1953 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth Tour

[@allenjackson2846]

This the first real muscle car! This is what started the muscle car trend that we all know today. Love it!

[@carwhiz90]

Uh no the 1964 Pontiac GTO started the muscle car trend. Muscle cars are big long two doors with massive v8 engines

[@phenomenologicalparadox5216]

Andrew Dion 61 impala 61 Ventura 62 dart 62 Galaxie 62 Catalina 64 Thunderbolt All have v8s and have two doors, if you think they aren't muscle cars you're out of your mind. I think the rocket 88 was the first muscle car.

[@carwhiz90]

What?? Don't believe me?? Look it up

[@MrTheMiguelox]

+BluebirdFLYs The galaxie was a family sedan, not a muscle car. It was the 2nd most sold car in america. It had a marshmellow suspension and even a wagon. And it could be had even with a 6.

[@djcameron2265]

+MrTheMiguelox It was primarily a family car but they did make some that were very serious muscle cars and they made killer race cars. same story as an Impala. They were platforms that were good for everything. two door sedan, four door family car, wagon, hot rod driver, race car. Anything from a straight 6 to the baddest V8 available. And you actually had a roomy car that you could carry all your buddies in and not be squished like sardines in a can. I'd love to have a galaxie of any configuration.

[@1966gto1000]

Our family had a '53 Super 88 2 dr. I still have pic's of myself in my kiddie car seat. It was turquoise inside and out. It didn't have factory air, but dad added it as an under-dash aftermarket option. A/C was rare in '53 - even in a premium car like an Olds. A few years later he bought a '57 Super 88. Same color scheme but 2 tone. White and turquoise. These cars were works of art.

[@muiscnight]

I love his old car videos its amazing to see how much times have changed I mean look at all the other cars in the lot next to it its almost totally different

[@ObsoleteOddity]

Beautiful machine ! I wish they bring back those opening forward compartment quarter windows in cars; they just let the right amount of air in.

[@Westcoast802]

Wow, 2-speed automatic transmission! I think a test drive video with one of these would be interesting (You know something like when does it shift, RPM at 60 MPH, How's the gear ratio). I simply love these 1950 Classic Cars. And I also think that Kyle's videos are the best car tour videos on KZbin. RESPECT

[@Whosback1]

My first car was a 2 door Oldsmobile rocket 88 with 3 speed on the column. Great engine. Had the heads shaved and installed in full racer cam and solid lifter. Drove that car for almost 9 years till the body started to Break loss from the frame. The bought a 1977 rocket covetable with a blown engine and transmission and installed the power train in that one from the 53. Drove that one for another 5 years and sold it. Had the body done over and painted fire engine red. Interion was pleated and rolled black Naugahyde. Still running in my home town of So Milwaukee Wi.. Looks good to this day.

[@Jerry-ok8gj]

The robe rails were in my Dad's 55 98.

[@Scotty5064350]

That was my first car. Loved it.

[@toyoscio]

+Marvin Scott the crusher did as well.

[@McBanditHope]

Damn, who pissed in your coffee this morning?

[@harmondoesrandomthings4545]

@@toyoscio brh that is just no

[@boots235]

The "S" on the transmission indicator stands for SUPER. In that position it holds the transmission in 3rd gear..for stop and go driving and better acceleration. Once on the way lift the lever to "Dr" (DRIVE) and it will shift into 4th gear.

[@TheMsdos25]

I didn't know they had 4 speeds in the 50s. And to think Toyota still sells them today.

[@devinthierault]

@@TheMsdos25 My Impala ss is 4 speed and they finally went to 6 speed in 2015 with impalas new gen

[@JohnSMichaels]

3 speed hydromatics in 5os S stood for super or second.

[@hottrodscars]

Hi - - I also own a 1947 Olds 98 with a Hydramatic and a 1955 Olds Super 88 with a hydramatic as well, also a '55 and '56 Cadillac, also hydros. In the shop manuals for the hydramatic, it is interesting to note that they refer to 1st gear as "breakaway". Usually they shift into second at 5 - 7 mph. 1st gear being so low it would be impractical to have a 1st gear on the quadrant. Hudson's, Kaiser and Nash also used the hydramatics in those years if they were equipped with an automatic.

