1954 Oldsmobile Facts, Figures, and Specifications
1954 at Oldsmobile – Bigger engine – More Power!
A subtle but complete styling change was made across the board for Oldsmobile in 1954 with the car losing some of its blocky look and showing a more rounded appearance. The big news was the upgraded Rocket V-8, now with new cylinder heads, displacing 324 cubic inches – and 185 horsepower in Super 88 and 98 form!
1954 Oldsmobile Resources
Equipment or products directly related to this car. Click to view:
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Body Paint Color Codes
Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:
1954 Oldsmobile
| 10 Black | |
| 21 Etna Maroon | |
| 22 Flare Red | |
| 30 Glacier Green | |
| 31 Willow Green | |
| 32 Glade Green | |
| 33 Sarasota White (Green) | |
| 40 Capri Blue | |
| 41 Cadet Blue | |
| 50 Mist Gray | |
| 51 Juneau Gray | |
| 60 Polar White | |
| 61 Maize Cream | |
| 62 Desert Tan | |
| 63 Copper | |
| 70 Royal Marine | |
| 72 Turquoise |
Collector Car Insurers
Click on the links below to find your car’s value or get a quote:
1954 Oldsmobile Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1954 Oldsmobile
A rather complete styling change was made across the board for Oldsmobile in 1954 with the car losing some of its block-like look and showing a more rounded appearance. One of the most noticeable 1954 features was the “panoramic” wrap-around windshield previewed on the limited-production 1953 Fiesta. Some new two-toning options were added to the Oldsmobile line as well. The wheelbase was up two inches on both models, and a new chassis was featured.
The big news was the upgraded Rocket V-8, now with new cylinder heads and displacing 324 cubic inches. A 4-barrel carbureted, 185-horsepower V-8 was shared between the 98 and Super Eighty-Eight models. The wheelbase increased on the 88 Series from 120″ to 122″, and the 98 Series wheelbase increased to 126″ from 124″, The frame was also strengthened.
Gone was the rather misleading “DeLuxe Eighty-Eight” base model descriptor now merely called “88”, with “Super 88,” and “98”used to describe the senior model lines.
Historical
Production for the model year was 351,634, up slightly from 1953’s 332,086. A significant portion of the gain was in the base 88 series, notably due to the new offering of the 2-door Holiday Hardtop Coupe.
1954 Oldsmobile Factoids
Click a Tab to See the Details
The big news for 1954 was the upgraded Rocket V-8. It now with an increased bore size of 3.875: and now with new cylinder heads. A 4-barrel carbureted, 185-horsepower V-8 was shared between the 98 and Super Eighty-Eight models.
For More Information, see the 1954 Oldsmobile AMA Specifications Sheets HERE.
All Oldsmobiles received the new Fisher body that included. for the first time, the GM “wraparound” windshield. It would be a feature for almost 10 years on GM cars.
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Models Offered
Click a Tab to See the Details
88 Series – The 88 series was powered by a 2-barrel version of the Rocket V-8. A third model was added to this series — the popular two-door Holiday coupe — and it would become a strong seller. Standard eighty equipment included bumper guards, rubber simulated carpets front and rear, electric clock, lined luggage compartment, dual horns, cigarette lighter, aluminum door sill plates, and turn signals.
88 Models were a 2-door Sedan, 2-door Hardtop, and a 4-door Sedan.
Super 88 Series – Oldsmobile featured a new look in 1954, and the Super Eighty-Eight continued to be the division’s bread-and-butter series. Standard equipment on this series included all items from the Eighty-Eight series plus chrome rocker panel moldings, deck lid ornament, and foam rubber seat cushions. Upholstery selection spanned a nylon and Orlon cloth combination or a variety of colored leathers.
Super 88 Models were a 2-door Sedan, 2-door Hardtop, 4-door Sedan, and a Convertible.
A three-model Ninety-Eight series was atop the Olds lineup for this year. This year Olds dubbed the Ninety-Eight series convertibles “Starfire” after the previous year’s dream car. Standard Ninety-Eight equipment included items from the bottom two series plus a padded instrument panel, brake signal light, courtesy light package, stainless steel wheel discs, windshield washer, DeLuxe steering wheel with horn ring. Upholstery choices were nylon and leather in a variety of colors.
98 Models were a 2-door Hardtop, 4-door Sedan, and a Convertible.
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Engines
Click a Tab to See the Details
324 CID 2-Barrel Series 88 V-8 – All Transmissions: V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 324 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.875″ x 3.4375″.
Compression ratio: 8.25:1.
Horsepower: 170 @ 4000 RPM.
Torque: 300 @ 2000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap 28°, Lift 0.366″ (intake), 0.366″ (exhaust).
Carburetor: Carter WGD two-barrel, model 851S.
324 CID 4-Barrel Super 88 and 98 V-8 – All Transmissions: V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 324 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.875″ x 3.4375″.
