1948 Oldsmobile 98 Series Convertible. Olds. 403 V/8,
400 Turbo, P/ Disc Brakes, Tilt -Wheel, P/S, A/C, Electric P/
Windows, Gorgeous Pale Yellow Beautiful Burgundy/ Pale Yellow
Leather Interior, A Gorgeous Restoration.
A VERY RARE FIND !!
History of the 1948 Oldsmobile Futuramic 98
In 1948 with an assist from General
Motors' Fisher Body division, Cadillac was about to introduce
a dramatic new "C-body" model, featuring an aircraft-inspired
styling theme. Oldsmobile had its own version of this new Fleetwood
body, Oldsmobile rocked the postwar market with the all-new "Futuramic"
styling in 1948. Under the leadership of Art Ross, head of the
division's design studio, Oldsmobile designed all-new "Futuramic"
styling for 1948. The Oldsmobile Futuramic 98 had a sleek new
style. Even the dash of the 1948 Oldsmobile was treated to Futuramic
styling. Aside from the Futuramic styling, some of the Oldsmobile
98's talking points in 1948 was its "New Airborne Ride of
the Future," accomplished via the "solid foundation"
of a rigid X-member frame and low center of gravity, not to mention
the "Quadri-Coil Springing" with "Heavy Coil Springs"
at the solid rear axle and double-action hydraulic shock absorbers
at all four corners. The 98's wheelbase was reduced by two inches,
overall length by three inches. Height was reduced only fractionally,
but the car was a couple of inches wider than the preceding model,
which contributed to the illusion of lowness and length. The convertible
was to many eyes the most glamorous of the 1948 Oldsmobile Futuramic
98. It has been 60 years since this car hit the American Highways!!
Finding a nice example in 2008 is a rare find!!
This gorgeous pale yellow 1948
Oldsmobile Futuramic 98 convertible is the best of the past and
the present!! It has the beautiful body lines of the original
1948 Oldsmobile 98 convertible. The drivetrain has been undated
to drive out on the highway with the power, safety and comfort
of a modern automobile. The engine is a remanufactured Olds 403
V/8. The Transmission is a Turbo 400. 1963 Olds 88 rear end. It
is loaded with options!! Front P/ Disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
P/ Steering, Cold A/C. Gone is the troublesome Hydro-Lectric System
that once powered the windows, seat and top. The hydraulic front
windows and seat were replaced with later model G.M.electric motors
and switches and the top motor with a late model Lincoln unit.Rear
quarter windows are manual crank style. Other convenience items
include an nos
cruise control unit and power trunk release .It has a beautiful
burgandy and pale yellow leather interior patterned after the
original,including the stainless trim on the doors and interior
quarter panels. These are a few of the updates and options.
The following information is a very detailed list of the of the
parts that went into building this gorgeous 1948 Oldsmobile
Convertible.
Beginning with the exterior,
all chrome parts are triple plated .All stainless parts are repolished.
NOS parts include both front fenders,parking lite rims and lenses,
amber hood bird wings, Olds emblem and letters and front fender
side trims. The stainless rocker moldings and rock guards are
also NOS, as well as the right rear fender and skirt, rear gravel
apron,back-up lites and left tail lite assembly The only body
modification was the removal of the original trunk handle
which was replaced with a key cylinder. Trunk letters are NOS.
Wheels are late Cadillac, tires are Diamondback Classic Firestone
radials with custom whitewalls, and wheel covers are '53 Olds
Fiesta.
Under the hood, all aprons,
inner fender panels and original heater parts are finished in
hi-gloss black urethane as well as the underside of the hood.
Hood hinges and latch parts are zinc plated.The radiator is a
custom built aluminum unit with a '48 olds shroud and Camaro electric
cooling fan. Engine accessories are all rebuilt and include a
GM R-4 a/c compressor, 100 amp GM alternator '78 Olds ps pump
and a 605 power steering box.The carburator is a rebuilt Quadrajet
with a '78 Olds air cleaner and Olds decal. The power brake booster
is Ford Granada with a Lincoln master cylinder and the wiper motor
is a two speed self parking unit from a late 50's Chev. truck.
All brake and fuel lines and all wiring under the hood and throughout
the car are new.
The interior is done in burgundy
leather with pale yellow leather inserts in the seats that closely
match the exterior color.
Matching burgundy vinyl is used in places subject to high wear
such as kick panels, front seat-back shells and lower sections
of door panels. The dash is two-tone burgundy and pale yellow
following the original paint scheme. Instruments are '48 olds
and are all functional. Chrome parts including instrument cluster
bezel, speaker grill and knobs are freshly triple chrome plated.
The electric clock is by Autometer and the glove box interior
is a new reproduction. The tilt steering column is from a Chev.
van and the steering wheel from an Olds Toronado.The wheel was
chrome plated and wrapped in burgundy leather and has an NOS '48
Olds horn button. The radio has the appearance an original but
the
internals have been converted to AM-FM sterio. The under-dash
a/c unit is an after market high capacity unit designer to cool
station wagons and vans and the condenser is byVintage Air. The
convertible top frame was disassembled as far as practical , the
painted parts recoated in black urethane and the chrome parts
replated.There are new top cylinders and lines as well as the
new top pump previously mentioned. Carpet and firewall underlayment
is by Insulshield Technologies for both thermal and accoustical
protection. The trunk is uphostered in carpet and vinyl and includes
an uphostered space-saver spare tire.
The suspension is basically stock
both front and rear. The rebuild of the front includes new springs,
NOS shocks, a heavy-duty stabalizer bar and all the normal components
which are subject to wear. The rear suspension required only the
rubber parts and a conversion to tube shocks. Brake parts are
either new or rebuilt items. The front disc brake caliper brackets,
spacers and grade 8 bolts were supplied by Engineered Components,
Inc. Most other parts came from the local NAPA store.
As can easily be seen, "THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE".
With the modern technologies and materials now available, this
car is actually better than ever!!!!!
