1953 Oldsmobile Resources

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• Series 98
• 88 and Super 88

1953 Oldsmobile Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1953 Oldsmobile 

1953 Oldsmobile Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1953 Oldsmobile

Fiesta Convertible
New in 1953, the Fiesta joined the Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado and Buick Roadmaster Skylark as top-of-the-line, limited-production specialty convertibles introduced that year by General Motors to promote its design leadership. It featured a cut-down belt line, a wraparound windshield that was 3 inches lower than the standard Ninety-Eight’s windshield, and added special “spinner” hubcaps, which became a trademark on later Oldsmobiles. Virtually every Oldsmobile option was standard except air conditioning, regarded as unnecessary at the time in a convertible.

Mechanically, the Fiesta had a special version of the Ninety-Eight engine which gained 5 horsepower to 170 through manifold streamlining and compression increased from 8.1:1 to 8.5:1. A four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission and faster rear axle ratio were designed to keep the Fiesta up to Oldsmobile performance standards. At $5,715, the Fiesta was nearly twice the $2,963 price of a standard Ninety-Eight convertible, thus, only 458 units produced to the 98’s 7,521. The Fiesta convertible would be gone the next year but its name would be resurrected in 1957 for Oldsmobile station wagons.

98
Other than minor styling changes, the 98 continued as in 1952 with HP increased by 5, due to the compression being upped from 7.5:1 to 8.1:1. Standard equipment for the 98 in 1953 included bumper guards, electric clock, lined trunk, dual horns, cigarette lighter, chrome moldings, twin interior sun visors, rear seat robe rails, special rear stainless steel trim, chrome window ventipanes, windshield washer, and Deluxe steering wheel with horn ring. In 1953 a padded safety dash also became standard on Ninety-Eight models. For the first time air conditioning was an option.

88 and Super 88
In 1953, the base 88 was “DeLuxe 88”, while the Super 88 continued as the upscale version. There were just two body styles populating the DeLuxe Eighty-Eight series. The Super 88 was till Oldsmobile’s middle series and offered the most variety of body styles – and also sold the most cars. Only minor styling was done this year. Engines and transmission offerings were the same as 1952 with the only change an increase in compression ratio from 7.5:1 to 8.1:1, netting another 5 HP. New options this year included Frigidaire air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes

Historical
Late in the 1953 model year, a fire destroyed GM’s Hydra-Matic plant in Livonia, Michigan, which was then the only source for those transmissions. The temporary loss of production led Oldsmobile to build thousands of its 1953 models with Buick’s two-speed Dynaflow automatic, until GM pressed its Willow Run Transmission plant into service to make Hydra-Matic transmissions.

1953 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Options

• • 3-speed, column shift, manual transmission – standard equipment on  88, super 88, and 98.
  • 4-speed Hydramatic transmission, optional on the 88, super 88, and 98. ($165.00). Standard on Fiesta.
  • Oil filter : ($10.00). Standard on Fiesta.
  • Heavy Duty Air Cleaner: ($11.00).  N/A on Fiesta.
• NOTE: The Buick Dynaflow transmission was substituted for the Hydra-Matic late in the model run due to a fire in the Hydra-Matic plant in August 1953.

1953 Oldsmobile Facts – Significant Options

• • Air conditioning ($550).
  • Autronic eye ($50).
  • Auxiliary driving and fog lights ($16).
  • Backup lights ($14).
  • Battery vitalizer ($5).
  • Cadet visor ($33).
  • Center bumper guard ($5).
  • Chrome vent shades ($14).
  • Compass ($8).
  • DeLuxe steering wheel and horn ring ($14).
  • DeLuxe wheel covers ($17).
  • Directional signals ($24).
  • Electric clock ($18).
  • Exhaust extension ($2).
  • Fog and driving lights ($19).
  • Glove box light ($2).
  • Hand brake signal ($6).
  • Heater and defroster, Deluxe ($79).
  • Hood ornament ($5).
  • License plate frames ($2).
  • Outside rear view mirror ($4).
  • Power brakes ($33).
  • Power steering ($165)
  • Power window and seat controls ($131).
  • Radio antenna ($7).
  • Radio, DeLuxe 6-tube ($100).
  • Radio, Super DeLuxe 8-tube, signal seeking ($129).
  • Rear seat speaker ($20).
  • Safety padded instrument panel ($15).
  • Spotlight with rear view mirror ($25).
  • Stainless steel wheel trim rings, except 98 ($12).
  • Tinted glass ($30).
  • Windshield washer ($10).