YEAR:   1937    MAKE:  OLDSMOBILE 2DR TOURING SEDAN

COLOR:  CREAM OVER BLACK   UPHOLSTERY:  ORIGINAL (1937) MOHAIR GREEN

ENGINE:  ORIGINAL L-HEAD 8, 257.I CU IN, 110 HP     TRANS:  ORIGINAL 3-SPEED

REAR END:  STOCK W/3.42 GEARS

This month’s featured car is the very nice, all stock, 1937 Oldsmobile owned by Russ and Marie Golesh.  Russ got into old cars by accident; a motorcycle accident to be precise.  After his accident, he (with considerable persuasion from Marie) decided maybe old cars were the way to go.

In 2019, after searching online, Russ found this car in Detroit and had it shipped to Southern California.  Soon after he had it in his possession, he had the gas tank refurbished, replaced break cylinders and lines, fuel lines and many more minor “fixer-uppers.”  Interesting note:  the upholstery is the original factory upholstery.

The car had a little over 57,000 miles on it.  Russ has added his own 8,000 since then.

This car is unique from several standpoints.  First, it is an Oldsmobile.  Fords and Chevys abound, but an Oldsmobile is rare.   Based on Russ’s search, there were only 6,048 1937 2-door touring sedans ever built.  There were many more 4-door models built, but not the 2-door.  According to Russ’s search in antique Oldsmobile records, he may have the only surviving 1937 2-door in the United States. 

Russ has plans to eventually re-paint and re-upholster the car, but it’s a winner the way it looks now.

The one modification Russ has done was to change gears in the rear end.  With the original 4.37s, he had to practically redline the engine to get to highway speeds.

This car is another nice addition to the CAL-RODS family.