1950 Oldsmobile "Rocket" 88 Is an Unassuming Sleeper With a Big-Block Surprise

Indeed, the first smaller (than full-size) vehicles with big V8 engines emerged in the 1950s. Examples include the 1955 Chrysler C-300 and the 1957 Rambler Rebel. While not a V8 car, the Hudson Hornet (1950-1954) is also a great example because it was notably potent and dominated stock car racing with minor modifications.

But there's another vehicle that beat the Hornet to both the high-performance market and NASCAR success. I'm talking about the Oldsmobile 88, which debuted in 1949, one full year before the Hornet (and 14 years before the GTO). And unlike the Hudson, the 88 featured a V8 engine.

While technically a full-size car, the 88 combined the slightly shorter body of the Oldsmobile 76 with the V8 engine of the range-topping 98. In short, the 88 had the best power-to-weight ratio of the Oldsmobile lineup.

The 303-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) mill delivered 135 horsepower, which may not sound like a lot by modern standards. However, it was among the most potent mills at the time and enabled the 88 to win the inaugural 1949 edition of the NASCAR Strictly Stock division.

The Oldsmobile won its second championship in 1950 and remained competitive through 1952. It won more than half of the races it entered, becoming the first "King of NASCAR." So, while it doesn't get as much love as the Pontiac GTO, the Olds 88 is a name we should remember when talking about muscle cars.

But if 135 horsepower is not enough for you, this 1950 two-door Club Sedan has something special under the hood. And it's probably potent enough to put it on par with performance vehicles from the golden era. Don't let the stock appearance and somewhat mundane Crest Blue paint fool you; this Oldsmobile 88 hides a massive big-block under its V-shaped hood.

Waiting for a new owner at Gateway Classic Cars, this 88 underwent a rotisserie restoration and looks spotless from every angle. But whoever performed the refresh decided to drop the factory Rocket V8 engine in favor of a 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) monster. Our host claims it's also of the Oldsmobile variety, so it's probably a second-generation Rocket. Yup, this mill remained in production with various updates through 1990. That's a whopping 41 years.

The Generation II was introduced in 1964. Four years later, the mill had grown to 455 cubic inches and found its way in eight Oldsmobile cars. The list included the Cutlass, Vista Cruiser, 442, Hurst/Olds, Toronado, 88, and the 98. The entry-level version generated 275 horsepower, while the most potent iteration came with 400 horses on tap.

There's no info on how much oomph this specific unit delivers, but based on how it looks, it's loaded with aftermarket components. In fact, it was probably rebuilt by a different company with race-inspired parts, so it should be good for more than 350 horsepower. It's a cool swap that turns an otherwise mundane classic into a proper sleeper.