1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Coupe for sale
- Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Race Cars, Sports Cars, Classic Cars 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Coupe for sale
This is one fancy ride, 1938 Oldsmobile business coupe.
Find the 1938 Oldsmobile Coupe for sale one Ebay
Seller states:
1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Business Coupe
“Penney is for sale”
This beautiful 1938 Olds that is affectionately named Penny is for sale by a very reluctant owner. The current owner has owned this business coupe since 2006 and is very sad to be offering her for sale but the time has come to pare down his collection and Penny, unfortunately must go.
We have traced the ownership through 5 other owners back to the original owner who most likely bought the car from the Hamilton Motor Company in Le Grand, Oregon. The history is a little hazy and there is a possibility that the car was purchased from Walker Motors in Le Grand as well.
The car was lovingly restored by the forth owner during the mid 80’s.
You won’t believe the information that comes with this car. There is a couple of boxes of literature which includes the following
• Period Sales Brochures – Numerous
• Original owners manual
• Original service manual
• Records of shows attended
• A very rare piece ( an original salesman’s training manual)
In addition all of the awards and trophies that the car has won over the years, and they are many, are included. This car always has taken best in class awards at many Oldsmobile shows.
There are meticulous records and a complete journal of everything that the current owner has done to the car as well as everything he has been able to find out about the car. This car is well documented and will be a joy to own and drive.
One final thing is that there is a web site that is dedicated to this car that was created by the current owner. You can visit Penny as well as his other cars at www.starship.org.
You can tell that this car has been lovingly cared for and appreciated by its current owner.
The car looks and runs great. It starts right up every time and is a real joy to drive. This is a car that you will enjoy driving on a cruise or to a show. No trailer queen here.
Car Specs:
• 1938 L-38 Oldsmobile Business Coupe
• One of 1098 Built
• Original purchase price $989.00
• Wheel base – 124”
• Weight – 3400 lbs
• Hydraulic brakes
• Oil Capacity – 7 Qts
• Cooling Capacity – 21 Qts
• Fuel Capacity – 18 Gal
• Engine Straight 8cyl L head (110hp @ 3600RPM, 200 ft-lbs Torque @1800 RPM
• Bore X Stroke 3-1/4” x 3-7/8”
• Displacement 257 cu.in.
• Compression Ratio 6.20:1
• Tires 7.10X16
• Transmission – 3 Speed Manual
• Final Drive Ratio – 4.37:1
• Turning Radius – 20’
Work that we’ve done on the car includes:
new running boards; period correct add-on FRAM oil filter; new Firestone wide white-wall tires; complete rewiring of the car; complete replacement of brakes, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, brake lines; bright headlights run off switch relays; amber driving lights run off a switch relay; turn signals with removable/socketed corner lights; powder coated wheels; bright rings; new replica battery; year-of-manufacture CA plates; seat/shoulder belts; wolf whistle.
We have some spare parts for the car including an extra rear axle with a 3.55:1 differential. (The differential in the car has the stock 4.38:1 gears for a standard manual transmission. The 3.55:1 differential is from the automatic-transmission version of the car. While the car with the 4.38 gears will happily cruise on the interstate highway at 65 MPH, installing the 3.55 gears would make for still better highway travel.)
The car has been the winner of many awards — One of the awards we’re most proud of is the “Best NorCal Olds” award that we received in 2007 at the OCA (Oldsmobile Club of America) Pacific SW Zone Show. The car has been “Best of Class” at two OCA Zone Shows. The car is well known by many members of the NorCal Chapter of the OCA.
Over the years we have driven the car on many local tours and on two AACA National Tours (2007 Santa Rosa, CA; 2009 Sonoma, CA). We’ve driven the car to, from and on the two AACA National Tours (for a distance of about 500 miles per tour). After the 2009 AACA Tour, we drove the car to Yosemite National Park before returning home. For the 2008 OCA Zone Show in Morro Bay, California, we drove the car to and from the show (about 500 miles round trip). The car has always been reliable on tours for us.
One of the more interesting adventures we had with the car involves its appearance in a local production of “A Christmas Story”. For a scene in the play, the car and actors were recorded on video tape that was played back during the live performances. (If you recall the story, there’s a scene wherein the family is driving in their Oldsmobile when they get a flat tire. The “Old Man” prides himself on how fast he can change a tire, pretending that he’s at an auto race. “Ralphie” tries to help but winds up losing the lug nuts, saying the “F” word and getting his mouth washed out with soap.)
Even with all this Penny is not perfect:
There are some small blisters under the paint around the driver’s door which is the most significant cosmetic issue with the car.
As you can see this is a very significant automobile and will a treasure for its new owner. Now is the time to act and get this very rare and excellent example of this vintage car. You cannot ask for a nicer car that you will enjoy driving and that is well documented.
- Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Race Cars, Sports Cars, Classic Cars 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Coupe for sale