At first glance, this 1995 Oldsmobile 88 Royale looks like a bargain, as it’s priced at only $500. Even after viewing the entire ad, five Ben Franklin bills still sounds fairly reasonable, despite a couple of blunders we’ll investigate shortly. 1995 was near the end of the line for the Eighty Eight in the Olds lineup, with the tenth generation examples probably not among the more memorable periods. However, if you know how to repair or swap out a transmission, the seller says everything else here is good. This ’95 Oldsmobile 88 Royale was originally from Florida, but it’s now up north in Franklin, New Hampshire, and can be seen here on Craigslist. We’d like to thank reader Henry Reining for the tip on this one!
With a snow height nearly as tall as the car, the photo setting here isn’t ideal, and the extra white surrounding really makes the mis-match colors on the driver’s side stand out, not that they needed any help. There’s no explanation about why the front fender and doors are different colors from the rest, and I can’t tell if the quarter panel back there is yet a fourth shade, or if it’s the same as the fender. This one’s also equipped with one of those fake convertible tops, which has got to be somewhat of a rarity on an 88. I’m having trouble envisioning whether I’d want to spray the odd panels white before driving this car for the first time, or just leave everything and enjoy the attention!
The positive news regarding the drivetrain pertains to the engine, as the seller says the 3.8-liter V6 is still good. The bad news is the transmission, which has begun slipping. However, if you’ve got the DIY skills to rebuild or replace the automatic, this one may have some more decent miles left to travel. The brakes get a clean bill of health, plus the tires are claimed to be brand new, with a recent front end alignment being another plus here.
We don’t get a photo that shows the entire inside area, but the series of individual pictures seems to reveal an interior that’s not all that bad, with some wear on the steering wheel perhaps the most severe eyesore. However, for five hundred bucks, I’m not finding a whole lot to complain about, and with some transmission work you may have a fairly decent driver here. There’s even a full tank of gas, which itself would cost about 10% of the asking price in my neck of the woods. I’m curious what our readers have to say about this 1995 Oldsmobile 88 Royale. Is this a good deal, or is it priced about right?
This generation of OLDSMOBILE, IMO is perhaps good reason that GM dropped the division. Even in perfect condition, it’s NOT my Father’s (or MY) OLDSMOBILE.
Rick, I partially agree with you. It was kind of pointless to have Buick, Olds, Pontiac, and Chevy all make the same car. But, I will say that the 88/lesabre of this era were terrific cars.
Jonathan, it’s strange how I wish GM had kept all divisions going but with full size traditional styling, while you think this generation was great. Let’s agree to disagree. Fortunately in America 🇺🇸 we can STILL have our own opinions. Not sure how much longer, but discussin is always better than cussin. 👍BTW, a friend had one of these which was in the repair shop weekly,
I need to whole heartedly agree with you Jonathan. We had a 99 that we put 400k miles on it, bought it out of Florida and it served us very well, comfortably for many, many years. I had a 98 LSS with the 3.8L supercharged engine and put over 300k miles on it. It was a fun car to drive. That one came out of Chicago and the rust belt was hard on it as I also lived in Michigan. The 3.8L engine is argueably the best engine GM ever offered. Kept the transmissions going without issue as I did fluid changes every 30k.
You’re dead on, Jonathan. These ’90s full size front-drivers were about the perfect combination of power, economy, durability, service simplicity, handling and interior comfort. I’ve owned a string of them and enjoyed the trouble-free miles from all of them. Pity they are fewer and fewer left, so used parts are getting harder to find. I still daily a ’92 LeSabre and also have a supercharged LSS 88 for nice weather fun.
Maybe it only occurred to the “H-bodies,” as my 2-owner, “C- body,”1996 Olds Ninety-Eight, Regency Elite is a great car that is reliable as a brick at 240k+ miles with the original engine transaxle and body. While I replaced the struts and rear springs and had the interior reupholstered in Blue Leatherette, Auto Custom Carpet and a new headliner and added an Alpine i-408 stereo, EVERYTHING, except the Sunroof works well (the cable drive failed last year). But the big “C-body” just like it’s fraternal brother, Cadillac DeVille, we’re both built at the Lake Orion, Michigan Plant (where the 96 Olds used a 95 Cadillac floorpan). It’s due for another Transmission Fluid & filter change this summer.
I have always hated these mock tops & those ’80s continental kits for that matter.
This paint scheme reminds me of a ’78 Delta 88 Royale I bought for $600 for a winter beater, as we call them around the salt belt. I was lucky to find rust-free body parts (all 4 doors from a Cal. LeSabre). But by the time I put it all together the car was 7 colors.LOL! So I dropped it off at an Earl Scheib shop to paint one of their blue colors. Car was light blue with the powder blue interior. I went to pick it up to find the shop locked & out of business! I went to the other one in St. Paul & the guy there got me in & I got my car back. Also, they decided to paint the roof white without my knowledge. Not a terrible job & I actually liked the white roof after awhile.
I sold the car for $900 about 3 years later.
Put a bottle of trans medic in her, and let her rip!
You’re 100% right,big c.Two bottles of this stuff will save most bad tranny’s.I used it on a variety of trans,and it saved every one for at least 10,000 miles.The only place I ever found it is NAPA.Or take it to AAMCO and hold on to your skivvies
People have a blind spot when it comes to trani. filters. That would be the first thing to check.
At this point 👉 Dr Olds had one more trick up his sleeve.. the swift V8 Aurora🏁
First generation Aurora was cool, although my engine choice would’ve been a supercharged 3800 like the LSS. Second one just a dressed up Intrigue GLS.
There’s a fantastic automatic transmission repair shop called AAMCO right here in Massachusetts which would make that transmission work perfectly.
Royale, certainly befitting for this gem! What a hoopty !!
The poors over on FB’s Classic GM FWD Society will be fighting over this clapped-out heap! 🤣
The color and roof combination alone blew my mind just seeing the first picture of the passenger side. Even brand new it sure wouldn’t have been my cup of tea. It’s worth it IF the engine is good condition.
I thought Volkswagen was the only one with a Harlequinn edition. I’d slap a tranny in it and run it until it rotted in half. Too far from me, though.
going to cost about 1k to o/haul trans unless you buy a slush box from some wreck which is dice roll. hope driving @ highway speed that crap fake top doesn’t blow off. you could buy drive keep the title in glove box and leave it where it dies when the trans fails