1950 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Sedan Barn Find – Parked In 1963 on 2040-cars

1950 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe Sedan

Barn Find – Parked in 1963
 

This Crest Blue 1950 Oldsmobile 98 Deluxe 4 door sedan has been parked in the Dallas area since 1963, the year President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. The odometer is still showing 113,888 miles. The last time the car was driven and registered was in 1963 when the owner passed away. I was told she drove it home, parked it, went into her house, and passed away. It still has the 1963 Texas license plates and the faded and peeling 1963 Texas State Inspection Sticker on the windshield.

The car was likely sold new in Dallas and still has the “Art Grindle Used Cars” sticker on the decklid. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Art Grindle was a Chrysler Plymouth dealer and was sometimes called the “Cal Worthington of Dallas” because of his used car television ads.

As you can see in the photographs, the car has likely been left outside most of its existence. In 1994, it was put in one of the lady’s son’s garage along side her husband’s 1951 Cadillac and the cars remained there until February 2013 when he sold the cars to his neighbor. The lady’s husband parked his ’51 Cadillac in 1966 and passed away. The Cadillac was recently sold to someone else.

The 1950 Oldsmobile 98 was notorious for water leaks and Oldsmobile issued at least one Service Bulletin outlining procedures for dealers to correct water leaks. This Olds 98 was certainly no exception for having water leaks as parts of the floor pans and parts of the trunk pan are rusted from the inherent water leaks. The Olds’ owner or owners apparently never had the leaks corrected.

However, the fenders, doors, quarter panels, and rocker panels are solid and appear to be rust-free. Other than some slight surface rust caused from 50 or so years of exposure to the Texas climate and the average day to day nicks, scrapes, and bumps from daily use, the floors and trunk are the only evidence of any rust in the car. I believe none of that rust was caused from exposure to salt or chemicals on the roads.

The car is original and complete with the exception of a few items that should be fairly easily obtainable if you want to restore it or just make it a complete driver:

·       The original rocket hood ornament,

·       The original engine oil filler/crankcase ventilator cap,

·       The radiator and fuel filler caps, and

·       The engine oil dipstick.

·       The windshield washer jar assembly, and

·       The aluminum “Oldsmobile Rocket” right valve cover spark plug wire retainer and chrome acorn nuts.

This Oldsmobile even still has its original battery hold down, a remarkable find as most of them rusted away after a few years from exposure to battery acid. Many restorations that I see do not have the correct battery hold down, though an exact reproduction is available at a modest price at a modest price from Fusick Automotive.

The original battery hold down is unique to ’49-’52 Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs and, although I cannot prove it, I suspect some of the car’s missing items may have been “liberated” while the car was stored outside, as they are desirable items to an auto enthusiast or collector.

The Olds has been slightly vandalized, but the items are common, fairly inexpensive replacement parts:

·       The radio antenna mast is broken off,

·       the right front door vent glass is broken out, and

·       both headlights are broken.

One of the original wheels has been replaced with a later model wheel and the spare is missing. An old bias ply tire is still on one of the original wheels and it’s holding air on the ground. I suspect it may have been the spare as it has been used and it is obviously a tire from the 1950s or ‘60s.

Other noticeable exterior deficiencies besides the worn paint include:

·       bent rear bumper,

·       bent front bumper guards from bumping into cars or other objects,

·       some dents in the rear quarters from being bumped from being bumped from behind,

·       a cracked side glass, and

·       the right front fender, front door, rear door, rocker panel, and quarter panel are all dented from the car either scraping another vehicle, being scraped by another vehicle, or scraping an immovable object.

All four original wheelcovers and the fender skirts remain with the car, though the fender skirts are off of the car and the retaining bolts are frozen. I will attempt to loosen them and put them back on the car before it sells. The car was equipped with an aftermarket sun visor at one time, but only the center roof bracket remains. The story is the son remembered the sun visor blowing off of the car while riding in the car with his mother.

The stainless is virtually flawless and the chrome plating is in remarkably good condition. The die cast has minimal to no pitting and little to no rust on the steel parts. By comparison to most US Korean War era automobiles, it is excellent.

As the photos show, the Crest Blue paint is original and other than the afore-mentioned bumps, the car does not appear to have ever been wrecked or had any body repair done to it at all. The doors open and shut solidly, but the driver’s door outside handle push button does not work and the door must be opened using the inside handle.

The interior is completely original, but the door trim panels are dirty, stained, and showing signs of age and wear. The headliner seams have come apart and it is also torn. The car still has the remains of very old seat covers, possibly from when the car was new, as the original front seat fabric still looks very good where the covers have been removed. The rear seat still has the seat covers on it, but the top of the rear seat and armrest are deteriorated from being sun baked for 63 years in the Texas sun. The instrument panel is complete and in relatively good condition, but the steering wheel is cracked and the steering wheel ornament is checked from exposure to the sun.

After setting fifty or so years, the engine is stuck, as are the carburetor throttle valves in the throttle body. I was told that diesel mechanics use Oven Cleaner to unstick engines that are stuck from not being used for long periods of time. I have also used ATF and MMO in engines that have been setting in excess of ten years, but have no exposure to the elements and outside moisture, like rain. This car’s engine and engine compartment have not been exposed to the elements and outside moisture. Since it was running, albeit 50 years ago, it theoretically should still run once the fluids have been changed, the carburetor and fuel system cleaned and rebuilt as necessary, new points, plugs, condenser, plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor are installed along with a new 6 volt battery, and fresh fuel. 

This Oldsmobile is a great project car for someone wanting to restore one of GM’s greatest cars. It would also be a great project for a “Derelict” as seen on Jay Leno’s Garage, or just a smooth riding, powerful resto-mod.

I will be happy to answer any questions and send more photos if desired.

I also reserve the right to end this listing early.

Good luck bidding!