[@jasperedwards81]

Great video. Regarding the transmission, TechMaven and VictrolaJazz are right. The transmission selector says Hydra-Matic. Throughout the 1950's all Hydra-Matics were 4 speed units. Also true that some 53 Olds and Cadillacs had Dyna-Flow after the fire at the Hydra-Matic plant and the Dyna-Flow was a 2 speed. Only way this would be a 2 speed is if there was actually a Dyna-Flow transmission in it but the gear selector still said Hydra-Matic.

[@AlexKravchenko-uo3ds]

I have to say, I have great respect for classic American cars (mainly from the '40s, the '50s, the '60s and probably even the early '70s). They may be big and cumbersome, but that doesn't make them any less desirable. I'm mainly into British and Italian cars, but it is so hard to ignore the classic land yachts from Detroit.

[@toyoscio]

+Alex Kravchenko ..unless you get into a crash driving one.

[@Scotty5064350]

Well don't get into a crash

[@mattlf9120]

@@toyoscio damn who pissed in your coffee this morning?

[@toyoscio]

@@Scotty5064350 Lol true

[@toyoscio]

@@mattlf9120 Lol no one. Stating facts. I believe there is a KZbin video of a recent Malibu crashing into a 50s Bel Air

[@bigrick4401]

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful machine with us.

[@dragonballz768]

Man,that car is CLEAN!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

[@muffs55mercury61]

I had a '53 98 back in 1978. Had some fun days in that car. For a large car of that era the fuel mileage wasn't bad, maybe 13 mpg city, 17 on the highway.

[@demorineau]

Wonderful - I was born in 53', and I must say this car is in better shape than I am. My first car was a 67' Chevy Nova that I bought used in 1971.

[@suburbanator91]

This Oldsmobile has on Over Head Valve (OHV) engine which Buick came out with and then made standard by Oldsmobile in 1949. Chevy however did not have OHV until 1955. I am an Oldsmobile person any day of the week; Oldsmobile was always a step ahead of Chevy. Awesome find Kyle.

[@Thecarguy1254]

These cars are absolutely the best. American cars of the 50s-60s are the best ever.

[@kalterkaplan1993]

At 9:26 he states"Handle built into the backseat". Not correct. That is known as a robe cord. It was there to hang your robe/blanket from which was used in cold weather to cover up with to keep warm. Surprised to still see it on a 1953 model as, by that time, cars had had heaters as standard equipment for many years. It was a feature from the earlier days of autos before they had heaters. You covered up with a heavy blanket to keep warm while motoring.

[@DerAdventurer]

The first thing it comes on my mind by watching a video of these golden era automobiles is: PRIDE! They are all about American Pride of a time progress seemed to have no end and The American Way of Life was about to reach its best goal. It looks awesome, it sounds awesome and its soul ROARS the name of USA! Thank you for sharing Kyle. Great times this automobile carries on its wheels.

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Shades of CUBA!!! My first car was a 55 Olds Rocket 88. I had to sit on a cushion at age 15 to see over the wheel! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

[@zanjani13]

very nice classic Olds, i love these olds cars they were usually turned into street rods at the time.

[@studmuffin8859]

This was my first car in High School, 1966. Great car, had tons of fun with it. Two ash trays in dash, one for driver and one for passenger. 4 barrel Rochester sucked down gas like it was free, almost was back then. I installed a chrome air cleaner and a plastic skull on the back window shelf with red light bulbs in the eye sockets to supplement the brake lights, very cool! Those were the good ole days. By the way, I thought my Hydramatic was a 4 speed auto....? Next car was a '61(or 62?)Corvair, 3 speed manual on the floor, also a ton of fun car especially on the gravel/dirt roads in the mountains of Colorado.

[@joeldude76]

i love the simplicity and how back then its like so hightech they had to advertise it like omg this thing has power steering but now all cars do so they dont do that i just love it

[@boots235]

Pretty sure the transmission is the standard GM hydramatic...which is 4 speed.

