1947 Oldsmobile Special Sixty Series

Many automakers returned to civilian production using pre-war designs while new designs were being created. For Oldsmobile, the 1947 lineup included the entry-level Special Sixty Series, the Dynamic Seventy, and the Custom Cruiser Ninety Series. The 60 series came standard with six-cylinder power but could now be optioned with the eight (the previous year, the Sixty was only available with the six). When equipped with the inline-6, it was known as the 66. With the L-head straight-eight installed in the engine bay, it was known as the 68. Standard equipment included spare wheel and tire, dual horns, cigarette lighter, vacuum booster pump, and safety glass.

The six-cylinder engine had a cast-iron block, L-head configuration, side-valve design, electro-hardened aluminum pistons, and a Carter downdraft carburetor with automatic choke and fast idle system. It offered 100 horsepower and was backed by a standard three-speed column-shifted manual transmission. The Hydra-Matic transmission could be ordered for an additional $135. The eight-cylinder also had an L-head design with a cast-iron block, I-beam construction connecting rods, and electro-hardened aluminum pistons. It offered ten additional horsepower than the six.

The Sixty-Eight series was Oldsmobile's most versatile model for 1947, available as a club coupe, club sedan, sedan, convertible, and station wagon. The Club Sedan proved to be the most popular with 28,488 examples sold. The sedan was also popular with 22,660 finding new homes. Over 73,400 examples were sold in 1947 accounting for nearly 40% of Oldsmobile's total production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020