1949 Oldsmobile 88 Spent 40 Years off the Road, Legendary Rocket V8 Fires Up

It was Oldsmobile's most profitable car line until the mid-1970s and one of America's best-performing automobiles in its early years. Thanks to its relatively small size (for a full-size car), lighter weight, and advanced overhead-valve V8 engine, the 88 set new standards for performance vehicles in the early 1950s.

Dubbed the Rocket, Oldsmobile's OHV V8 arrived in 1949 with 135 horsepower on tap. This figure may seem tiny nowadays, but it was an impressive rating at the time. And it turned the 88 into the car to beat at the track and the first real "King of NASCAR."

The Olds dominated the early years of American stock car racing by winning 16 of the 28 races organized in 1949 and 1950. And even though it was eventually eclipsed by the Hudson Hornet, the 88 remained successful through 1952. Raced with a stock Rocket V8, the 88 was also the first automobile to bring customers into showrooms by winning motorsport events.

But despite its innovative approach and successful racing career, the early Olds 88 remains only moderately desirable nowadays. It's still an affordable classic, with most examples still waiting to be rescued from junkyards and barns. This 1949 four-door sedan is one of the lucky examples that got a second chance at life.

Saved by the folks at YouTube's "Rugged Wrench," this oldtimer had been sitting since 1984. That's a lot of time off the road, but it's quite impressive that the 88 was driven for about 35 years before it was parked. Not many people choose to drive old and dated cars as much more modern vehicles hit showrooms.

Unsurprisingly, for an automobile neglected for four decades, the 88 emerged from its grave in rather poor shape. The black paint is heavily worn out, while some areas show surface rust. Sadly, the body and the frame are also plagued by rust holes, with the most severe problems visible on the side skirts and the floor panels. The cracked windows and the damaged seats round out the car's condition. Moreover, the V8 engine was also seized.

Fortunately, our skilled hosts managed to get the old Rocket unit running again. And the 75-year-old powerplant still has enough oomph to get the four-door sedan moving. Granted, the joyride didn't last long, but you can see the 88 doing a small burnout at the 55-minute mark. There's no word on whether this Olds will be restored, but to see it run and drive again after four decades is heart-warming, to say the least.