1950 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupé

Description

“Buy with an eye on the engine! And here is the unquestioned leader in engine design today — the sensational Oldsmobile ‘Rocket’!” This was hardly marketing hype; the 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupé was quick, arguably the first factory muscle car. The power came from the truly modern 303 cu-in Rocket V8 engine. This engine was advanced for its time, offering high compression and overhead valves. Oldsmobile’s Whirlaway Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was also now available on the 88 series. “No gears to shift! Just sit and relax,” they said. 

The “Futuramic” Oldsmobile 88 series was introduced in 1949, but the 1950 model featured a new one-piece windshield, replacing the previous two-piece design, and was available in various body styles.  

The combination of a powerful engine and a relatively lightweight body helped establish Oldsmobile's reputation for performance. The Rocket 88 won five of eight NASCAR “Strictly Stock” races in 1949, ten of 19 in 1950. The same year, an Olds 88 won the grueling 2000-mile-plus Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico and an 88 convertible served as the pace car for the Indy 500 in 1949. All that success was honored by the Ike Turner/Jackie Brenston hit song “Rocket 88”. 

Highlights 

• Offered from the The Carolina Collection 

• Finished in Palm Green over a Sand Beige top (29H) 

• Pioneering 303 cubic inch OHV Rocket V8 engine 

• “Whirlaway” Hydra-Matic three-speed automatic transmission 

• The Body by Fisher tag decodes as:  

  • Style: 50-3727D – 1950 88 Club Coupé 

  • Body No.: L 4739 – Body serial number  

  • Trim No.: 3 – Dark Gray Striped Bedford Cord 

  • Paint No: 29H – Palm Green over a Sand Beige top 

• The chassis number (508M104433) decodes as: 

  • 50 – Model year 1950 

  • 8 – Series Oldsmobile 88 

  • M – Lansing, Michigan, final assembly plant 

  • 104433 – Sequential production number. 

Features 

• Exterior sun visor  

• Fender skirts 

• Super Deluxe AM radio 

• Wide whitewall radial tires 

• Beauty trim rings  

• Exhaust deflector 

• Clock 

• Heater 

Known Imperfections 

• This 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupé is presented as a finely preserved restored example and is said to be free from any substantial imperfections with nice chrome and a solid straight body 

Included 

• Keys 

• Matching spare tire and wheel 

 Ownership History 

This historic 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupé joined The Carolina Collection in 2022. 

Additional Notes 

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty. 

Contact: Donnie Gould   Phone: 954.647.0779    email: dgould@hagerty.com