Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-11-08
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The Oldsmobile front end styl
ing is entirely new, with "hi.lo'
bumper Incorporating massive
super and lower bumper bars fol
double protection, closely spaced
horizonal lowers to direct air into
the engine compartment, chrome
block letter spelling out the Odds
mobile name across the grille, ant
unquie parking lights adapted
from Oldsmobile's 1856 dream
car"
There is a new hood ornament
rocket fender emblems on each
front fender and "span-a-ramic'
windshield that is deeper, wider
and contains up to Is per cent
more glass area.
The hooded headlamps have 8
wider visor.
Reliability and ride of the
1857 Oldsmobile have been i'm
proved through the new wide
stance" chassis. incorporating q
wider and heavier frame, and the
improved font and rear suspen
sion. The frame is eight inches
wider than in 1856.
The "pivot-poise" front suspen
sion design embodies counter
dive" which prevents the front
end from nosing down when the
brakes are applied. Rear shock
absorbers have been moved out
board of the frame to position
outside the leaf springs in order
to obtain a wider spring base and
reduce roll on curves. The new
14-inch wheels and larger tires
also contribute to the improved
riding qualities.
The 1857 Rocket" engine has
been boosted from 240 to 277 hip
and the four-barrel quadri-jet car.
buretor is now standard on all Sc
ries. Engine displacement has
been increased from 324 to 81
rcubic inches by lengthening the
piston stroke and increasing the
bore diameter. Compression ratio
has been raised to 9.5 to /.
Maximum torque is advanced
from $40 or $50 to 400 feet pei
pound at 1890 rpm. New closed
skirt pistons, main bearings o.
aluminium and a snorkel type all
cleaner are other new engine fea
lures for 1857. A new two-piect
propeller shaft has been utilized Il
assist lowering car height. Jeta
way Hydra-Matic Drive, power
steering and power brakes arr
standard on the 1857 Starfire 1913.
Rear end design presents a new
appearance, too, with oval tail
lights having wide chrome band:
and chrome spinner in the cen
ter. A chrome or painted pillal
is at the fender terminus and /!
mounted over the back-up lights
This pillar in the left rear fendel
lifts up to reveal the fuel tanl
cap and filler. The deeper real
bumper has vertical dual exhaus
ports integrated in the QUITE
guards. However, the exhaust il
DETECTED downwards to minimiz,
chrome corrosion by exhaus
fumes.
The dual exhaust system, nov
standard on the Super "88" ant
Starfire "98' series, has twin res
orators on each tailpipe to pre-
vide better silencing and reduc
back pressure.
Most marked interior change
the strut mounted instrumen
panel adapted from Oldsmobile'
experimental Delta. This stru
panel, which extends from on
side of the body to the other, j
set back from the windshield bas
or cowl panel and leaves an al
space back of the windshield TO
better air circulation and instrl
ment accessibility. The steerin
wheel is deeply recessed for in
proved interior safety and the il
strument controls are recessed
the panel for safety design. TIL
safety pad of the dash panel
deepened for residence in case c
mishap, and is now standard o
all Super "88" and Starfire "9S
models. The electric cluock
mounted in the panels center III
der the windshield for better wi
Utility and has self-regulatin
feature for better time-keepinl
The radio speaker also is cente
mounted for better tonal quail
ties.
Controls for the new highe
capacity dual range heater are
the left of the steering eolum
and the regulators for the ele
trio window lifts, standard c
three Starfire "98" models, al
mounted in the dash panel e,
tremity just to the left of ii
steering wheel for better access
bility. The glove box has been a
most doubled to 81 inches
width.
A printed electric circuit, fir
in the industry, has been deve
oped for the instrument cluste
simplifying maintenance of ele