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Specifications: 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88

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Oldsmobile
General Vehicle Specifications

Manufacturer:

   Oldsmobile
Country of Origin:
   USA
Designer:
   n/a
Years of Manufacture:
   1957
Date of Introduction:
   n/a
Number Built:
   n/a
Price at Introduction:
   n/a
Models
  Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 | Oldsmobile Super 88 | Oldsmobile Dynamic 88
To Identify:
   n/a
RAC Rating:
   51.2
Body
Body Style:
   2-door Holiday hardtop, 2-door coupe, 4-door Holiday hardtop, 4-door sedan, 4-door station wagon, 4-door Fiesta hardtop station wagon
Platform:
   B-Body
No. of Doors:
   2/4
Front Track:
   n/a
Rear Track:
   n/a
Dimensions and Weight
Total Length:
   5182, 204
Total Width:
   1910, 75.2
Height at Kerb Weight:
   n/a
Wheelbase:
   3175, 125
Length Wheelbase Ratio:
   1.71
Ground Clearance:
   n/a
Kerb Weight:
   1792 Kg, 3951 Lb
Weight Distribution (Front):
   n/a
Engine
Capacity:
   3.9 Litre, 3903cc (238.176 cu in)
Type:
   6 Cylinder, Side Valves, 2 Valves Per Cylinder, 12 Valves in Total
Configuration:
   Front, Unknown
Sump:
   n/a
Fuel System:
   n/a
Head:
   n/a
Bore & Stroke:
   88.9 × 104.8 mm, 3.5 × 4.13 in
Bore/stroke Ratio:
   0.85
Power:
   101.4 PS (100 bhp) (74.6 kW) at 3400 rpm
Specific Output :
   25.6 bhp per litre, 0.42 bhp per cubic inch
Torque:
   n/a
Specific Torque:
   n/a
Bmep:
   n/a
Compression Ratio:
   6.5:1
Fuel Capacity:
   n/a
Unitary Capacity:
   650.5
Coolant:
   Water
Intercooler:
   n/a
Aspiration:
   Normal
Compressor Type:
   n/a
Ignition and Electrical:
  n/a
Exhaust:
   n/a
Catalytic Converter:
   No
Main Bearings:
   n/a
Transmission / Gear Box
Transmission:
   3 Speed Manual Transmission
Manual, 4 speed floor mounted:
   n/a
Automatic, 3 speed floor mounted T-Bar:
   n/a
Final drive ratio:
   4.30
Drive:
   Rear Wheel Drive
Performance
0-50 mph (80 km/h):
   n/a
0-60 mph (100 km/h):
   n/a
0-100 mph (161 km/h):
   n/a
Standing ¼ mile:
   n/a
Standing Km:
   n/a
Top speed:
   n/a
Fuel Consumption:
   n/a
CO2 Emissions:
   n/a
Power-to-weight:
   55.8 bhp/ton
Steering and Brakes
Brake Type:
   Durm/Durm-Head
Front:
   n/a
Rear:
   n/a
Park Brake:
   n/a
Steering:
  n/a
Turns Lock-to-Lock:
   n/a
Top Gear Ratio:
   1.00
Turning Circle:
   n/a
Suspension, Wheels and Tyres
Front Suspension:
   Independent Suspension / Coil Springs
Rear Suspension:
   Live Axle / Coil Springs
Wheels:
    
Front:
   n/a
Rear:
   n/a
Tyres :
   
Front:
  n/a
Rear:
   n/a
Interior
Instruments:
   n/a
Articles and Media

 

The Golden Rocket 88



For 1957 only, the basic Oldsmobile 88 was officially named Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show car. However, the only badging was an "88" underneath each taillight. Also for 1957 the "J2" option was offered, with three 2-barrel (0.32 m3) carburettors, similar to the Pontiac Tri-Power. The Super 88 continued as the upscale mid-line series. Under the hood, the Rocket V8 increased in displacement to 371 cubic inches and 277 horsepower (207 kW) for all models across the board. Styling highlights were more evolutional than radical overall with three-piece rear window styling utilized on some models.

Oldsmobile revived station wagons for the first time since 1950 with the Super 88 Fiesta being a four-door hardtop design. In 1957, Oldsmobile added a safety deep-recessed steering wheel. The 1958 model is best known in Oldsmobile as the year of the "ChromeMobile" thanks to tremendous splatterings of chrome trim on the body, particularly on the higher-priced Super 88 and Ninety-Eight models. The styling was advertised by Olds as the "Mobile Look." The Dynamic 88 debuted in 1958 and lasted through 1966 positioned as the entry level model below the Super 88.

The Trans-Portable Radio



This model featured a more economical Rocket V8 than its more expensive linemates – a detuned 265 hp (198 kW) version of the 371 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with two-barrel carburetion. Super 88 models were powered by a four-barrel 300 hp (220 kW) version of that engine as standard equipment with a J-2 option featuring three two-barrel carburetors and 310 hp (231 kW). A new option for 1958 was a "Trans-Portable" radio that could be removed from the instrument panel through the glove compartment and used as a portable radio for beaches, picnics, etc. thanks to portable batteries. 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.

Despite an economic recession that cut into new car sales industrywide, and especially affected the medium-priced car market that Olds competed in, Oldsmobile saw only a slight decline in sales for 1958 and even rose in industry standings to fourth-place behind the "Low-Priced Three" of Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth, while surpassing a now-floundering sister division Buick on the sales charts for the first time in many years. Oldsmobile was also way ahead of other middle-priced competitors such as sister division Pontiac, Mercury, Dodge and Chrysler, along with Ford Motor Company's all-new and ill-fated Edsel, and Chrysler Corporation's DeSoto - the latter two nameplates of which would fade into oblivion within the next three years.

Also see: Oldsmobile Reviews | The History of Oldsmobile (USA Edition)
1957 Oldsmobile Brochure
1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 Holiday Coupe
1957 Oldsmobile Holiday Sedan
1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 Fiesta
1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 2 Door and 4 Door Sedan
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Performance
1957 Oldsmobile Super Holiday Sedan and Coupe
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 2 door and 4 door sedan
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 fiesta
1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98
1957 Oldsmobile Startife 98 4 Door Sedan
1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98 Convertible Coupe
1957 Oldsmobile Rocket T-400 Engine
1957 Oldsmobile Chassis
1957 Oldsmobile Interior
1957 Oldsmobile Specifications and Accessories
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