The Model 47 was Oldsmobile’s early V8 experiment, switched mid-run to an aluminum block — and when it was dropped for a straight-eight in 1923, the division wouldn’t build another V8 until 1949.
Lead trim: Model 47 233 cu in side-valve V8 (63 hp at 2000 rpm)
Oldsmobile Light Eight Model 471921–1923
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Oldsmobile Light Eight Model 47 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe Model 47 was Oldsmobile’s early V8 experiment, switched mid-run to an aluminum block — and when it was dropped for a straight-eight in 1923, the division wouldn’t build another V8 until 1949.
The 1921–23 Model 47 was offered with a short 115 in wheelbase and an Oldsmobile-designed side-valve 233 cu in (3,818 cc) V8 changed to an aluminum block with a bore and stroke of 2.875 x 4.5 in, with horsepower rated at 63 at 2000 rpm using two main bearings (also on the longer-wheelbase version). For 1922 the roadster body style returned along with the popular touring sedan and closed body sedan, and the 1923 model saw the cancellation of the long wheelbase. The side-valve V8 was then replaced by the Oldsmobile straight-8 engine and the division would not offer another V8 until 1949.
Collectors Spotted in the Oldsmobile Light Eight Lineage
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Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 47 233 cu in side-valve V8 (63 hp at 2000 rpm) | 1921–1923 | 3.8 L V8 | 63 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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The Model 47 was Oldsmobile’s early V8 experiment, switched mid-run to an aluminum block — and when it was dropped for a straight-eight in 1923, the division wouldn’t build another V8 until 1949.
The truck the Clampetts drove in nearly every episode of The Beverly Hillbillies was a cut-down 1921 Oldsmobile Model 46 Roadster from this very line.
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Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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