1949 Oldsmobile Seventy-Six

The Oldsmobile Series 70 was produced by General Motors during the 1940s and very early 1950s. There were two versions, the 76 and the 78. Both the 76 and 78 were nearly identical, except for their mechanical components. The 6 and 8 in the 76 and 78 respectively symbolized their engine size. The 76 had a straight-six cylinder engine while the 78 had a straight-8. The 76 was produced for a longer period of time, lasting until 1950. The 78 was discontinued the year prior, in 1949. The vehicles were offered in a wide array of body styles including station wagons, coupes, convertibles, and sedans.

For 1949, the Seventy-Six Series was the entry-level Oldsmobile, offering luxury at an affordable price. The Big 6 engine was overshadowed this year by the new short-stroke overhead valve V8 that was standard in all other Oldsmobile series. The 3-speed manual transmission was standard but when optioned with the four-speed Hydra-Matic drive, the engine received an increase in torque.

The Series 76 rested upon the B-Body platform that it shared with its Chevrolet and Pontiac corporate siblings. Both the 76 and 88 had the same list of body styles that included a 2-door club coupe, club sedan, sedan, town sedan, convertible, and station wagon. The styling was courtesy of Harley Earl and his team of designers who endowed them with fresh and modern designs inspired by the sleek Lockheed P-38 fighter planes of World War II fame.

Oldsmobile station wagons remained an exclusive product for 1949, with 1,545 examples built in the Seventy-Six Series and 1,355 on the Eighty-Eight series.

Additionally, the convertibles made up a small portion of Oldsmobiles products, with 5,338 built on the 76 line and 5,434 on the 88. The Ninety-Eight series Convertible proved to be the most popular with 12,602 examples built.

Total 1949 Oldsmobile Seventy-Six series production reached 58,051 units accounting for approximately 20% of Oldsmobile's overall sales. Standard equipment included bumper guards, dual horns, dual sun visors, solenoid starter, safety glass, and cigarette lighter. The Deluxe option added additional amenities including a Deluxe steering wheel, clock, extra chrome moldings, floor mats, foam rubber seat cushions, and wheel trim rings.

By 1951, all Oldsmobiles would be powered by OHV V8 engines, and the 76 Series was dropped, replaced by the 88 and Super 88 model designations.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2006