Oldsmobile proclaimed itself the style leader for 1938 with two distinct models: the six-cylinder F-38 and the L-38 with straight-eight power.

“Two style leaders! Whether your choice is the dashing Oldsmobile Six, or the dynamic Oldsmobile Eight, your car will be in the forefront of the very newest styling trend. For Oldsmobile is setting America’s styles again, just as Oldsmobile is stepping out ahead in performance, quality, and value.”  -1938 Oldsmobile magazine ad

While the copywriters did their best to present the 1938 Oldsmobile Six and Eight as two distinctively different cars, in truth they were pretty much the same in exterior design. The chief difference was in the grilles: nine horizontal chrome bars for the Six (above left), and a more textured and detailed look for the Eight (above right). The front end treatment, especially on the Eight, reminds us of Raymond Loewy’s 1938 Studebakers. (See our ’38 Studebaker feature here and see if you agree.)

The chief differences between the Olds Six and Eight were under the skin, really. While their chassis were similar, the F-38 series Six as built on a 117-in wheelbase, while the L-38 series was considerably longer at 124 inches. Both engines were straightforward inline, L-head designs. The 230 cubic-inch six provided 95 hp, while the 257 CID straight eight offered 110 hp. In those days, an output rating of 100 hp or better was was a significant selling point.

The most noteworthy mechanical feature was General Motors’ Automatic Safety Transmission, introduced the year before and available at extra cost ($80) in both car lines. AST was essentially the Hydra-Matic  fully automatic transmission that would be introduced in 1940, but with a conventional clutch instead of a fluid coupling. There was a clutch pedal, but it was needed only at starts and stops. No shift lever was required, allowing comfortable three-abreast seating in the front. (More on the Automatic Safety Transmission here.)

Inside the cabin, there were some neat gimmicks for the driver, including a unique steering wheel with hoop-handles (we don’t know what to call them) attaching the spokes to the rim. Also, the Safety Instrument Unit, as it was called, featured a pair of cylindrical modules, one on each side of the speedometer. The left pod housed the lighting controls, while the Safety Vision Control unit on the right side operated the optional 8-tube radio ($66.50). The dealer-installed clock atop the speedometer was another $12.25 extra.

L-38 Eight Club Coupe 

All seven body styles in the six-cylinder F-38 series were priced under $1000 except  the Convertible Coupe, which came in at $1,046. The L-38 straight eights ranged from $989 to $1,107, and they contributed about 20 percent of the division’s volume. The sales leader was the six-cylinder, four-door Touring (trunkback) Sedan. However, Oldsmobile production fell sharply in 1938, nearly 50 percent, as it did throughout the Motor City that year due to a fairly severe recession. The Olds division responded in 1939 with a third, low-priced model line and price cuts of 6 to 13 percent.

F-38 Six Touring Sedan