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 engine is quite dirty, 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!
Ever sat in a black interior drop top? With out cold a/c blowing on high? Not for long.. ask me how I know!
Ha! “Hey, let’s go for a ride… ssssssssssssss…” (sizzling skin)
I was hoping to see a nice brocade fabric here rather than vinyl.
Dan
How do you know?
Dan
When I turned 16 in 1972, I learned to drive on my dads 1969 98 2 door. That beast could smoke the tires half a city block! They also had a collapsible driveshaft in case too much torque was produced. I replaced it 2x! Eventually it became mine and I had great times in that car 44 years ago.
This car makes the jokes about having to have a zip code make sense!
great looking 98. not many converts left. love to have it but no cash.
Could the window crank in the front be for the vent window? I believe power windows were standard on these.
Good eye, Tigger. I put a link in there to when this car sold a couple of years ago, and there are probably 200+ photos. It shows the little window crank for the front vent windows.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-oldsmobile-98-2/
I think the craigslist Olds is not the same as the BaT car. The craigslist Olds has pin striping on the fenders and lacks the front fender cornering lamps (clear, white lamps located at the lower front of the fenders that illuminated automatically when the turn signal was activated to light up the driver’s blind spot and the roadway around a corner). On the BaT Olds, it’s the other way around.
Thanks for that info, Z – good eye. I was mainly going by the interior photos and the engine photos, showing the red hose and the similar worn-off sticker on the fan shroud.
’68 must’ve been the first year for the 455. This is a sleek looking car with the skirts. To answer Tigger’s question, yes, that crank is for the vent window.
Scotty, I’ve probably said this a few times before, but I also had a ’70 98 with a 385 hp version of the 455. I think there were 5 or 6 455 options. Nice car for the shows or cruising provided you get the always not working a/c fixed!
A ’70 Olds 98 is one of a handful of my “Rosebud” vehicles, Jon. If you’ve seen Citizen Kane, that’s the opening scene, where he dies, and his last words are Rosebud. He basically just wants to give up everything and go back to his childhood and his little sled named Rosebud. Sorry for the spoiler there, in case you haven’t seen the movie.
Very true Scotty. Same here for the ’70 Ninety Eight 4 door hardtop we had growing up. Our had the 365 hp 455. And I KNOW that bomb would wail from 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds. And those old Bias Ply tires would just fry off the rims given the opportunity. This is nice. I still have the ’68 Olds full lineup brochure ( Youngmobile). From when my Mom had her ’68 Cutlass they traded in for the Ninety Eight.
As always, I enjoyed your write up Scotty and the find too T.J.. I’d love to just hear that 455 burble at an idle.
The breather configuration and the oil fill tube on 1968 Olds V-8s are one year odd balls. Always gives me a grin. By 1969 they had found simpler engineering solutions.
Looks like a decent deal. Previous Idaho car gives it it an optimistic low rust rating
I believe I am mistaken. Not an Idaho car. Zappenduster makes a very valid argument. Different car
Thanks for catching those differences between the two cars, Zappenduster, Gregory Owens, and everyone. I was mainly going by the engine photo showing the red hose in the same location, but they’re clearly not the same car, my mistake.
Quite honestly. They didn’t build a lot of ’68 Ninety Eight Drop tops
What are the odds another White one with the same interior and a red hose to boot? I would have never noticed if it wasn’t for Zappenduster mentioning the corner lights. We’ve got a lot of eagled eyed folks on here. I think I need to go and get my bifocal prescription updated.
You are so right, Dave. These little articles usually get better and better every time a reader with decades of experience jumps in with comments to correct any mistakes. Thanks to everyone for catching these things and for being so polite rather than jumping down our necks! None of us are automotive scholars or literary giants of writing prowess, as you can tell from the first half of this sentence…
My dad had a black w/white top and interior 68-98. He loved it! Had it until he traded it in for a new 73 Mercury Marquis. We loved that too, but missed the convertible.