1954 Oldsmobile F-88

Sharing the 102-inch wheelbase and fiberglass body of the Corvette, the gold-tone Oldsmobile F-88 dream machine was introduced in 1954. Styling cues like bullet-shaped taillights and open mouth grille/bumper combination mimicked those featured on the full-size production Olds. Unique components on the F-88 included vertical exhaust outlets and plastic bubbles over the headlights. Unlike the 1954 Corvette that came with a six-cylinder engine, the Olds F-88 had a 250 horsepower, 324 cubic inch Rocket V-8 shoehorned into the engine compartment. Highlighting the two-passenger cockpit was a gearshift between seats, vertical instrument panel with chronometer and tachometer.

www.chicagoautoshow.com

1954 Oldsmobile F-88 concept car was a 2-passenger model with recessed sports car-type seats, a panoramic windshield, jet airfoil wheel disks and a recessed license plate. The instrument panel started at the center of the dash panel and ran vertically to the floor.

www.gmphotostore.com

Corvette-inspired descendant of the ’53 Starfire in brown metallic with pigskin upholstery, and powered by a 250 bhp 324 V-8, the F-88 featured cone-shaped clear plastic headlamp covers and a functional hood scoop. It was strictly a dream car, since the lukewarm sales of the Corvette precluded any sports car cloning by the other GM divisions.

www.442.com