BARN FIND ’57 Tri Power Convertible!!!
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Parked since 1969, this ultra-rare ’57 Olds Super 88 convertible was built for speed with the J-2 triple carbureted 370 Rocket V8 and a 3-on-the-tree stick shift. It’s rare, its solid and yes it’s FOR SALE!
This car deserves a restoration more than any I've seen in awhile.
For an Olds fan like me, that is a Holy Grail car. Wow! Nice find. He won’t have a problem selling that.
A true barn find
Agree 👍
If all the pieces are there, (and this is a big if, being partially dis-assembled) a complete J-2, needed everything restored, I'm saying $25,000 . Wonder what the asking price is?
Agreed everyone seems to have forgotten about the Oldsmobile they are one of the original powerhouses. And the classy but mean looking style had. Oldsmobile has to be one of the most underrated cars of all time
@@markges6308 TRUE
My father bought a new 1957 Olds 88 four door with the J2 engine and automatic transmission. It was cream with matching cream interior. Yes, it also had the after market plastic embossed seat coverings. With the way my dad drove, my brother and I were tossed around the back seat quite frequently. It was like sitting on ice!
That's what it means when people say the good Ole day's. Thanks for sharing
My Dad always admired his uncle's Oldsmobile cars, from 1951 through the 60s. He'd buy a new one every few years. Finally Dad was in a position to buy his own Oldsmobile and he bought a 64 Super 88 with a 394/quadrajet and an automatic. I was 17 at the time and Dad generously allowed me to use the car nearly anytime I wanted. With PS and the automatic, it was great to drive with my girl by my side, one hand on the wheel, one hand somewhere else. The acceleration was great. I would love to own one now. I hope someone restores that ragtop. That would be a great video to feature it when finished.
I respect your extreme old car knowledge Steve from an Oldsmobile lover. You are the encyclopedia of the car world. Keep the videos coming.
.....it helps to have an "encyclopedic" collection of old Car Craft and Hod Rod magazines......you don't really think he has all this knowledge in his head......do you ??
I think he has been a car guy his whole life, reads up a lot on cars and being intelligent which he seems to be, he probably does remember a lot of what he is says on these cars. Of course the magazines do help with some things.
@@randyluca6339 Hi Randy, Thanks for watching and writing. You're right, I am a life long car nut - probably like you are too. I never claim to be a know-it-all and ALWAYS try to bring a "paper prop" like the old Hot Rod magazine or a model car to add a little extra to each video. Over time much of automotive history does sink in but I always say "I'm a competent REPORTER". The only folks who could lay claim to knowing everything about these - or any - cars would be the designers, assembly workers and sales folk. ORRRR if the car could speak for itself! If cars could talk I'd shut up, sit back and LISTEN! Thanks again for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
Well said Steve!
Thats the lesson...sit down, shut up, and listen!
Let these old cars talk!
Mine have some stories to tell...
Great video, and good on you sir.
We need to see this one restored.
YES
Wow! Super rare Olds. A manual transmission in a base 57 Olds would have been pretty rare back then.
My first car was an Oldsmobile 88 two door hardtop. It was as plain Jane as they came. It had 371 two barrel, and a three speed on the tree. I built a 1962 394 for it. That crank had to be drilled, a manual trans wasn't even an option.
I put a J2 Oldsmobile engine, and transmission, in my '51 Ford business coupe because I got fed up with bone stock tri-5 Chevies beating my high performance V8 flathead Ford. The engine came out of a '57 Oldsmobile wrecked convertible. Even the interior didn't take much effort to install in my '51 Ford business coupe. My dad, and I, adapted rear differential from a '57 Ford truck for the '51 Ford.
My mom had a '57 Olds hardtop, two doors, two tone black and red. She was a real beauty. My mom and the car.
