1961 Oldsmobile Super 88
- Thread starter rickr
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That's absolutely stunning, Rick! What a beauty!
kenmore1978
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18 MPG
Is actually damn good for those cars. 12-15 mpg was more typical
Is actually damn good for those cars. 12-15 mpg was more typical
spiraclean
Active member
Hi Rick,
What a beautiful car. I wish you many years of driving pleasure.
Best Regards.
Hugh
What a beautiful car. I wish you many years of driving pleasure.
Best Regards.
Hugh
spiralactivator
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That is one beautiful automobile! I guess 18 mpg is good, considering it's the size of a small yacht. The thing I drive is only 10 years old and needs $400 worth of repairs...maybe it's time to switch to a classic.
kenmore1978
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Streetlights
"I noticed your streetlights, are they originals to the neighborhood?"
Oh, God, I thought I was the only one who noticed streetlights.
There are a lot of that style here in L.A. Mostly installed in the 20's. My street still has that style, instaled in the 30's. Some of the more "upscale" neighborhoods have paid extra assesments to have the original installation replaced with new "old style" standards, which costs a lot more than modern poles because many more are needed to meet modern street lighting standards.
"I noticed your streetlights, are they originals to the neighborhood?"
Oh, God, I thought I was the only one who noticed streetlights.
There are a lot of that style here in L.A. Mostly installed in the 20's. My street still has that style, instaled in the 30's. Some of the more "upscale" neighborhoods have paid extra assesments to have the original installation replaced with new "old style" standards, which costs a lot more than modern poles because many more are needed to meet modern street lighting standards.
Kevinpreston3
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Didn't you hate...
When they changed from white streetlights to that God-awful amber? I know it is supposed to be "efficient", but yech.
When they changed from white streetlights to that God-awful amber? I know it is supposed to be "efficient", but yech.
kenmore1978
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lighting change
Actually, it was a gradual thing. The first conversions were the blue color (mercury vapor) which you may notice are being phased out. The pink ones are either high pressure sodium vapor,or metal halide, I not sure which is which. Those really awful deep yellow ones were low pressure sodium vapor.
Actually, it was a gradual thing. The first conversions were the blue color (mercury vapor) which you may notice are being phased out. The pink ones are either high pressure sodium vapor,or metal halide, I not sure which is which. Those really awful deep yellow ones were low pressure sodium vapor.
kenmore1978
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radio
"The radio was converted to am-fm stereo by me in the 1970's. The radio is from a 1969 Grand Prix. The radio faceplate is from the Olds however,and looks original."
So how do you control it and know what FM station you are on?
"The radio was converted to am-fm stereo by me in the 1970's. The radio is from a 1969 Grand Prix. The radio faceplate is from the Olds however,and looks original."
So how do you control it and know what FM station you are on?
Jaune, I notice everything, I haven't seen that type of street lighting, original or repro anywhere other than in downtown heritage districts where they're usually reproduced but still nice. They certainly add to a neighborhood like Ricks. One thing I have noticed over the last few years (with the arrival of Home Depots etc) is that many of the older neighborhoods that were looking somewhat tired or modernized ala 60-70's with fake plsatic stonework etc are now being restored to what they looked like when built, perhaps even better with the wide choices in materials and landscaping now available.
Radio Questions
The radio is an AM FM stereo from a 1969 Pontiac Gran Prix. On this model radio,the station numbers on on the dial background,not on the faceplate glass. Most old GM radios were like that. On this radio the far left chrome pushbuttom will switch the radio (and dial) to AM. The chrome pushbuttom on the far right switches the radio (and dial) to FM. The original faceplate said"Pontiac" on it. I just switched the Pontiac faceplate with my original Olds faceplate that say's"Oldsmobile" on it. I did this in the late 1970's. I really need to pull the radio and have it serviced. It still works ok,however it has lost some power on distant stations.
The radio is an AM FM stereo from a 1969 Pontiac Gran Prix. On this model radio,the station numbers on on the dial background,not on the faceplate glass. Most old GM radios were like that. On this radio the far left chrome pushbuttom will switch the radio (and dial) to AM. The chrome pushbuttom on the far right switches the radio (and dial) to FM. The original faceplate said"Pontiac" on it. I just switched the Pontiac faceplate with my original Olds faceplate that say's"Oldsmobile" on it. I did this in the late 1970's. I really need to pull the radio and have it serviced. It still works ok,however it has lost some power on distant stations.
kenmore1978
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radio dial
Rick, that was a cool conversion, means you really didn't have to mess with the electronics at all. So it has the "revolving dialplate a lot of Delco AM/FM radios had. I assume you just set up the stereo "front-to-back" rather than try to "Mickey Mouse" left and right speakers. As it turns out, some of the factory setups were that way. My Grandmother's 1978 Firebird "Sky Bird" stereo is set up that way. Sounds fine. A friend of mine put a 1967 AM/FM Stereo radio in his '66 Toronado and set it up that way and the stereo effect sounds good. Those radios really sound pretty good if you replace the original speakers with today's co and tri-axial speakers, especially since a lot of the speakers back then were large 6 X 9 size.
