There’s nothing like a big ole American convertible, especially a big red convertible! Well, back in ’67 Oldsmobile did it as well as anyone did with their Delta 88 drop-top. Today’s find is a 115K mile resident of Hanover, Pennsylvania but it shows really well, not how a lot of 56-year-old northeastern automotive citizens end up. The seller considers this Olds to be a survivor so let’s review and see if we agree. Interested parties will find this bygone model from a GM fallen flag marque here on eBay for a current bid of $2,600 with the reserve not yet met.
Ninety-Eight, Delta 88 Custom, Delta 88, and Delmont 88 are how Oldsmobile rolled downhill in ’67 – basically big cars and then slightly not-as-big cars. This baby is 217″ in length and 80″ in width, rides on a 123″ wheelbase and weighs in at 4,300 lbs. Our subject is one of 14K copies that rolled off of GM’s Lansing assembly line in ’67 but convertible body styles were also offered as both Ninety-Eight and Delmont 88 models.
Rust-free this car is claimed to be and it does present very nicely but some of that is attributable to a respray (there goes the survivor designation). We’re told that the top is “beautiful” and works perfectly. The chrome bits still have a brilliant shine and the silver-finished rocker panels and wheel arches add a bit of pizazz to this outsized cruiser. One thing that I’m scratching my head over is what looks like either a side marker light (wrong for ’67) or a turning light attached to the leading edge of the front fenders. I can’t find another example of a ’67 Oldsmobile 88 so equipped but that characteristic would be correct for a ’67 Ninety-Eight – wrong replacement fenders perhaps?
Under that Siberian-sized hood is a “Super Rocket” 425 CI V8 engine capable of producing either 300 or 310 gross HP (depending on the compression ratio). “Runs/Drives” is all the seller has to say about this 88’s motivational capability. A Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic gearbox helps this Olds make all of the right moves.
Also claimed to be beautiful is the black vinyl, bench seat interior. It’s standard Olds fare but shows well considering its 56 years of age and 115K miles of use. I imagine that on a hot, sun-splashed afternoon, black vinyl upholstery is likely a real treat to one’s bare thighs. Still, the interior doesn’t appear to have been victimized by weather-related foibles. The black nylon loop carpet, notorious for revealing sun fade, still looks almost new. The instrument panel is in perfectly fine shape but it’s rather pedestrian for such a near-luxury model. Then again, the days of artistically influenced dash/instrument panels were well into the past by ’67.
The seller concludes with, “…PHENOMINAL CANDIDATE FOR RESTORATION IF SO DESIRE“. I don’t think I would have that desire for this convertible. Admittedly, the mileage is a bit high but it’s nothing outsized for a properly maintained Oldsmobile V8 engine. Beyond that minor concern, I’d say this is another solid example of “bid, buy, drive, and enjoy”, wouldn’t you agree?
These are 310 HP. 2 barrel, 365 HP 4 barrel.
Note the attached from Oldsmobile, there are two versions of the two-barrel carburetor equipped 425 available in the Delta 88. One is 300 and the other is 310 – the difference is the compression ratio 9:1 vs.10:25:1. I don’t know which 425 this one is though the black, not red, air cleaner assembly points to the 300HP version.
JO
Nice job Jim! What a great top down cruiser land yacht. Why is it that readers of this site always want to nit pic these write ups?? If they are so good why didn’t they tryout to be one of the new authors?? Can’t beat Olds Literature to put someone in their place!! Excellent example of this model. Wish I weren’t in Texas, I would love to lookat that car in person. Keep up the nice write-ups Jim👍
Thx Wade, much appreciated!
JO
Wade, the info is definitely helpful but, I hope I never make a mistake when you’re around! I’d hate to be put down just for something I thought was correct.
The car in the ad is a 2bbl version. The air cleaner gives it away. 4bbl air cleaners have a much larger snorkel.
A friend had one in triple white for several years, with every option except factory A/C. It had an unusual looking air cleaner, making me wonder if it was a California Emissions car, if that was a thing back then, not sure. His had the 2 bbl. I’d preserve and enjoy this as is.
Those are cornering lights on the front fenders/correct option on 65-67 Delta, and 98.
That’s likely the 300 hp version. The 310 and 365 had a chrome ultra high compression ring on the air cleaner
Nice car.
I don’t like the pointy wings – see also the Toronado – that can be harmful to cyclists/motorcyclists.
It’s a big old thing, isn’t it?
I doubt that a flat front end would make much of a difference in a collision between a bicycle or motorcycle and a 4200 lb convertible. The 2-sheeler loses, blades or no blades.
My parents had a 1968 Delmont 88 4 door HT, with a 350 2 barrel. The styling was somewhat similar to this car.
The Delmont was only made in 1967-’68. This is a nice one.
The most famous Delmont 88 in the world belonged to Rose Kennedy until 16 July, 1969, when her youngest son, the Senior Senator from Massachusetts, Edward Moore “Teddy” Kennedy (D-MA), drove it off of the Dike Bridge with Mary Jo Kopechne inside. Spoiler Alert: Teddy survived, Mary Jo did not.
You’re exactly right! It was also a ’67, I believe. a ’67, if memo
Yes, if only Rose had bought a convertible, and Ted drove with the top down, history might have been really different.
Both survive.
Both drown.
MJ survives.
Something wonky on the alignment of the taillights on this one.
Rear hit?
“Admittedly, the mileage is a bit high”? I sold my 68 Delmont 88 in 75 with 130k on the odometer. I imagine a well kept but regularly driven 67 Olds Delmont could reach 250+ today and might still be in relatively good shape.
At least I would hope . . .
The 425 is a formidable engine; the first tall deck Olds.. Forged crank and rods…and with a shorter stroke than the 455 -a better revver. Too bad it was never available in an A body.
Does antoine native the rear number. To me it looks like it was hit in the middle
Sorry, trying to figure out what “antoine native the rear number” means.
I think this is typo-city for: did anyone notice the rear fender.
The “crease” in the picture is a feature line, and appears on both fenders.
I think he is talking about the rear bumper. The gap is wider at the ends, more so on the left.
Auto correct at its best. I agree that the left rear fender/bumper was hit. You can see it broke the chromed trim around the left taillight, and the 3/4 shot shows the bumper not lining up on the side
Looks like it’s all there. Hope it would make someone a nice summer cruiser. Bring your gas card. Mine loved the stuff.
That’s an optional ‘cornering lamp’ that is quite correct for a well-equipped 1967 Olds… perfectly correct–
A mechanic friend of my dad’s told him that the ’67 to ’69 full size Oldsmobiles were solid, reliable cars, after my mom bought a used ’68 from my aunt. The mechanic did say one year was better than the other two. It was either the ’67, or ’68.
What an absolute gorgeous example of American made luxury!
Ted Kennedy killed that secretary Mary Jo in a 4 door hardtop version of this car, always remember the picture of that car, so sad, and he walked away
His was a sedan Delmont, bottom-line ‘fleet’ car. A hardtop wouldnt’ve been as watertight.
Salt belt car, 30 pix, none of underside, trunk shot means look carefully for more rust damage.
They have completely avoided any photos of undercarriage, with condition of trunk it’s a red flag for me.
One of the students at my high school had a father who owned an Oldsmobile dealership, thus our Driver’s Education car was a 67 Delmont 88 with the 425 engine. I had plenty of experience driving (farm fields and country roads mainly) before taking Driver’s Ed, but that was a whole lot of power for a car full of 15 year old kids and a courageous instructor.