For a 53 year old car, this thing is still amazing.
According to the previous owner it burned a valve at 112,000 miles. Except for general service, that is all that ever went wrong with it while he had it.
These cars are good for about 125,000 miles, then they need some overhauling.
In 1976, after driving the car 112,000 miles, the previous owner did a complete rebuild on the car. The car was well worn due to use and enjoyment, not from any type of defective workmanship. If they are garage kept, well maintained and driven carefully, these cars will last a lifetime.
This car is very quick by 1950s standards, and will easily cruise at 80 miles per hour.
The aerodynamics are good enough so that driver and passengers in the front seat are not windblown when the top is down.
Seats are very comfortable for long distances, and visibility is good.
The driver has to lean forward to reach some of the minor controls.
Steering and braking are easy thanks to power assist.
The four speed "Hydromatic" transmission shifts smoothly, quickly and at the right time.
These cars were over engineered for reliability.
Except for the braking system and front suspension, these cars are fairly simple and straightforward to maintain and repair.
The interior is bright and cheerful. Puts you in a good mood.
The only drawbacks are:
1) The engine is so heavy it makes the car a little nose heavy.
2) The bendix treadle vac power brakes are reliable and work well, but are a BEAR to fix at overhaul time.
3) You will find out VERY quickly that this is NOT a sports car, and you have to drive it around a corner. However, once you get past the squealing tires and leaning, the car is stable and predictable.
4) The top leaks in the rain. Solution: don't drive in the rain.
5) The taillight lenses haze over and crack over time.
Hmm, ANY car that is "garage kept, well maintained and driven carefully" will "last a lifetime".
The problem is that most cars are NOT, which is why there are junkyards. I mean, "automotive recycling facilities"
We still have my late father's 1955 Pontiac, and a lot of what you said about your Olds is true of it as well. The original 287 C.I. engine was rebuilt at 150,000 miles due to smoking and oil consumption.
We DON'T have any problems with the power steering and power brakes because it doesn't have those options (and YES, it is a bear to steer at low speeds!!)
It, too, was pretty fast by 1955 standards (though not as fast as the Olds), and it did lean and wallow in corners. As a kid, I used to love to make the speedometer, which is a red line that moves around the face of the dial, go past 120 so that the entire dial was all red. It did that VERY easily.
The really amazing thing about the 4-speed Hydramatic is that in 250,000+ miles it has never been touched and shifts as smoothly now as it did new!!
We have had the car repainted and cosmetically restored now, and it is used only for shows or parades. It was in regular use as a primary means of transportation from 1955 to 1988. I can't fathom how anyone could call these cars "unreliable"!!
You have a valuable collector's car there. Don't use it as a daily driver!
Re: Comment 1, you are right about any car being garage kept and well maintained lasting a lifetime. You can keep one alive if you let it sit outside too but it takes a lot more work. My car was outside until it was restored in 1976. The top was faded as was the paint and there were a few rust spots. However, the car was still solid even after 21 years fighting the elements.
RE: Comment 2, You are right about the reliability of the cars. My car was NOT driven gently prior to 1972. The guy who owned it before me loved to drive it fast. His wife drove it hard too but she was the reason that he had it in the first place. The second owner told me that he and his wife were passing an Olds dealership one day and saw the car sitting on the used lot. Apparently the original owners bought it in New Jersey and shortly after moving to Florida in 1960 the husband passed away. The wife couldn't figure out how to lower the top so she traded it in on a new hardtop Olds. The second owner's wife saw it and talked her husband into buying it. The sale price was negitiated to $600.00! It turned out to be a pretty good investment because I paid a little more than that in the 1980s when I bought it.
Comment 3: I don't use it as a daily driver but absolutely would if it was my last car. It will, by the way, be the last one I sell!
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