1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Hardtop Coupe 455 V8

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1973 Oldsmobile literature touted the over two-ton weight of the Delta 88 line, saying that some other cars give you “less heft, less wheelbase, and (we believe) less built-in value.” As most of us know, 1973 was when the oil crisis began and when vehicles started getting smaller, lighter, and using less gas. It’s funny how a few months can change the world. Thanks to numskal for sending in this tip!

Stellar MPG or not, this is one beautiful car. And truthfully, who cares about getting high MPG in a car that isn’t a daily driver or a commuter vehicle? This isn’t a high-MPG, soulless, uber-reliable, appliance-like commuter car, this is a full-sized Oldsmobile Delta 88 two-door hardtop Coupe with a green brocade interior, for cryin’ out loud! There appears to be some rust on the bottom sheet metal but it’s hard to tell from the small photos.

The seventh-generation Oldsmobile 88 was made for the 1971 through the 1976 model years and the 1973 models got a revised front-end treatment along with federally-mandated 5 mph bumpers. There was a model above this car, the Royale, and they were available in a convertible, otherwise, there was a four-door hardtop, a four-door “Town Sedan”, and a two-door hardtop Coupe as seen here. The 1974 cars would get a 5 mph bumper but look at how nicely that rear bumper fits.

The black steering wheel cover is more than a bit jarring and often portends (fancy!) trouble with a cracked or otherwise damaged steering wheel. I’m not saying that’s the case here, but I would always rather see an original, bare steering wheel. The same with a dash pad, which thankfully this car doesn’t have and this dash looks great. That brocade seat fabric is nice but the front seat appears a little faded. I just looked and SMS Auto Fabrics doesn’t have this or any other 1973 Olds interior products, unfortunately. The back seat looks brighter but has a rip.

This is the top engine for this car in 1973, an Oldsmobile 455-cu.in. OHV V8, which in this case had 225 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque when new. There was a version with dual exhaust and I don’t believe this car has that feature but we don’t know for sure. The seller says this car runs and drives “very good” and has new tires. It’s posted here on craigslist in Banning, California and they’re asking $6,995. Here is the original listing. Any thoughts on this 88 Coupe?

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Comments

  1. Stan 🏁Member

    Good write-up Gilbertson.
    Beautiful coupes from the laboratory of the good Dr Olds. The dr wasn’t letting anyone get away w low gears from the factory this time. Ensuring this boulevard cruiser does its intended work. 2.76 gear ⚙️ std equipment, w many options up to the steepest 3.23.

    Like 2
    • PRA4SNW PRA4SNWMember

      Wow, first time I’ve seen someone not call you Scotty, Scotty.

      Like 1
  2. normadesmond

    I have this exact car, same color, only mine’s a convertible. White top & interior. Had a honey beige one back in ’73. This color, Crystal Green is what makes the car so beautiful.

    Like 15
  3. Zen

    That’s a very good price, I wish I could buy it. Someone will get a good deal. Put dual exhaust on it, preserve and enjoy it for what it is, a fun cruiser with A/C and plenty of torque.

    Like 5
  4. ThunderRob

    It has dual’s..if you look very closely at the rear end photo you barely see the tips of each peeking shyly from under the bumper :P Beauty car in the same colour(albiet mine was FoMoCo but the colour was near identical)combo as my 71′ Meteor Rideau 500…love my green :D

    Like 2
  5. Fox owner

    I really like the picture of it from the side. It looks like it’s moving when it’s standing still. I don’t understand how Oldsmobile slotted under Buick in the GM hierarchy. This is a magnificent car.

    Like 2
    • Jason V.

      Nope. Olds was not slotted under Buick. Chevy>Pontiac>Buick>Olds>Cad…That was the corporate marketing take anyway…Don’t tell that to the divisions themselves!

      Like 0
      • Rob

        Sorry Jason V. You be incorrect sir! General Motors Chairman Alfred P. Sloan created the idea of the “Ladder of Success” during the 1920s, in which a GM shopper’s first car was a Chevrolet, followed by moves upward through the increasingly prestigious Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick brands as his income increased. Finally, a new Cadillac stood ready at the very top of the ladder.

        Like 0
      • nlpnt

        For practical purposes Olds and Buick overlapped almost completely, Olds was more technically adventurous – often getting new features before Cadillac whose buyers were to be spared teething problems – and Buick more conservative.

        Like 0
  6. n

    clean the floor mats!

    Like 2
  7. Phil Maniatty

    My first car was a ’72 Delta 88 Holiday Sedan. Baroque gold with a black vinyl roof. The steering wheel cover could be in place to cover up the missing or damaged fake wood veneer that was embedded in the circumference of the steering wheel. The Miami heat destroyed mine after a few years.

    Like 1
  8. PRA4SNW PRA4SNWMember

    I like the driver-centric curved dash. My buddy’s ’75 Delta did not have that.

    Like 0
  9. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Listing update: the seller deleted the ad, someone must have grabbed this one!

    Like 1

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