Wow , after watching daily for a couple of years i stopped about a week ago so what a breath of fresh air . Cheers
Wow....just wow.What a unicorn. Please someone restore this car. First car I remember as a child was my Dad's 57 Buick
Now that would be cool to have sitting in my driveway. Whether the J 2 motor is original or not would make no difference to me although value wise it sure makes a big difference to both seller and buyer. What a looker with that blue and white top when new. It is the home run barn find to Oldsmobile fans or any old car person. Nice.
What a sweetie of a car!! Thanks Steve, for sharing.
My dad and his twin had a 55 Olds convertible w/ a 3 speed manual in college. Barely remember it sitting at my grandfather’s. They always regret selling it, but they were both young with a small kid each and no $ to keep it up.
My ex- Father-in-law has been looking for one of those since the 1970s, WOW!
Funny that you mention a mechanic putting lug nuts on finger tight. Many years ago, before I did my own work, I got my car back from a tire place and after 10 minutes, the steering felt weird and sloppy. I pulled over and found every lug nut on the car was loose and some were about to fall off.
I remember when I was a kid, in 1962, my mom's old 53 Buick crapped out. She bought an early 50's olds for cheap. I didn't like the because it had power windows, and the rear windows didn't work any more. But, my older brothers liked it. It had an automatic transmission with "superdrive ". They'd drop it down in superdrive and it would boil that right rear tire from a stop, no powerbraking needed! They used to compete to see who could do the longest "burn out". I remember the record was 174 ft. 🤣 Don't tell mom! I'm thinking it had a 2 speed torque converter?
Mr. B. Here ! Steve that is the first one I have ever seen . 👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for all your hard work Steve!!
Woe.. one of a kind.. that's awesome... Somebody'll grab this,, I'd like to see it in his prime again
.
.....your spelling is for the "woe is me" indication. if you are try to say Whoa ! as an exclamation ....learn to spell better.....otherwise - you look like an idiot......
Those tri power ragtops are as rare as hens teeth. Excellent candidate for resto.
I remember one of these as a kid, 2 door hardtop, pink with a red accent stripe. Beautiful car.
Man that beauty needs to be rescued and restored! Wow! What a find!
I saw recently on Motor Trend that Steve is improving, best wishes to the walking old car encyclopedia. Great content that's always informative and entertaining.
In 1959, my Dad bought a 1957 2 door 88, copper and beige two tone....beautiful car, the 3 piece back window and fully chrome dash were fantastic.
This is wild......thanks for posting. I NEVER knew Olds used left-hand threaded lugs on the driver's side!!!!!!
Buick did as well until the early 60's
@Edward Pate thanks, Ed. I'm in my early 50s, havd been a Ford & Mopar fan since my teenage years, with a respectful lesser interest in Pontiac & Oldsmobile, and yet NEVER knew this?!?
A few cars did this.
@KD's boosted Just curious- are you aware of any foreign cars who did this? Thanks.
@67marlins I haven't really worked on anything foreign other than a 68 e type if you can call it that. Which had knock offs and they are reverse thread on the passenger side.
Good Morning Gents ! 🇺🇸 Enjoy
Wow! Just Wow!
371…. The 370 was Pontiac
What a beautiful car it was / is! Stick also. Love!
The options on this car are a very strange combination and who knows it may be the only one produced like it. The sheet metal being that solid is also amazing. It's just begging to be restored. Someone will buy this one pretty quick. Thanks Steve.
What a gem and time capsule.
👍 nice color! Lol nice carb package , Was half expecting to see Katie do a walk thru 🤪 ✌️🤙
That is too cool. I want it, but there's no way I could afford to give it the love it deserves. Someone out there, please buy this and get it back on the road!
