1946 Oldsmobile Series 66 'Ace' Hearse (RHD)

Description

The oldest surviving name in American motoring at the time of its demise in 2004, Oldsmobile was originally founded in 1897 by Ransom Eli Olds in Lansing, Michigan.  After becoming a part of the General Motors empire, Oldsmobile was positioned as the more affordable luxury marque and earned a reputation for technical innovation.  Oldsmobile had a long history selling their cars in Australia and the earliest post-war models in 1946-1948 were based on the Series 66 chassis but nicknamed the “Ace”.  Locally designed bodywork was essentially the same across the Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Chevrolet lines, adapted by Holden to suit the front sheetmetal for each marque and pressed and assembled at Woodville in South Australia before being transported across to Fisherman’s Bend in Victoria to be combined with the CKD (completely knocked down) components shipped across from North America.  Cars built in 1946 and 1947 had vinyl upholstery but Bedford Cord was adopted in 1948, with Broadcloth optional.  In addition to the basic four-door sedans, Oldsmobile also provided chassis for ambulances and hearses.  Holden were already preparing to launch their own model in 1948 and that would be the final year they produced bodywork for the Oldsmobile chassis.