Projects 1941 Oldsmobile 98 Coupe Custom

So we decided to buy a car because it was to good of a deal to pass up and now we don't know what to do with it.

Months ago when I was looking for a project we heard about this great 41 Buick that was for sale but someone we know was already after the car so we let it go. A few weeks back we get a call saying he was not interested in the car any more so we should go take a look. We call the owner up, set up a time to see the car, and when the garage door opens this is staring me in the face.......


I was confused to say the least. Buick? I think not...Turns out the car is a 1941 Oldsmobile with a ton of custom work.

Channeled on a 80s GM Chassis
Powered by a rebuilt Oldsmobile 455
Edelbrock 455 Intake manifold with a new Edelbrock Performer Carb
Rebuilt Turbo 400 transmission
12 bolt GM posi rear with 4 link
New springs and shocks
New front brake calipers, pad and rotors
New wiring harness not finished installed
New 12 volt alternator
Frenched headlights
Shave door handles with poppers and remote entry
Shaved Trunk with cable popper
Relocated gas tank behind rear seat with pop fill
Custom Molded rear bumper
Molded rockers and fenders
Power windows
Power brakes
Power steering
Finished trunk
Relocated battery in trunk

Tons of parts:
Original rear glass
New rear seat glass
Sun visors


So my father and his business partner decided it is to good of a deal to pass up. We sign the papers and move the car down to our warehouse at work. After staring at for a few weeks it is time to decide what to do with this thing. I think I would like to do some quick cheap work and turn it into a driver. None of us are in love with the car and all three of us have projects (Me=48 Pontiac Dad=54 Chevy truck Partner=68 Mustang) So I am thinking make it drive, take it to a few shows for fun and then sell it to someone who really loves it and will enjoy it more.

I appreciate any advice and suggestions on this one just keep in mind we just want to enjoy it a bit and sell it, not sink a ton of money into it.

Back in the warehouse


white walls would look nice against all that black


Way to much black


Decided to chrome paint it since I got tired of looking at all that black


Motor is pretty ugly looking with the drab gray and the yellow wires..Suggestions to make this look more vintage????


New radiator and trans cooler


12 bolt


I hate the rear bumper..I just picked up an original 41 bumper on ebay. I am thinking 50 Pontiac tails on the fenders


gas lid looks ok


Trunk is nice


Underneath is nice...someone did some decent work mating the chassis to the body

 

trans minus cover


Ugly


Needs some work


Front brakes


Not sure about these


Here it sits


I ordered some steel wheels from early wheels since the junkyard wheels on the car were the wrong size all over.


So what do you think??

 

Man whoever built that must have been dejected for months...no wonder no one wants it. Blak looks good on some cars but the PO must have been depressed from the day he started on it. Way toooooooo much blak...somtimes blak looks sinister...this one doesn't...maybe he liked to park it in a dark garage and not see it after he used up every gallon of blak someone gave him...I'm surprised the interior is a different color...

As for the engine, chrome valve covers and air cleaner will brighten it up, add some pinstripes to the covers and maybe clear the whole thing...get rid of the yellow wires.

Whitewalls and 'caps will help the outside..and some chrome trim...

R-

 

You've got to move those headlights out and way from the grill. Center them in the front of that fender. Then maybe add some parking lights/turn signals under the headlights in the new location. Small ones, like 3 inch ones, like 46-48 Ford I think.

 

Very nice car.
Good for you. I really like it.
Wasn't that for sale recently on a one of the for sale sites...(FleeBay??)
Keep us posted. that thing will look killer with the right wheels, etc.
Cheers.

 

The headlights were in that location originally, not a custom touch. I agree it looks strange, but moving them would be too much work.


I am thinking black motor, chrome valve covers like 40StudeDude suggests, black spark plug wires and a chrome air cleaner.

 

I did have it on ebay for a little while but we decided not to sell it quite yet

 

Wow, you bought this AND you're still working on your Pontiac!?!

