The Oldsmobile 98 (spelled Ninety-Eight from 1952 to 1991 and Ninety Eight from 1992 to 1996) is the full-size flagship model of Oldsmobile that was produced from 1940 until 1942 and then from 1946 to 1996. The name, referring to a Series 90 fitted with an eight-cylinder engine, first appeared in 1941 and was used again after American consumer automobile production resumed post-World War II. It was, as it would remain, the division's top-of-the-line model, with lesser Oldsmobiles having lower numbers such as the A-body 66 and 68 and the B-body 76 and 78. The Series 60 was retired in 1949, the same year the Oldsmobile 78 was replaced by the 88. The Oldsmobile 76 was retired after 1950. This left the two remaining number-names to carry on into the 1990s as the bread and butter of the full-size Oldsmobile lineup. In 1995, the Oldsmobile Aurora went on sale, and replaced the Ninety Eight as Oldsmobile's flagship model. The Ninety Eight would be discontinued after 1996, with its styling living on as the Eighty Eight derived Regency.
Occasionally additional nomenclature was used with the name, such as L/S and Holiday, and the Ninety-Eight Regency badge would become increasingly common in the later years of the model. The car shared its General Motors C-body platform with Buick and Cadillac.
As it was the flagship Oldsmobile sedan, the Ninety-Eight had the most technologically advanced features available, such as the Hydramatic automatic transmission, the Autronic Eye, an automatic headlight dimmer, and Twilight Sentinel (a feature that automatically turned the headlights on and off via a light sensor and a delay timer, as controlled by the driver), and the highest-grade interior and exterior trim.
In production for 55 years (with a three year hiatus during the war) across 12 generations, the Ninety Eight was one of the oldest passenger car nameplates in the US at the time of its discontinuation in 1996, and was Oldsmobile's longest running model. __TOC__
First generation (1941)
Naming standards were in flux at Oldsmobile during the late 1930s and 1940s. From 1932 through 1938, Oldsmobile had two series: "F" and "L". F-Series came with a straight 6 engine and L-Series came with a larger body and a straight 8 engine. The F-Series was replaced by the Series 60 in 1939 and L-Series was replaced with the Series 70. The Series 60 used the GM A-body and the Series 70 used the B-body. In 1940 the even larger C-body was introduced to Oldsmobile and it alone was powered by the straight-8. The series were also given names for the first time that year, with the Series 60, 70, and 90 being called the Special, Dynamic, and Custom Cruiser respectively. In 1941 both engines were offered on each series, so to differentiate between the two the second digit was used to denote the number of cylinders, so the Custom Cruiser 90 was replaced with the Custom Cruiser 96 and 98. In 1942 Oldsmobile dropped the six cylinder Series 90 model, leaving only the Custom Cruiser 98.
The new C-body that the 1940 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Series 90 shared with Cadillac Series 62, Buick Roadmaster and Super, and the Pontiac Torpedo featured cutting-edge "torpedo" styling. Shoulder and hip room was over wider, running boards were eliminated, and the exterior was streamlined and lower. When combined with a column-mounted shift lever, the cars offered true six passenger comfort. The 90 rode on a wheelbase of . A total of 43,658 90s were sold in four body styles. The rarest was the 4-door convertible with only 50 being sold.
In 1941 the wheelbase was increased to . A deluxe equipment package was now offered. The top-of-the-line Oldsmobile was available in three body styles in '96 and in four body styles in '98. The rarest of these was the 4-door convertible, which was exclusive to the '98. Only 119 were sold in 1941, and this would be the only time this body style was ever offered on the 98. The other three body styles were a convertible coupe, a club coupe fastback, and a 4-door sedan. This was also the only year in Oldsmobile history that a 96, a 90 series car with a six-cylinder engine, was available. Hydramatic automatic transmission, first introduced in October 1939, was a popular option. A total of 24,726 98s and 6,677 96s were sold in 1941.
Second generation (1942, 1946–1947)
In 1942 the Custom Cruiser 98 was once again the Oldsmobile entrant into the luxury market. Gone was the single year offering of the '96. All cars in this series were powered by the straight eight engine. Also gone in this shortened model year was the ultra rare 4-door convertible. An exclusive inch wheelbase was used in the series. A total of 6,659 '98s were made before production was shut down due to World War II. To celebrate the company's 44th anniversary, all Oldsmobiles received a small badge on the grille with "B44" attached. This was not a model designation.
When production was resumed in 1946, the Custom Cruiser 98 remained the top of the Oldsmobile line. Three body styles were offered (a 4-door sedan, a 2-door Club coupe, and a 2-door convertible), and all were eight cylinder powered. Technical features included electrohardened pistons, full pressure lubrication, and an automatic choke with fast idle mode. Standard equipment included front and rear bumper guards, vacuum booster pump, dual sun visors, cigarette lighter and plastic radiator ornament, wraparound bumpers, deluxe instrument cluster clock, rear armrest, and foam rubber seat cushions. Tire size was by . Available upholstery was either leather, broadcloth, or Bedford cord. 14,364 98s were sold in its first postwar year of production.
