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Oldsmobile88

1949–1999 United States Full-size 51 production years
Production1949–1999
Recorded originUnited States
ClassFull-size
Also known asEighty Eight
Background

The Oldsmobile 88 is a full-size car that was produced by the Oldsmobile Division of GM from 1949 until 1999. From 1950 until 1974, the 88 was the division's most popular line, particularly the entry-level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88. The 88 series was also an image leader for Oldsmobile, particularly in the model's early years (1949–51), when it was one of the best-performing automobiles, thanks to its relatively small size, light weight, and advanced overhead-valve high-compression V8 engine. This engine, originally designed for the larger and more luxurious C-bodied 98 series, also replaced the straight-8 on the smaller B-bodied 78. With the large, high-performance Oldsmobile Rocket V8, the early Oldsmobile 88 is considered by some to be the first muscle car.

Text adapted from “Oldsmobile 88” on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · retrieved 2026-07

Chronology ledger

Dates with their meaning intact

Production chronology1949–1999

Sourced production or model lifecycle range used by the main catalog timeline.

Wikipedia lead ↗51 years
Canadian NRCan model years1995–1999

Model years in Natural Resources Canada retail fuel-consumption data; Canadian-market evidence, not a worldwide production range.

Natural Resources Canada ↗5 years
Netherlands RDW first-admission observations1953–1970

First-admission years observed in Dutch vehicle registrations; this is market evidence, not a worldwide production range.

Netherlands RDW ↗18 years