How much horsepower does a 1950 Oldsmobile have?
The short answer is that most 1950 Oldsmobiles were rated at 135 horsepower, coming from the 303 cubic-inch Rocket V8 that powered the lineup. Power figures were consistent across the era’s models, with only minor variations due to trim or carburetion rather than major engineering changes.
The Rocket V8 and the 1950 Oldsmobile lineup
In 1950, Oldsmobile relied on the 303-cubic-inch overhead-valve Rocket V8, a continuation of the engine first introduced in 1949. The official horsepower rating for this engine across the major 1950 models—including the Series 88 and the top-line Series 98—was 135 horsepower. Buyers could choose manual transmission or Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, but these options did not alter the engine’s published horsepower rating.
Model-by-model overview
Below is a concise breakdown of the horsepower figures across the 1950 Oldsmobile lineup.
- Rocket V8, 303 cubic inches: 135 horsepower (standard across the 1950 Oldsmobile Series 88 and Series 98 models).
In summary, the vast majority of 1950 Oldsmobiles used the same 135-horsepower Rocket V8, with power ratings remaining effectively constant across the range for that model year.
Context in the auto industry
During the early postwar era, horsepower ratings were published using the conventions of the time, often reflecting gross horsepower figures. For Oldsmobile, the 135-horsepower rating on the 303-cu-in Rocket V8 was the official specification cited in factory materials and period marketing, and it defined the performance expectations for the 1950 lineup.
Summary
In 1950, Oldsmobile equipped its cars with a 303-cubic-inch Rocket V8 rated at 135 horsepower, a figure that applied across the main models in the line. While buyers could opt for different transmissions, the horsepower rating itself remained steady for that year.
