Oldsmobile ads of the early '90s seemed to suggest that your father's Oldsmobile wasn't such a great car, but what about your grandfather's Oldsmobile? Cars like this 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday sedan were cutting-edge machines in their day, debuting the high-horsepower OHV V8 that revolutionized the industry, not to mention the dramatic hardtop styling that was a smash hit when it arrived in showrooms. From an era that cherished horsepower and luxury in equal doses, Oldsmobile had a winning combination that offered sublime styling, impressive performance, and plenty of luxury to satisfy even the most dedicated sybarite. The biggest, most luxurious Oldsmobiles, the 98s, were every bit the equal of their Buick and Cadillac siblings, offering perhaps a more driver-oriented experience that makes these the unsung heroes of the 1950s.

This particular 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday sedan is a remarkably original and beautifully kept car that shows just 53,714 original miles. I hesitate to use the word "survivor" because it has been repainted in its original Alcan White over Charcoal Gray color combination, but the rest is as it was built in 1956. Being one of those high-quality original machines, it has an intangible feel of quality and smoothness that's challenging to restore back into a car, and you know that rust and botched body work are non-issues in a car like this. The repaint was extremely well done, wrapping the two-tone combination even into the door jambs with razor-sharp masking between them, suggesting guys who really cared about getting it right were on the job. All four doors fit properly and close with the most wonderful mechanical click and their heft makes them feel substantial. The hood opens and closes on well-oiled hinges and there's not a single bad line on the entire car. The 98s received longer trunks and quarter panels to fit their newly lengthened wheelbase in 1956, so this is definitely a very big car, but the proportions are exactly right. When combined with the hardtop styling, the car's mass is cleverly hidden and it looks sporting, not frumpy, reminding us all why Oldsmobile was a best-seller, year after year.

Of course, on any '50s car, the chrome and stainless trim is a major consideration, and it is all in excellent condition on this Holiday. The chrome bumpers are so nice we have to believe that they were restored when the car was painted, and some of the stainless trim shows very faint buffing marks, so it was likely polished up while it was off the car. The net result is that all the brightwork shines like jewelry against the sparkling paint. The only possible demerit might be the OLDSMOBILE badge on the front grille, which appears to be original and shows light pitting, but re-chroming that part might erase some of the detail so they wisely left it alone. You'll also note the wonderful space-themed emblems fore and aft, which show crisp details and are likely excellent original pieces. In back, the wonderfully ornate taillight lenses are in excellent condition with no fading or cracks and we love the cleverly hidden trunk lock assembly.

The jewel in this Oldsmobile's crown has to be the 100% original interior, which is remarkably well-preserved and absolutely beautiful. The bright red trim, including the dashboard, is an awesome contrast to the subtle bodywork, suggesting someone with a great sense of style ordered this one back in 1956. The cloth and leather upholstery remains in first-class condition with no split seams, cracking, or any significant fading. Some of that can be attributed to the custom-fitted plastic seat covers, which are a recent addition and are perhaps the best I've ever seen and were tailor-made just for this car. Even the robe rail on the back of the front seat was removed so the covers could be installed properly. You'll note that the steering wheel is not cracked, the gauges are bright and crisp, and the chrome-laden dash shows extremely well with no fading or pitting. Noteworthy options include power windows, a power front seat, and factory A/C, which is housed in its own pod under the center of the dash. The A/C system has been recently serviced and converted to R134a refrigerant, and it does chill but the blower motor is not currently operational, a detail we are investigating. The carpets are also original to the car and show minimal wear and fading, with the only notable issue being a hole about the size of a silver dollar adjacent to the accelerator pedal where one's foot might rub during driving. Sadly the clock is not functional, but all the gauges, all the courtesy lights, and even the AM radio which features both front and rear speakers that are switchable via a toggle under the dash, work as they should. Overhead, there's a delightfully ornate headliner with chrome header bows and thanks to the hardtop styling, even the back seat is bright and airy—a wonderful place to spend some time. The trunk is completely original, right down to the multi-piece liner, although there is no spare tire or wheel (a correct GM wheel should be relatively easy to procure).

Oldsmobile's "Rocket" V8 should need no introduction, as it formed the basic architecture that defined OHV V8s for the next six decades. In 1956 it displaced 324 cubic inches and made about 200 horsepower, which gives this big luxury car the ability to cruise the interstates at modern freeway speeds without apparent effort. With just under 54,000 original miles, it's barely broken in and it runs superbly. There's an electric fuel pump to help with starting, but once it's running, the brand new mechanical pump does all the work. The 1950s concept of luxury wasn't total isolation like we have today, but rather a very precise, high-quality feeling, as if every moving part were lined with silk and you can definitely feel a very big machine doing its thing, but doing it softly. The engine bay is tidy but original, so it's not sparkling clean, yet on the other hand all the original markings are quite visible, making this a slam-dunk in preservation classes. The view is dominated by the giant Frigidaire A/C compressor, but there's also a big air cleaner that's been painted to match the bodywork, the only notable deviation from stock. It burbles quietly through a brand new dual exhaust system and thanks to a giant radiator up front, it never threatens to get hot. And, of course, on any car this size, power steering and brakes are standard equipment.

Underneath, the chassis is quite original but in excellent condition. The original floors are protected by a textured undercoating but you can clearly see that there's nothing to hide underneath. The aforementioned exhaust system fits well and uses the cool tips under the rear bumper for an OEM look and sound. In 1956, the GM Hydra-Matic was supplanted by the Jet-Away 3-speed automatic transmission, which is a lot smoother yet gives up nothing in durability. In back, we believe it has 3.23 gears, so it's a superlative highway cruiser that's always on its toes and with new shocks, it has a wonderful luxury car ride. Remarkably, this car is not a leaker, which is rare for all-original cars, and going down the road it feels right, with a buttoned-down feeling that's not at all like the floaty luxury cars that those old Oldsmobile ads were deriding. Part of that is surely due to the recent 235/75/15 Coker wide whitewall radials, which are fitted to the original wheels with correct space-themed factory hubcaps.

A beautifully preserved, top-of-the-line luxury car that you just don't see all that often anymore. In terms of sheetmetal for your dollar, this big Olds will be tough to beat, but you'll also find that you get sparkling performance, a unique look that stands out, and a lot of features that few cars of the era could match. The drivers who delivered this car to us said that the seller was very reluctant to let it out of his garage, and now that we've experienced this wonderful 98 ourselves, it's very easy to understand why. Come see it personally, but be warned, you're going to fall in love…