Oldsmobiles were completely restyled for 1959 along with all GM cars. The dramatic change was a direct response to the styling innovations introduced by Chrysler Corporation in their 1957 lineup which was a smashing success. Nothing could be done to alter the 1958 GM lineup which was already too far along in the process to substantially change, but a crash program was initiated at GM to answer the Chrysler challenge with GM's '59 models. As you can see in these photos, there are virtually no styling similarities between the 1958 and 1959 Oldsmobiles
1958 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight convertible

1959 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight convertible
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