Al's 1968 Olds page

I've had 7 1968 Oldsmobiles (most of them at the same time <g>).

The first was a 1968 Cutlass S that I bought from a junkyard.  I pulled the 350 and Jetaway and added a 455 and Turbo 400 from one of my dad's '69 Deltas.  I ended up doing all kinds of "kid" things to it (headers, fog lights, Keystone Klassics, etc...).  The joys of being 18.  Fortunately, I got it out of my system on this one before getting any cars really worth collecting.

Next came 3 1968 442 convertibles (purchased in a 4 month time frame).  Number 1 was a red Turnpike Cruiser (2 bbl 400 with 2.56 gears) with a black top and parchment interior.  Number 2 was a completely loaded 1 owner, red with a black top and red interior, 325 hp model with almost every possible factory option.  The only missing pieces were disc brakes, W30, and headrests.  The 3rd was a yellow (yuck) 350 hp 4 speed model with a black top and black interior.

Number 5 was from the same owner as the yellow rag top and was one of the weirdest ones I've ever seen.  Picture this (no decent photos):  The car was white with red rallye stripes and a blue vinyl top and a red interior (red, white and blue).  On top of that, it was a Canadian built car so it came with a Chevy 3.07 12 bolt rear end.  I bought this thing primarily for the red interior (with headrests) and the 4 piston disc brakes.  I did end up using it to break in the engine for my '69 H/O and is the only car I've ever had that I could pick the front end off the ground (with the H/O engine, a '66 tri-power, and headers).  This was with the 3.07s, Widetrack L60-15s, and el Camino springs in back.

Number 6 was a Hurst/Olds.  I picked it up while waiting for my '83 to arrive and never ended up doing much of anything with it.  I sold it to concentrate on my '69.  It was pretty rough, although there were quite a few solid and new parts with it to put it all back together.  I saw it for sale a number of years later at the Jefferson swap meet with a completed engine and roughed in body, but I don't know what happened to it after that.

Number 7 was a Toro for a Winter ride one year.  I never got stuck and everyone got out of my way!

Click on the photos for the larger versions.

	1968 H/O Prototype. A couple of thing to notice.  The car has repositioned headlights and turn signals with hideaway headlights.  It has the ram air induction scoops, but no red fender wells like the W-30s (and production models) did.  Also notice the Hurst (not Olds) wheels and lack of emblems or logos.
	1968 H/O Prototype.  In this shot, the headlight doors are closed.
	1968 H/O Prototype.  Pop-up rear deck wing deployed.  It is my understanding that this was supposed to be activated by stepping on the brakes!
	1968 H/O Prototype in the garage (I believe that's Doc Watson with the car).
	Pat Moores' 68 Post coupe (1 of 51 made) in front of Demmer in Lansing 1982.  Demmer is where the '68 and '69 H/Os were modified (paint, Dual Gate, emblems, etc...).
	Beautiful interior of a production H/O at the 1980 Olds Nationals in Bowling Green, Ohio.  That is real walnut on the dash...
	This is the metal foil emblem on the H/O glove box door.
	1968 W-31/Ram Rod 350 Cutlass S coupe of Jeff Curro (around 1982) at the Arrow Olds show.
	Here is my 2nd '68 442 convertible at the 1980 Olds National Convention in Bowling Green, Ohio.

This page last updated on July 18, 2004.