[@Scotty5064350]

You are so right.

[@frankeggers4024]

Wrong! The Hydramatic transmission had FOUR speeds. It was like this: N - you know what that is D - used all 4 speeds as appropriate S - used only the first three speeds unless you went too fast for third gear L - was actually second; it started in second and stayed in second. R - you know what that is, except in R with the engine stopped, it was like P.

[@donstanley8021]

Excellent! Oldsmobile was way ahead of the times with the Hydramatic transmission! I owned a '54 Olds in the late 50's!

[@MrRemo58]

Correct , I've had at least five old hydros, they have four forward gears

[@Scotty5064350]

Frank, you are so right. My 53 had 4 speed Hydramatic.

[@ItsIdaho]

Amazing sound. Love the interior and damn that horn.

[@unclede44]

Super, and it is a 4-speed Hydra-matic. When the engine was off, you parked it in R, which held like Park. The Park position was added in 1956.

[@DmytroBaldr82]

One of my favourite American cars. Very nice condition. Thanks for the video!

[@rml695]

What's amazing is how those numbers are not unheard of in a lot of family sedan 4 and 6 cylinders. Wonder where we'll be in the next 50 years.

[@benderbendingrofriguez3300]

Saabkyle04...what happened to you? I missed this old reviews.

[@Buzzkut37]

You did a great job showing the car. Beautiful Car

[@kimchipig]

It's not a two speed automatic transmission. it is a four speed Hydra-matic.

[@donaldrentfrow4333]

Apsolutely !

[@1966gto1000]

My dad bought a 2 dr. '53 Super 88 which was the popular medium green, inside and out. It PS and PB but no A/C, which he quickly added as under dash unit, a popular item in his hardware store in those days in hot and steamy S. Louisiana. Later, we bought a '57 Super 88 2 tone(white and green with factory spinner caps). Was that a beauty, besides being solid performer - for a 4,500 pound car!

[@Jerry-ok8gj]

I love Oldsmobile! This one is a beauty!!!😊

[@matrox]

Its Ironic that in the early and mid 50s V8s were putting out 150 or 160 HP, then in the 60s and 70s they were putting out 250 to 400plus HP, then in the 80s and 90s V8 power dropped to 175- 250 plus. Now we are back up to 375 - 700plus.

[@mjobermeyer09]

matrox a lot of cars dont even need a V8 to produce 300 plus horsepower.

[@Toerme]

Old V8's sound absolutely amazing...

[@Sonny6116]

Quick fact for ya Kyle, the window vents when all the way turned around we're jokingly called poor mans air conditioning.

[@Theonestrongbusleader]

I like these cars more!! Wonderful job bro.

[@moonrich3492]

Thanks for the great explanations about the 4-speed transmission, guys. Now I could use some advice on dealing with a rusty car body. Do the chemical sealers work or is acid dipping or sandblasting best? I also saw the video of the Aussie who dunks his rusty metal pieces in a mixture of molasses and water for a couple of weeks with good results though it's hard to dunk an entire car body that way!

[@FVMACHINES]

My late dad loved this car... nice videos!!

[@JeremyLikeCorvettes]

its a very cool car , very cool mirror for the passenger and a very good video, well done Kyle!

[@igeekone]

This will be killer when it's fully restored. There aren't too many of these around. I wish you could buy this and do it up like your Fairlane.

[@WitchyWhale]

i hope you show more antique cars.

[@TheCarArchives96]

the 1949-1953 Oldsmobile 88 was assembled in Wentzville, Missouri; Flint, Michigan Lake Orion, Michigan.

[@jamiedodd1991]

Wow!!!!! I want this car. That is a sweet find. I love the old classic cars.

[@SuperSportSS]

This is the most beautiful car on Kyle's channel. Bar none.

[@atmauta]

Nice car, recently I saw similar car i Germany. I showed it in my mowies.

[@hottrodscars]

Not trying to be fussy, but for those old car enthusiasts who would like to paint their engine the exact color it was when new, Google Bill Hirsch engine enamels, they have a 700 degree temperature rating, top quality engine enamels. I have used it a lot over the years.