Lots more ambition than me! Good luck!

 

Eleven years ago, I'd have been knocking on your door. I was looking for a '41, and drove all the way to Rapid City to get one, which turned out to be a POS. I ended up with a '41 Pontiac instead.

 

I bought the Pontiac for me, my father and his business partner decided to buy this one. But of course I am the one who will do any work on it. So it is more like they are being ambitious with my time just not my money.

 

Nice find! If it were mine, I'd put some painted steelies with baby moons or maybe some chrome reverse wheels, WWW's, as you say get rid of that ugly rear end (I like the '50 Poncho lights idea), put a vintage steering wheel on there and slap some vinyl seat covers on there and just start driving it. If the engine and tranny are in good shape it should be a great driver.

Good luck in whatever you decide - very cool ride.

 

Definitely replacing the steering wheel! That is the worst part of the car by far!

Any thoughts on just going the Mexican blanket route? These seats are so ugly I can't imagine spending money on covers. Maybe a junkyard run for some seats would be better.

 

Hell yeah!! I love those 41 Olds. Always dug the front fenders. Yours looks great. Subscribed!

 

Nice find. The chassiework looks good and so does the body but way too much black. I like your idea of –50 Pontiac taillights and have done the same to my 47 coupe.

 

What about some scallops to break up the black?? I would put back the side trim in a second but we don't have it.

 

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7IPuXDpRw8U5IaPTJW4WQw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WVL_8-BI6J4/Tl04vUnRpsI/AAAAAAAAABU/HDmoeBaPCLg/s640/41%252520olds.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=KRO13863&target=ALBUM&id=5646731893567157409&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></table>

 

I know it would like good but I want to keep the fab work to a minimum on this one.

 

I totally understand. It would be a fare amount of work, especially when its not for you.

 

Good Decision...that thing rocks!!

 

here's one I just saw at Goodguys in Pleasanton

 

Saw that car advertised and thought that while it was a big project that it seemed like a really good deal seeing as how so much of the tough work had been done.

I'd personally save it from the "Restomod Street Rod" path that somebody was taking it on... I think it would look great with baby moons, painted wheels, 3" whitewall bis plys and yeah, lose those headlights and rear bumper.

I'd chrome the grille, put chrome bumpers on it and I think that maybe just chrome beltline trim would look really nice.

And a basic roll and pleat interior.. lose that godawful steering wheel... dunno, with a little work you could have a really nice car.

 

I would lose more then the steering wheel,that column needs to go. I just dont understand why people put late model columns and steering wheels in everything,they just junk up a nice dash.

 

The 80s were bad to old rides.Thank god that era is over. Nice score, good luck with it

 

The headlights are a little odd looking even though that's where they were originally. Needs something to fill in the empty space next to the headlights. Does the car have turn signals? How about some turn signal/parking lights.

Car looks much better with the "chrome" grill and bumper BTW.

 

I need some help on tires. I purchased some wheels and now I need get some white walls for them. Wheels are 15x6. The former owner reshaped the front fenders for a smaller wheel opening so I am worried about running the wrong size tires and having rubbing issues when I turn. Coker says original size was 700-15 but I think a 29.29" tall tire would be big on this car.

What about these? Too small
http://store.cokertire.com/560-15-coker-classic-2-3-4-whitewall-tire.html

 

What about gold for the wheels?


I think red wheels and flat black has been done to many times for me

 

Any help on tires? I need to get some ordered soon.

 

I put a set of Diamondbacks on mine this year, they look like bias tires but they are radials. I spent the extra $ to add the outer ring to the whitewall. You can go to their website and get sizes, dimensions, and prices.

 

Glad youre saving this (potentially) cool car from its "dark" stage. In more way than one. Definately go for bias plies.

You thinking a tail dragger stance? I think that would look grrrreat!

 

I would look at opening the grill to come under thelights and stop just short of the wraparound that would add width to the frontend giveing it a lower look or a 47 chevy grill opening