Rick, that was a cool conversion, means you really didn't have to mess with the electronics at all. So it has the "revolving dialplate a lot of Delco AM/FM radios had. I assume you just set up the stereo "front-to-back" rather than try to "Mickey Mouse" left and right speakers. As it turns out, some of the factory setups were that way. My Grandmother's 1978 Firebird "Sky Bird" stereo is set up that way. Sounds fine. A friend of mine put a 1967 AM/FM Stereo radio in his '66 Toronado and set it up that way and the stereo effect sounds good. Those radios really sound pretty good if you replace the original speakers with today's co and tri-axial speakers, especially since a lot of the speakers back then were large 6 X 9 size.
street light questions
The street lights are on my property,and belong to me. They are vintage lights that I bought as scrap from the City of Fort Wayne for $100.00 each years ago. They were removed from an old neighborhood that the lighting was updated in. They do not look that large in the picture,however they are very tall full size lamps.They are in scale for the size and height of my old house,but would look oversize, and too imposing if they were used with a modern or single story home. They are cast iron and weigh 600 lbs each. I rewired them as they were wired for 450 volts with huge cables as the wires. They are bolted to a huge chunk of cement that goes down five feet deep in the ground. That had to be done to be sure that the poles would not lean after the freeze and thaws that we get in this area. I buried the special outdoor electrical cables and installed new standard light sockets in the tops. I use traffic signal bulbs in the lamps. They are 67 watts and 130 volts. The poles are switched on and of via a photocell that is installed in the side of the garage,so the lamps are lit from dusk to dawn 365 days per year. The bulbs usually last about three years. When one finally burns out,I replace the other one also. Traffic signal bulbs are pretty tough. The light is great for the driveway and garage. and it uplights the side of the house on that side too. The empty lot on that side of the house is part of this property also,so the extra light does not bother any of the neighbors.
The street lights are on my property,and belong to me. They are vintage lights that I bought as scrap from the City of Fort Wayne for $100.00 each years ago. They were removed from an old neighborhood that the lighting was updated in. They do not look that large in the picture,however they are very tall full size lamps.They are in scale for the size and height of my old house,but would look oversize, and too imposing if they were used with a modern or single story home. They are cast iron and weigh 600 lbs each. I rewired them as they were wired for 450 volts with huge cables as the wires. They are bolted to a huge chunk of cement that goes down five feet deep in the ground. That had to be done to be sure that the poles would not lean after the freeze and thaws that we get in this area. I buried the special outdoor electrical cables and installed new standard light sockets in the tops. I use traffic signal bulbs in the lamps. They are 67 watts and 130 volts. The poles are switched on and of via a photocell that is installed in the side of the garage,so the lamps are lit from dusk to dawn 365 days per year. The bulbs usually last about three years. When one finally burns out,I replace the other one also. Traffic signal bulbs are pretty tough. The light is great for the driveway and garage. and it uplights the side of the house on that side too. The empty lot on that side of the house is part of this property also,so the extra light does not bother any of the neighbors.
kenmore1978
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traffic signal bulbs
Well, we won't be seeing those here in CA much longer, state law has dictataed that they be replaced by LED's. Most cities have already or are in the process of replacement. The City of Los Angeles has been delayed because of a little "Turf War" (traffic lights are installed and maintained by the Traffic Department, but the power is provided free by the Department of Water & Power. Traffic Department didn't feel they should have to pay for the conversion, since the DWP would be the one to benefit fromm the power savings. The Mayor finally had to step in and settle it.)
Well, we won't be seeing those here in CA much longer, state law has dictataed that they be replaced by LED's. Most cities have already or are in the process of replacement. The City of Los Angeles has been delayed because of a little "Turf War" (traffic lights are installed and maintained by the Traffic Department, but the power is provided free by the Department of Water & Power. Traffic Department didn't feel they should have to pay for the conversion, since the DWP would be the one to benefit fromm the power savings. The Mayor finally had to step in and settle it.)
kenmore1978
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correction
I stand corrected, the YELLOW lights will remain conventional
I stand corrected, the YELLOW lights will remain conventional
Wow Rick when you go out to do something you do it. Your house and property look amazingly "vintage" Does Ft.Wayne have a heritage homes program?
Garage and landscape
Thank you Pete! The house was built in 1887,and moved to this location in 1930. The one car garage was built after the house was moved here. This is a picture of what the property looked like in 1960. I am the kid sitting on the sled. My grandparents used to let us flood the side yard and empty lot with water from the hose,so we could skate. The corner of the house can be seen at the far right of the picture.
BTW that is a 1959 VW next to the garage. It belonged to my Uncle Jerry (who is doing the spin) He moved to L.A. in 1962 and took his VW with him.
Thank you Pete! The house was built in 1887,and moved to this location in 1930. The one car garage was built after the house was moved here. This is a picture of what the property looked like in 1960. I am the kid sitting on the sled. My grandparents used to let us flood the side yard and empty lot with water from the hose,so we could skate. The corner of the house can be seen at the far right of the picture.
BTW that is a 1959 VW next to the garage. It belonged to my Uncle Jerry (who is doing the spin) He moved to L.A. in 1962 and took his VW with him.
