The eighth-generation Olds 88s were almost a foot shorter and 900 pounds lighter than the previous generation cars, but the interior space didn’t seem to suffer, nor did the ride quality. The seller has this 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Coupe posted here on craigslist in Antelope, California, just northeast of Sacramento. They’re asking $11,800 or offer, here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
This car appears to be in excellent condition after so many decades on the planet. Even the bumper filler material looks perfect, which is not always the case in a car this old. That felt weird to say “this old” as this is the era when I started driving, but now that I think about it, I’m old now. We don’t see the back of the car at all, unfortunately, but what we do see looks great.
Oldsmobile offered the Delta 88 in a base model and a Royale as with this car, as seen in the red rectangular Royale badges on the sides of the C-pillars. I really wish the seller would have included more photos, detailed photos showing those things, underside photos, and yes, an engine photo. The new, smaller 1977 through 1985 cars were part of GM’s downsizing exercise across their brands.
The interior looks as nice as the exterior does, I don’t see a flaw anywhere, do you? The “luxurious but durable nylon knit” seat fabric looks perfect both front and back. Vinyl would have been another choice. The seller says that this car only has 46,000 miles and they bought it from the original owner. The AC even works!
The engine behind the photo above is an Oldsmobile Rocket 350-cu.in. OHV V8, which was factory-rated at 170 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed up by a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 three-speed automatic transmission and both reportedly work well. What’s your offer on this great-looking Olds?
That’s a car I like seeing original as it is. My guess is it will sell below the ask and wind up on 22 inch rims/bagged. Either way it will probably live on with a proud owner and that’s a good thing !
I used to tour all over the western US looking for original owners cars.I preferred original paint. Due to replaced hips, I can’t do that anymore and may have to buy one of these to replace all the manual transmittion’d muscle cars I had to sell over the last few years.
Our family had a 77 Olds Delta 88 4dr…350, base model, crank windows, ac, stereo and rear window defogger. The car was navy blue which, as a young driver who sped, blended well with our local Police department’s navy blue 77 Chevy Impala sedans.
My uncle purchased a 78 Delta 88 Royale sedan with the diesel and owned it long enough for a couple engine replacements compliments of the general.
I had a 77 as well … also blue … had 85000 miles on it when I bought it in 1980. It was one of the best cars I ever owned. I kept it three years, sold it to my uncle who also drove it three years until the frame broke and he junked it. It had no pw, pl, or a/c BUT … it did have a built in 8-track … pure heaven .. lol
I bought a ’78 88 Royale for $600 as an all season driver to keep my ’84 Cutlass Brougham for summer and car shows. Came with load of repair receipts including new transmission. Had a 350 and p/w, p/l, p/s, p/trunk, a/c. I added factory cruise, delay wipers, blower rear defogger. Found a decent dash I redyed to match and some shag carpet from a Caddy de’Elegance.
One day I was in a salvage yard and came across a ’78 Buick LeSabre that had rust free doors. All of them came home with me for $150.
By the time I changed all the body parts, I had a car with 7 colors. Took it to Earl Scheib here in Minneapolis, Mn. for a cheap paint job and when I went to get it I found this shop had gone out of business with my car locked inside! 🙄🤬There was another shop in St. Paul so I got the car back.
I had a lot of fun with this very serviceable car as you can see until I sold it for $900. Never had serious trouble. Good car.
I also won 19 trophies in 29 years and 10 years of shows with the Cutlass!
Did the Delta 88 ride like an Impala or better?
Did the Delta 88 ride like an Impala or better?
This guy looks to be happy that he’s still got his ’79, the wheels help it out a lot, and the color pops! I like that it doesn’t have a vinyl top, but I’d have to source a set of the OEM wheels to add a little pop to this beigemobile! GLWTS!! :-)
Moparman, that’s a beauty, and in a much more interesting color and great wheels!
I think the tan car has a landau vinyl top, but it’s hard to tell even in this enlargement.
I can’t imagine these not having a vinyl roof, considering the time.
It is interesting that they blended them in to be very subtle in both of these pictures.
The chrome trim around the bottom edge and just behind the ‘B’ pillar delineates the vinyl roof. If one enlrges the photo of the green car, you’ll see that there is no such trim. :-)
Scotty: The chrome trim around the bottom edge and just behind the ‘B’ pillar indicates the shape of the vinyl roof. If one enlarges the photo of the green car, you’ll see that there is no such trim. :-)
Ah, sorry about that, Moparman! I thought you were wondering if the tan car had a vinyl top. I still like the green one…
I wonder if they made a “sport” option that eliminated the vinyl roof and added the rally wheels. It does make for a sharp looking car.
They made a Holiday88 version with bucket seats, console, sport wheels, and sport steering wheel. With or without a vinyl top. Mine’s got the vinyl :P
Had a 79 Delta 88 with a gas 350 olds engine.Great car.Had 220k on it when I sold it in 95 after 5 years I had it.I got it with 180k. Only thing I replaced was a few worn aluminum rocker arm bridges and rocker arms causing ticking , 1 pushrod and the valve cover gaskets as well as a qjet rebuild and a tune up (cap rotor wires plugs and filters) This is one nice Olds. Dual exhaust is the only thing I’d do.
My pops was an Olds guy, we only had one Delta 88 (1972, had over 300k miles when it was finally junked), the rest were 98s. The one I learned to drive on was a 1979 98 Regency Brougham, black with black vinyl top, red leather interior….stunningly beautiful….did I mention it was a diesel? Junk motor, but could go about 600 miles between fill-ups. Late 70s cars get lambasted because of emissions and poor performance, but for a bunch of Gen Xers, these are the ones we grew up with.
Another really clean Olds here on BF.
Just like the Cutlass Supreme from a day or so ago.
Someone will buy and enjoy this.
I bought a 1978 Olds Holiday 88 — bucket seats, console shifter. Beautiful car, but after 12k miles, everything started to crap out. I’m still sour on GM after all these years because of it. Fenders started rusting at 18k miles. Kinda sad, because it really was a beautiful car.
Too bad no engine photos. I was kind of curious whether an Olds 350 or a Chevy 350 was under the hood. A big stink was made about that.
How do I buy this?
Craig: You click on the Craigs List ad. Here it is: https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/antelope-1978-delta-88-coupe/7603725512.html
Good luck!