In the early 1950s, there was an interesting switch when 98s previously based on General Motors C-body platform were then based on B-bodies, this while B- and C-bodies were still in their current production run. This is best explained with reference to the images in Gallery, below.
In this post, I referenced an article in Special-Interest Autos magazine issue #39 titled "Body Politics" by Richard Howard Stout. It was fascinating to me because it showed the various length and basic style permutations General Motors was able to attain for its most expensive car models. But there was one potential problem. Stout seems to have been dealing with C-body variations, yet he calls them B and C bodies. His B-body is a shorter one than what he calls the C-body, but they have the same basic structural elements, including the cowling/firewall -- the key item.
That lesser C-body was in production for sedans for only two model years, 1950 and 1951. Nearly all lesser C-bodies were 1950 models -- 542,000 or so versus around 92,000 (probably not counting hard-to-identify hardtop coups). After 1951, no sedans were made, even though other C-bodies continued through 1953 before being replaced by the 1954 redesign.
This created a problem for Oldsmobile management some time in 1950 when it became known that GM would phase out smaller C-body production: what to do with the 98 line that was based on the lesser C-body.
One solution would be to use the main C-body. But perhaps Buick and Cadillac management strongly preferred to maintain the prestige of Cadillacs and Buick Supers and Roadmasters by being exclusive C-body users.
The alternative chosen by Oldsmobile management was to move 98s to the B-body used by the brand's 88 models. That required making the 98s distinctive, more prestigious looking than those lesser models. How this was done is shown below.
Four-door sedans are featured for comparison purposes. Unless noted, images are of for-sale cars.
This is an Oldsmobile 98 based on the smaller C-body. That body's passenger compartment greenhouse is different from that used on the larger C-bodies. Its most useful identification item is the wide C-pillar abaft of the rear door.
Buick Specials used the B-body for model year 1950 only, then moved to the redesigned GM B-body for 1951-53.
Here is a Buick using the larger C-body. It differs in the greenhouse and abaft of the front door.
Olds' final use of the lesser C-body. The C-pillar is plated over with a chrome faux- third side window and the backlight window is slightly trimmed in anticipation of the 1952 B-body 98.
The 98 built on the B-body. Its wheelbase is 4 inches (10.16 mm) longer than that on Oldsmobile 88s.
Compared to this Super 88, the 98's added length as entirely abaft of the rear side door, giving it the desired upscale appearance.
1 comment:
Thank you for this. I have for years been confused by the Oldsmobile 88/98 situation. Moving on to 1954, while the senior Buicks shared the Cadillac body, the 98s were, I believe extended 88 bodies, longer in the rear. Were the wheelbases on these 1954-56, and, even the 1957-58 Olds 98s extended 88 bodies? Buick I have always understood (helped by your articles and the articles you refer to, but I have always been confused by Oldsmobile.
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