For those of you on your computers now and not watching the live Barrett Jackson auction on Speed TV, you missed seeing a 1954 Oldsmobile F88 concept car go for $3,000,000. That’s $1,000,000 higher than their record sale in a prior auction. Prices this year are nuts.
wot says
Regarding the Olds F88:
I worked in Oldsmobile Experimental in the 50’s and early 60’s, and seem to remember that we built three F88’s, but the Barrett-Jackson sheet says four. Fuzzy memory maybe. I also remember that they had 303 engines even though the production 1954 was a 324. It probably had another engine later maybe. It wasn’t unusual to upgrade and revise the concept cars.
The last time I saw one of the F-88’s was in 1959, hiding in a corner of the Olds Engineering garage – probably in for maintenance of some kind. Just there for a day or so. It looked like it had a lot of miles on it. This must not have been the same car, as the B-J sheet says ACD Museum got their car in 1955.
I’m surprised that this car got out. We usually scrapped them. You hear that they got “crushed”. Not true – we just took them apart, beat up all the pieces, and threw everything in the scrap.
Wow! Three million bucks. I wonder what the retractable 2-seater Olds roadster we built for Harley Earl’s retirement would be worth. 394 engine with lots of chrome, exhausts exiting in front of the front wheels, 6-speed automatic transaxle…
wot
kneeslider says
When this F88 rolled up for auction, they had a film clip in the background of one in a parade with Shriners sitting in it. If any F88 had many parade miles it probably would look like a high miler, I imagine public duty of that sort would make a car look old before its time. That one you saw in the garage may have been a veteran of those wars.
That retractable 2 seater sounds like quite a car. Do you have any idea if it’s still around? Could it be a survivor or did that one meet its end like most of the concept cars? I’ve seen a few concepts turn up over the years but very few. I always figured they weren’t complete cars anyway but just for display. Sounds like those F88’s were road ready.
D T says
WOT,
I am writing a book about the Motorama cars and need to communicate with you – especially about the F-88s. (By the way, Chuck Jordan has written the foreword for my book.)
DT
starfire53@hotmail.com
wot says
I couldn’t remember a lot about the 2-seater GM built for Harley Earl to use after retirement, but thought there had been some magazine articles about it.
I took a look in some old mags out in my shop and found an article in Hot Rod Magazine July, 1959 issue. There’s a small photo on the cover and a nice three-page pictorial titled “Mr. Earl’s Private Rocket”. It says he designed the car for personal use after retirement. Interesting also is that in the article the car is called F-88-III. Lots of photos, but not in color. Good photos of the retractable hardtop and other details.
The 6-speed trans I remembered was actually a 3-speed Hydra-Matic with overdrive, which gave six speeds. This was frame mounted at the rear with swing axles. I think that the trans came into the Olds Experimental Assembly Department some time later, because I remember working on it in maybe late 1959 or early 1960. I don’t know where the car was, I just remember the trans.
Where is it now?????
wot
wot says
More on the Harley Earl Rocket:
Speed Age Magazine July, 1959 – Cover photo and two pages on the Rocket and a page on the Cadillac Cyclone. Lots of data.
Both cars were exhibited in the pits at the new Daytona Speedway.
1959 Daytona – first race on the new speedway – won by Lee Petty driving a 1959 Oldsmobile.
wot
D T says
“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?
D T says
“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
Gerald Nickels says
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
David Temple says
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