1958 Oldsmobile Resources

Equipment or products directly related to this car. Click to view:

Need New Springs or Shocks?
Get the Exact Springs for your Oldsmobile

Click Here for

• 98
• Super 88
• 88

1958 Oldsmobile Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:

1958 Oldsmobile 

1958 Oldsmobile Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1958 Oldsmobile

For 1958, GM was promoting its fiftieth year of production and introduced Anniversary models for each Division. The 1958 model has been known as the year of the “ChromeMobile”. This was due to excessive chrome trim, on the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight models. The styling was advertised by Oldsmobile as the “Mobile Look”. However, it would later be judged by many as the height of 1950s design excess.

Surprisingly, despite an economic recession that cut into sales industry wide, and especially affected the medium-priced car market that Oldsmobile competed in, the company saw only a slight decline in sales for 1958. It even rose in industry standings to fourth place behind the low-priced three of Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth. It also surpassed the sister division Buick on the sales charts for the first time in many years. Oldsmobile was also way ahead of other mid-priced competitors of Pontiac, Mercury, Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler, along with Ford Motor Company’s all-new Edsel.

A revised instrument panel was highlighted by a new deep-dish steering wheel with “horn bars” replacing the long-standing horn ring still common during that period. The “Trans-Portable Radio” was a new option. It could be removed from the instrument panel and used as an away from the car portable. Air suspension was added as an option. Also new was a speed warning device, which could be set at a certain speed and when that speed was reached, a buzzer would sound.

Engine power was up for the 98 and Super 88 Series with the 371 CID V-8 now producing 300 HP in four-barrel carburetor trim and 312 HP in the J-2 triple carburetor option.

Series 98
A major styling change was seen in 1958. The Ninety-Eight series again had its own exclusive wheelbase of 126.5 inches while sharing the more powerful Rocket V-8 with the Super 88. The Starfire nameplate was discontinued. Four body styles were available: 2-door Holiday Hardtop Coupe, 4-door Holiday Hardtop Sedan, 4-door Sedan, and Convertible.

Super 88
The middle Oldsmobile series again was the Super 88, sharing its wheelbase with the now named “Dynamic 88” but its engine with the Ninety-Eight. The model lineup spanned five body styles. Super 88s received a four-barrel 300 HP (up from 277) 371 CID V-8. Five body styles were available: 2-door Holiday Hardtop Coupe, 4-door Holiday Hardtop Sedan, 4-door Sedan, Convertible, and Fiesta Station Wagon.

Dynamic 88
The entry-level 88 was renamed “Dynamic 88” in 1958, a nameplate that lasted through 1966. It featured a more economical Rocket V-8 than its upscale Super 88 siblings – a two-barrel 265 HP version of the 371 CID Rocket V-8. In 1957 all series had received the 4-barrel 277 HP engine. Seven body styles were available: 2-door Holiday Hardtop Coupe, 4-door Holiday Hardtop Sedan, 4-door Sedan, 2-door Sedan, Convertible, Standard Station Wagon, and Fiesta Station Wagon.

Historical
The chrome laden restyle, combined with a look that seemed to add more bulk to the lithe 1957 model (though it was the same size) couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the economy slid into a severe recession.  The combination resulted in sales that receded back to early 1950s levels and had GM brass considering merging Oldsmobile with Pontiac!

1958 Oldsmobile Facts – Powertrain Options

• • The 265-horsepower 371 CID V-8 was standard on all Dynamic Series.
  • The 305-horsepower 371 CID  V-8 was standard on Super 88 and 98 Series.
  • The 312-horsepower 371 CID J-2 V-8 was an option on all series.
  • The 330-horsepower 371 CID J-2R V-8 was Special Order on Dynamic 88 and Super 88.
  • Series 88 and S-88 models came standard with a column-shifted, three-speed manual transmission.
  • 98 models came standard with the Jetaway Hydra-Matic transmission.
  • The Jetaway Hydra-Matic transmission was an option on the Dynamic 88 and Super 88 Series.

1958 Oldsmobile Facts – Significant Options

• • Air conditioning.
  • Autronic eye.
  • Backup lights.
  • Cadet sun visor.
  • DeLuxe horn.
  • Dual exhaust, 88 Series, standard 88 & 98.
  • Electric antenna.
  • Electric clock.
  • Heater/defroster.
  • Jetaway Hydra-Matic drive, standard Series 98.
  • New-Matic air suspension.
  • Padded dash.
  • Power brakes.
  • Power seat, 6-way.
  • Power steering.
  • Power windows.
  • Radio, DeLuxe.
  • Radio, Super DeLuxe signal seeking.
  • Radio, Trans-Portable.
  • Rear speaker.
  • Remote control mirror.
  • Seat belts.
  • Tinted glass.
  • Wheel discs, Deluxe, 88 Series, standard 88 & 98.
  • Whitewall tires.
  • Windshield washer.