[@NESherv]

The Rocket 88 really was one of the "First in Flight!"

[@marquis281v8]

the hydra-matic was a 4-speed automatic (not a 2 speed as noted in the description and video), very impressive and heavy for its day

[@raylyd]

shes a nice car they can never make a car as beautiful as this..

[@bassmaster1231]

Why don't cars look this good today? Late 40s 50s and mid 60s cars are by far the best looking cars then the 70s came and it was all down hill from there

[@YOUGOTIT210]

+Connor Morse The car manufacturers know what their competition is doing and no one wants to take a chance of bringing out an Edsel. More importantly, the government has so many regulations that the manufactures are restricted on what they can design and bring to market. The best thing that happened in the new era was electronic fuel injection. Old cars with carborators were very unreliable and subject to carb. repair; and with them burning leaded fuel, they were pretty much done for when they reached 75,000 miles on the clock.

[@toyoscio]

+Connor Morse They may be good looking, but definitely not crashworthy.

[@Scotty5064350]

+williamabeck46 Tell the government to kiss our ass.

[@fayhutton100]

Just variations of boxes on wheels.

[@HoccyB]

I kept smiling through this video! Great car!

[@ThatGuyNamedJJ]

you give the best reviews for cars!

[@rootbeerfan6]

Dude a classic robin-egg blue beauty. A baby land boat. I love old cars. Hell I like almost any car, it just has to have style.

[@emjayay]

Yes, it is 4 speeds not 2. But with a (non-multiplying) fluid coupling not a torque converter.

[@richardfeibel3154]

the hydramatic transmission in 1953 was a four speed not a two speed as stated. it had low with 2 speeds "'s"" for super 3 rd gear and'' d ''for drive 4th gear. there were two versions of the engine the 88 was a 2barrel carb delivering 150hp and the super88 and 98 had a 4 brl.delivering 165hp also in 53 there was a custom 98 holiday fiesta conv.with a `170hp engine .same disp.

[@GAMEPLAYEREN]

Very Good review best car reviewer in the world.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

this is at an auction right? btw kyle youve got a knack for dinging BEAUTIFUL cars. especially the vintage ones

[@TheCarArchives96]

the transmission on the 1949-1953 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Transmission 4-speed automatic Hydramatic 3-speed manual

[@yamahonkawazuki]

very nice find.

[@jaratt85]

That little stumble off idle sounds like the accelerator pump needed adjusted. Pretty sweet old car, I've always had a thing for the old Olds and Packards, though honestly the best 50's car you could buy is a Pontiac. It came with the venerable 389 and a Turbo Hydramatic 4 speed auto that the rest of GM wouldn't get until the late 60's/70's and Ford & Mopar wouldn't come out with a 4 speed auto until the late 80's/early 90's. The best part being that because it's the same engine as the GTO, there's a decent amount of performance parts for them.

[@Biztek764]

I love 50s cars they are awesome 😎

[@Scotty5064350]

That car had a 4 speed outo.

[@charlesmichael9188]

3 speed..Dr...S...Lo

[@packard5682]

All of the early GM Hydramatic transmissions are 4 speeds. The quadrant selector shows 3 speeds but there are actually 2 more gears in drive. Even though it doesn't show a Park quadrant, there is a park function in the Reverse. When you stop, put the gear selector in Reverse and shut the engine off and you will hear a click and when the hydraulic pressure drops, a parking pawl will engage.

[@Scotty5064350]

Maybe it showed 3 but it was a 4 speed Hydramatic.

[@T120RT]

I owned a '51 back in the day. It was a four speed hydromatic. The Hydromatics were all four speeds. They were also popular in drag racing. B&M modified them for racing as did other companies.

[@datboiwes333]

For everybody wondering "S" on the shifter means 2nd gear only. Today it would be marked with a number 2 but back then Oldsmobile used the letter S.