Compression ratio: 8.25:1.
Horsepower: 185 @ 3600 RPM.
Torque: 300 @ 2000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244°, Exhaust 244°, Overlap 28°, Lift 0.366″ (intake), 0.366″ (exhaust).
Carburetor: Carter WCFB #2059 or Rochester 4GC four-barrel (manual transmission) #7006000 (automatic transmission) # 7005900.
NOTE: More detailed information on the 1954 V-8 engines may be found in the Library’s 1954 Oldsmobile AMA Specifications Sheets. You may access them HERE.
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Chassis Features
-
- Wheelbase: 88 and Super 88: 122 inches; 98: 126 inches.
- Overall length: 88 and Super 88: 205.26 inches; 98: 214.26 inches.
- Overall height: All: 60.5 inches.
- Overall width: 78.26 inches.
- Front track: All: 59 inches.
- Rear track: All: 58 inches.
- Standard tires: 7.60 x 15.
- Optional tires: 8.00 x 15.
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Information
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.3933:1, 2nd – 1.5259:1, 3rd – 1.000:1, Reverse – 2.534:1.
- Automatic Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 3.8195:1, 2nd – 2. 6341:1, 3rd – 1.4500:1 4th – 1.000:1, Reverse – 4.3045:1.
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- SMT: 3.42:1; Optional: 3.64:1.
- 88 AMT: 3.07:1.
- Super 88 AMT: 3.23:1.
- 98 AMT: 3.23:1.
NOTE: For more powertrain information, you may access the 1954 Oldsmobile AMA Specifications Sheets HERE.
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Options
-
- All cars were standard with a column-shifted, three-speed manual transmission.
- The Hydra-Matic transmission was a $165 option on any series, any model.
- Oil filter ($10).
- Air cleaner ($5).
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Significant Options
-
- Accessory group Z – exhaust extension, visor vanity mirror, and luggage compartment, under the hood, and glove box lights ($10).
- Air conditioning ($550).
- Autronic eye ($45).
- Backup lights ($14).
- Cadet sun visor ($33).
- Courtesy light package ($4).
- DeLuxe heater/defroster ($79).
- DeLuxe wheel discs ($30).
- Electric antenna ($20).
- Hydraulic window lifts and 4-way power seats ($165).
- Mimetic wire wheel discs ($60).
- Oversize tires ($18).
- Padded dash ($17).
- Power 4-way seat ($65).
- Power brakes ($37).
- Power steering ($125).
- Radio, Deluxe ($100).
- Radio, Super DeLuxe ($129).
- Rear seat speaker ($14).
- Stainless steel wheel trim rings ($8).
- Tinted glass ($30).
- Whitewall tires ($30).
- Windshield washer ($10).
1954 Oldsmobile Downloads and Images
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Related Document Downloads
Files directly related to the Line will appear below. Click to Download:
1954 Oldsmobile Full Line Brochure
1954 Oldsmobile AMA Specifications Sheets
1954 Oldsmobile and Nash Rambler Product Review – Car Life Magazine
1954 Oldsmobile Facts – Related Images
Related Images to the Oldsmobile Line will appear below
1954 Oldsmobile 98 Convertible
The leader in the “prestige” Oldsmobile 98 line was the convertible, this year called the “Starfire Convertible.” A total of 6,800 were sold.
1954 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday 2-door Hardtop
A very handsome and popular model was the Oldsmobile 98 2-door Holiday Hardtop. Almost 39,000 were sold.
1954 Oldsmobile 98 4-door Sedan
The bread and butter car in the 1954 Oldsmobile 98 series was the 4-door Sedan, with 48,605 produced.
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible
The 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible was the potent little sister to the 98 Convertible and yet only 6,452 were sold that year.
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday 2-door Hardtop
The 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 2-door Holiday Hardtop was very popular – 42,155 were sold.
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door Sedan
Like the 98, the bread and butter Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door Sedan was the bread and butter entry for the maker, with 111,326 produced.
1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 2-door Sedan
The “hot rod” Olds for ’54 would have been the lighter Super 88 2-door Sedan since it packed the 4-barrel 180 HP V-8.
1954 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday 2-door Hardtop
The new kid on the block for Oldsmobile in 1954 was the 88 line’s 2-door Holiday Hardtop. This model contributed heavily to the increase in sales for that year with 42,155 finding customers.
1954 Oldsmobile 88 4-door Sedan
For 1954, the Oldsmobile 88 4-door Sedan sold the best of that line, but it railed its S-88 cousin by over 80,000 units!
1954 Oldsmobile 88 2-door Sedan
The old standby, the Oldsmobile 88 2-door Sedan. It was the entry level Olds for 1954 with a $2,066 base price. The attraction of Super 88 model’s 185 HP pushed this unit’s sales down to only 18,013.