Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Coupe 1955

by

Model number: WE19869WH

Review of the model:

This model in scale 1:18 of the Oldsmobile 88 1955 comes both in a convertible and hardtop also called Holiday Coupe. I was lucky to find the hardtop in a web-shop in Germany. It was with a bit of mixed expectations to purchase a model car from the budget maker of Welly as this was my first one. According to pictures it was a beautiful car with some minor detail issues. But I was sure it will fit well in my collection of 1950´ US-cars.

When the model arrived it was hard not to fall in love with a 1955 piece of Americana in two-tone bright red and white. Light-years away from present car “design”. After the “un-boxing” the model stood on the desk at the studio and the first thing that caught my eyes was the bright chrome trim around the car! It was as reflective as the real thing, but the size in thickness was a bit heavy. One of the first things I used to look after on a model is the prep and paintwork. This is a bright colored model as mention before, but if we take a closer look on the paint an “orange peel effect” is obvious due to high pressure on the airbrush or/and poor workmanship. The end result could have been better if the model was buffed before assembled.

Nearly all 1:18 die cast model cars have the feature of movable steering wheel and front wheels. I’m not a fan of it as the front wheel can stand a bit skew on the ground due to poor tolerances in the steering mechanism – a problem often found on budget models. This was also an issue here. I have plans to eradicate this problem with a new solid front axel in the future of some of my poorly made models. The Oldsmobile stand soft on spring suspension. This is a feature also seen on some Maisto models, which feel nice when you move the model.

With the problems above said; I will give Welly credit of making fine wheels and tires. Hubcaps are well detailed too. The plastic “windows” are good quality with only minor distortions and particular the lenses are all excellent cast and looks as good as on more expensive models. One of my considerations regarding high score in my reviews is the amount of extra custom work the car is in need. I find amusement and fun when I’m able to give a budget model details that otherwise only more expensive models have, but surely I preferred to have a perfect example- let say an Sun Star platinum model for a bargain price that only need some dust cleaning after it have arrived!

On the outside of the model the only extra work for me was the lettering of “Oldsmobile” in the grill opening witch came in gray plastic. My Molotow liquid pen turned it to sparkling chrome. The cast itself is good but the doors don’t fit as one could wish. It shows in the lower part of the door when closed. Otherwise the hood and deck lid fits fine. “Thumbs up” Welly for making a trunk that can be open and inside lay a fine jack, but the spare wheel is missing here!

The Oldsmobile Rocket V8 motor is nicely made in color with text in the engine compartment, but as seen on other low budget models more details is desired and the body work paint is not good in here.

Let’s take a look inside the cabin of the model. At first glance you will discover how many details the model already has from the product line. But here the plastic parts are in a kind of cheap quality and that stands out when the color is light. Here the red interior is opaque in sunlight and this particular problem, can only being solved by a layer of paint! - That’s a shame because the details are otherwise good for the price of the model. I disassemble the interior and covered the floor with red 1mm hobby felt and when I was at it, the trunk got carpet too.

So all in all how good is the model?
My answer is: it’s better than an ordinary cheap model – But not as good as Yatming/Lucky die-cast.

Here in Europe the price tag of around 50 Euros is a bit steep for a model with this level of quality and details. The 1:18 Oldsmobile 1955 is a stunning car and thank you Welly! -For the opportunity to have one Hardtop or Convertible…..or both!
 

I will give this model 2 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and some movie clips for the real car. So please enjoy!

History:

The 1955 Oldsmobile had a revised grille, joining the oval outline of the Starfire concept car's air intake with a horizontal crossbar and twin bumper "bombs" like those used on the 1953 and 1954 production cars.

There was new side trim, too. A strip of chrome similar to that used on the previous year's Ninety-Eight started ahead of the front wheel well and tapered back to meet an elongated S-curve snaking down from the beltline. "Everywhere you look, there's the magic touch of Oldsmobile's unmistakable and exclusive 'flying color' styling!" enthused that year's sales brochure.

The semi-teardrop wheel wells, previously exclusive to the Ninety-Eight, were now also used on the 88 and Super 88, and seemed to blend well with the new trim. However, on the junior cars the effect was achieved with a skirt that fit the rectangular outline of the opening as introduced in 1954.

