J-2 Golden Rocket Power in your '57 Olds!

[Jive-Bomber]

Stumbled upon this great series of clips from 1957 when Oldsmobile sponsored the Academy Awards. The exciting news in the Spring of that year was the J-2 Golden Rocket engine option that offered a vacuum-activated 3 x 2 barrel intake, high flow air c...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[tommy]

My uncle had a 57 4 dr with the J-2 option in the 50s. He took the huge air cleaner off and replaced it with the usual chrome pots that we all love so much.

In the mid 70s I found a 57 Super 88 and drove it as my daily driver for a few years. (company truck for work) I still think it is one of the prettiest cars ever designed. I bought a complete J-2 set up less the air cleaner. I never did get it installed. I bought a 98 Holiday coupe parts car for the power windows and power seat.

I like the Super 88 the best. The shorter rear deck makes it more appealing to my eye but had more bling than the 88. The 3 piece rear window is a classic design. The 57 J-2 has a fond place in my heart.

[Paul]

now that's what I'm talking about!
I am a bit partial ya know

thanks for the clip!

[ejay$]

Pretty cool. Could you imagine the outcry now if they made a promotion with kids in the car without a seat belt or standing up in a convertible.... awesome.

Out of curiosity what are these motors worth now as I know a guy currently with one. I believe it has an adapter to work with an early Ford trans. It's complete with intake/carbs/etc.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by ejay$

Pretty cool. Could you imagine the outcry now if they made a promotion with kids in the car without a seat belt or standing up in a convertible.... awesome...

or that playground?
looks like a kid could break an arm or leg without even trying

[Tuxedo]

My dad had a 'vert with the J2 option back in the day. I have a picture of it in Brooklyn back in the day... really cool street scene picture. He wishes he had this one back!! Maybe this thread will get me to finally scan those pictures and share them...

[AteUpWithMotor]

Interesting aside -- J-2 was developed before Pontiac's more-famous Tri-Power setup. Pete Estes, who became Pontiac's chief engineer in September 1956, was a senior motor engineer at Oldsmobile before going to Pontiac, so he was well aware of the J-2 engine. Naturally, he shared that intelligence with Bunkie Knudsen, and before long, Pontiac had its own triple-two setup. Of course, Pontiac used it longer than Olds did, and they marketed it much more aggressively.

[Murocmaru]

I remember playing in Dennis the menis Park when I visited Monterey. it was a pretty fun park as a kid. love the footage of the Olds on the Western set

[1oldrat]

Here's a pic of my Dads.It's a survivor with the j2 engine.

[catdad49]

During a summer break, a buddy and I were going to build a car for cruising. Got a Henry J for $25 ,a 57 Olds rearend for nothing and 394 Olds engine from his uncles for $125(I don't think they ever got paid). Put on an old Ford straight axle, the Olds rear practically bolted in and to top it off, a J2 set-up from the same guy that had the '57 rear. The guy's wife nagged at him so much, he gave us the J2. The car never got done, but that's probably a good thing for both of us! I wish I had all those pieces now and that's probably not a good thing either. Memories are stirred in the strangest places. Thanks for the clips,Cat

[Steve Hedke]

'Corriganville' was named for Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, a B western star. The movie ranch was very well known in the time, and I visited there a few times when I was a kid on school field trips. It was located in the far eastern end of the Simi Valley. A lot of westerns were filmed there, including TV series. It was actually located on the Butterfield Stage Line right of way through Box Canyon.

Its popularity waned with the western, and in its final years it was known as 'Hopetown' after Bob Hope bought it out. Today the land is still there but all of the buildings are long gone. It has long been used for motorcycle racing for several decades and it's still an active motocross site.

Many TV commercials were shot on studio lots all around LA. Corriganville was not far at all from the infamous Spahn Movie ranch, where Charles Manson hung out.

[Retro Jim]

I know it wasn't a 57 but my Dad had a rocket 88 and I loved that car ! That thing would smoke the tire off ! That was the first car I ever drove at a ripe old age of 6 ! Sat on his lap and steered that big steering wheel real good too . Rode great too !

I still can understand how we all made it to live this long with the toys and places we played at when we were young . That play ground would be condemned in todays world . We really had some goot time when we were young and never had any problems with getting hurt ! Just shows how people think in todays world !

Still one of my most favorite cars that were ever built was the 1955 to 1959 Olds and the Olds wagons were beautiful too !

Retro Jim

[Ramblur]

We learned a lot with this pink over black jr.high project in the early 70's...




And even more after the original was destroyed in a Dairy Queen parking
lot incident in high school. We swapped the good stuff into this super 88
and the rear axle into my 57 wagon.




30 some years later,its still around...

[ratrodjason]

God I miss my '57! That J-2 package was awesome!

[Moondog13]

Wow! You still own it? That's awesome! Do you still have the wagon too??

Originally Posted by Ramblur

We learned a lot with this pink over black jr.high project in the early 70's...




And even more after the original was destroyed in a Dairy Queen parking
lot incident in high school. We swapped the good stuff into this super 88
and the rear axle into my 57 wagon.




30 some years later,its still around...

[Retro Jim]

You are real lucky to have your High school car ! Most never made it past a few years later from beating the hell out of them .
Does it still run and do yo ever drive it around ? I see in the pics you have it stored in a garage with some ither nice toys .

Retro Jim

[57J2]

Here's a picture of my uncle, Mac Mckee, and the 57 him and my dad built for the open mile, I believe Moultrie. It had a 455 and a 3 deuce, not a J2 but the even more rare L69 442 setup. They took it out one time, flipped a coin to see who would drive first, and Mac won. Halfway down the track it caught on fire, and that was the last time they raced it. A local guy bought it, and I still see it around every once in awhile. I love them 57's.

[flamingokid]

How timely...I've got a J2 intake for sale.I wish I still had my first car,but my sister did it in like only a sister can do.

[autobilly]

"A Rocket for every pocket", dig it daddyo!

[logride]

I got a Fiesta Wagon post in '98. Rust free car. Frame off restoration, and i've put about 11,000 miles on it since 2003. Had the jetaway trans rebuilt by a guy who was trained at the factory. 371 J-2 tri power setup works great,the secondary carbs come in like a dream, and the car rides and drives like a 50's Olds Should. The fold down backseat in a wagon is great for a drive-in. Too wet to take it out and get some good pics, so it's in the garage in one.