Comments on: $3,000,000 car

By: David Temple

David Temple — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 20:53:48 +0000

Gerald — Please leave your contact info. Perhaps I can offer some help on identifying this unusual Oldsmobile. Contact me directly at starfire53@hotmail.com
DT

By: Gerald Nickels

Gerald Nickels — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 06:05:54 +0000

I belong to OCA and norcalolds clubs and we have a 56 Olds 98 4 dr ht gold with white top. The owners are tracking its past and was in San Fran. auto show I think at the Cow Palace in 55. We as club members and the 56 owners of these cars say this car was not built but it was.They pulled some chrome off and these are one of a kind part on this car. If you need to reach the owners I can pass it on if you like. They are in need as they have gone to two Olds Nats and the 56 Olds owners pic on this car BAD so they need help in ID of their car. I own a 72 Hurst/Olds that scores 925 avg on points at the Nats and it is just like the factory built it.
Gerald

By: D T

D T — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 01:49:55 +0000

“WOT,”
I tried to post this message earlier, but I guess it got lost in cyberspace. The car Harley Earl received upon his retirement from GM was the 1959 F-88 Mk. III. The car was troublesome and was refitted with carburetors and a different transmission. Earl kept the car until he died in 1969. This F-88 was supposed to go to the then-to-be built NASCAR museum, however the project was delayed for some time. Eventually, Bill Mitchell asked that the car be returned to GM; it was and in the mid-70s was ordered destroyed. Unfortunately, that order appears to have been executed. Harley Earl also had an F-88 that was nearly identical to the show car. Reportedly, it was painted red. It was restyled with elongated wheel openings, then later rebodied with the F-88 Mk. II body. This car disappeared fairly quickly. Do you know what color the third F-88 was originally painted? I have only black and white photos of the third car. I am aware of a yellow F-88, a black F-88, and a dark metallic blue F-88. I assume at least one car was repainted a few times. Do you have any info on the other Motorama Oldsmobiles? D T

By: D T

D T — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 23:13:10 +0000

“WOT” – Harley Earl’s 1959 F-88 Mk. III was supposed to go to the then to be built NASCAR museum after Earl died in 1969. Earl and Bill France were friends. For whatever reason(s), the museum project got delaved. Eventually, Bill Mitchell – Earl’s successor – requested that the F-88 Mk. III be returned to GM; it was. In the mid 70s the car was ordered to be scrapped. Unfortunately, that car no longer exists. There were at least two F-88s built like the original show car though these two lacked the air vents in the cowl as well as the side trim. Harley Earl had the second one built for him. The third appears to have been built for Sherrod Skinner. At least one of these cars appears to have undergone a myriad of color schemes – enough to make me suspect that four cars were built. Earl’s car – F-88 no. 2 – was originally painted red. In 1955, it was restyled with elongated wheel openings and a center grille divider. Later, the body was removed from the its frame and a replacement “Mk. II” body was installed. The Mk. II car seems to have disappeared rather quickly. Any further information you can provide will be greatly appreciated! By the way, do you have any information about the 1954 Olds Cutlass, 1955 Olds 88 Delta, and/or the 1956 Olds Golden Rocket? I have a photo of the latter in a brilliant blue paint color. Was the car repainted or was a second example built?

By: wot

wot — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:59:27 +0000