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Fresh out of school in 1953 Richard Weber landed a field surveyor’s job with what was then the Army Map Service. The young man reported to work in Rock Island, Ill., and was impressed when his boss drove up in a new 1953 Oldsmobile 98 two-door hardtop.
“That car looked 40 feet long,” Weber recalls. “Of course, I couldn’t afford such a car,” Weber said, “but I filed it away in my memory as something I would like to have one day.”
Over the years, Weber has owned several antique automobiles and even restored one. With this experience under his belt, he decided to look for a fully restored 1953 Oldsmobile. “That’s the way to go,” he says emphatically.
Weber began shopping the usual old-car ads and eventually located a 1953 Oldsmobile 98 convertible in Illinois. Since the ad sounded promising, photographs of the car were obtained, and the Olds looked fine, although the pictures were not of professional quality. Weber was interested enough in the car that he hired an appraiser in Illinois to take a look at it in suburban Chicago.
“It looks brand-new in the wrapper,” came the appraiser’s report. A deal was worked out and the Oldsmobile was trucked to Weber’s home in Virginia.
The car was on the upper tier of the truck, Weber explains, so the only part he could see was the bottom. “Let me tell you, the bottom of the car is not only rust-free, but as clean as the top of the car.”
When the 4,119-pound car was unloaded, Weber did the obligatory walk-around. “From the moment I saw it I loved it,” he said.
His Oldsmobile, one of 7,521 manufactured, sold new for a base price of $3,229. The 8 x 15-inch white-sidewall tires carried an additional price of $33.10. They support the convertible on a 124-inch wheelbase with each wheel highlighted by a 40-spoke wire wheel hubcap with an Oldsmobile crest at the hub. Oldsmobile in 1953 offered its solid-color cars in 17 colors, while the convertible tops were available in four colors.
Beneath the engine hood is the powerful 303-cubic-inch V-8 with “Oldsmobile Rocket” decals on the valve covers. The horsepower output is 165. The 1953 Oldsmobile’s previous owner rebuilt the engine and installed hardened valve seats so the engine can burn unleaded gasoline.
Due to a fire at the General Motors Hydramatic transmission plant in 1953, many Oldsmobiles were delivered with either a Buick Dynaflow transmission or a manual transmission. Weber considers himself fortunate to have a Hydramatic transmission designed for the car. Weber reports that the reverse gear, with the engine shut down, serves as a parking gear.
“The car has full power,” Weber says.
This includes steering, brakes, windows, seat and top. The windows, seat and top are operated hydraulically. By twisting a single handle above the rearview mirror, the top is released for lowering. On the rearmost rib supporting the top, near the rear window, is a dome light. Once lowered, the black top can be covered with a burgundy boot attached by 24 snaps. The boot matches the burgundy and ivory interior.
The previous owner replaced the autronic eye on the dashboard with a new one. The old one, along with dozens of other parts, was in the cavernous trunk when the car was delivered. The trunk is so large the spare tire stands vertically on the right side of the cargo area. Weber said he always liked the proportions of the 98 models. “That extra length is what does it for me,” he says.
The Oldsmobile is equipped with aftermarket curb feelers, which Weber is pleased to have. “They really do help protect the white-sidewall tires,” he says. “It wouldn’t be a 1950s car without them.”