With Vietnam raging overseas and violence and assassinations raging here in the U.S., 1968 was a year of turmoil. Thankfully, there were some good things that happened that year, such as Madison Square Garden opening and Led Zeppelin making their U.S. debut. This 1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight convertible. It’s posted here on craigslist in the Norton Shores, Michigan area, and the seller is asking $16,800. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
As a wee lad in ’68, I don’t remember too much, but in looking at the events of 1968 now, all I can say is wow. Wow, it was a heavy year, to use terminology that may have been used in 1968. The U.S. officially entered the Vietnam War in 1965, when Oldsmobile introduced the first model year for the eighth-generation Ninety-Eight, which lasted until the end of 1970. Coincidentally, 1970 is the year that both the Chevy Vega and Ford Pinto were introduced.
I believe this is the same car that was sold on another auction website a couple of years ago, but I’m not positive. What do you think? The engine photos say it all. It’s a drop-dead gorgeous car with just about everything a person with a fat gas credit card could ever want for a nice, quiet, smooth top-down cruiser. They say the AC needs to be charged, which, of course, means that there’s a leak somewhere that should be tracked down first. Or maybe a quick recharge will last for a summer, and then it goes back into storage. That auction listing mentions a repaint and a new convertible top.
The seats, both front and rear, in black “Morocceen” vinyl look like new. As with Most Oldsmobile 98s, or Ninety Eights, or Ninety-Eights, in this case, this car appears loaded with power accessories to make life easy for the next owner. Our (used) 1970 Ninety-Eight didn’t have power windows or power locks, which, even as a kid, I thought was weird. Hagerty is at $16,700 for a #3 good-condition car, as a general reference. The underside looks solid. Here’s a 1968 Oldsmobile brochure; the Ninety-Eight is shown on pages 14-16.
The tell-tale red hose! The engine is quite a bit dirtier than in the previous auction listing, so it’s been used, which is good that it hasn’t just been sitting. This is an Olds 455-cu.in. OHV V8 with 365 horsepower and a whopping 510 lb-ft of torque when new. Smoothly and powerfully passing through a three-speed automatic, the seller says this car runs and drives great. It has new tires, some new suspension parts, and more. Even though this car weighs around 2.5 tons, it still zooms to 60 MPH in just over seven seconds. Any thoughts on this beautiful Olds convertible?
Thirty years ago my aunt had the same car, asked me if I wanted it. Newly married and no place to keep it.
Beautiful flagship Olds. Keep ’em rolling
This beast is at least 20 feet long and sure needs that 455 cu in engine! I remember a neighbour had one and it sure was big like a Caddy. Even better that it is a convertible and the interior is beautiful. The only problem is finding a garage that you can fit it in and still get out of it…lol Parking it in a lot or garage to go shopping is another story. You’ll definitely need to take two spots just for the length. At home some had to extent the garages out with a bump out. Either way you will definitely have to have a wallet filled with $100 bills just to fill the tank up. Beautiful Oldsmobile!