09/01/2026
1959 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible — A Rolling Symbol of the Jet Age
Oldsmobile entered 1959 ready to make a dramatic statement. After the heavily chromed designs of the previous year, the company introduced an entirely new styling direction called the “Linear Look.” The concept was to make its cars appear longer, lower, wider and more modern, using clean horizontal lines, a panoramic windshield, a full-width grille and sweeping, rocket-inspired rear fins. At the top of the lineup was the luxurious Ninety-Eight—the finest automobile Oldsmobile offered.
From the factory, the Ninety-Eight was powered by Oldsmobile’s 394-cubic-inch Rocket V-8, rated at 315 horsepower and paired with the Jetaway Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. It combined strong performance with the comfort, chrome, power accessories and distinctive styling expected from a premium American automobile.
The bold redesign proved successful. Oldsmobile’s model-year sales increased by nearly 87,000 cars over 1958, and the company built 81,132 Ninety-Eights for 1959. Only 7,514 were convertibles, making this glamorous open-air model one of the more uncommon versions.
More than transportation, cars like this represented the confidence and optimism of late-1950s America. The space-age details, Rocket V-8 power and dramatic proportions reflected a time when automobiles were designed to look like the future. The Ninety-Eight Convertible was a rolling symbol of success, freedom and the belief that tomorrow would be bigger, faster and brighter.
This beautiful Oldsmobile is not for sale. It was only visiting Jerry Dixon’s Klassic Kar Automotive for a brake job—because even a show-stopping classic needs to stop as well as it goes!
At Jerry Dixon’s Klassic Kar Automotive, we have been repairing and restoring classic automobiles in Austin since 1974. From brakes, steering, suspension, cooling systems and electrical diagnostics to engine work, transmissions, fabrication and complete restoration services, our team is dedicated to keeping vintage automobiles safe, dependable and enjoyable for generations to come.
Have a classic car that needs attention? Call us for a live representative consultation during business hours or visit our website to schedule your classic car repair with us today!
512 288-0094 M-F 7a-5p CST
Jerry Dixon’s Klassic Kar Automotive
Austin, Texas | Family owned since 1974
