Yeah, I need another car like a hole in the head, especially a project! But this one turns out to be too special to pass up. My very old friend, Harley Pete, bought this 56 Olds 88 Holiday Coupe, back in 85 or so, when the custom revival was getting going. During the many years he drove it, he had my boss and mentor, John Pazsik, do some bodywork and customizing on it. He joined and ran with the NJ Renegades custom car club, of which I was a member. Later, when the Olds engine blew up, he had another fellow, Manny Bastiao, do a 455?Turbo 400 Olds swap into it. I also worked for Manny for a while (Manny was the one who had the old Les Cove 4 door chopped and Sectioned Merc). Well Pete started taking the Olds apart when he retired, but got to the point where his health would not let him continue. So he offered the car to me. Another good friend, Dave Quail, helped me get the car back to my shop, with his 49 Cadillac Limo, mounted on a Ford F350 Chassis, running a Caddy engine! With all the personal connections to this car, I couldn not turn it down. I've always wanted a 56 to do something special with, and now I have the opportunity. I'll have to sell off some of my cars, and projects, most likely, for the room, and the capital to finish up my Chevy, and start this Olds, Goal is to drive it to Salina, KX in 2020!
I can't imagine the feeling with an opportunity to get a car you have so many personal ties with! I am looking forward to following along on this one and seeing it up close in Salina!
It’s great that your friend did you a solid and offered you the car. I’ll be keeping an eye on your build. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm still sifting through all my photo albums for a good pic of it when it was on the road, Mark. Anyway, had a bit of disappointment this weekend on what I had planned to do. A few years ago I bought these from a HAMBer, sight unseen. He delivered them at night, and I never really looked closely at them. Just saving them for the right time. Well, I thought the time was now, but I might have to rethink the way I wanted to do this Olds!!!!!!!
If you feel like trying to fix the top of that nomad, there is a Pontiac Safari in need of a top in Missoula Montana. Put these two together. https://missoula.craigslist.org/cto/d/1956-pontiac-safari-two-2/6738758952.html
If that quarter panel was part of that collection of parts it was a Safari. One of my dream cars to own.
i may have missed what powertrain you planned, but, as a former owner of a '56, i think that 3-speed jetaway trans was a p.o.s. always wished it had the hydramatic, but 98s came with the "better" idea!
great cars, drove a 56 for years as my daily. don't know if you do face book or not but there is a couple good 56 and 54-56 oldsmobile pages, lots of good info and parts. good luck with yours.
Powertrain will still be the 455/Turbo 400 that came in it. Installed by an old friend, and man I worked for. 1954 rocket 98..thanks for the heads up, going to look into those pages.
Finally got a roof! 2 hours away, and lots of money, but worth it! Starting butchering it up already! BTW, anyone need a 2 door roof, to convert a 4 door? Got it all!
This is going to be over the top bitchen. In 60 years of going to car shows and buying car mags I have NEVER seen an OldSafari.
Wow, I will be following this with interest. I sold my 56 98 coupe a few years ago but still have a 98 convert that is about 1/2 finished after a long period of ownership.
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