Customs 1955 Oldsmobiles +/- Custom touches. Show me!

I have one of these things, and they seem to be a bit of a red headed step child in the mid fifties cars. I really wanted a buick, but a few things put me off one and I ended up with the Olds. Silly really as I'm a ford man through and through. But the Olds is growing on me.

Long and short is that I purchased it as a family cruiser as the roadster won't do for hotrod events now with a family. I have been using this as one of my daily drivers now for about 12 months. I have a Ute too, but Peddro is borrowing that at the moment. so I have been driving the olds exclusively since late October. I usually alternated weeks. I have lowered mine and its starting to look where I like cars to sit etc. The plan is a big block eventually to motivate it abit more than the sad old 324.

Heres some photos I took the other day, their in a location that I have been toying with taking photos of my roadster for about 2 years, but never got around to it. So I found myself there last weekend and took the opportunity to have a play. As the light was fading I only got 20 minutes to get some shots. but am happy with the outcome. Paint is sad, but it looks good in therse.

So show me yours also interested in '54 and '56 as they will give me ideas on what else I can do.



















I had a visitor while shooting too.

 

Love those mid fifties Olds! I wouldn't consider them the red headed step child of the mid fifties cars.

 

nice olds!! there are quite a bit of upgrades to that rocket engine to make it pop or a mid 60's large bore rocket would do the trick.
follow the link below to a cool site with a lot of olds pics. just click the index once on the page.
www.carnut.com

 

I think those are one of the best looking cars to roll out of the 50's. An old friend of mine used to have a 4dr HT. It was the definition of mild custom. Shaved doors, 2 piece skirts, nosed, decked, maroon and silver and sitting on the deck. I'd got that route.

 

I could stare at those dashboards for hours and never lose interest. Pure beauty.

 

I didn't do (or particularly like) all the stuff done to mine, but I did put the Pontiac grille in it. I'm gonna paint it one of these days. The mis-matched hubcaps are NOT a custom touch-The fender skirts won't work with the front hubcaps.

 

There is nothing about 55 Olds I don't like.

 

I love those Olds. They knock the chrome off a fifties chevy. imho.

 

red-headed step child...WHAT? Well, my hair is kinda red and I currently own three 55 Oldsmobiles. One of my favorites and with some performance mods, they will motivate just fine with the original powertrain.

 

Here's a '55 I owned a little while back.

 

flatoz, in my opinion, yours is perfect, it looks killer. Doesn't need anything.

 

What he ^^ said!!! don't need a thing!!!

 

Not a finga!!

 

im kinda partial to those cars my self..........................nice car by the way flatoz...............................john

 

I don't think the 55 Olds were step children at all. If you look in many Rod & Custom magazines over the years, you will see that the 55-56 Olds were photographed often. That to me means they were very popular. I had a 55 Holiday 98 mild custom about 8 years ago. If I can find some old pictures I'll post them.

 

Here are pictures of my 55 Olds. I regret not doing the car in 2-tone, white over red. I bought the car from the original owner, with 56,000 actual miles. The V-8 engine ran great, and the transmission shifted perfect. I just redid the interior, and had the hood shaved and peaked. I trimmed the rear spears off and filled in the holes. I wished I had chromed the bumpers instead of painting them body color. Guy made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so I sold it.

 

I would go J2 and not big block. Plenty of motivation.

 

Flatoz,
I had a '55 Olds like yours in Highschool. Sold it shortly after buying the '57 BelAir I still have. (In retrospect, not one of my smarter moves.) I'd buy the Olds back in a heartbeat if I could find it. Definitely NOT a RH Stepchild in my opinion.

 

I agree. Love those Holiday coupes. Yours looks perfect.

 

Not a lot !!!! the car looks killer as is. It has a great stance. Mybe some chrome steel wheels? shave the front hood emblem. I will one day own one of these or a Buick of the same year

 

your olds looks really good, i would keep it as is, maybe just shave the door handles and thats it. great looking olds.

heres the one i sold a about a year ago

 

I love 55 Olds, especially 98's......below is a link to my Olds album, some 55's in there

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kustom55/sets/72157604426827474/

 

Mine's a bit radical, but I still believe I improved the lines of a good looking car to start with!

 

Wow, that is perfect!

 

Sweet!! I've seen it once in NJ. Was that pic taken at "Lead East"?

 

That is a sweet ride just the way it is. If you want big block performance then go with a 455 instead and keep it Olds. I put the 455 and a turbo 400 in my 57. It suprises a lot people. Tons of torque 500+ hp.

 

shave the door handles, loose those m***ive Olds badges (bonnet especially), lower the back another inch, and find that 455, that would see me done, no other custom elements, required, although, I would consider doing committing an offense (to Olds purists) and replacing the front centre bar with drawer-pull knobs, and replacing the side trim with 55 pontiac stainless trim.....this is what I'd love to do on the Buick....

You're doing good, each step closer....

Cheers,

Drewfus

P.S. I trust youmade stew of that visitor...

 

I completely disagree! I love those cars! Not sure what year it is but this is one that a friend of mine owns.

 

Nic its a 56 starfire ( convert)

The red headed step child is the fact that you don't see them as often as you do other makes like the ( groan) tri fives and especially the buicks. How many '55 buicks are on the board? heaps.

if you do a search for '55 olds you don't turn much up, especially customised one, I'm talking mild custom mostly their stockers.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying I don't like the car, it is a pain here in Australia as I can't get anything for the car not even a waterneck gasket.

and as I drive it daily I want a better motor in it and will shelve the 324 super 88 rocket motor for a hotrod project. one day...

had thought about shaving the door handles, but given this isn't a weekend car, not 100% sure on how practical they would be, and to be honest, I don't mind them.

Got to remember guys, I drive this every day its not my weekend car, thats my roadster, this to me is the same as a mid 90's whatever, I like it an enjoy driving it, but it doesn't give me the goosebumps like my roadster does.

I haven't seen another '55 here as yet, a few 56's so their not that popular in Australia either.

keep the photos coming, interested to see what others have done or have planned.

have checked out that carnut webpage before but thanks!

 

cool car.. i wouldn't touch a thing! possibly lower the back a touch but it looks awesome.
There are not many of these in Melbourne! good to see people importing things outside the norm..
kool car