[@JungleYT]

HOW is it so well preserved??? Was it sitting in a garage? WHAT is that flashing red light on the brake ( ? ) lever and is it original? - 5:44

[@GarciaRemi]

Beautiful Car, Oldsmobile 50's are sick!

[@josef1610]

WOAH! I can't believe this things are still on sale. =)

[@charles1964]

The shift quadrant @1:17 with the "S" (Super) calls out the Trans as a "Roto-Matic" which was sort of a 4 speed with 2 Hi and Low Ranges...

[@Scotty5064350]

This 53 Olds. might not look great but it was my first that I bought for $75.00. That's why I would like to have another. It was fast for that year. The Olds I like the best was my 1963 Olds. Starfire. I would like to see them bring back the Starfire.I won at the drags with them & never lost a race in my class. Also had Olds. 98s.

[@applescruff1969]

The first Rock N' Roll song was about this car. "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats.

[@TheAffebaffe]

Thats awesome, More cars like this one!

[@daveinfl26]

@hitssquad I believe the wipers back then were vacuum powered, not electrical, so the engine wasn't making enough, er, suction when idling. I may be wrong though.

[@counkev]

Wow it is amazing for a 53 Year old car with 81k miles to start right up, and the entire car is in fantastic condition. By the way does anyone know what the "S" in the gear shift means?

[@dave11686]

What a beautiful Olds!

[@cameraman4brainiac]

vacuum lines might have been leaky. i recall that vacuum powered wipers never really worked well, but they tend to get to full travel at higher engine speeds.

[@gentle285]

This is just truly awesome.

[@jameswester1604]

Spewed gasoline from the exhaust when you revved it, pretty awesome old car

[@1970426HemiCuda]

Kyle, Did this car have a water leak in it at one point or smell moldy inside because i noticed stains on both rear interior door panels?

[@ladyyuna2000]

Really nices looking car I like how it look from all angle.

[@charleswatkins9554]

My dad had 2 I used one for my first job

[@ca13814]

I love the needle on the speedometer!!!

[@britforlife32]

what a fucking beautiful car, i mean i love new cars, but this .... this blows me away!

[@JeremyLikeCorvettes]

i dont admire the looks from the outside but the inside...... its just a lot alot better then i thought

[@jammer96]

Nice ride Kyle! I like the parking brake light. lol

[@seauryakumar]

Like it when he says “back in the day”. Its 58 years, isn’t it.

[@kennyc388]

Nice video. No wasted time.

[@dlwatib]

@ 9:24 That's not a handle! It won't hold your weight if you yank on it. It's the robe cord (for hanging lap blankets on). In the days before car heaters you needed blankets to keep warm in the car in cold weather. GM didn't start putting heaters in cars as standard equipment until the 1960s.

[@MAGNUM05]

I love the horn on this one

[@scootergeorge9576]

My father had a 1953 Olds Super 88 two door sedan with a 3 speed stick. It was white with a bluie top. Opposite of the one in the video. The Super 88 had the 4 barrel V-8 like the larger 98. You could call it an early muscle car; big motor in smaller car. Like they did with the GTO.

[@coololds85]

Nice car, I also love that white buick reatta at 2:30

[@biggkev4]

That car looks good man

[@LTShaun]

@lhrmeonom it means the steering is powered, so you can steer with 2 fingers instead of having to use the force of both of your arms. Without power steering, the car would be very difficult to steer while stopped.

[@13bREmazda]

The '50s and '60s were the best decades for car designs...early '70s too

[@39thala]

So, I'm assuming you apparently didn't know what 'S' means on the shift indicator since you oddly enough, skipped right over that one when you were naming off the gears. It stands for second gear in case anyone was wondering.

[@frankwilliams5457]

BINGO.

[@seanya9989]

It would be amazing to see a test drive of this. Is it possible kyle?

[@TJC450]

its amazing how far weve come.

[@GAMEPLAYEREN]

Can you make review or exterior, interior walkaround on a Hudson Hornet from 1958?

[@lilj0hn316]

@saabkyle04 Do you have to be a dealer to buys cars at this particular auction?

[@Illousion1]

Fantastic Kyle!