There’s no need to get excited about any celebrity ownership here, a Kardashian or famous rap star hasn’t owned this Olds. I know, what a letdown! The name of this car is a 1966 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Celebrity Sedan, it’s the four-door post or non-hardtop version. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Portage, Wisconsin, 40 miles north of Madison. There is a $6,800 buy-it-now price listed and the bids are up to $4,150 but the reserve isn’t met. Thanks to Larry D. for sending in this dynamic tip!
The first thing that I’ll mention is that I spent far too much time trying to figure out the VIN. It lists this car as a 1965 model, not 1966 with a “5” the sixth position. Then I searched for both 1965 and 1966 Dynamic 88 Celebrity sedans and saw the differences and this one does appear to be a 1966 model. The seller says that this car hasn’t run in three years or so and it’s been repainted. A personal inspection would be great but the bidders don’t seem to be worried.
As I mentioned, the Celebrity sedan was a model of the Dynamic 88 line and there was also an Oldsmobile Delta 88 Celebrity Sedan with a wide band of trim on the bottom. There was no two-door Celebrity model at least in this era. If a buyer wanted a Dynamic 88 convertible, no problem, but if they wanted a four-door hardtop or two-door hardtop, they needed to grab a Dynamic 88 Holiday sedan or Dynamic 88 Holiday Coupe.
The interior looks good from what we can see of it in three vertical photos all of the front seating area and dash. There are no back seat photos but I’d have to assume that it looks at least as good back there as the front seat area does. They provided some underside photos and it does look solid. This one has a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic with column shifter but a three-speed and four-speed manual would have been available. I miss the era of wing windows or vent windows, don’t you?
The engine apparently turns over, we think, from what they were told but they never tried it in the year that they’ve owned it. It’s an Oldsmobile 425 cubic-inch V8 which would have had between 300 and 365 horsepower. Given the vague description, soft brakes, and four doors, I’m somewhat surprised at the bid price but pleased to see four-door sedans getting some love. It does look like a nice car. Any thoughts on this one?
As kids we called those wing windows “No-drafts”.
Seems like half of my high school teachers drove a car similar to this one.
But admittedly, none of them had a purple Edsel lurking in the background.
370zpp You answered both my questions
1. I wondered if anyone else called them no drafts
2. I couldn’t figure out just what that purple car was. Although I thinks more of a shade of mauve.
My second car was this same make and model, green in color. I paid $300 for it in August of 1974. I believe it had only 60 or 70,000 miles and no rust. I traded it in October for a 65 Ford Falcon 2 door post. More fitting than a 4 door family car for a 16 year old. LOL
That’s funny Frank, my 2nd car (at 16) was a ’67 Delmont. Anybody know if the Delmont replaced this model? They look identical.
On Wikipedia it says the 6th generation (1965–1970) of 88’s used the following names.
Oldsmobile Jetstar 88
Oldsmobile Dynamic 88
Oldsmobile Delta 88
Oldsmobile Delmont 88
So, basically the same body with different trim/models. Like the Chevy with the Caprice, Impala, Bel Aire and Biscayne.
The Jetstar 88 was launched in 1964 as the entry level 88 with a Cutlass V-8 (330 cubes) instead of a larger 88 V-8 (425 cubes.) The Delmont 88 replaced the Jetstar 88 (1967), the Delta 88 replaced the Super 88 (1965), the Delta 88 Custom replaced the Delta 88 (1967), and the Delta 88 replaced the Dynamic 88 (1967.) The Delmont 88 was dropped in 1969 and was not replaced.
The Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 became the Delta 88. For some reason in 1965, early in the year, there was a model called the Dynamic 88 Delta – which was slightly nicer than the Dynamic 88. Then in later 1965 they called this model the Delta 88. I’m pretty sure in 66 there was no more Dynamic 88, by then Delta 88 had replaced it. The Delmont 88 replaced the Jetstar 88. Delmont and Jetstar were the lower models. Dynamic and Delta were higher end models. (Which is odd because in 1958 the Dynamic 88 was the lower end model and Super 88 was the higher end model). The Celebrity designation referred to the sedan body style. The Holiday designation referred to the hardtop body style. It seems odd then that a Celebrity convertible was offered rather than a “Holiday”convertible.
Yes it did for 67 and 68 my dad had 66 dynamic and 68 delmont
Don’t know too many cars that have as nice a ride as a mid-60s GM tuna-boat. Had a ’65 98 convertible that just floated down the road. Great starter car for an enthusiast with a family who can’t afford a station wagon. Would look better in a darker color but what can you find in that price range that your Mother wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in?
I had a ’68 98 hardtop. Man, what a ride! And a seat like a couch.