Man, the son needs to get this bad boy going, I'm sure it would bring back some cool memories. Honor dad and get her road worthy agian. Love your videos. 👍👍🏁🏁
Well, I have no chance of getting something like this. But it sure is a great car. I just hope that whoever gets it,doesn't ruin it. I think it should be cleaned up and put back together as originally as possible. Treat the rust so it doesn't spread. Make it run and drive. Then slowly return it to its former glory
I agree! My nightmare is that a Kustomizer sees the video, buys the car and turns it into an Oakland Roadster Show machine with the usual LS, tube frame and "bitchin" stance. Yawn. That said, the current owner is an Olds purist and will certainly screen potential buyers for their post-purchase intentions....Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante I've seen too many great finds like this get in the hands of someone who trashes the car. I remember in my neighborhood, a guy had a beautiful 57 Ford in his garage. Sold it to some kid that cut the fenders to make room for bigger tires, basically trashed the car. There was a classic car lot that is now no longer on I 95 in Miami, that was full of cars that had restoration attempts, painted in colors that most people wouldn't want to drive. One of the biggest problems in S. Florida, is that very few people rebuild engines today. Shops are to small, rents are too high, and experienced mechanics are few and far between.
Had 2 old half tons back in the day.... One had a floor shift 4 speed and the other was 3 on the tree. I preferred the 3 speed especially when having a third person riding along. Actually the 4 speed was a 3 with low so you didn't use first gear most of the time.
My father had a jet black 2-door hard top with that engine in the early 60s, and it's always been a dream car. I have a nice 65 Cutlass convertible but that's the Oldsmobile I wish I owned.
As a young driver I got ahold of A 58 Pontiac. Left hand lugs unbeknownst to me sure gave me a fit. I had them glowing with a torch and was using an Impact on them and still couldn’t get them off. I gave up and derbied it with bald tires on the left side. It wasnt until a few years later did I find out about left hand lugs when I had to replace the brakes on a 56 Olds at the garage I was working at.
That is a cool old Oldsmobile. Tri power is cool.
Mr. B. Here ! ☕️☕️🥯 love this show case ! Morning to all !
Merry old oldsmobarn
Love learning from the professor of old school!
Guessing the junker pictured is worth five figures (30K?) and up to Olds collectors/restorers.
Great knowledge of vehicles. Never miss a vid.
Greetings from Fall River Massachusetts.
Beauty Oldsmobile!!
Cool 57 Oldsmobile ! Did you violate that car caressing the lower quarter panel like you did lol ... thanks for sharing
Lee Petty (father of Richard) signed with Oldsmobile in 1957 precisely to race J2 hardtops and convertibles in NASCAR. However,multi carbs, fuel injection & superchargers were all soon banned in those series. Still,"Leeboy" racked up a Daytona 500 win & two championships thru 1959 in Olds. He even let the future "King" learn the ropes on the "used" cars.
Awesome video sir. I remember years ago reading Hot Rod magazine about a man I think his name was Joe Sherman, a budget drag racer. He used the column shifter in his car with automatic transmission. He stated… Why spend money when you don’t have to. Thanks again sir.
I found driving 45 years ago with my left eye open and my right eye shut got me home on those nights when you had to many beers.
From someone that had a 57 Pontiac with a Hydramatic and converted it to a 3 speed manual, in the grand scheme of things the hydramatic would have a better choice. The transmissions wouldn't take any kind of abuse either. Speaking of experience. I would still like the stick shift better though.
Steve I would bet that someone is on their way with a trailer already for that car, Man what a great car , I hope a person that has wanted something like that to work on with their son or daughter, And not some money hungry guy that cares about their self and money in their pockets.
I have a friend who had a 57 two door one and the dash and the steering wheel are great looking.
That is a beautiful car.
Can you imagine, you as your dads kid, dad dies, and you have all this stuff now. I'd sell a bunch of it to restore that convertible and simply take it to parades. What a find. wow
I know a man with a 55 Pontiac that has the non hanging pedals. Would have thought by 1957 Olds would have them too.
You noticed that too,eh? I thought by 57 GM was using hanging pedals on passenger cars.
@@kenttalsma7906 Chevy was using hanging pedals already in 1955.
