Customer Stories: 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 'Betsy'
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Customer Stories: 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 'Betsy'

Customer Stories: 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 'Betsy'


Bill and Sue Webb's 1957 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Sedan has a lot of history leading up to it. Bill Webb recalls his first car being a 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door Sedan that was black with grey cloth interior. He purchased the Oldsmobile in November 1967 from his girlfriend's neighbor. When he saw the neighbor was now driving a '61 Pontiac, he asked what he was doing with the '57 Oldsmobile. The neighbor let him know the local scrap yard was giving him fifteen dollars for it. It was facing a freeze-out plug leak and needed a new universal joint and so he was moving on to the Pontiac. Webb gave him the fifteen dollars to match the rate from the scrap yard and fixed it himself for an additional $2.25 in parts. Webb named that car "Betsy" and he drove it up until joining the Navy in July 1969.


The original "Betsy" is full of great memories for Webb. He taught his girlfriend how to drive in "Betsy" and recalls they went everywhere in her. This included driving her to school, work, the beach, parties, drive-in movies, and trips into New York City. By the time that Webb was joining the Navy in 1969, "Betsy" definitely needed some TLC. Webb recalls the need for a tune-up, new tires, exhaust work, and a new starter. Webb also recalls it was too big of an expense at the time for his girlfriend to fix. Rather than selling the 1963 Nova that Webb purchased to cover the repairs, he decided to "junk" "Betsy" before heading off with the Navy. It's still a bit of a sore subject as that girlfriend became Webb's wife, and Sue Webb hasn't let Bill forget letting go of "Betsy" before joining the Navy that year.

However, "all is well that ends well", as they say.

After Bill retired around Christmas in 2008, Sue purchased a 1957 Oldsmobile 88 Holiday Sedan for the Webbs and a new "Betsy" joined the family.


Bill is always working on something with the new "Betsy". Windshield, paint, interior, engine, and transmission work have all been projects in the past. Although he's not a formally trained mechanic, Bill will take on as much of the work as possible with repairs. In the mid 1970's, Bill enrolled in an upholstery course, and in 2012, he took an auto body and paint course to further his skills. He's also enlisted help from friends who have helped him with engine work along the way. Those repairs have almost all taken place in a garage that Bill built that features an in-ground lift on one side and a two-post lift on the other.



The Webb's are still making memories with the new "Betsy", but have also been joined by two new vehicles; A 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Convertable that was purchased for Sue, and a 1964 Chrysler Imperial Convertable restoration project for Bill.



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