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Hello everyone,
I am the proud owner of my grandfathers 1956 Olds 88. It's running well but I do have some questions. I'll post them in the proper section. Just wanted to say hello to all Olds members. What a great website!! Here is a photo of my Classic... Wow.. so much steel !!!!! No power steering and no power breaks. This model has no "parking" .....just the emergency break.. It's a work out just driving this car!!!!
Welcome and that is a very nice car. Your car is an 88 which was the entry level Oldsmobile. The Super 88 was the next level up and had the same engine and transmission as the 98 which was the top of the line. The Super 88 also had a little nicer trim. In 1956, the Super 88 and 98 had the new Jetaway transmission which had a Park position. The 88 continue the original hydramatic which had no Park but in my and a number of other peoples opinions, the original transmission was better. I don't believe those are original colors on your car but they really look nice. One think I would advise you to do as a new owner is go to ebay and buy you an original factory service manual. Prices vary a lot so look for the best deal. Do not get a reproduction or one of the ones on Cd. Get the old original with a few greasy fingerbpints on it. Good luck and enjoy your car. These are great cars.
Thank you redoldsman for the car history..... very interesting... My grandfather was a barber in a small town in PA. Never was big on spending, especially on a car. It was always save, save, save your money!! ... wise words... The car was re painted and clear coated many, many years ago and I think they tried to match the original colors. It stayed in a garage for several years. It's got some problems, radio and wipers do not work. The engine needed help but I think that's running well., thanks to my local mechanic. I'm not used to waiting for the engine to warm up.... I'm amazed how spoiled I have become while driving this car. No power breaks... no power steering... It's a real work out driving this tank. I have so much respect for that past generation. ... I just wish I would have questioned my grandfather on his car.
I had a 54 convertible for several years that I sold a couple years ago. So I learned a lot about these mid 50's Oldsmobiles. There are several guys on here that really know these cars. Your car has a history that you can't buy. What a great story about your grandfather. Without power steering, you find out why these old cars have such large steering wheels. There is another guy on here and his user name escapes me that has a green and white 56 2-door sedan. Frank is another guy from MA that has a very nice 56 4-door sedan that has factory air. And then there is Tedd who has a red and white 55 Super 88 convertible. Tedd is on here a lot.
I would look at putting a Newport electric wiper conversion in for the wipers. The original wipers were vacuum and never worked very well. The Newport conversion is two speed and the switch will mount in the dash where the original switch is mounted. Costs I believe is a little over $200. It is a good improvement.
Nice 56. Basic cars like that were still pretty common in the 1950s and 1960s.
Your Slant-Pan HydraMatic actually has a Park position but you have to know how to use it.
With engine off, simply put the selector lever in Reverse. A gizmus inside the transmission locks a pawl into the transmission output shaft and holds the car in place. Still a good idea to set the hand brake though.
When you're ready to start the car, move the selector lever to Neutral and start the engine normally.
I'm a little late to the party, but these guys have covered most of your current issues it seems. Welcome to Classic Oldsmobile and that's a very nice car. Should the lack of power brakes and steering get to be too much for you. There are ways to convert to power stuff. Not cheap or very easy but doable... Lost in the fifties ...Tedd
Welcome!! I'm also a tad late in responding, but that's a very nice car you have there. As Tedd just said ^^^ most everything I could say has been covered already. More pictures are always welcome.
Wow!!! Thanks to everyone!! What a warm welcome!!! I'll check out the wiper info and thanks about the "park" procedure. I never trusted the emergency brake.. Again, this info is so valuable to me. You guys are the BEST!!
Amen. What a sweet car. I swear 55-57 Oldsmobile are the best looking of all the GM cars during those years. You have a great looking car! I love the colors. What a cool starting point. Beef your arms and legs up you will be fine ha ha.
Welcome to Classic Oldsmobile 👍
Thanks again for all your kind comments. I have a question about the VIN number on my olds... I'm not sure where to post the VIN question..
Thanks
Mike
Mike, for mid-fifties info many of the guys hang out on the vintage forum. They are a good bunch of guys with years of experience, most have started just like you only many moons ago. Just ask and someone will most likely have an answer.
You will find that parts for your Oldsmobile a little harder to find than the bow tie group, there again just ask and someone will steer you in the right direction we all have our network of services and parts suppliers or something rusting in the backyard for sale.... Lost in the fifties ..Tedd
O.K. It's not a technical question.. yet.. My VIN number shows the first 2 numbers "56". I believe that is the year of the car. However my Certificate of Title states the year as "55", also on my owners card. I don't think this is a big deal, but do I own a 1955 or 56. Does it matter that the Title says a different vehicle date. What does that VIN number tell me ? I posted a picture of the VIN number... it is 567M5997. I don't have a bill of sale so I don't know when my grandfather purchased the car. Please move this post to a different area if needed. I don't want to break the rules... I have other questions about this car so please let me know where to post.
Thank you so much.. you guys have helped me so much already...
I’m a guessing guy, I’ll wait for real experts to provide the correct answer. I bet the leading “5” is the year and the trailing “67” denotes model series. SWAG
O.K. Tha's a start... I also found a parts manual for a "Delta 88" olds in my folder... not sure what Delta means.. I want to post the Manual for you guys to see what is going o..n I might need to start a new thread,...
Mike
56= 1956
7= Eighty-Eight (Super 88=8, Ninety Eight=9)
M= Lansing MI assembly plant
5997= car sequential serial number (numbers started 1001)
Show us the body data plate underhood on the firewall. It shows bodystyle, trim and paint codes, time built among other things.
I’m a guessing guy, I’ll wait for real experts to provide the correct answer. I bet the leading “5” is the year and the trailing “67” denotes model series. SWAG
Cause somebody at Division of Motor Vehicles goofed up!😆 and that is way more common than you think.
Your call whether you want to go thru the hoops to correct it. But the VIN definitely shows 1956, and the car sure looks like a 56 88 2-door sedan to me. My money says you'll see 56-3611 on the body plate.
(I didn't write down your full VIN and had to post, look at the VIN again and then edit☺️)
Your paint codes 51 Juneau Gray and 50 Sterling Gray check out. Not sure what the S means.
So, those are the original colors born on the car? Chance they may have been repainted, but none-the-less, that's the original color? That's awesome - I love that two-tone color.
July 12th, 2023, 12:23 PM
I’m a guessing guy, I’ll wait for real experts to provide the correct answer. I bet the leading “5” is the year and the trailing “67” denotes model series. SWAG 