My Dad had a "60 Impala with 3 2v in it. Cool car
Wasn't the Fiesta a station wagon?
In 1953 the Fiesta was limited production convertible; the name reappeared in 1957 for the pillarless hardtop station wagons.
@@daviderickson9445 Thanks! Ya learn something new every day!
Steve, This is terrific, I can hardly wait for the Vista Cruisers to be revealed. 🤩
I was thinking that by the time I really started to wake up to cars in the mid 70s, I didn’t remember seeing any of those other mid 50s GM cars on the road - just tri-five Chevys and the occasional Ford of that era - at least where I grew up. Wonder if some time capsules like that convertible were already in barns? Great production!
Same here.
I don’t remember seeing any 50’s vehicles on the road in the mid 70’s.
@@countdown2xstacy You all grow up, live in the cities? I was in the rural part of a state, seen plenty of 50s on the road, even into the 70s. Country folk-paid for, ain't busted, still gets me to town and visiting family, why replace it.
@@Ray56z
Ya, I live in a big city in CT.
Just don’t remember seeing that many, if any 50’s vehicles on the road as a kid in the 70’s.
Maybe more so in the rural areas but not many in the big cities.
@@Ray56z even into the early eighties I remember seeing them, west coast where rust wasn’t much of a problem, I imagine not many were left in the rust belt area’s.
I grew up in western massachusetts and remember the 50's cars being daily driven in the early to mid seventies, also a lot of them on the sides of houses and some with for sale signs on them...fairly cheap.
one of my neighbors had a green and white buick four door, mid fifties car, he had that car as far back as I can remember, he drove it to the junk yard around 1975 shortly after he bought a brand new olds, a few blocks away someone had a black 57' chevy four door for sale on their front lawn for $800.00.....their were a lot of them still around in my area!
My sister lived in downtown Lansing Michigan right off I96 loop through town named the Oldsmobile highway. GM tore down the olds plant and rebuilt a new one they build something there at one time caddy, something else now. Remember when they tore it down her retired GM neighbor would tear up when talking about it👍
Not a gm fan, but grew up in those days and knew about the J-2 370. Not being a gm fan, I sure never knew of gm using left hand lugs on their axles. Even worked in a gas station for a while fixing flats, mounting tires, guess none ever came along.
That olds convertible is worth some $$$!
Awesome car to restore.
If you go back and look at footage of the first Daytona 500 in 1959, you'll see Richard Petty driving a convertible '57 Olds!
Awesome episode Steve
The problem with barn finds the all need work , more that you want to spend ! That is why they are there!
3 deuces 💪🏻
Wow, I did not know these existed, too much Chevy and Pontiac focus I suppose. Thanks Steve!
My daddy was an olds car salesman his whole life during this time period thru the xciting middle and late. 1960s thats back when car salesman drove demonstraighters i remember riding in every hot rod olds had from the 50s thru the 60s man was i lucky of course my fav was the middle 1960s olds 442 i was drafted in the army had to go to vietnam i sent home every check and when i got home in1970 i ordered what i called the beast a hurst equiped olds 442 with the baddest motor available positive trac rear end drag gears in thd rear end truly a beast thanks for letting me shard
That’s a sweet ride.
Hopefully these videos will help keep some of that stuff out of the junk yard .
Greetings from Detroit
Steve Magnante knows his cars 👍
Feather that Quadrajet!
Somebody’s going to have a new project. Can’t help but wonder what happened to the trunk lid and rear bumper.? Seems to nice a car to rob parts off.
I was wondering the same thing. Was waiting for Steve to say something about it, he always talks about the protected paint under the trunk lid. Everything else is there, doesn't make sense.
This is a gem of a find fellas fine job
I've got a nice solid 57, Catalina true dual exhaust 4dr hardtop. Local car its whole life. I'm the third owner. And. Yes. Previous owners had it stashed on their farm. There's a video slideshow on my channel of it as found.
That car won’t be there much longer. That would be gorgeous restored!
