In 1984, “Ghostbusters” graced the silver screen, Los Angeles hosted the Games of the 23rd Olympiad, “Do They Know it’s Christmas” became the highest-selling song in music history (to that point), and this Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham rolled off the production line. Barn Finder Rocco B spotted this one-owner classic for us, so thank you for that Rocco. The Oldsmobile is located in Woodland Hills, California, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner is asking a mere $3,500 OBO for this luxurious 1980s classic.
The original owner of the Oldsmobile purchased it new in 1984 and has retained it to this day. The car has been garaged all its life, and the original Light Gray Fern paint has survived quite nicely. The car looks to be solid and straight, with no obvious rust issues. Given the fact that the car has spent its entire life residing in California, this is no real surprise. The wheels that are fitted to the car aren’t original, and while they look good, I would rather see the original wheels and those distinctive wire hubcaps fitted to the Olds. Honestly, there isn’t a lot to criticize with this car, because its condition is about what you would expect from a car that has been the recipient of careful, long-term ownership.
Just how plush does that grey velour trim look? This interior is the height of 1980s automotive luxury, and it is in amazing condition. The front seat looks great, while it doesn’t look like anyone has ever sat on the rear seat. It isn’t completely original, as an aftermarket Pioneer radio/cassette player has been installed at some point. The rest of the interior looks just about spotless, and one of my favorite features is the factory mechanical digital clock fitted to the dash. The owner of the Olds knew exactly what she wanted when she bought this car because it is fitted with just about every optional extra that was available in 1984. You get air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a 6-way power seat, cruise control, tilt wheel, and a remote trunk release. This really was about as good as it got in the mid-1980s.
Under the hood of the Oldsmobile you will find a 307ci V8 engine, a 3-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The owner states that the car has covered an original 60,000 miles, but doesn’t mention whether there is any documentary evidence to back this claim. We also receive no information on how the car runs and drives, but the overall vehicle condition and low mileage are very encouraging signs in that department.
By the time this Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham rolled off the production line, its replacement was pretty much waiting in the wings. The replacement was going to not only be a smaller car, but the new Delta 88 was also going to be front-wheel drive. That means that the 1984 and 1985 Delta 88 really did mark the end of an era for Oldsmobile. In 1984, this was as much Oldsmobile as you could possibly get for your money, and it was not a cheap car. Today, this luxurious classic represents a lot of car for your cash, and that alone makes it an interesting proposition.
I learned to drive on a green 83. What a crappy car lol handled like a wobbly bicycle, swoopy ride.. slow.. nothing to like about these!
Well at least the wheels look good on it?
No, they don’t.
Superb job of writing Adam!! Through your words alone, I almost got excited over one of the most bland cars ever produced. If only Olds would have crafted this automobile to be worthy of the praise and adoration that Adam has heaped upon it. Kudos, I’m actually looking at this 88 in a different light now.
I like this. Sure, it doesn’t handle like a WS6 Trans Am, and of couse it’s not from the Golden Era, but it wasn’t built to be that. On today’s roads it’s unique, and sticks out like a ’49 Olds probably did in 1984. Maybe I’m an outlier for enjoying seeing something different. Seems to be lots of hate on here lately for anything that’s just a “regular car” from another era and not a six-figure auction show beast.
If my Mom’s ‘85 Parisienne Safari was any indication, this thing has no genuinely redeeming features. No power. Touchy brakes and feel-free steering. Wallowmatic ride.
My father purchased a new 1984 Delta 88 Royale Brougham in ’84. Beautiful car. White, White top and a burgundy interior.
His, however had stacked red taillights, as opposed to the orange and red on this car, and long horizontal reverse lights. It did not have a Royale script on the rear sail panel, but did have Royale Brougham on the front fender.
I took my road test in that car. Fun car to parallel park!
When they were new, I thought the orange lights in the rear was just too Euro for these American dinosaur barges.
While hardly a great car in any aspect, for $3500, it’s a very nice example of an fully optioned mid 1980s domestic. Somewhat better than average for the day and much better than the overpriced rough 1976 Chevy Monza and the junky 1980 Citation seen recently on these pages. By the way, I like the wheels. And I agree with rest of you that there are plenty of good options for upgrading the power.
Probably should have said seems to be a pretty nice example of a mid 1980s domestic as I obviously haven’t personally inspected it or drove it. That being said, if the car was in Cleveland instead of Los Angeles, I would do so as soon as possible and perhaps buy it if it checked out.
That’s because your dad bought the new for 84 top of the line LS model. You are right, the LS only offered for 84 and 85 was introduced in order to make up for lost sales after the full size 98 was discontinued in March of 84. The LS had all red taillights, the Royal Brougham script on the front fender only plus the LS had the super plush 98 Regency Brougham interior. A lot of people are knocking this Delta and while I agree it’s nothing super, it was one of the best selling Oldsmobile models at the time. The bigger 98 was a much nicer looking car with it’s more formal roofline, fender skirts and of course, the beautiful Regency interiors.
Nessy and VIN_in_NJ, I had one of those 1984 LS models myself, after my mom died I got her car. That was in 1989 and had 60,000 miles. I kept it another 5 years. It came in handy just as we were starting a family. We didn’t want a minivan or station wagon at the time. On the brochure, Olds called it the Oldsmobile Delta 88 LS, I liked to refer to it as the Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham LS, probably one of the longer named cars. I liked the all red taillights better too. The amber lights on a big American car seemed to cheapen it (Lesabre also did that for several years)
These cars are amazingly good. Not surprised so many are still on the road and cared for. The 98 of same vintages is no slouch either
This car would make a great sleeper, just add a stroked 502 Big Block and BOOM!
Go with a nice built Olds 455 to keep it within the family.
Yes you’re right Ralph, a 455 with tons of torque would make the proper sleeper and tire smoker.
LS swap! It’s priced very fair, and seems in great condition….The location and price makes me fear it will get donked though.
My father had a string of GM full-sized cars as company cars in the 80’s. First, a 3.8L 82 Delta 88, a 5.0L Olds in an 84 LeSabre, and an 86 Caprice with the power-improved Chevy 5.0L (to 165 HP). They were all GREAT road cars, even the puny V6 would cruise at 80 all day, once you got there. I started driving in 84, and got to Drive the Buick and Chevy. We took long road trip vacations in each one and none of them ever let us down, extremely comfortable cruisers. The V8’s were decent for the time, and they were fed by the extremely good Quadrajet 4 barrel. All delivered good fuel economy (for a big car), and the Chevy, with its 165 HP, actually delivered decent performance for the time period. I’d love to have this car, with stock wheels.
You don’t see too many Olympic plates around anymore.
the car have 160000 miles on it, the speedometer rolled once and it shows up in auto check report
If it was a 2 dr I would take it. I had an 1980 and loved that car.
Bought a 84 Brougham 2 door from the inlaws when I was living in Hell–I mean Phoenix-in Dec. of 95, just because it had “ice cold air”. It was a brisk 85 out when I bought it, but the air con seemed good to go. Then, when we hit our first 90+ degree day in late February, I proudly switched on the a/c and prepared for the blizzard! As I made my 1 hour commute home, the hot air just kept pouring out and I literally thought I would cry. I had been waiting for this cool-commute moment for 15 years, having fried on a motorcycle or in my 64 GMC p/u up until that point. A couple hundred bucks and 3 leak repairs later, I dumped my one and only Oldsmobile for less than half what I paid for it, utterly defeated.
Zoom in, the plate reads “PABST”…if that’s not worth the price, then what is?
Sweet looking Olds 88 Royale. I remember when GM cars looked like this.