March 29, 2024

The Car History of Alex Beloff III

THE 1958 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 WAS TO ME ONE GREAT LOOKING CAR.  YES I AM AWARE FROM YOU SOOTH SAYERS THAT THE 1958 OLDS HAD 43 POUNDS OF CHROME ON IT MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAR.  IT WAS ALSO STYLED CORRECTLY IN THE RIGHT PLACES INCLUDING THE FOUR GORGEOUS CHROME STRIPS ON THE QUARTER PANEL THAT DENOTE LENGTH, MASCULINITY AND FORWARD MOTION.  THE DECK LID SPORTED CHROME STARS AND THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS CONCEALED BEHIND THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT.  IT HAD BACK UP LIGHTS SCULPTURED INTO THE REAR BUMPERS AND WHEN ORDERED FUNCTION DUAL EXHAUST OUTLETS.  IT HAD THAT MAGNIFICENT BLUE AND WHITE DASH WITH GOOD TASTE CHROME ACCENTS.

BEING A 1958, IT HAD FOUR HEADLIGHTS.  ITS STYLE WAS UNIQUE EVEN AMONG PAST OLDSMOBILES WITH THE FENDERS HIGHER THAN THE HOOD WHICH CADILLAC PIONEERED IN 1957.

I CAN’T EXPLAIN WHY, BUT EVEN WITH A 2 BBL V-8 AND HYDRAMATIC, THIS WAS ONE FAST OLDSMOBILE THAT COULD EASILY LAY BLACK MARKS.  BACK THEN IT YOU HAD A CAR THAT COULDN’T LAY BLACK MARKS IN SCRATCH OFF, REMINISCENT OF THE GREAT MOVIE AMERICAN GRAFFITI, IT WAS EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE.

IT  WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THE SPORT PORTABLE RADIO THAT YOU COULD RETRIEVE FROM THE DASH.  WE TRADED FOR THIS CAR AT WAGNER CADILLAC WHERE I WAS THE USED CAR MANAGER.  WE HAD A HARD TIME SELLING IT.  CLIFF WANTED TO KNOW IF I WANTED TO BUY IT.  OF COURSE I DID.  I HAD FUN WITH THE OLDSMOBILE, GARNERED SEVERAL ENTHUSIASTS AND SOLD IT.

PHOTO IS A 1959 RADIO

RETURN

 

 

error: Content is protected !!