1954 Oldsmobile Blue
by Kym Backland
Title
1954 Oldsmobile Blue
Artist
Kym Backland
Medium
Photograph
Description
This 1954 Oldsmobile is a real beauty. So much chrome and design in this beast of a car. I love it. It has an electric blue shade that is really fine! I love these MOPAR cars!
The 1954 Oldsmobile 88, Super 88, and Ninety-Eight were introduced on January 20, 1954. That was strange, because General Motors usually announced its new cars in the autumn of the previous calendar year, not after the first of January. At a press conference, Oldsmobile General Manager Jack Wolfram offered what may have been a partial explanation for the postponement: "The new 1954 Oldsmobile models were originally planned for release in 1955. But original plans were scrapped early in 1953 when it was found possible to move the 1955 models up to 1954." Wolfram's statement began a controversy among motoring historians that continues to this day. For example, Dennis Casteele wrote in his book, The Cars of Oldsmobile, "This was probably just an advertising claim as General Motors, with its interdivisional sharing of body design, didn't operate that way."
However, automotive journalists Jan E. Norbye and Jim Dunne were convinced it happened with the 1954s. As they stated in their history Oldsmobile 1946-1980: The Classic Postwar Years, "[T]he cars that were first designed for 1954 were shown to the top management of GM in November 1952. GM President Harlow] Red Curtice blew his stack. The cars were lumpy, warmed-over, unimaginative -- worse than the '53 models, he is supposed to have said." As for who suggested junking the original 1954s and putting the 1955s into production a year earlier than intended, Norbye and Dunne speculated about several possibilities and finally picked the most likely."One story has it that Louis C. Goad, then executive vice-president with overall responsibility for the Car and Truck Group, simply asked the question in a meeting: 'The designs for the 1955 cars are pretty well finished. Would it be possible to get them into production sooner?' No matter how it came about, it was possible. And it was done."
Uploaded
August 2nd, 2013
Statistics
Viewed 720 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/23/2024 at 10:38 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Similar Images
Comments (34)
Joe Connors
Magic - how you captured the still colorful action, with such perfect focused depth of field. - If you only had a racoon in the driver's seat.
Jeff Williamson
I did forget to mention.......... Having been a professional photographer, Great picture Kym! This car has character and you captured a beautiful side of her. Good job!
Kym Backland replied:
Jeff, Thanks for the compliments. Wow, you are a professional photographer AND owned this car! Life is good.. How ever did you muster the strength up to sell her?
Jeff Williamson
My car!! lol I used to own this car. The photo's don't do justice to the detailed pen-stripping, hood, sides, trunk and the work on the dash is awesome. Where is the car now? I owned it for about 6 years. Great cruising but wow, the amount of time polishing chrome! Great car, great times. BTW - the color is "Corvette Teal" The restoration was done in the Bay Area, sorry can't remember the name but it was by a well known restorer. Jeff Williamson - Port Townsend.
Kym Backland replied:
Jeff, That is a really cool car you used to own. Thanks for telling me about your previous ownership. This car was at a car show in Silverdale. Small world of cars. Corvette Teal....well it was a great choice for color..
Kym Backland
PAMELA JOHNSON, Hello new group leader, Thank you for the "triple features" today. I appreciate the feature of my photo 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE in your new group called BLUE. Happy Super Moon Monday to ya!
Lorenzo Laiken
Had an uncle who owned one of these. The big blue bomber! - v Lorenzo
Kym Backland replied:
Lorenzo, I like that you call it THE BIG BLUE BOMBER.. that makes me laugh! I hope you got to ride in it? Thanks for your visit and vote today!
Kym Backland
KLAAS HARTZ, Happy Thursday to you! Thank you for the multiple features the other day! I appreciate the feature of my photo 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE in your group COLORFUL AND FASENTENREIC.. I appreciate it very much Klaas!
Kym Backland
MICHEL SOUCY, Thank you for the multiple features the other day! I appreciate the feature of my photo 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE in your group VERSATILE PHOTOGRAPHY, I appreciate it very much Michel!
Kym Backland
JIM CARRELL, Thank you for the feature of this gorgeous classic car in the photo named 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE.. in your beautiful and very big group COMFORTABLE ART LIMIT 2.. Sorry it took me so long to give you your props Jim. Thanks again!
Jim Fitzpatrick
Very beautiful capture and car! Wonderful, bold details! F/V
Kym Backland replied:
Jim, Thanks so much, of course I didn't do anything but shoot the picture of the car. I gotta hand it to the guy that painted it! Thanks for your votes too!
Kym Backland
RANDY (BLUE ELVIS) ROSENBERGER, Happy Wednesday Hump Day! Thank you for the feature today of my photo 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE! in your group WISCONSIN FLOWERS AND SCENERY~ I appreciate it Randy!
Kym Backland
ANASTASIA, Hello my friend! Happy Wednesday Hump Day! Thank you for the feature today of my photo 1954 OLDSMOBILE BLUE! in your group PHOTOSRUS~ I appreciate it Anastasia~
Randy Rosenberger
Love the beauty of this piece and the quality and care that went into its composition! It is my pleasure to PROMOTE this piece of beauty on our FEATURED ARTWORK section of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. Thanks for sharing! fave and vote Forever, Elvis
Kym Backland replied:
Randy, (Blue Elvis) This is a car you should drive! Thanks for the notes, votes, and promotes.. You are a real treasure Randy!
Eti Reid
Awesome , spotless detail Kym! ANd Ive never seen one of those, thank you for showing me:) f.v
Kym Backland replied:
Eti, Thanks for your frequent and wonderful visits! Again, I'm behind in my replies..
Karen Adams
1954 was a pretty wonderful year! This is really a pretty car! Love the hood ornament over the world design...looks like a modernistic plane flying over the globe! . . . . . gorgeous blue color! ....fav/v9
Kym Backland replied:
Karen, Thanks for all your votes and notes, and promotes.. I really appreciate it!
Recently Viewed
