1950 Oldsmobile Resources

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• Series 98
• Series 88
• Series 76

1950 Oldsmobile Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1950 Oldsmobile 

1950 Oldsmobile Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1950 Oldsmobile

The manual transmission returned to the V-8 line, unlike 1949 where Hydramatic had been standard, due to Oldsmobile’s flimsy 3-speed manual transmission. The Hydramatic was improved as well, with increased torque capability – recognizing that V-8s would only get more powerful. It was a huge year for Oldsmobile sales – with 397,126 cars sold – almost 100,000 more units than the successful 1949 year! V-8 power was selling cars and the 88 Series was the chief contributor to this increase. Olds marketing knew a good thing when they saw it – so the theme was the “Rocket Eight” – with a rocket image always associated with the V-8 powerplant.

98 Series
The Oldsmobile 98 repeated its 1948 precedent of previewing some of next year’s styling cues for the 88. The 98 was restyled after only two years. It was the first totally slab sided Oldsmobile and the first sedan with wraparound rear windows. It sat on a new 122″ wheelbase with a two inch wider front and rear tread. A 4-door 98 fastback appeared for this year only in 1950  called the Town Sedan, selling only 1,778 units.

Sales of the 98 Holiday 2-door hardtop nearly tripled to 8,263, approaching the 11,989 sold of the only other 2-door sold the fastback Club Coupe. And given the rapidly growing popularity of that 2-door Holiday hardtop, 1950 would be the last year for the fastback Club coupe. Total sales set yet another record of 106,220.

88 Series
Oldsmobile offered a modified Cadillac manual gearbox labeled as their own for V-8 models returning the Hydra-Matic to optional status. The 88 now outsold the six-cylinder 76 lineup by almost 8 times, sending the death warrant to the 6-cylinder version for 1951. The 88 became the “muscle car” of the early 50s and would be heavily promoted according to its 135 HP V-8. It also became popular among stock car racers this year and starting in 1951, going head to head with the Hudson Hornet.

76 Series
Now the poor sister to the 88, this would be the last year of a 6-cylinder Oldsmobile until the mid-size car arrived in 1964. With only 33,257 sold this year, coupled with almost 300,000 88s, the 76 would quietly pass away in 1951.

1950 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Options

• • 3-speed, column shift, manual transmission – standard equipment on 76, 88 and 98.
  • 4-speed Hydramatic transmission, optional on the 76, 88 and 98 ($205.00).
  • Heavy-duty air cleaner ($4.40).
  • Oil filter, V-8 Only ($9.00).

1950 Oldsmobile Facts – Significant Options

• • Auxiliary driving and fog lights ($16).
  • Backup lights ($15).
  • Cadet visor ($27).
  • Center bumper guard ($5).
  • Condition-air heater/defroster ($45).
  • DeLuxe condition air heater and defroster ($60).
  • DeLuxe radio ($110).
  • DeLuxe steering wheel and horn ring ($20).
  • DeLuxe wheel covers ($17).
  • Exhaust deflector ($2).
  • Futuramic electric clock ($15).
  • Glove box light ($2).
  • Hood ornament ($5).
  • License plate frames ($2).
  • Outside rear view mirror ($3).
  • Safety spotlight ($23).
  • Stainless steel wheel trim rings ($10).
  • Standard radio ($85).
  • Super deluxe radio ($96).
  • Traffic light viewer ($5).
  • Trunk light ($2).
  • Turn signals ($15).
  • Under hood light ($2).
  • Visor vanity mirror ($3).
  • Windshield washer ($7).