Thread: My Fathers Oldsmobile

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One of the first “new” cars that I really remember my father purchasing was an Olds 88. It was a huge automobile with power everything. It was a four door hardtop that stood out as a real mark of my father’s hard work. And I know with wings, that car would have taken flight – it just hauled baby!

Up until this car, the only new car we had ever had was a 1955 Chevy and while I do not remember it well, I know that my dad often told others how it was “a lemon” and that the dealer finally took it back and we once again drove our 1952 Plymouth Voyager.

The Oldsmobile was a dream come true for my father. He, like many men of this time, was a WWII veteran, highly decorated (although he never said much about the war) fiercely proud to be an American and would never dreamed of buying anything that didn’t come from Detroit. We went to Fourth of July parades, honored Veteran’s and Memorial Day and I remember him standing ramrod straight as the National Anthem played at a baseball game and would see tears on his checks as, “… over the land of the free and the home of the brave” was sung by some local talent.

Yup – that Olds was a dream come true for him because he worked hard and believed that such was a just reward – and it was. I know America was a simpler place and times were different, but as a nation we embraced an ethic that rewarded hard work and people took care of themselves and one another in a whole different way. My father worked as an electrician and would do some wiring on the weekend at a friend’s house and the following weekend there would be a truckload of firewood in return.

The Oldsmobile only got about 9 miles per gallon. We lived in the San Bernardino Mountains in a little town called “Crestline” and there were only three stations, a 76, a Shell and a “Standard Oil” (now known as Chevron) for a total of probably six or eight pumps. The Olds used “ethyl” which was typically two cents more than regular. My dad complained when a fill up used the better part of a five dollar bill – but that went with the car. Big car, big gas bill.

We always looked forward to the new car line ups in September. I remember going to San Bernardino to the “Orange Show” where the dealers revealed their fall lineup in one of the big buildings on the fair grounds. There were “egg shaped” Isettas and three cylinder two stroke Saabs – but every kid I knew was drawn to the Mercury Marauders with dual quads or the SS 427 Chevys that more displacement per cylinder than the entire line up of BMW cars.

There was always excitement and never any talk of “fuel efficiency” or CAFÉ standards. Mind you, we knew that cars made some pollution. The smog in Southern California was bad in the fifties and sixties, but the Santa Anna winds would come in the fall and we would once again have a view from our house in the mountains all the way to Catalina Island.

This isn’t to say we were not concerned about our environment – we were – but we didn’t look to the government to “take care” of us. Such would have been an insult. When we were sick, we went to the doctor and what insurance we had either took care of the cost or we worked out the balance with the doctor. If a prescription was necessary, we paid for it at the local pharmacy with cash – and perhaps deferred the purchase of something else until such could be afforded. And all the while, GM, Ford and Chrysler made money because they made cars that people wanted – not cars that the government told us we wanted. Cars were a direct reflection of where and what we as American were and maybe that still true today.

I know that the torch has been passed, but I cannot accept the governments mandate for change in the design and form of the cars we drive. I thought “we the people” still ran America. If GM really goes all the way down, it won’t be because we don’t like the cars that they make – it will be because we stop caring about who makes the decisions about what cars we drive.

God knows I miss my father – I miss the Olds too….

Regards All, Happy 4th of July, and God Bless America,
Glenn

Glenn what year was the Olds 88?

1967 - like this one only in blue..

Glenn, that was a very nice story, for a moment I was taken back to the days of going to the new car dealership to check out the new cars. My first job where I paid taxes was at a Pure Gas Station .60 per hour.

Most of us from that time miss our Parents also.

Thanks for the memories
Richard

Thank you Glenn for the great story and for reminding us of the more simple times in which many of us grew up. I am SO glad that I was born in 1945 and got to be a part of the 50's and the years that followed.

We weren't perfect, there were a lot of things that were unfair, such as the treatment of some races and females, but for the most part we were a kinder, gentler America. We knew our neighbors and we trusted them. Kids were able to play anywhere without the warnings to "not trust strangers" that we now have to tell them. It was a very rare thing to hear of a murder or shooting, and the worst that people did to each other was the occasional fist fight.

My Grandparents lived with us, my Grandpap from my Dad's side and my Grandmom from my Moms family. I often wish now I had been a smart enough kid to sit down with both of them and ask them a million questions about their lives. He came from "the old country" and spoke broken English, but had a heart of gold. My Grandmother was just the nicest woman in the world, next to my Mom, and always had a soft spot in her heart for me, even though I tried her patience on a daily basis.

