Oldsmobile 1957
An all new body GM B-body was introduced in 1957 on a 122-inch wheelbase for the 88 and the Super 88, and 126-inch for the 98. A distinctive 3-piece rear window (also found on the 1957 Buick Riviera) was given to the 1957 cars. The new body was lower than the 1954-56 bodies, and a Station Wagon was added to the line (shared with Buick). The Rocket V8 was enlarged to 371 with power up to 277 bhp, or 300 bhp with the J2 triple 2-barrel carburetors. 1957 Oldsmobile 88s were marketed as 'Golden 88' but never badged as such. During 1957 Oldsmobile sold 142,600 88s, 133,100 Super 88, and 79,700 Ninety-Eights. For 1958 a radically reworked front and rear sections and appeared to be an all new car.
aa Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan ornament
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan - 'Rocket' ornament on the top of eacj front wing.
ac Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible head
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible, powered by 6,075cc (371) 277 bhp V8 engine, but there was also an option for a Tri-power (3-barrel) J-2 Rocket with 300 bhp.
ac Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan head
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan. For 1957 Oldsmobile enlarged the Rocket V8 to 371 (6,080cc) in all 88 models, the basic model christened 'Golden Rocket 88' for 1957 had a 2-barrel carburettor engine, whilst the Super 88 got 4-barrels and the J2 option got 6-barrels
Buick Special 1957
Buick Special 1957
Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan. The 3-piece rear window was controversial in 1957 and may have been one reason for the slump in sales for 1957 Buicks. This 'trisected' window was also given to the British Vauxhall PA Cresta. The original 3-piece rear window first appeared on the 1954 Motorama concept car 'Pontiac Strato Streak' designed by Art Ross under Paul Gillan and Homer LaGassey
Vauxhall Cresta PA
Vauxhall Cresta PA
Vauxhall PA Cresta. The 3-pane rear window was an idea taken from 1957 Buicks and Oldsmobiles, designed by David Jones but clearly influenced by GM designs.
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible front
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible, powered by 6,075cc (371) 277 bhp V8 engine, The convertible was one of the many bodies offered for the 1957 88, including 2-door and 4-door hardtops, 2-door and 4-door sedans, and a station wagon.
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible rear
Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 1957 Convertible, It was built on 122-inch wheelbase, whereas the Oldsmobile 98 was on 126-inches. 'Golden Rocket' celebrated 50 years of General Motors, although the cars were never badged as such
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe front
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe. Power came from the 6,075cc (371) 277bhp Rocket V8, the same engine as used in the smaller 98.
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe rear
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe. The Oldsmobile 98 was 4-inches longer on the wheelbase than the 88, but the boot was 8-inches longer. The 3-pane rear window was only given in 1957.
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe side
Oldsmobile Starfire 98 1957 Holiday Coupe. The 'Holiday Coupe' was the 2-door hardtop, built on a 126-inch wheelbase for the 98 (122-inch for the 88) and was 8-inches longer than the 88
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan front
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan. This is not the Holiday Hardtop - as that was a pillarless coupe. The 1957 Super 88 shared the bodies of the 88 ('Golden Rocket 88' for 1957 only) on a 123-inch chassis. The 'Rocket' V8 engine was enlarged to 6,080cc (371) for 1957
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan rear
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 sedan For 1957 a new body was given to Oldsmobiles on a 123-inch chassis. The triple panel rear window (also given to 1957 Buicks) was controversial and was changed for 1958.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe front
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe. The Super 88 got an enlarged 6,075cc (371) 277bhp Rocket V8. But the J-2 Rocket option on this car boosted it to 300 bhp.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe rear
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe. Built on a 122-inch wheelbase the Holiday Coupe was also offered as the 4-door Holiday Sedan, and there were pillared 2-door and 4-door sedans, a Fiesta Station Wagon, and a convertible.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe side
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe. Powered by a 6,075cc (371) Rocket V8 and built on a 122-inch chassis
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe tail
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 Holiday Coupe. Only 1957 Oldsmobiles (and Buicks) had the 3-pane rear window, which was then given to the British Vauxhall PA Cresta.
Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Hardtop
Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Hardtop
Oldsmobile Super 88 Hardtop1958. The Super 88 used the same Dynamic 88 body with the larger engine of the upmarket Oldsmobile 98, which was a 6,080cc V8 with 4 or 6 barrel carburettor. A complete restyle was given to the GM B-body for 1959.
p Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan lamp
Oldsmobile Super 88 1957 2-door sedan - rear lamp
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday
Oldsmobile 88 1955 Holiday Coupe. The Holiday Coupe was a 2-door hardtop style, newly offered across GM models
Buick Super 1957 Riviera
Buick Super 1957 Riviera
Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop. The Super has 4 'venti ports'. The engine was a 5,957cc V8. Buick sold 41,665 4-door Hardtop Sedans, 26,529 2-door Hardtop Coupes and 2.056 convertibles.
Cadillac Fleetwood 1957 Sixty Special
Cadillac Fleetwood 1957 Sixty Special
Cadillac Fleetwood 1957 Sixty Special. Built on a 133-inch wheelbase, 224-inches long, compared to the standard Sedan deVille hardtop which was 129.5 and 215.9 inches.
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday
Oldsmobile Super 88 1956 Holiday Sedan. The pillarless 4-door coupe 'Holiday' model was introduced in 1955 on both the 88 and Super 88 Oldsmobiles. The vertically split grille was given to all 88 and Super 88 models for 1956.