. One appearance upgrade was the addition of a set of NOS gravel shields. The exterior refurbishment was completed when Paul reconfigured the parking and taillamp assemblies, enabling them to act as modern turn signal indicators.

Interior wear was much more prevalent--Paul told us the car was "worn and torn" when he got it. Undeterred, he contacted Don Jenkins of Joe's Upholstery in Frederick, Maryland, who agreed to perform the extensive list of renovations. "This included the replacement of the headliner and package shelf, carpeting, door panels, kickpanels and seats. Don re-cushioned and reupholstered each in gray/maroon pinstriped wool broadcloth supplied by LeBaron Bonney. During this time, we opted to install seat belts. Don also corrected the unpleasant appearance of the dash; he was able to refinish the upper half of the woodgrain, as well as the garnish moldings."

Since its completion, Paul drives his pre-war Oldsmoble roughly 700 miles annually, mostly to local car events, with periodic "exercise runs" through his region. "It's a big, heavy car with a solid feel, and fairly smooth to drive. The six-cylinder engine and Hydra-Matic transmission makes for a slow acceleration, but it runs nicely up to 60 or 65 MPH, where you can feel the drivetrain 'working.' The automatic's gearing is not the best for climbing hills, and selecting second gear for added pickup causes the engine to rev too high. The car also leans a little when cornering, but the understeer is more pronounced. Once you compensate for its weaknesses, the ride is very predictable, but the bias ply tires will transfer every road imperfection, requiring you to pay closer attention. Overall, the Dynamic Cruiser is fun to drive as long as you know and make allowances for the car's limitations.

"I feel like I don't actually own the car, but rather, I am acting as a caretaker by maintaining it as a classic, nostalgic example of pre-war automotive design and engineering. You rarely see 1941 Oldsmobiles at shows today, and its rarity is enhanced by its trim shortage."