Look At What I Found!: 1928 Oldsmobile – Now That's Patina!
Whether they’re found at curbside in the Pacific northwest, or on the island that rust forgot off the coast of California, most of the cool-old-cars-found-by-car-bloggers tend to be from relatively recent decades like the 1960s or 1970s. So when I saw this 1928 Oldsmobile Six sitting in front of the insurance agency in Ferndale, Michigan that it was advertising, I knew that I had to stop and take some photos – particularly after I noticed that it is registered with non-historical, handicapped license plates, indicating that it’s currently in running condition.
The owner of the agency told me that the car indeed runs and is driven regularly, though it is for sale. He wasn’t sure of the exact model so I checked some histories, though there really isn’t much about Oldsmobile history online about the period between Ransom E. Olds and Harley Earl. Oldsmobile did introduce a new model in 1928, the F-28, with a more powerful 55HP six, but this appears to be a regular Oldsmobile Six. There’s almost more information available online about Oldsmobile’s short-lived “sister brand” Viking, than on 1920s vintage production Oldsmobiles.
The car appears to be 100% complete, including the windshield visor and all the trim. Everything looks to be original including the paint, wooden spoke wheels, the interior upholstery and the leatherette roof. I’m guessing that the tires, though, are not 83 years old. Though the wheels are a now fashionably large 18 inches, there are go-kart tires with larger contact patches than the 5.25/5.50″ Excelsiors.
When I was growing up in the 1950s and 1960s my grandfather only drove Oldsmobiles. My mother tells me that’s what he drove when she was a child as well. She hadn’t yet started kindergarten when this 1928 Olds Six was built, so it’s possible that during her childhood she rode in a car very much like this one.
Automakers have used brightwork since the brass era, but Oldsmobile was the first automaker to offer chromium plated trim, starting in 1926 with chrome plated radiator shells and grilles. Some of that chrome remains, though it started to oxidize long ago. Whoever buys this car would be a fool to restore it. You can’t get more authentic patina. As they say, it’s only original once, and this old Olds looks about as original as they get.
If you’re interested in buying this car, you can get more information from the Strauss Insurance Agency, 800-450-6700/
The full gallery of photos, in your choice of 3D formats and 2D can be found at Cars In Depth.
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.
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N-iiii-cccc-eee! Let's all be happy Elena Ford didn't bang up at this intersection in Ferndale.
this has been at that insurance agency for easily 5 years, maybe longer. they have an MG Midget as well which seems to move a bit more often. neat looking, but it's sort of stupid to just leave it out in the elements year round to decay (or "build patina" if you're into that sort of thing) continually. not that it should be locked away in a bubble or anything, but still....