Vintage Cars: 1959 Super 88, rear seat passengers, dr hardtop

Question
I have an opportunity to purchase a 1959 Olds Super 88  2 dr. hardtop with 70,000  miles.  It was repainted to original color several yrs back and 3000 miles on an engine overhaul.  The owner calls the call a Super 88 Scenic' . The car is very nice, I'd say at least 90% in quality of paint  and overall condition.  AC  with an automatic behind a 394 cu in eng is what he tells me.  My question:  Although referred to by the owner as a Scenic' is this probably a 59' super 88 Holiday? How would it compare in value and demand to a Dynamic 88 and considering it has been parked indoors and what I have described for you in general what would be a safe purchase price?  Thank you for your time, John  

Answer
All 1959 Oldsmobile 2-door hardtops were called "Holiday SceniCoupes," and the 4-door hardtops were called "Holiday SportSedans."  "Holiday" referred to the hardtop body style, and "SceniCoupe" referred to the huge rear window that extended up and over the heads of rear-seat passengers.  So this is why the current owner is referring to it as a "Scenic," which was also sometimes used by Olds in advertising this model.  Dynamic 88s were the base or standard model, Supers were the next step up, and of course the 98 was the top model.  You'd think values would follow the model ranking, but it doesn't.  Model for model, Dynamic/Super/98 bring real close dollars, and sometimes the Super will actually bring more than the 98.  I'd want the Super over the Dynamic any day, but current values don't bear that out.

It's so hard for me to comment on what you should pay, but a rough estimate from the description you've provided leads me to think anywhere in the $7,000-$15,000 range.  Condition is critical (these had a tendency to rust-out), along with originality (unlike Ford and Chevys, lead-sled and customized Olds aren't worth much).  It's really all about supply and demand, and few people are looking to invest in one of these cars.  That's a shame, because I thought 1959 was a horrid year for cars, especially GM, yet the '59 Olds was in my opinion a clean, well-styled, and well-made car.  If you go ahead with the purchase, buy it because you like it, because you'll enjoy taking it to shows and cruise nights, and just have fun with it.  I don't see any huge increases in value for a hardtop Olds, short or long-term.  I hope I've been of some help.