1954 Oldsmobile F-88
GM’s 1954 Motorama-era dream car: four built in the XP-20 project, with one survivor known today.
Historisk reklamekort fra 1954 med Oldsmobile F-88. Originalt periodemateriale, ikke et moderne fotografi av den bevarte bilen. · Wikimedia Commons / photographer & licence ↗
History and significance
The 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 was developed as part of General Motors’ XP-20 project during the age of GM Motorama dream cars. Its low, open two-seat fibreglass body contrasted sharply with Oldsmobile’s conventional family cars. The programme emerged from Harley Earl’s design organisation, with Bill Mitchell and other GM specialists involved.
The surviving concept featured a 324-cubic-inch Oldsmobile Rocket V8 and an automatic transmission; the auction catalogue quoted 250 hp. It was a show and concept vehicle, not a regular production car or a confirmed production programme.
Barrett-Jackson’s historical description states that four vehicles came out of the project, while only styling order 2265 survived. The car went to industrialist E. L. Cord in 1955. Four therefore refers to original project vehicles; one refers to the known survivor.
The surviving F-88 sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January 2005 for $3,240,000 USD. The price is a documented historical auction result and should not be interpreted as a current market valuation.
The accompanying image is an authentic 1954 promotional card, not a modern photograph of the surviving car.
Why so few?
The production figure applies to: four vehicles built for GM’s XP-20/F-88 project according to Barrett-Jackson; one known surviving example.