The Car That Could’ve Killed The Corvette: The ’54 Oldsmobile F-88

First, let’s start right off with the fact this car, one of only three Motorama prototypes built by GM, is currently the title-holder of being the single-most expensive car ever sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction, at $3,240,000.

Now, we’re certain we know what you’re thinking, “What on earth could make this so stinkin’ valuable?” Well, it’s a long, complicated story that we’re going to sum up in a couple paragraphs. You’re welcome.

When introduced in 1953, the Corvette immediately failed on all accounts. Americans weren’t hip to the Corvette’s European styling, limp Blue Flame straight-6 and 2-speed Powerglide automatic. GM had too much tied up in the new two-seater roadster to merely scrapped, so plans were made to “hop up” the failed ‘Vette on all accounts, including power, pizazz, and brand.

The option was made to debut a golden Oldsmobile version of the Corvette at the next New York Motorama. Built on the Corvette chassis and 102-inch wheelbase, the newly coined “F-88,” the Oldsmobile’s body was also made of fiberglass. Unlike the ‘Vette, the F-88 featured an elliptical grille, “hockey stick” side trim, and bullet taillights pulled directly from larger Oldsmobile sedans.

Beneath the hood, the F-88 was powered by a tuned 324cui V8 from a ’54 Oldsmobile Super 88 and used a stock four-barrel carburetor with a small, flat air cleaner for hood clearance. Although unrecorded, the engine’s 9.0:1 compression ratio plus some additional modifications boosted the Super 88’s 185 upwards to 250 horsepower. Backing the V8 was a four-speed Hydra-Matic tranny and a 3.55:1-geared Corvette rear.

Believed to either not exist or have burned down to the ground either while being loaded onto a car hauler or in the driveway of one of GM’s engineers, this third F-88 – in reality – was mysteriously disassembled, loaded into crates and shipped off across the country over half a century to over twelve different owners, slowly being reassembled at each stop.

Finally complete, the finished F-88 was put up for auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, and sold to John S. Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communications. Hendricks has loaned the Motorama Dream Car F-88 Oldsmobile to the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum where its on display currently.