Had a 68 Corvette 427 tripower. You could literally watch the gas gauge drop just crusing at 70. Thrilling car though.
Thanks for sharing this video. I really enjoy it
Really surprised this car was not equipped with the 4 speed Hydramatic which was much more common and probably a bit quicker than the 3 speed manual.
Pretty darn cool!!
Wow! What a car!
This is one where you should have gotten the cowl tag, as it would have been an easier ID from there.
No tag (too far away and no focus on it), can't brag: 57 for 1957 model year, 3667 for Olds Super 88 convertible, possibly BT for Arlington, TX assembly (with the body being made in Lansing, MI), among other codes. 1957 Oldsmobiles were made in various places: Lansing, MI, Arlington, TX, Framingham, MA, Doraville, GA, Wilimington, DE, Linden, NJ, South Gate, CA and Fairfax, KS. Possible code 41 Artesian Blue and code 60 Alcan White exterior paint.
No VIN, can't win, but easy to figure out, no doubt: 57 for 1957 model year, 8 for Super 88 Series, then possibly M for Lansing, MI assembly, B for Framingham, MA assembly, A for Atlanta, GA assembly, L for Linden, NJ assembly, C for Southgate, CA assembly, T for Arlington, TX assembly or Y for Wilmington, DE assembly, and the rest is the production sequence.
Actually, some cowl tags might have shown the J-2 option, so again, it would have been worth it to show it.
Those are nice vehicles I had a friend who had an 88 post one.
Hello Google User GP, the OLDS Red Barn video series (8 videos in total were made there) was done at the last minute because it was RAINING in Bernardston so we went to Plan B. I had already requested - and received - permission to enter and shoot but intentionally DOD NOT "scout" the premises. I had no idea what I'd find other than being told by Mike Dee there was a "57 Olds convertible" in the bay. I had NO IDEA I'd find a J2 under the hood! Oh, and the J2 was OVER and OUT after 1958 despite my assumption it may have gone into 1959. Turns out, the Olds cast iron J2 intake manifold is specific to the 370. The new-for-'59 394 V8 had a taller deck and so the 370 V8 intake manifolds are TOO NARROW to fit the 394. Anyhoo, the major unforeseen hassle was LOW LIGHT. We never bring any extra lighting but could have used it in the OLDS Red Barn. The cowl tag was difficult enough to see from a foot away. Super Shane is pretty good at making "go / no go" decisions in real time while running the camera so he elected to stay out a bit so as to avoid the "slow stutter" camera effect of dark spots. Anyhoo, I hope this car finds a happy buyer and if not, Mike Dee tells me he is capable of reviving it on his own - but simply lacks the time. Anyhoo, Thanks as always for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante
Thanks for doing these Steve. Oldsmobile owns a large chunk of muscle car history from 49-mid 60's that has been all but forgotten. Just to add a bit to the history of the Tri Power, Olds allegedly dropped the Tri Power for two reasons. One, NASCAR banned it, and secondly, some people would buy these cars and then never use the skinny pedal enough to actuate the 2 other carbs, so the outer carbs would varnish and cause problems. One of GM's fixes for this was for dealerships to replace the outer carbs with block off plates.
As you mentioned, in '58, Olds went to a tall deck block. Almost every year of the 1st Gen Olds Rocket had major internal engine design changes which in my opinion was Oldsmobile's achilles heel. Among these were different rocker ratios, port sizes, cam diameter sizes, deck height, bore/stroke, etc. These are a very robust and solid engine (cam wear was their weakness), but with so many changes year to year, it really wasn't something the aftermarket could keep up with or stock all of the year to year parts for. Whilst Olds was in these years (in my opinion) the best muscle that GM could produce, changing it up every year to stay on top of the power wars (and Nascar) eliminated most of the day 2 parts before they were even a thought. Whereas with a sbc, almost anything works with any other sbc. I do believe that's the single reason why the sbc became famous and the Olds Rocket was forgotten, despite it's performance. It was a different time. These were the days when you could watch a NASCAR race on Sunday, and then go buy that real car off the dealer lot on Monday.