In 1947 the top-of-the-line Custom Cruiser 98 again had three body styles. This was the last year for the '98 1942 prewar body. All 98s had the straight eight engine. Standard 98 equipment included safety glass, a spare wheel and tire, dual horns, vacuum booster pump, a cigarette lighter, and a solenoid starter system. Upholstery was either custom broadcloth or leather. The standard tire size was by . An electric clock was standard in 1947. A record 37,140 98s were sold in 1947.
Third generation (1948–1953)
1948
For the first time since 1940 Oldsmobile offered totally different styling during a single model year. The top-of-the-line 1948 Oldsmobile 98 was also included in a marketing campaign for what Oldsmobile called "Futuramic" on all 1949 Oldsmobiles, primarily focused on the automatic transmission 1948 Oldsmobile Futuramic introduction. Standard equipment on 98s included a solenoid starter, fender skirts, E-Z-l rearview mirror, and foam rubber seat cushions. The '98 also included front and rear bumper guards, a vacuum booster pump, a plastic radiator ornament, dual horns, dual sun visors, and a cigarette lighter. Deluxe equipment added front and rear floor mats, deluxe steering wheel, wheel trim rings, rear seat armrests, and hydraulic window, seat, and top controls on all convertibles. Upholstery was either broadcloth or leather. The standard tire size was 6.50 x 16-inch. The Custom Cruiser name was retired until 1971, when it was used to denote full-size Oldsmobile station wagons. The new styling was apparently popular, with a record 65,235 98s sold, exceeding the number of 90s sold in 1940 for the first time. The 98 was produced in three body styles: 2-door Club Sedan, 4-door sedan, and 2-door convertible. The Club Sedan was produced in a teardrop fastback design, dating back to the pre-war GM streamliners; the 4-door sedan and the convertible were produced in a new three-box notchback design.
1949 The following year the new styling was joined by a new engine, the now famous Rocket V8. In February 1949, several months into the model year, General Motors introduced three highly styled "hardtop convertible" coupes, the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, the Cadillac Series 62 Coupe de Ville, and the Buick Roadmaster Riviera, the first hardtop coupes ever produced. The Holiday was exclusive to the 98 series that year. Available in four special Holiday colors, as well as four two-tone combinations, it was priced the same as the convertible, and was similarly equipped, with hydraulically operated windows and seat. Only 3,006 Holidays were sold in its first year compared to 20,049 Club coupes. Total sales reached 93,478 in 1949, setting yet another record.
1950
The 1950 Oldsmobile 98 repeated its 1948 precedent of previewing some of next years styling cues for the 88. The 98 was restyled after only two years. It was the first totally slab sided Oldsmobile and the first sedan with wraparound rear windows. A 4-door 98 fastback appeared for one year only in 1950 and was called the Town Sedan, selling only 1,778 units. Standard equipment included bumper guards, dual horns, parking lamps, dome light, rubber floor mats, aluminum sill plates, foam rubber seat cushions, chrome interior trim, lined luggage compartment and counterbalanced trunk lid. Deluxe 98 equipment included rear seat armrest, deluxe electric clock, deluxe steering wheel and horn button, special door trim and stainless steel wheel trim rings. Upholstery choices spanned nylon fabric, striped broadcloth or leather. Standard tire size was by . In 1950, Oldsmobile stopped naming the 98 series and so from then through 1996, with the exception of 1957 when it was called the Starfire 98, and in 1961 when it was called the Classic 98, it was simply known as the Oldsmobile 98. Sales of the 98 Holiday nearly tripled to 8263, approaching the 11,989 sold of the Club Sedan. Given the faltering popularity of the fastback designs that by the turn of the decade were regarded as outdated, and the rapidly growing popularity of the 2-door Holiday hardtop, 1950 was the last year for the pillared 2-door Club Sedan and the 4-door Town Sedan. Total sales set yet another record of 106,220.
1951
The 98 topped the Oldsmobile line again for 1951 with Three body styles available. The 4-door sedan and convertible came only with deluxe equipment, while the Holiday hardtop was available with either deluxe or Standard trim. The 98 standard equipment included bumper guards, cigarette lighter, dome light, rubber floor mats, stainless steel moldings, lined trunk, illuminated ashtray, foam rubber seat cushions and extra chrome moldings. Deluxe equipment was special rear door ornament, rear center armrests, deluxe electric clock, deluxe steering wheel with horn ring and special chrome trim. Upholstery choices were nylon cord, nylon cloth and leather. The pillared Club coupe was no longer offered. With the only choice in a closed 2-door 98 now being the hardtop, Holiday sales nearly doubled to 17,929 units.
1952
From 1952 the car, which remained as the top of the line Oldsmobile, began to be called Ninety-Eight. This would continue until the demise of the model, with the exception of model years 1957 and 1961. The series shared the higher output 160 HP Rocket V8 with the Super 88s. Standard equipment on the three body styles included bumper guards, gray rubber floor mats front and rear, electric clock, dual horns, aluminum door sill plates, chrome gravel guards, foam rubber seat cushions, turn signals, carpeting front and rear, stainless steel wheel trim rings, windshield washer, and deluxe steering wheel with horn ring. Upholstery selection was broadcloth or six colors of leather. Standard tire size was by . For the first time power steering was an option. Another new option was the Autronic Eye, an automatic headlight dimmer, which in its initial year was shared only with Cadillac.
1953