A Tale of Two Oldsmobiles

Donna loves her 442, but every now and then, I remind her that I have the "real" Oldsmobile in the family.  I bought mine a few months before I met her.  It is a 1956 Olds "88" that was purchased new in Van Nuys California, and was a one-owner car up until his death in the early spring of 2005.

His kids didn't want the car----only the money that it might bring.  A classic car dealership in Lynnwood, Washington (just above Seattle), bought it, sent a driver down there and brought the car back in an enclosed trailer, and detailed it up a little.  The very first day they'd posted it online, my buddy happened to see it on HIS computer, and knowing I was in the market for a mid-50's Olds, he called me and said, "You'd better get over here and look at this one."

I did.  Then I called the dealership and asked them to hold it until I could get up there the next day.  I jumped in one of the Bugs and was there late that same night.  Saw the car in the morning, drove it, bought it.  Arranged to have them deliver it down here in the same enclosed trailer they'd just brought it all the way up from Southern California in.

The car is completely original, right down to the owner's manual in the glove-box.  The black paint on the car is FACTORY.  It's nicked in places and a touch "weary" in others, but I haven't been able to bring myself yet, to putting a sander to 55-year old paint that is still pretty presentable.  It WILL need to be "re-shot" eventually though.  The old "324" Rocket V-8 still purrs right along, through the old 4-speed "Hydra-Matic" transmission.

Shortly after we brought Donna's 442 back from Montana, I got the two of them out there together for a few shots.

Donna's '72 "442" is faster and a lot sportier, but being a "50's kid" from Potrero Hill...........that old '56 is a "Mikey car!"

.....and that old black Olds is a "time capsule" every now and then when I feel the need to "escape" the 21st century for awhile, get away from the news....these blogs, and whatever else might be getting to me. 

I pick a nice day during the week or on a Sunday when traffic is fairly light.  Cruisin' down American Legion or wherever else.......little hula girl wigglin' on the back shelf, dice swinging gently from the rear view mirror, glass-packs rumblin' back there........pure magic, baby!

And for a hour or so..........I don't have to be in 2011 or anywhere NEAR it!  The only thing I DON'T have is Wolfman Jack howlin' through the radio, and no Friday or Saturday night cruise was ever really complete without that guy.  THAT piece of graffiti died when HE did.

Rest peaceful wherever you are, brother......."MY MY......HAVE MERCY.......GIMME SOME MO!"................"WHO'S that callin' on da Wolfman TELEPHONE??"

.............it was really SOMETHING...........I feel bad for anybody who wasn't around then.

These are more than just old cars to me,   They're an era and an attitude that I don't have to give up, in this dismal day & age of synthetics, pinkos and Toyotas!