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1956 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday 4 Door Hardtop

Growing up in the Fifities, Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Engines were “hot” cars. 1955 and 1956 models were my favorite. This is a four door Hard top. That means there is no center post between the side front and side rear window. The two door Hard top cars has the same feature but were more sporty and many more of them were produced. When it came to restoring cars, the two door was and is the most popular. This is the third four door Hard Top car that I had. I like them because the have the room of a four door sedan but the sporty look of the two door Hard top.

I found this car in Georgia. It was completely restored.  It looks great now. It was lowered. I put standard front coils springs on the front and took the lowering blocks off the rear axle. Now I can in and out of my driveway without scraping the frame. You can see that the car has A/C installed. It is a great system. It will keep you cool in the outside temps of 95 degree range without any problems. It doesn’t have power steering. That is a negative when you try to turn the steering wheel when almost standing still. I’m planning on using this car for car tours and general cruising. It is great for four people because of the ease of getting in and out of a four door.

The following info is from Goggle AI:

A 1956 Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door Holiday hardtop is a classic American car known for its stylish design and powerful “Rocket” V8 engine. It features a pillarless, hardtop design, offering a sleek and open look. This model is part of the Super 88 series, which was a step up in trim and luxury from the standard 88.

Key Features and Characteristics:

  • Hardtop Design:
The “Holiday” designation indicates the pillarless, hardtop body style, offering a coupe-like appearance with four doors.
  • Rocket V8 Engine:
It was powered by the 324 cubic inch Rocket V8, which produced 240 horsepower in the Super 88.
  • Jetaway Hydra-Matic:
A new four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission was introduced for 1956, offering a “Park” position and simplifying maintenance compared to the previous version.
  • Styling:
The 1956 Super 88 featured a split grille, revised taillights and deck, and new side chrome trim.
  • Interior:
Inside, the car featured an oval speedometer, a foot-operated parking brake, and optional features like power seats, power windows, and air conditioning.
  • Luxury and Performance:
The Super 88 was positioned as a more luxurious and powerful option within the 88 series, offering a step up from the standard 88.

Additional Details:

  • The Super 88 was a popular model for Oldsmobile, with the Holiday coupe being the most popular 88 style in 1956.
  • The pillarless hardtop design was a relatively new feature for Oldsmobile in 1956, with the 88 Holiday and 98 Holiday being among the first four-door hardtops ever produced.
  • The “Rocket” engine was a hallmark of Oldsmobile’s performance image in the 1950s.
  • The 1956 Super 88 was available in a variety of color combinations, both inside and out.
  • The 1956 model also included new features like a foot-operated parking brake and a Jetaway Hydra-Matic transmission with a Park position.