For Olds guys

[Bonnewagon]

This is the car that in 1954 could have "killed" the Corvette.

So, Chevrolet, being GM's big sales and profit division, campaigned to
GM to cancel production of this car.

When Chevy was coming out with its 6-cyl. Corvette sports car with its 2-speed
"power glide" transmission and side curtains, here was a sports car from Olds
with a big powerful V-8 and power windows. So, GM said no to Oldsmobile on
building this car. After spending decades as a collection of parts stuffed into
wooden crates, the F-88 was reassembled.

1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Convertible

In 1954, the F-88 was a Motorama Dream Car, and was one of only two ever created.
The F-88 seen here is literally the only car left of its kind, and was sold to
John and Maureen Hendricks at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction
in Scottsdale, Arizona , for an unbelievable $3,240,000. This acquisition made
automotive history, and is in the cornerstone of the Gateway Colorado Automobile
Museum, in its own special room in a rotating display, worthy of the F-88!

 

[Bumpin1ohmSS]

WOW!! Look at the lines, the styling, the clean details. Beautiful! The designers of yesteryear really had an eye for style and flare. Cars of today lack this....

Elco Warren 8)

 

[Mikes83ss]

I wish this 54 nomad would have went into production.

 

[88hurstolds]

Oldsmobile was the Experimental Division for General Motors.
Many concepts just like this came out before the were moved to other divisions and became regular production.
Intact if it wasn't for Oldsmobile the Chevy V8 as you know it wouldn't exist.
Same goes with the development of the first production V8 design in the 30's and the hemispherical design combustion chamber (yeah that's right MOPAR guys). Not to mention prototyping turbos, Fuel Injection in the 50s, the Quad 4 and the Aurora setting land speed records in the late 80s and perfecting the naturally aspirated motor with the 85-90 307 to compete with the efficiency of fuel injection. Many car lines besides Olds received 403s and 307s and the 455 was widely used in Agriculture, Marine and RV applications.
Oldsmobile should never have been shut down. Just goes to show you that economics has no sympathy for history, heritage and morality lately, but that's another discussion all in its own...

 

[dan2286]

I think I have heard the GNX being cancelled because of it being faster than the Corvette. A little jealousy problem maybe??

 

[86_olds]

I think I have heard the GNX being cancelled because of it being faster than the Corvette. A little jealousy problem maybe??

yezzir fast forward to 3:00 min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G6wtnmdZhE

 

[Randy_W]

Olds was no more the experimental division than Pontiac, who also had many concepts killed to later see a similar vehicle with a Bowtie on it. :wink:

 

[83hurst-olds]

I think I have heard the GNX being cancelled because of it being faster than the Corvette. A little jealousy problem maybe??

While the GNX was faster than the Vette, the main reason the GNX was made was basically to be the the last harrah for a RWD performance Buick (go out with style idea) since they knew the G-body platform was "end of life". I couldn't think of a more fitting way to go than to beat the flagship of the line.

 

[Dr. Rudy]

Considering they designated Chevy as the "performance division" and no one was to beat them. Makes me proud to know that the torque division beat them down every now and again.

 

[CutlassJ]

I have heard about a oldsmobile grand national. Think it was a V8 g-body cutlass with a turbo on it. My dads friend said it was up at the oldsmobile meet in michigan a few years ago. not if thats what you guys are talking about (gnx).