Oldsmobile updated its 88 model in 1954 with the new GM B-body by Fisher that was shared with the Buick Special. By 1951 the 6-cylinder Model 76 had been dropped, leaving the 88 as the entry level Oldsmobile, and meant that the 'Rocket V8' was universal across the Oldsmobile line up, although the ordinary 88 was only given a two-barrel carburettor compared to the four-barrel Super 88. In 1954 the Rocket V8 was enlarged to 5.3-litres for the new 88 and Super 88. Oldsmobile shared its body with Buick, including the glass, but there were many brand differences. Oldsmobiles got a diagonal contrast panel from the rear door to the tail, which was changed to a 'tongue' shape starting on the front door for 1955 and a rakish slash commencing just ahead of the c-pillar for 1956. The Oldsmobile 98 used the same B-body with a 4inch longer wheelbase and a 5-inch longer rear deck.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan - badge on front wing
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan - badge on bootlid
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday Coupe - Badge on front wing. The 'Holiday' badge was given to the 2-door coupe and the 4-door hardtop sedan across the Oldsmobile line up, and was the equivalent of the 'Riviera' and the 'Catalina' badges on Buick and Pontiac respectively.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan. The 1955 model had the O L D S M O B I L E lettering set into the grille. A 5,315cc (324) Rocket V8 powered the Eighty-Eight; the Super 88 had different carbs for more power.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday. The Super 88 was better equipped than the Oldsmobile 88, and it was given a four-barrel 5.3-litre 'Rocket V8' engine in place of the two-barrel unit in the low-priced sibling. 1956 cars had this split grille.
Oldsmobile 88 1954 4-door Sedan. The 1954 88 had the name O L D S M O B I L E on the edge of the bonnet, whereas in 1955 this moved down onto the grille
Oldsmobile 88 1954 4-door Sedan. The rear contrast panel drew inspiration from a similar feature on the flanks of the 1954 Fiesta and Starfire show cars by designer Art Ross. The shape of this panel changed each year.
Oldsmobile 88 1954 4-door Sedan. The Oldsmobile 88 shared its profile with the Buick Special as they were both versions of the same GM B-body.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan. On the 1955 model had this 'tongue-shaped' contrast panel, 1954 and 1956 models had a different contast diagonal. The 1955 model had the O L D S M O B I L E lettering set into the grille.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan. There was also a 4-door Sedan, a 2-door Hardtop, and from 1955 a 4-door Holiday Hardtop, convertible and a 4-door hardtop estate car. These bodies were shared by the Buick Special models.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan, built on a 122-inch wheelbase.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday Coupe. The Holiday Coupe was a 2-door hardtop style, newly offered across GM models
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday Coupe.The Oldsmobile 88 was given the new 122-inch GM B-body, and the Holiday Coupe was a pillarless hardtop.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday Coupe. Buick and Oldsmobile shared the new 1954 GM B-body.
Oldsmobile 88 1956 4-door sedan. The 4-door sedan shared its 122-inch GM B-body with the Buick Special and Century.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday Sedan. The pillarless 4-door coupe 'Holiday' model was introduced in 1955 on both the 88 and Super 88 Oldsmobiles. The vertically split grille was given to all 88 and Super 88 models for 1956.
Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday. The pillarless 4-door coupe 'Holiday' model was introduced in 1955 on both the 88 and Super 88 Oldsmobiles. There was also an equivalent 'Riviera' model on the Buick Special and Century. For 1956 the side flash was changed, and was similar to the 1954 models.
Oldsmobile 88 1955 2-door Sedan - rear wheel. Although the Oldsmobile 88 and Buick Special shared the GM B-body, the Oldsmobile had more shallow rear wheel arches.
Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday. 'Holiday' was the name given to the 4-door pillarless coupe offered from 1955 on both the Oldsmobile 88 and Super 88.
Pontiac Chieftain 1956 Catalina 4-door hardtop. There was a 2-door Catalina hardtop version of the Chieftain and in 1956 a 4-door Catalina hardtop (this model) was added and shared with the GM A-body cars such as the Buick Century Riviera Sedan, Chevrolet BelAir Sports Sedan and Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Sedan.
Buick Special 1955
Buick Special 1955 Sedan. In 1954 a new Fisher body was developed for GM's B-body cars, and shared between the Buick Special and Oldsmobile 88. In 1955 both cars were given their annual update.
Humber Super Snipe Series II. In 1959 the Series II Super Snipe was launched with the Armstrong Siddeley design 2,651 cc, six-cylinder overhead-valve engine enlarged to 2,965 cc.
Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe
Oldsmobile 88 Club Coupe 1949. The '88' was a new model for 1949, utilising the platform of the cheaper '76' and the brand new 303 cu.in (4965cc) 'Rocket' V8 ohv engine which was designed for development up to 12.7 compression ratio, and lasted almost 20 years and was enlarged to 6.5-litres.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan. This is not the Holiday Hardtop - as that was a pillarless coupe. The 1957 Super 88 shared the bodies of the 88 ('Golden Rocket 88' for 1957 only) on a 123-inch chassis. The 'Rocket' V8 engine was enlarged to 6,080cc (371) for 1957