As for the car thing, we all remember what a big event it was every year when the new models came out. If a Neighbor bought a new car everyone came to visit and see the new "member of the family." Sunday drives were a ritual, never really going anywhere in particular, but just getting in the car and driving around.

Drive in movies were also a big part of most of our lives. I was 20 before I realized THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED MOVIES THERE! (well, it was hard to see the screen from the backseat ) And who among us hasn't hidden a couple of friends in the trunk to save a dollar or two? We also hung out at the local burger joint, driving endlessly around in circles all night, just seeing and being seen. Sometimes we actually stopped and ordered a burger and fries. I think these things are the reason American Graffiti hit such a cord with most of us...........we felt it was something we had all lived and done ourselves, in our own little town.

Enjoy the 4th of July everyone. In spite of some of our current problems none of us could probably think of another place we would want to live.

Don

I too enjoyed the trip back, only to the early sixties, but still we trusted the neighbors, drove big battle cruisers, and hung out with friends at Pizza and burger shops. Had to cruise the main every friday too. Here is an old olds add that fits the spirit of your words Glenn.

Happy fourth to you all!

Glenn, thanks for the trip back in time.

“we the people” have no input since the time our elected officials changed their descriptions from "public servants" to "leaders". I'm not sure when this happened. I just woke up one morning and it had changed. Sort of like boiling a frog.

If we always do what we always did, we'll always get what we always got!!!!!!!!!!!!

Problem is, "we the people" don't seem to care anymore.

Less than 50% of the people vote most of the time, and we keep reelecting the same people.

The sad truth is, an honest man can't get elected at the federal level anymore because of all the deals they have to make to get the votes.

How about one six, or eight, year term for the Senate and Congress.

Then they could concentrate on doing what we elect them to do, instead of putting their efforts toward getting reelected.

We the people need to get seriuos about our own government and stop worrying about "what's in it for me".

WOW, where did that come from????????

Happy fourth everyone.

Very telling...............most people say "happy 4th......" in some fashion or other....................rather than "happy INDEPENDENCE day".

Nice story Glenn.

Thanks for all the kind words - One of the things I appreciate about this site is that for the most part we still "remember " what it means to be an American.

My wife and I went to a great air museum in McMinneville, Oregon today. It's the new home of the Spruce Goose. Lots of great vintage aircraft and some nice vintage cars. B-17 that looks new and just standing there next to it brings a lump to my throat - knowing what she and her crew went through in the liberation of Europe. http://www.sprucegoose.org/

There's so much good left in America and by all that is in me, I will continue to live my life as I know I should and stand with my head high - proud and confident in my belief in God and love of my country.

Tomorrow we celebrate our independence but every day is a good one to be an American.

Regards All,
Glenn

Thanks for posting your story Glenn, it was a nice look back. I remember those days as well plus a few years even further back. My dad got a new car, usually a Chevy, every 3 years or so. We had a local dealership where we would go to check out the new cars, and sometimes I would get a model of one. GM Dealers back then used to get small plastic/metal models, about 1/24 scale, of new cars. Don't know if any other mfgr's did this also.

They were good times when family was important as that was pretty much what your life was about. Sure we had friends and did a lot of stuff, but at the end of the day, it was always family.

It's too bad that you live way out there on the west coast, because if you were closer I might be able to swing by in my big Olds and we could go for a spin. It also gets 9 mpg (at 55mph, downhill, with a tail wind), but unfortunately gas is no longer 24 cents a gallon, so the spin might be a short one.

Family traditions are still important, but unfortunately many don't seem to practice it these days. It's become more about what the government can do for people, versus what people can do for themselves. I think when government started a lot of the welfare programs, people started consigning their rights over to the government, and the government became the control.

There are many times these days when I am sickened by what the government is doing today. Unfortunately we have become more like sheep to slaughter than independent thinkers and do-ers. I can only hope that before my life is over I will be able to see a reversal of this course. But I am not sure.

God Bless America and may God help her too!

I did a small part by serving in the Armed Forces of the U.S.A I worked in the construction field, working in Steel Mills, Factories, and places where things were made in the USA.
I think today people have forgotten how this Country was founded, it was for us to be Independent to have our freedom, our rights to pursue a life of if we chose to work to make a decent living. A lot of people have gotten away from that belief; they think they are entitled even though they have never had to make sacrifices.

I still think we have the greatest Country in the World but we need to get back to the basic's a day's work for a day's pay.

Richard