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Description
Basically an Edsel without that ridiculous nasal impliment, the Super 88 was in fact the car that forced Ford to make the decision to built the controversial failure and its over promoted drive into motoring oblivion.

The Oldsmobile 88 of 1957 was in fact the 3rd generation of the car, which had been in production since 1949. For 1957 only, the basic 88 was officially named Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show car. However, the only badging was an "88" underneath each taillight. Also for 1957 the "J2" option was offered, with three 2-barrel carburettors, similar to the Pontiac Tri-Power. The Super 88 continued as the upscale mid-line series. Under the bonnet, the Rocket V8 increased to a 277hp 6.1L V8 for all models across the board. Although rare, three speed manual transmissions were still available. Styling highlights were more evolutional than radical overall with three-piece rear window styling utilized on some models. Oldsmobile revived station wagons for the first time since 1950 with the Super 88 Fiesta being a four-door hardtop design. In 1957, Oldsmobile added a safety deep-recessed steering wheel.

The 1958 model is best known in Oldsmobile as the year of the "ChromeMobile" thanks to tremendous splatterings of chrome trim on the body, particularly on the higher-priced Super 88 and Ninety-Eight models. The styling was advertised by Olds as the "Mobile Look." The Dynamic 88 debuted in 1958 and lasted through 1966 positioned as the entry level model below the Super 88. This model featured a more economical Rocket V8 than its more expensive linemates, a de-tuned 265hp version of the Rocket V8 with two-barrel carburation. Super 88 models were powered by a four-barrel 300hp version of that engine as standard equipment with a J-2 option featuring three two-barrel carburettors and 310hp. A new option for 1958 was a "Trans-Portable" radio that could be removed from the instrument panel through the glove compartment and used as a portable radio for beaches, picnics, etc. thanks to portable batteries. A revised instrument panel was highlighted by a new deep-dish steering wheel with "horn bars" replacing the long-standing horn ring still common during that period.

Despite an economic recession that cut into new car sales industry wide, and especially affected the medium-priced car market that Olds competed in, Oldsmobile saw only a slight decline in sales for 1958 and even rose in industry standings to fourth-place behind the "Low-Priced Three" of Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth, while surpassing a now-floundering sister division Buick on the sales charts for the first time in many years. Oldsmobile was also way ahead of other middle-priced competitors such as sister division Pontiac, Mercury, Dodge and Chrysler, along with Ford Motor Company's all-new and ill-fated Edsel, and Chrysler Corporation's DeSoto - the latter two nameplates of which would fade into oblivion within the next three years.

The Oldsmobile 88 would continue in production until 1999, over which it went through 10 generations, the last being a badge-engineered version of the Buick LeSabre.

Description
Basically an Edsel without that ridiculous nasal impliment, the Super 88 was in fact the car that forced Ford to make the decision to built the controversial failure and its over promoted drive into motoring oblivion.

The Oldsmobile 88 of 1957 was in fact the 3rd generation of the car, which had been in production since 1949. For 1957 only, the basic 88 was officially named Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show car. However, the only badging was an "88" underneath each taillight. Also for 1957 the "J2" option was offered, with three 2-barrel carburettors, similar to the Pontiac Tri-Power. The Super 88 continued as the upscale mid-line series. Under the bonnet, the Rocket V8 increased to a 277hp 6.1L V8 for all models across the board. Although rare, three speed manual transmissions were still available. Styling highlights were more evolutional than radical overall with three-piece rear window styling utilized on some models. Oldsmobile revived station wagons for the first time since 1950 with the Super 88 Fiesta being a four-door hardtop design. In 1957, Oldsmobile added a safety deep-recessed steering wheel.

The 1958 model is best known in Oldsmobile as the year of the "ChromeMobile" thanks to tremendous splatterings of chrome trim on the body, particularly on the higher-priced Super 88 and Ninety-Eight models. The styling was advertised by Olds as the "Mobile Look." The Dynamic 88 debuted in 1958 and lasted through 1966 positioned as the entry level model below the Super 88. This model featured a more economical Rocket V8 than its more expensive linemates, a de-tuned 265hp version of the Rocket V8 with two-barrel carburation. Super 88 models were powered by a four-barrel 300hp version of that engine as standard equipment with a J-2 option featuring three two-barrel carburettors and 310hp. A new option for 1958 was a "Trans-Portable" radio that could be removed from the instrument panel through the glove compartment and used as a portable radio for beaches, picnics, etc. thanks to portable batteries. A revised instrument panel was highlighted by a new deep-dish steering wheel with "horn bars" replacing the long-standing horn ring still common during that period.

Despite an economic recession that cut into new car sales industry wide, and especially affected the medium-priced car market that Olds competed in, Oldsmobile saw only a slight decline in sales for 1958 and even rose in industry standings to fourth-place behind the "Low-Priced Three" of Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth, while surpassing a now-floundering sister division Buick on the sales charts for the first time in many years. Oldsmobile was also way ahead of other middle-priced competitors such as sister division Pontiac, Mercury, Dodge and Chrysler, along with Ford Motor Company's all-new and ill-fated Edsel, and Chrysler Corporation's DeSoto - the latter two nameplates of which would fade into oblivion within the next three years.

The Oldsmobile 88 would continue in production until 1999, over which it went through 10 generations, the last being a badge-engineered version of the Buick LeSabre.