1940 Oldsmobile Series 90 Custom Cruiser Sedan

1940 Oldsmobile Series 90 Custom Cruiser Sedan

R.E. Olds founded Oldsmobile Motor Company in 1897.  He sold out in 1904 to the Smith family, who soon sold it to Billy Durant, who formed General Motors Corporation in 1908.  Oldsmobile Motor Company became a part of General Motors Corporation at that time and would remain so until it disbanded in 2004.

For consignment, a Harley Earl design influenced, big rounded fender, close set headlight, and all trimmed with chrome, a Detroit iron creation.  This 64,418 actual mile 1940 Olds has style, class and oozes 1940's design and looks.  Owned and lovingly maintained by our consignor for the last 25 years and occasionally taken out for fun, this bulbous skate has been treated to all the required maintenance as necessary and even has a new wiring harness installed to ensure things are working exactly as old Harley Earl felt they should.  We proudly offer to you this 1940 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser sedan...sparkling with new ideas in comfort, safety and style!

Exterior

All sides have their highlight features including the side view where trim spears run from the beltline of the hood through the doors and to the rear quarter.  Dressing the lowers of the pontoon style front fenders is a wide horizontal ribbed trimming that runs just a short distance rearward mid wheel well.  Another teardrop pontooned fender dresses the rear of the car and accentuates the sloping lines of the rear of the car.

On the back, a rounded trunk lid sports chromed exterior hinges, a license plate light and on either side a rectangular chrome trimmed tail light standing off from the body.  An art deco styled bumper is below and has been sprayed with silver rattle can paint and shows some light surface rusting. 

Upfront wide curved front fenders wrap around the bulbous hood and the key feature is the distance between the headlights, which has been greatly reduced for this design.  A curved grille is in the center and another bumper, this time in chrome with guards and guard ties rests below the yellow tinted for lights.  Split front windshield leads the way for the 4-door passenger compartment and we note the door handles neatly tucked into the trim spears at the belt line.  On all 4 corners we see wide whites wrapping black steel wheels with polished trim rings and dog dish caps.  The entirety of the body is finished in black with some rust pitting, as well as cracking and a few dings, and some repaired areas of surface rust.

Interior

A swing of the door and we are greeted with a richly appointed door panel in fuzzy tan broadcloth as the background for chromed bakelite escutcheon cranks, a leather arm rest in dark brown, some metal painted faded faux wood grain above, and nicely chromed thin dividers showing an art deco design pattern.  More broadcloth for the full benches inside which are now covered with blankets with the condition underneath unknown.  For the rear bench, wider armrests grace the sides and there is plenty of legroom.  Upfront we find  more art deco styling with the use of rectangular chrome bezels, a vertically ribbed chromed dash front, a brown dash top and a brown instrument cluster background highlighted by clear and clean white lettering.  On the passenger's side is a corresponding rectangle with a clock in the center.  Below the dash is a lineup of more chrome in the form of an ashtray and more knobs and embellishments of the art deco style and the factory AM radio within a yellowed and cracked bakelite band.  Below the dash is a heater box which hovers above worn and soiled black ribbed rubber flooring. The headliner is mohair and shows some signs of slight water staining but remains tight.

Drivetrain

Under the long rounded hood we can see the 257ci inline 8 cylinder engine.  This presents with a coating of gray paint and surface rust.  It sports a rebuilt 1-barrel carburetor on top and has a 3-speed manual transmission on the back.  The rear axle weighs in at a 4.30 ratio.  All in an unrestored engine bay but with a recent coolant flush, new fuel pump and rebuilt generator.

Undercarriage

Underneath we spot a cleaned and resealed fuel tank attached to a surface rusted undercarriage.  It is an X frame design and appears structurally sound.  A coating of orange paint graces the metal on the rockers and shows a few areas of invasive rust near the lower pinch welds.  A surface rusted single exhaust pipe runs from the engine rearward and is bolted to a stock style replacement muffler.  Recently gone through drum brakes are noted all around and we see independent coil spring suspension in the front and a 3 link and coil spring in the rear.

Drive-Ability
A quick startup and off to the test track where it exhibited smooth acceleration, and easy steering when moving.  We noted the fuel and temperature gauges do not work.  Also the horn on the steering wheel doesn't honk, but a replacement button on the dash does the job nicely.  The interior is comfy and the ergonomics are good.

A not often seen example, which is shocking with thousands of this model car made for the year.  Beautifully art deco design inside and outside, it presents very nicely as a survivor and runs and drives well.  A little bit of TLC and you will have an interesting and somewhat rare item!