1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88

The original Oldsmobile 88 can lay fair claim as America's first postwar "muscle car", sounding the gun for the 'Horsepower race' of the fifties. It was definately a hit. Despite being a last-minute addition, the debut 1949 models sold more than 99,000 copies. The evolutionary '50s racked up over a quarter-million orders. The 88 deserves its longstanding place in the automotive hall of fame.

Like many good ideas, the 88 concept was disarmingly simple. Olds shared 1949 honors with sister division Cadillac for the industry's first high-compression overhead-valve V-8.

An advertisement implored prospects to - Make a Date with a "Rocket 8"!
The Fifties would see a lot of fast Oldsmobiles, but the 88 was the first and that makes it special. Today it's revered as the granddaddy of modern muscle.