1954 Oldsmobile Described In Detail
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General Year Information
A rather complete styling change was made across the board for Oldsmobile in 1954 with the car losing some of its blockiness and showing a more rounded appearance. One of the most noticeable 1954 features was the “panoramic” wrap-around windshield previewed on the limited-production 1953 Fiesta. Some new two-toning options were added to the Oldsmobile line as well. The wheelbase was up two inches on both models, and a new chassis was featured.
The big news was the upgraded Rocket V-8, now with new cylinder heads and displacing 324 cubic inches. A 4-barrel carbureted, 185-horsepower V-8 was shared between the 98 and Super Eighty-Eight models.
Gone was the rather misleading “DeLuxe Eighty-Eight” base model descriptor with merely “88,” “Super 88,” and “98” to describe the model lines.
Production for the model year was 351,634, up slightly from 1953’s 332,086. A significant portion of the gain was in the base 88 series where a 2-door Holiday Hardtop Coupe was now offered.
Chassis Information
- Wheelbase: 88 and S88 Series 122″ 98 Series 126.0″
- Overall length: 88 and S88 205.26″ 98 Series 214.26″
- Front tread: All – 59.0″. Rear tread: All – 58.0.
- Tires: 88 Series 7.60 x 15 98 Series 8.00 x 15 inches
Models Offered
Oldsmobile featured a new look in 1954, and the Super Eighty-Eight continued to be the division’s bread-and-butter series. Standard equipment on this series included all items from the Eighty-Eight series plus chrome rocker panel moldings, deck lid ornament, and foam rubber seat cushions.
Upholstery selection spanned a nylon and orlon cloth combination or a variety of colored leathers.
A three-model Ninety-Eight series was atop the Olds lineup for this year. This year Olds dubbed the Ninety-Eight series convertibles “Starfires” after the previous year’s dream car. Standard Ninety-Eight equipment included items from the bottom two series plus a padded instrument panel, brake signal light, courtesy light package, stainless steel wheel discs, windshield washer, and DeLuxe steering wheel and horn ring.
Upholstery choices were nylon and leather in a variety of colors.
Engine Options and Availability
Overhead valves. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 324 CID. Bore and stroke: 3.875″ x 3.4375″. Compression ratio: 8.25:1. Horsepower: 185 @ 3600 RPM. Torque: 300 @ 2000 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter WCFB or Rochester 4GC four-barrel.
Power Train Options
- Oil filter ($10)
- Air cleaner($5)
- All cars came standard with a column-shifted, three-speed manual transmission.
- The Hydra-Matic was a $165 option on any series, any model.
Other Significant Options
- Accessory group Z – exhaust extension, visor vanity mirror, and luggage compartment, under the hood, and glove box lights ($10).
- Air conditioning ($550).
- Autronic eye ($45).
- Backup lights ($14).
- Cadet sun visor ($33).
- Courtesy light package ($4).
- DeLuxe heater/defroster ($79).
- DeLuxe wheel discs ($30).
- Electric antenna ($20).
- Hydraulic window lifts and 4-way power seats ($165).
- Mimetic wire wheel discs ($60).
- Oversize tires ($18).
- Padded dash ($17).
- Power 4-way seat ($65).
- Power brakes ($37).
- Power steering ($125).
- Radio, Deluxe ($100).
- Radio, Super DeLuxe ($129).
- Rear seat speaker ($14).
- Stainless steel wheel trim rings ($8).
- Tinted glass ($30).
- Whitewall tires ($30).
- Windshield washer ($10).
Body Paint Color Codes
| 10 Black | |
| 21 Etna Maroon | |
| 22 Flare Red | |
| 30 Glacier Green | |
| 31 Willow Green | |
| 32 Glade Green | |
| 33 Sarasota White (Green) | |
| 40 Capri Blue | |
| 41 Cadet Blue | |
| 50 Mist Gray | |
| 51 Juneau Gray | |
| 60 Polar White | |
| 61 Maize Cream | |
| 62 Desert Tan | |
| 63 Copper | |
| 70 Royal Marine | |
| 72 Turquoise |
Click on the Images Below to Enlarge
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 1
he new kid on the block for Olds in 1954 was the 88 line’s 2-door Holiday Hardtop. This model contributed heavily to the increase in sales for that year.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 2
The leader in the “prestige” 98 line was the convertible, this year called the “Starfire Convertible.” A total of 6,800 were sold in 1954.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 3
A very popular model was the 98 2-door Holiday Hardtop. Almost 39,000 were sold.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 4
The bread and butter car in the 1954 98 series was the 4-door Sedan, with 48,605 produced.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 5
The 1954 Super 88 Convertible was the potent little sister to the Starfire and yet only 6,452 were sold that year.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 6
The 1954 Super 88 2-door Holiday Hardtop was very popular – 42,155 were sold.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 7
Like the 98, the bread and butter Super 88 was the 4-door Sedan with 111,326 produced.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 8
he “hot rod” Olds for ’54 would have been the lighter Super 88 2-door Sedan since it packed the 4-barrel 180 HP V-8.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 9
For 1954, the 88 4-door Sedan sold the best of that line, but it railed its S-88 cousin by over 80,000 units!
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 10
The old standby, the 88 2-door Sedan, was the entry level Olds for 1954 at a $2,066 base price.
1954 Oldsmobile Detail Image 11
The new for 1954 Olds “Rocket” now sported a 324 cubic-inch displacement, improved heads, and a 4-barrel carb in the S-88 and 98. 180 HP was now on tap.
