Oldsmobile is another one of those great automotive marques of yesteryear. It lasted over a century, starting as the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897 before wrapping up in 2004 as a division of General Motors. One of the marque's most iconic models was the Oldsmobile 88, which was produced for fifty years, over ten generations. This first-generation 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 4-Door Sedan is a piece of American automotive history, a worthwhile classic, and with 86,000 miles on the odometer, it hasn't been overworked.

Exterior and Interior

Sporting a very Fifties black paint job, this 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 4-Door Sedan looks fantastic. Its chrome details gleam in the sunshine, and Dunlop Rover H/T tires frame its reportedly original hubcaps. You can tell that the current owner has taken great care of the car, as evidenced by its clear head and tail lamps, glistening paintwork, and pristine chrome elements right down to the exhaust pipe. All badging appears to be in place as well. If you're wondering, the Futuramic tag was meant to imply a more effortless driving experience. Inside, you'll be faced with a gray interior with two bench seats. Up to six adults would have packed the cabin of this 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 4-Door Sedan in its heyday, but we'd recommend sticking to modern safety norms. Like the exterior, the interior looks to be in excellent condition, with well-upholstered seats and all control knobs present and correct. These knobs flank the instrument cluster distinctively, leaving the rest of the Art Deco-styled dash relatively clutter-free. A pair of fuzzy dice hang from the rearview mirror for a personalized touch. Behind the passenger cabin, you'll find a similarly clean trunk, with the spare wheel neatly tucked away to one side.

Engine

A 303ci V8 powers this 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 4-Door Sedan with Carter WGD-714S two-barrel carburetors. The engine puts out 135 horsepower, which may be considered leisurely in 2022, but was adequate for 1950 – remember that this wasn't meant to be a sports car. Drive goes to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission with a column-mounted '3-on-the-tree' shifter. The current owner tells us that the engine has been serviced, and the Delco generator has been rebuilt.