SUPER EIGHTY EIGHT ROCKET SHOW CAR CUSTOM RESTORED HOT ROD

HISTORY:

The 1954 Oldsmobiles were completely restyled with new longer and lower body shells and wrap-around windshields and rear windows. Wheelbases increased to 122 inches (3.1m). Base models reverted to being simply called 88's after being designated as DeLuxe 88's for only one year and the Super 88 was once again the top series (beneath the larger 98). The Rocket V8 was enlarged from 303 to 324 cubic inches with 88's powered by a two-barrel, 70 horsepower unit while Super 88's came with a 185 horsepower version with four-barrel carburetor. Also, safety padded dash became a $17.00 option.

The 1955 models were heavily face-lifted with new grille work, taillights and body-side chrome. Horsepower for the 324-cubic-inch Rocket V8 increased to 185 for 88's and 202 for Super 88's. At mid-year, Olds introduced the new four-door hardtop body without pillars, known as the Holiday sedan, both the 88 and Super 88 series. The four-door Oldsmobile 88 Holiday, long with the four-door 98 Holiday, Buick Century Riviera, Special Riviera, were the first four-door hardtops ever produced. Air conditioning became an option. The 88 had full instrumentation.

• Named to complement the existing 76 and 98 series, the Series 88 was first released in 1949 and production continued until 1999. The 1955 Series 88 Oldsmobile was available in three types: the Holiday Coupe two-door with an original sales price of $2,255, he Sedan two-door with an original price of $2,091 and the Sedan four-door, hich went for $2,151. All three cars had a 122-inch wheelbase. 41,310 Series 88 Holiday Coupes, 7,507 two-door Sedans and 85,767 four-door Sedans were produced in 1955.

• The Super 88 was the luxury version of the Oldsmobile 88 that was in production from 1951 through 1964. The 1955 Super 88 had the same 122-inch wheelbase as the Series 88. The Super 88 was available in five versions: the two-door Convertible Coupe, he two-door Holiday Coupe, he four-door Holiday Sedan, nd the two- and four-door Sedans. Prices ranged from $2,215 for the two-door Sedan to $2,641 for the Convertible Coupe and production ranged from 9,007 units for the Convertible Coupe to 111,316 for the four-door Sedan. According to Concept Carz, he 1955 Super 88 came factory equipped with "turn signals, umper guards, tainless steel trim moldings, ual trumpet horns, igar lighter, ront and rear carpeted floor mats, nd dimmer rear-view mirror." In 1955, one-piece windshield, ocket badges and distinctive front grill was introduced.