Oldsmobile entered the sIxties with GM’s cleanest styling, the widest range of models, and the powerful Rocket V8.

Dynamic 88 Holiday Sport Sedan

When we analyze Detroit styling trends through the decades, we of today have a tremendous advantage: hindsight. With time on our side, we can see things that maybe weren’t so evident at the time. For example: As the Motor City’s stylists navigated the turn away from ’50s excess to ’60s modern in 1960, many of the designs were more ’50s than ’60s. And from where we sit here in the 21st century, it appears that in 1960, Oldsmobile was ahead of the class.

Credited to stylist Ed Taylor and Olds studio chief Irv Rybicki under the direction of General Motors styling boss Bill Mitchell, the ’60 exterior was remarkably clean and simple, especially when compared to the ’58 and ’59 Olds. Yes, there were tail fins, but they were laid out flat and carried forward the length of the body, capped with finely sculpted tail lamps. The front end treatment was free of superflous decoration, too. All this is personal subjective opinion, of course. Styling is in the eye of the beholder, and your mileage may vary.

It’s interesting to note that of all the GM divisions, Oldsmobile never jumped on the X-frame bandwagon. (See our feature on the controversial X-frame cars here.) The ’60 Olds was assembled on a semi-perimeter frame with a hefty X-member to boost torsional rigidity. Also contrary to corporate practice at the time were the semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, when the other GM brands rode on coils. On the 88 models the wheelbase was 123 inches, while the top-of-the line 98 was stretched to 126.3 inches.

Super 88 Convertible 

This is noteworthy, too. For 1960, Oldsmobile continued to offer convertibles in all three model lines: base Dynamic 88, Super 88, and luxury 98. Olds was the only GM brand to do so. (With the lowest price, the Dynamic 88 ragtop took half the sales.) There were Holiday two-door and four-door pillarless hardtops at every trim level as well. A 371 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with 240 hp (260 hp optional) was standard on the Dynamic 88, while the Super 88 and 98 got the biggest Rocket with 394 CID. The year before, the original 1949 Rocket V8 had grown to its maximum size. While the 394 V8 required premium fuel in 1960, it did offer 315 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque.

Super 88 Fiesta Station Wagon

It’s just one way, but we might define the mid-price class in 1960 as the space between the costliest Chevrolet ($2,996) and the cheapest Cadillac ($4,892). From that angle, Olds had a very broad category fairly well covered, with prices ranging from $2,835 for a Dynamic 88 2-Door Sedan to the 98 Convertible at $4,362.

Meanwhile, the body style and model choices at Oldsmobile for 1960 were as generous as any, and the styling was on the nose (in our opinion). However, all these attributes we can find now were not reflected in showroom success at the time. Olds sales slipped 9 percent in 1960 and the division fell  from fifth to seventh in volume behind Pontiac and Dodge. Hindsight has its limitations.