Here at Classic Auto Insurance, we love rare cars, whether they’re vintage, collectors, or even concept cars. Perhaps the rarest vehicle is the 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept car. Oldsmobile only created three of these slick, gorgeous vehicles, and only one remains.
Fortunately for car buffs and collectors, you can view this breathtaking piece of history at the Hendricks’ Gateway Automotive Museum in Colorado, and we highly recommend seeing it in all its classic glory.
In this blog, you’ll learn all about the quality specifications and rich history of the ultra-rare 1954 Oldsmobile F-88.
1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Specifications
Oldsmobile designed this dream car in 1954, and it was based on the sketches drawn by Bill Lange. This vehicle body is made out of fiberglass. It uses the chassis of the Chevrolet Corvette, which was created only a year prior to the Oldsmobile F-88, and like the Corvette, it has a wheelbase of 102 inches.
The car features a 324 (5.3 liter) Super 88 V8 engine, and it comes with a four-barrel carburetor. The engine can produce 270 horsepower, and its power is transferred by a four-speed Hydra-Matric transmission to its rear axle. Like so many other parts of the vehicle, the Oldsmobile F-88’s rear axle was derived from Chevrolet Corvette, and the rear axle has a ratio of 3.55:1.
The History of the Oldsmobile F-88
The 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 was originally named the XP-20, and it made its debut at the 1954 General Motors Motorama in New York. Oldsmobile presented two Oldsmobile F-88 concept cars at the 1954 Motorama and wowed the show’s spectators with its sleek design and fiberglass body.
The Oldsmobile F-88 continued impressing spectators and vehicle enthusiasts across various car shows with its futuristic concept design. At the time of its showcase, the Oldsmobile F-88 was known as a dream-maker vehicle.
After its showcase, General Motors got rid of the classic Oldsmobile in order to promote the six-cylinder Corvette. The F-88s were dismantled after the 1954 car show season. Today’s last remaining Oldsmobile F-88 was taken apart and came under the ownership of E.L. Cord, who was a famous business executive and produced vehicles and in the 1920s and 30s.
The dismantled Oldsmobile F-88 was bought and sold among several different owners across several decades until it was reconstructed in the 1990s. After its assembly, it made its debut at the Barrett-Jackson auction. In 2005, it was sold to John S. Hendricks, who founded the Discovery channel. The vehicle sold for a whopping $3,240,000, and after considering inflation, that amount is over $4.5 million today.
The Oldsmobile F-88 now resides at the Hendricks’ Gateway Automotive Museum in Colorado, where vehicle aficionados are free to view it in all its classic glory.
Get the Best Insurance for your Classic and Rare Vehicles
Even though you may not be able to get your hands on the one-of-a-kind 1954 Oldsmobile F-88, you can still get the right insurance for all your vehicular needs.
Here at Classic Auto, we insure classic cars, collector vehicles, and luxury automobiles, and unlike big auto insurance companies, we care about individual cars and their owners. We tailor our insurance to the individual needs of each vehicle, and we work with our customers to find the best plans.
Every car is unique, and you need a dependable insurance company that can protect your prized pieces of history and luxurious vehicles. We understand car collectors and their needs because we’re also avid car enthusiasts and collectors.
If your vehicle needs insurance, request a quote from us today. You can also contact us with any questions you may have about how our insurance can help you preserve your prized vehicles.