Buying a dream car to enjoy for the majority of a lifetime is a fantasy for many people, but for 77-year-old Sunny Seligman, it’s reality. That’s because in October of 1964, after admiring a classic Oldsmobile that would stop next to his work from time to time, Seligman, age 29, got the chance to secure the car that initially caught his eye for decades of enjoyment to come. Now, 49 years later, Seligman still enjoys his ride, along with his daughter and son-in-law, Lorena and Rich Michurski, who take the car out for a bit of summer-time cruising and showing. Lucky for us (and YOU!), we recently caught up with all three and got the scoop on this unique car and it’s hometown heritage.
The Making Of Dreams
“This is one of the only cars I bought years and years ago,” Seligman told us in a recent phone conversation. But it’s not just any car. It’s a 1957 Oldsmobile 98 nicknamed Baby Girl; a 19-foot-long, low-slung monstrosity that would be hard for even the half blind to miss rolling down the road. But that’s exactly what attracted Seligman’s eye the first day he saw it – long, low and sleek.
Working at a tire shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) in 1964, Seligman first noticed the car when the owner visited the business next door in August.
From there, Seligman’s interest grew and when he heard the car was up for sale a couple months later, he took a trip down to the small town of Brunkild to take a look. As it turns out, the family that owned the car had had it since it was new but were selling it to purchase a new car since it was the oldest vehicle they had. While Seligman confessed he almost didn’t get the car, he walked away with it for just $700 on October 20th, 1964.
Seligman drove the car as a daily driver until 1970, when the car was put away for about a decade. In 1985 and 86, the car underwent some minor body work, had the front seat reupholstered and the bumpers rechromed. Then about five years ago, the car underwent an engine rebuild so that it could use unleaded gas, as well as a transmission refresh. Minor touches to a car that’s 56 years old, the Oldsmobile still remains pretty much the way as Seligman purchased it in 1964, according to the Michurskis.
Straight From the Factory
With virtually everything factory original, the Olds makes use of a refreshed numbers-matching 371ci Rocket V8 fitted with a 4-barrell carburetor and dual exhaust. This is strapped to the car’s original four-speed Hydramantic transmission and back by power steering and power brakes, which makes the car good for cruising around or going 75 down the highway to dry the car off after a wash, which Seligman has done a time or two.
“It passes everything on the highway except the service station,” Seligman told us.
On the outside of the car, you’ll find a continental on the back, which the original owner put on, and fender skirts that were a gift from the Michurskis. Other than that, the car is close to factory-original aesthetically, right down to the Rose and White paint job that gets refreshed about every 20 years.
Seligman also took all the insignia off the car except for the “Ninety Eight” on the continental.
“You should see the fun you have when a car passes you and the passenger looks back to see what it is and you see their hands go up like ‘I don’t know,’” he said.
Enjoying the Ride
At 77 years young, Seligman is full of life and passion for his car. From stories about how he saw the original owner in the hospital after owning the car for 20 years and took her for a ride and ended up getting the original bill of sale because he “really knew how to make an old lady happy,” to stories of police officers pulling him over just to look at the car, Seligman’s life would definitely not be the same without the car.
“The one thing I can’t tell my wife is what time I’ll be home because of all the people stopping me and asking questions,” Seligman told us. But the Olds doesn’t get as much use as it used to.
“I’ve been to all the car shows I’ve wanted to,” Seligman said, so he sticks to cruising it around town and the local national park.
The car does see some of the Canadian show circuit, however, as the Michurskis get their turn behind the wheel during the summer for some extra family enjoyment, which both Lorena and Rich expressed their deepest gratitude for Seligman for to us.
Just last year, the car added a Best Olds of 2012 Fabulous 50s Flashback Weekend award to its collection of recognitions.
While Winnipeg weather can mean for some sort cruising seasons, Seligman and the Michurskis will continue to enjoy their Olds 98 for many years to come.
And don’t go trying to offer Mr. Seligman any amount of money or even a brand new Cadillac to try to get your hands on the car, because he might just tell you what he’s told interested parties before: “I could buy your car on a Sunday, but you couldn’t buy my car on a Sunday.” Sounds like Seligman isn’t interested in parting ways with the car and we can’t blame him!
Check out more of Seligman’s Olds 98 in the GALLERY below: