The sleek red 1949 Oldsmobile 88 convertible belonging to his neighbors in north Arlington thoroughly captivated young Neal Sheldon.
As the 1950s rolled by, fewer and fewer 1949 Oldsmobiles were seen on the road, with most of the 1940s cars virtually disappearing in the 1960s.
Years later Mr. Sheldon began looking into all the models that Oldsmobile offered in 1949 and became interested in the fastback body style. Being more interested in comfort than performance, he settled on a 98 Deluxe Club Sedan as his pick of the 26-model litter offered by Oldsmobile in 1949. It carried a base price of $2,520.
About the turn of the century, he began scanning antique car publications and ads for the 17-foot, 9-inch-long car of his dreams.
His effort was a failure. Either such a car did not exist, or if it did, the owner wasn’t selling. Perhaps the problem was that a total of only 16,200 such Deluxe models were manufactured.
Undaunted, he pushed on. Early in 2002 he began advertising in national antique car publications for a 1949 Oldsmobile 98 Club Sedan. The single response he received was from northern California.
After corresponding with the owner of the Oldsmobile and viewing pictures of the car, Mr. Sheldon says, “It could be described in two words, ’needed everything.’” It had previously undergone an amateur restoration. Nevertheless, he purchased the car and had it trucked across the country.
While awaiting the California car, Mr. Sheldon found an identical model in eastern Missouri that was in even worse condition. However, it was all original, never restored, so Mr. Sheldon bought it for use as a parts car and as a pattern to show the way it was when it left the factory.
The frame-off restoration of the California car began in August 2002 with the Missouri car nearby for use as a parts donor or for a reference source.
As the rusted hulk was initially stripped down, it was discovered that it left the factory in 1949 painted tan. It was red when Mr. Sheldon bought it and, when the time came to paint the restored Oldsmobile, he selected crest blue.
Even though the Oldsmobile is relatively free of chrome trim by 1949 standards, there remains a substantial amount of brightwork on the car. Most of the chrome trim was replated in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
The 135-horsepower, 303-cubic-inch, new for 1949, overhead-valve V-8 was overhauled at Kenson Automotive in Fairfax and the “Whirlaway Hydramatic” transmission was renewed at National Transmission Service at Bailey’s Crossroads.
“Oldsmobile offered the 98 model in two versions, the Standard and Deluxe,” Mr. Sheldon said. “Most buyers opted for the Deluxe version as it only cost $96 more.”
For $96 the buyer got an upgraded two-tone upholstery with a fold-down rear-seat armrest, a clock, deluxe steering wheel and a few other goodies.
Extra-cost accessories offered by Oldsmobile that are on Mr. Sheldon’s car include:
• Super Deluxe radio…..$96.
• Heater/defroster……..67.
• Turn signals………….21.
• Wheel trim rings……..10.
• Windshield washer…….9.
• Glove box light…………9.
• Underhood light……….2.
• Trunk light…………….2.
“Under the headlights are air scoops designed to resemble the P-38 World War II fighter plane,” Mr. Sheldon said. “The scoops are functional, taking air through tubes to the interior.”
Front-seat occupants receive the fresh air via vents under the two-tone gray dashboard. The 1949 model had a two-piece windshield.
From the left the gear selections are: Neutral — Drive — Low — Reverse. “You’d think that you had power steering,” Mr. Sheldon said, “It has very light steering.” The tires remain the original 8.20x15-inch models supporting a 125-inch wheelbase.
The restoration was completed in two years, and Mr. Sheldon was pleased to drive his like-new 1949 Oldsmobile out of the shop in August.
Since then he has driven his pristine Oldsmobile only about 400 miles. He reports that with each mile the transmission shifts smoother.
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