1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 - the First Muscle Car

In 1949, a new era in the U.S. automobile industry began. This was the beginning of the horsepower race, the super cars and eventually the muscle car. The 1949 Olds Rocket 88 was the first step to what would become the first sustained march into the muscle car era. Within a few years, the big engine little car concept would become an industry wide trend.

In 1949 Oldsmobile basically kept the new body style they put out in 1948. A couple of months after the unveiling of the 49 Olds they brought out a "hard top convertible. This was the first time this body style became available on production cars with Cadillac and Buick each bringing out their versions. The hardtops debuted only on the top of the line models so the Rocket 88 didn't get a hardtop until the next year

The Olds OHV V-8 engine was the big news in 1949 though, when they, along with Cadillac, produced the first OHV V-8s, in a sustainable quantity according to the Oldsmobile V-8 History website. In 1917 to 1919, Chevrolet produced a 265 CID OHV V-8, but production ceased in 1919. The engine that Olds came out with in 1949 was an over-square design. That is to say, the bore was greater than the stroke. Thus, breathing was enhanced through the use of larger valves, while reduced piston travel led to decreased friction. "Slipper" pistons nestled between the crankshaft throws, hydraulic valve lifters were employed in the interest of quieter operation, and five main bearings promoted smoothness. It had 303 cubic inches and was rated at 135 horsepower according to the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide writing in HowStuffWorks.

The Olds engineers wanted to name the engine "Kettering" after Charles Kettering who was so instrumental in building the engine, but couldn't because Kettering was still alive, so they settled on the name "Rocket" according to Gibson Butler, who worked on the engine, at Auto History Online.

Other improvements for 1949 included larger brakes and a new carburetor designed to minimize the problem of vapor lock. Hydra-Matic became standard equipment on all eight-cylinder models, and a downshift device, appropriately called "Whirlaway," contributed to blazing acceleration.

The new Oldsmobile Futuramic 98 line was announced with the Rocket V8 engine, along with the six-cylinder 76, on November 27, 1948, and appeared in Oldsmobile showrooms during December, about a month behind the new Cadillac. Reportedly, the original intent had been to use the new Rocket engine only in the 98 models. But Sherrod E. Skinner, Oldsmobile's general manager, came up with the idea of putting the new V-8 into the smaller, 76 model, some 350 pounds lighter than the larger car. The new car was called the "Rocket 88" and fit between the model 76 with the 6 cylinder and the model 98 with the V-8. It was a real muscle car and promptly replaced the 98 as Oldsmobile's bestseller.

The Rocket 88 was a last-minute addition to the 1949 line and featured the year's new high-compression overhead-valve V-8 with 303 CID and 135 HP. It was quite a bit lighter than the Olds 98, as it used the 76 model which shared the Chevy/Pontiac bodyshell, and was a legitimate super car.

The Rocket 88 dominated NASCAR stock-car racing in 1949. Although Oldsmobile's official involvement in racing was limited, the 88 promptly preceded to clean up in competition. The 88 was chosen as the Pace Car for the 1949 Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day Race, and was soon setting stock car records all over the country. "Of the nine races staged by the NASCAR [National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing] Grand National division in 1949," according to Olds historian Dennis Casteele, "Oldsmobile took the checkered cloth in six of them."

The 1949-1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was designated a Milestone for its outstanding blend of styling and performance. It can legitimately be considered Detroit's first high-volume "muscle car." Even though the Cadillac had both a OHV V-8 and the hardtop to match Oldsmobile, it was the Olds Rocket 88 that really caught the publics eye and its pocket book. If it hadn't been for the Rocket 88, Oldsmobile would likely have been just another car even with the new engine.

Because the Rocket 88 allowed Oldsmobile to go racing, it boosted sales, as racing pretty well dictated what car would be selling on Monday after a Sunday race. Back at the start of NASCAR the winning car probably dictated sales even more than it does today.

I owned a Red 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 convertible with a white top and black upholstery, which was almost identical to the 1949. It was one of the prettiest and best cars I ever owned and I can honestly say it was everything that Oldsmobile bragged about in their advertising.

Sources:

Much of the information above was from Bill Vance at http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/bv/rocket88.htm

And his Reflections on Automotive History by Bill Vance, Volumes I, II & III available through www.billvanceautohistory.ca

The Auto Editors At Consumer Guide at http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1948-1949-oldsmobile-futuramic-983.htm were also contributors of much of the information,

Olds Historian Dennis Casteele http://www.amazon.com/Cars-Oldsmobile-Crestline-Dennis-Casteele/dp/0879386770

Gibson Butler http://www.autohistory.org/feature_8.html

Olds V-8 History http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofhst.htm