Benefiting from a body-off restoration, this 1954 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire convertible is powered by a rebuilt 324/202 HP V-8 engine with a rebuilt Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Finished entirely in light blue, the body is set with restored chrome and brightwork such as the side spears, bumpers, grille, window surrounds, twin sideview mirrors, emblems, hood ornament and more, inside and out. Topped by a dark blue canvas convertible top, the interior is correctly restored in two-tone light blue and white with dark blue trim. Passengers will adore the power windows and power bench seat, the dash beset with an AM radio and in-dash clock, while power steering and power brakes make the convertible infinitely easier to maneuver in various situations. Detailed throughout, the spare tire in the trunk appears to be original, but the wide whitewalls on the ground look show-worthy and are set upon blue-painted steel wheels with full-width polished hubcaps. The Oldsmobile 98 was first introduced in 1941 and served as Oldsmobile’s flagship car, with the longest wheelbase and most standard amenities and features of any other model in the division. The 90-series Oldsmobiles were comprised of the 96 and the 98, the 9 denoting the 90-series, the 6 or the 8 denoting the number of cylinders that engine was displaced by. Thus, a 98 would be a 90-series, 8-cylinder model. For 1954, Oldsmobile would introduce an entirely restyled lineup, ushering in a wholly modern, 1950s look across the board. The 98 would continue as the flagship model, and would be available in three body styles, the convertible called Starfire, named after the 1953 GM Motorama show car, which was in turn named after the Lockheed F-94 Starfire Air Force jet. In a unique twist, the production Starfire of 1954 looked refreshingly similar to the concept car, creating a nice sensation at the dealerships, generating 6,800 sales of the opulent convertible.