AS ALAWAYS,,,,, YOU TELL A GREAT STORY!
A friend’s dad had a ‘57 J-2 convertible that he finally restored. Also had a ‘57 J-2 hardtop wagon.
Constant counter-clockwise rotation, has been shown to loosen right hand thread fasteners.
I wonder if it's the same in Australia. /s
🙄😉
Or anywhere you drive on the left.
Great Car & Get Well Soon Steve !!!
My 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Holiday also has left hand lug nuts on the driver's side.
WOW..I had a flashback moment 38 years ago sitting in auto classroom my teacher explaining why some cars had left handed threads..lefty loosey righty tighty does not always apply.(Quincy MA votech) Thanks for another amazing video Steve
I'm 37 and even still as a kid growing up around classics and hot rods we called the Rochester Quadra-jet the Quadra-Junk!!! LOL
Holley makes a good replacement. The setup isn't bad, you can bolt it right on, vacuum or mechanical, swap out the double-pumpers if you like
@@herbodiferous7751 Well I dont have a GM or quadra jet anymore. Last one I had was on a T/A. I am a ford guy and now that's all I own.
@@bad74maverick1 my brother had a 69 Torino GT with the low-end setup, 302 2 barrel and a 3 speed. We bolted on a Holley 500cfm replacement on the stock manifold, adjusted the screws as they suggested in the startup instructions, never touched it again or even hooked up the choke. It ran like we put a new motor in it. But pretty hard to find a carburetor under the hood these days
Quadrajet was a great carburetor!!
@@jamesspalten5977 you'd be the first to say so.
Enjoyed!!! 👍👍
J-2 was offered 1957 and 1958 only.
You're right. The new-for-'59 394 V8 used a raised deck so the 370 V8 intake manifolds would be too short to span the gap. Thanks for the update! -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante Love your channel and your broad knowledge of all things cars! BTW ANY 1950's Oldsmobile stick car is super rare as is this '57 88 convertible.
So was there a similar “L” designation on the lug nuts or did you have to tell that by looking at the threads…….???
The only car I can remember working on that might have had them was a buddy’s ‘68 Dodge Coronet that I think still used them? That was early 80’s though, so my memory might be a little foggy about that…….😂
There's an L stamped into the ends of the driver-side studs. In Mopar land, many of the left-hand studs have a copper finish to further alert tire service folk not to ASSume "righty-tighty / lefty-loosy". Also, some Left Hand nuts have a circular pattern pressed into their hex face for further identification. If all else fails, the "screw down" process will take FOREVER if a LH nut is applied to a RH stud. Any mechanic who doesn't pick up on that clue should go back to Boot Camp! Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante - I’m thinking a lot of the mechanics under 40 years of age or so have probably never worked on a vehicle with left hand threads. Or a carburetor for that matter…..😂
There may be a build sheet tucked into the rear seat springs? ;-)
That would be a very important discovery. Not being my car, I'd never dive in and risk ripping the paper but no doubt the owner has All The Answers about the car's J2 setup. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
I really enjoy your videos. I wish I could go see more cars, but right now, my wings are clipped. With that being said, watching videos of the stuff you find, keeps my appetite at bay for the time being. Keep up the good work!
I respect that you are very knowledgeable (for a young guy) BUT in fact I owned a 1956 olds tri-power (I don't remember them calling it a J-2 till 57) it was a posted coupe and it had three on the tree. About the only thing it could not pass was a gas station. Loved the Olds marque and cried when they discontinued it!
371 cubes Steve!
Sure is a beast of a car!!!!!!!!!.... That car with that engine and 3 carburetors dominated the NASCAR tracks... But as usual NASCAR gets scared and tells you... You can't run it no more.. too much raw power!!!!!!!!