The full sized V8 engine in a lighter body was what really did the trick. The lighter, 76 series body, combined with the bigger engine made the car outstanding at traveling at high speeds very quickly, and made the engine just that much more powerful. The car was able to quickly pin you to your seat, and keep you there until you stopped pushing on the throttle.

"Early Muscle Cars" (cont.)


Because of this car, Oldsmobile began to dominate the landscape of speed racing. The 88 won many contests in 1950, including the NASCAR Grand National Division, as well as Daytona Speed Weeks, and the 2100+ mile Carrera Panamericana. Also, an 88 won Spa-Francorchamps in France that year.

Because of the obvious successes that came with the 88, the Muscle Car era was born. When the 88 had won 8 out of 10 races in the NASCAR series of 1950, it became apparent that it was the fastest car out there, and that nothing else could come close to beating it. The Rocket 88 had begun what would be a years-long obsession with cars that were lightweight and very fast, and it began to be quite apparent that an international class was being born.