1939 Oldsmobile '60 Series' Sedan

Description

Founded in 1897 by Ransom Eli Olds in Lansing, Michigan, Oldsmobile was, until its demise in 2004, the oldest surviving auto manufacturer in America. From the innovative 'Curved Dash' single-cylinder, arguably America's first mass-produced car, to the mighty Limited, a colossal 707-cid luxury car, Oldsmobile was a brand synonymous with quality. Becoming a part of the General Motors empire in 1908, Oldsmobile was positioned as the more affordable luxury marque alongside Cadillac and had a well deserved reputation for technical innovation. For 1939, Oldsmobile freshened up their styling with a less controversial front end, and marketed three distinct model lines - the F-39 Series 60 with a 215-cid six-cylinder motor, the G-39 Series 70 with a more powerful 230-cid six-cylinder and the top-of-the-line L-39 Series 80, uniquely powered by a straight-eight. In Australia, only the Series 60 and Series 70 were sold by the local arm of General Motors (the straight-eight had been dropped by the end of 1938) with a choice of three body styles made by Holden. The Sedan, Sloper Coupe and Roadster were all catalogued on the Series 60 (115-inch wheelbase) but on the longer (120-inch wheelbase) Series 70 model only the sedan was listed. Much was made of Oldsmobiles' new ?Rythmic Ride? featuring so-called quadri-coil springing, four-way stabilization (actually front and rear stabiliser bars) and knee-action wheels. The Series 60 was powered by a 215-cid six, developing 90 horsepower at 3,400 rpm. Hydraulic brakes and a column-change gearbox were also notable features, with the option of a 'Safety Automatic' transmission - an innovation first seen in 1938 - available for an additional $75.00. In America, Oldsmobile consolidated its position in the sales race, partly due to some very competitive pricing, and finished sixth overall in the final analysis for 1939.