Photo: stehar5207/eBay
Introduced in 1949, the Oldsmobile 88 debuted with a big bang. Slightly smaller than a full-size and sporting the same V8 offered in the larger 98, the 88 dominated the NASCAR series until Hudson Hornet arrived in 1951.
The Rocket V8 engine turned the 88 into the first "King of NASCAR" and, according to some enthusiasts, into America's first muscle car. When the second-gen arrived in 1954, the 88 had grown in size and moved away from its early hot-rod roots. However, Oldsmobile made one more attempt to turn the 88 into a NASCAR-winning rig.
It happened in 1957 with the development of the J-2 Golden Rocket engine. Based on the 371-cubic-inch Rocket V8 that debuted on all Olds models that year, the J-2 ditched the four-barrel carburetor setup in favor of a three-two-barrel configuration. The engine also had a slightly thinner head gasket, raising compression from 9.25:1 to 10.0:1.
The mill was rated at 312 horsepower, 35 more than the four-barrel version. Torque also increased from 400 to 415 pound-feet. The J-2 was supposed to help Lee Petty race the 88 to NASCAR glory in 1957, but the engine's campaign ended mid-season when multiple carburation was outlawed from the series.
Offered in production models for homologation purposes, the J-2 soldiered on for two years. The powerplant was discontinued at the end of 1958 due to slow sales, expensive costs, and tuning issues. Most experts agree that Oldsmobile sold only 2,000 to 2,500 production models equipped with the NASCAR-spec unit and that only a few hundred may still be around. Most of them are in poor condition and had their original J-2 engines removed.
The 1957 convertible you see here got lucky and still hides a triple carburetor setup under the hood. But like most J-2s that survived, it needs a thorough restoration to roar again.
Parked for decades and partially dismantled, the Olds is now resting and looking for a new owner in Lillian, Alabama. The car appears rust-free at first glance, but the interior was stripped off. The photos suggest that many of the parts are included with the vehicle, but the ad includes next to no info on how complete this 88 really is.
But even so, it's a rig worth checking out. If the J-2 under the hood is the vehicle's original lump, this 88 is definitely worth restoring. Especially since 1957 drop-tops are much rarer than their coupe or sedan counterparts. There's no specific info on how many were sold with the J-2, but word has it Olds prepped some 750 convertibles like this in 1957 and 1958.
As of this writing, the auction has only 15 bidders, with the highest bid at $10,000. The reserve is still in place with almost six hours to go. How much would you pay for a J-2 in this condition?
It happened in 1957 with the development of the J-2 Golden Rocket engine. Based on the 371-cubic-inch Rocket V8 that debuted on all Olds models that year, the J-2 ditched the four-barrel carburetor setup in favor of a three-two-barrel configuration. The engine also had a slightly thinner head gasket, raising compression from 9.25:1 to 10.0:1.
The mill was rated at 312 horsepower, 35 more than the four-barrel version. Torque also increased from 400 to 415 pound-feet. The J-2 was supposed to help Lee Petty race the 88 to NASCAR glory in 1957, but the engine's campaign ended mid-season when multiple carburation was outlawed from the series.
Offered in production models for homologation purposes, the J-2 soldiered on for two years. The powerplant was discontinued at the end of 1958 due to slow sales, expensive costs, and tuning issues. Most experts agree that Oldsmobile sold only 2,000 to 2,500 production models equipped with the NASCAR-spec unit and that only a few hundred may still be around. Most of them are in poor condition and had their original J-2 engines removed.
The 1957 convertible you see here got lucky and still hides a triple carburetor setup under the hood. But like most J-2s that survived, it needs a thorough restoration to roar again.
Parked for decades and partially dismantled, the Olds is now resting and looking for a new owner in Lillian, Alabama. The car appears rust-free at first glance, but the interior was stripped off. The photos suggest that many of the parts are included with the vehicle, but the ad includes next to no info on how complete this 88 really is.
But even so, it's a rig worth checking out. If the J-2 under the hood is the vehicle's original lump, this 88 is definitely worth restoring. Especially since 1957 drop-tops are much rarer than their coupe or sedan counterparts. There's no specific info on how many were sold with the J-2, but word has it Olds prepped some 750 convertibles like this in 1957 and 1958.
As of this writing, the auction has only 15 bidders, with the highest bid at $10,000. The reserve is still in place with almost six hours to go. How much would you pay for a J-2 in this condition?
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