These mid 60’s Olds 4 doors always hit a nerve, the old man had a ’63, 98, and then a ’65, 98 4 doors. The ’65 was the car my brother got his 1st ( and only, I think) speeding ticket. Anyone else remember the “plink” as the green “cold light” finally went off and we could turn on the heat. Like watched the pot that never boils, when you’re shivering, it took forever. Pretty clear, the seller got this in some estate sale, and knows little about it. This was mom and dads car, dad passed away, and mom never drove it again. Happens with alarming regularity today, as the last person connected to these cars passes, nobody wants it and whoever buys the property, I can just hear the realtor, “Oh, and that old car in the corner goes with the place”,,,sad, but turn, turn, turn, someone will get a sweetheart, once the bugs are worked out. Anyone recognize the plate? Not the Badger, that’s for sure.
That’s an Iowa plate.
How can seller claim ‘brakes are soft’ when he hasn’t started the engine and compared to how they feel under vacuum? Why not just pour some lube in the cylinders, let it work, crank it a few turns and then see if she will fire? If it indeed ran 3years back I’d almost be willing to bet only a minimum of work should wake her up.
Definately some old folks’ ride that has gone under the car nuts’ radar – but what a ride! I just love how its dash splits above the steering column. While definately not the most exciting mid60 Oldses it’s still impressive IMO, and if it’s as solid as it appears this looks like a decent buy in today’s overpriced market. If one can live with the extra doors then there’s nothing wrong with a 4door as a hobby car
Nice car,can’t believe no one tried to start it .How long would it take to pull the plugs,lube the cylinders,fill the carb and put in battery:-)
Is it just me, or is that the old school plastic seat covers? This seems like a nice preserved Olds, but for the BIN price, you’d think they would make an effort to get it running.
Lovely looking car. I’m sure I’ve seen mid to late 60s Olds before, but I’ve never seen a 1966 Olds 88 Celebrity. Very nice. If a celebrity did own an Olds, they’d probably most likely drive a 98, something more upscale.
This is an awesome car! It looks great!
However it does give me pause – why has the current owner not run the engine in the past year? I’d say you have to so see the car, and hear the engine run, before making any kind of decision as to whether to buy. How else do you know what issues the car has?
As I mentioned above this probably was some old folks’ ride, and old folks tend to, well, die…
With that said I’d be surprised if the heir/ current owner of the property – even if not confident with automotive work – should not know at least one ‘someone’ who could give a helping hand. It’s always a big plus when selling a vehicle that it at least moves under its own power
65 olds 88, there was the jetstarr88, dynamic 88, delta 88, jetstar1, and the starfire. The 98 was a different bread all its own. The jetstar88 had the 330 that rated around 300 hp. The dynamic and delta with 2 barrel 345 hp, the jetstar 1 and starfire rated at 370 hp. So definitely alot of horses in these old oldsmobiles.
At the ask, or anywhere near this, it’s a bargain compared to what is available today, new or used. Buy it for a daily driver. If the engine’s shot, so what? That’s what Jasper engines are for. Still cheaper by thousands than an equivalent ride.
It looks fabulous, and there’s a chance that it’ll run fine…but if it doesn’t, and unless you are with a couple hundred miles & have AAA or your own trailer, it’s going to have to be shipped.
To the adventurer, it may be worth a 1-way flight and a few nights in a hotel to take that chance. But you’d better *really* love this car…
The seller has done nothing to get the car started because he is probably a 30 something entitled jerk who drives an Audi A7 or some other pike of crap. He can’t be bothered and just wants to cash in on Grandmas ride. I guarantee you if you didn’t a few hours with Marvel Mystery Oil, fresh gas and go over the points and install a new battery the car would start. I have done it. These Olds engines were full.of nickel which makes them very durable. Much more durable than any junk Audi.
A lot of metal for your money, and you’re not going to many at car shows or cruise days.
*not going to see many
I don’t think it was the delmont that replaced the starfire but a delta 88 holiday custom did in 1967
I had a ’65 Delta 88 that I posted here about a year & a half ago. Mine was road ready, in about the same condition & same colors. I had a heck of a time getting $4,500 out of mine. I wonder what I did wrong.
This is a nice car. It makes me miss mine. If I didn’t have the issues in my life I had at that time, I would still have it, along with a few others I sold back then.
Auction update: this one sold for $5,100!
Olds 425s had forged steel cranks that made them ABSOLUTE torque monsters & essentially bullet-proof! ’66 was the second-to-last year for Olds’ switch-pitch T400. Thus you had that stump-puller motor in front that SWEET hole-shot auto!…Life was good! I’d luv’ to have that entire drivetrain in EVERYONE of my full-size, rear-drive, full-frame rides!