The most significant innovation in Olds design for 1955 was a brand-new body type

 -- not an everyday occurrence in the Motor City -- that appeared in March 1955. It was a four-door hardtop sedan, and Olds was the first manufacturer to offer it in all of its lines, reaffirming its reputation as GM's innovator.

The idea was previewed at the 1953 Motorama with the Cadillac Orleans, a forerunner of that division's Sedan de Ville. However, initial production of the four-door hardtop was restricted to the B-body. Olds offered it as the Holiday sedan in its 88, Super 88, and Ninety-Eight series, and Buick included it as the four-door Riviera for the Special and Century. The following year, it became available on all three GM platforms, from the A-bodied Chevrolet and Pontiac to the C-bodied big Buick and Cadillac.

The four-door sedan remained the favorite style in the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight ranges, while the Holiday coupe was the best-seller among base 88s. But the new Holiday sedan would soon make its mark. Despite its mid-season introduction, almost 120,000 of the sporty Olds four-doors were produced for 1955.

Under the hood, combustion chamber volume was reduced, raising the Rocket's compression ratio another quarter of a point to 8.5:1.

Output of the four-barrel carb version was boosted to 202 gross horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm, while the two-barrel version in the 88 went up to 185 gross horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 320 pound-feet at 2,000 rpm. The four-barrel engine also became available as an option for the 88, a tempting combination for those who might like the hotter Super 88/Ninety-Eight engine in a lighter 88 body.

Some terse observations on how the 1955 Super 88 compared with the 1954 were offered by Al Kidd in the April 1955 issue of Motor Trend: "Acceleration: Olds accelerates with the best; '55 Super 88 nicks a little off '54 times in every department. Exceptional in 50-80 runs: 11.3 average is almost 4 full seconds less than last year. Covers 1/4-mile in only about 1/2 second less than in '54, but it's going 5 1/2 mph faster when it gets there. Has the feel that it wants to go at all speeds right up to its top of 109.7 mph."

Kidd might wonder today, "Who needs ABS?" As he reported on the Super 88 four decades ago, "Braking: Stops just as well as it accelerates. Power brakes operate from low-hung pendulum pedal; locked all wheels of test car evenly and pulled car to straight stops."

And, considering the wallowing road behavior of many full-size cars of the Fifties, Kidd had kind things to say about the 1955 Super 88's suspension:

"Readability: Good compromise between road-ability and soft riding quality. Directional stability generally good, but you'll have to correct in a crosswind. On tight, fast turns, car will drift a little and rear end will break loose if you really push it. Here again, excellent road feel thru power steering makes correction easy and power available at speeds over 50 mph makes you master of just about any situation. Moderate amount of lean on turns, and tubeless tires (new this year) protest even conservative cornering with a squeal. ... Ride: Ride end of compromise is better than average. Olds front end now has direct-acting shock absorbers mounted vertically within springs -- result is smoother ride. ... At top speeds comfort is exceptional: absolutely no vibration or front-end oscillation. With as good a ride as all but softest-sprung cars, Olds is a safe bet for comfort."

Despite its locking brakes and squealing tires, the 1955 Oldsmobile was a stunning success, with production for the model year of 583,179 units. That was the highest in the division's history and a record that would stand for 10 years.

To put that achievement in perspective, in July 1955, Olds produced its 5 millionth car since Ransom E. opened up shop in 1896. More than 11 percent of that 59-year total were 1955 models.

Yet, despite the record output. Olds slipped a notch in the industry standings, dropping to fifth place behind a resurgent Plymouth.

1955- Oldsmobile: Weight, Price, and Production

Technical specification:

Engines for the 1955 Oldsmobile 98 and Super 88:

Type: ohv V-8

Size: 324.3 cubic inch (5.3 L) Rocket V8
Horsepower: 202 Bhp.

Transmission:
3-speed manual
4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic

Dimensions:
Wheelbase 122.0 in (3,099 mm)
Length 205.26 in (5,214 mm)

 

Old brochures of the car

Video of the real car from YouTube

If you have any question or comment your are free to contact me at: aeronautic@stofanet.dk

Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Mar. 2019

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