In 1971, it was time for a new General Motors full-size cars. This generation would see them as big as they ever would be. This generation also had to go through new bumper impact rules as well as seeing emission controls continually being added to suck what power the cars had out. This is a 1971 Oldsmobile Delta 88 (2 door) Hardtop Coupe for sale here on Craigslist in Thomaston, Connecticut. Thanks go out to Barn Finds reader Fordguy1972 for finding this car and letting us know about it.
This Delta 88 was repainted in 1982 in the original Sandalwood color. It’s odd to see one without a vinyl top, so I’m not sure if it was removed when repainted or never had one. This car was in storage for the 25 years by its original owner. Original wheel covers are still on the car. This Oldsmobile is in very good condition.
At the time the car was repainted, it also received new upholstery on the seats. It kept its original pattern in this green interior. Everything looks great here and it is in keeping with the exterior condition of the car. There is an aftermarket steering wheel cover.
I’m not able to tell what size this engine is and the seller does not state. The 1971 Delta 88 came standard with a 350 cubic inch 2 barrel (which I’m thinking this is), with a 455 cubic inch 2 barrel or 4 barrel carburetor engine available. The car has new fuel tank and lines, fuel pump, carburetor, battery, and recent tune-up. The car has 72,000 miles. The seller is asking $5,200. Is this your style of car?
Clearly a flipper seeking a payday, but these are great cars. Sam Raimi approves!
Shop Smart, Shop S – Mart
Love It Love It but have always liked the 71s to 73s I’ve had 2 71s and 1 73 model
Good price
When I was a teenager working at supermarket many years ago, my manager had the identical car, which was new at the time. Year later my sister bought one used, four door pillarless hardtop, as her first car. Both were the same color, and neither with a vinyl top. I don’t recall seeing vinyl tops on ’71 – ’73, and I knew a few people at the time that owned them. They were great cars in their day.
My aunt and uncle bought a brand new 1971 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 2 door hardtop. The roof was slightly elongated and had a vinyl top. All Royales did. There’s was loaded. One of the first cars I remember riding in with an AM/ FM stereo. Had a 455 V-8. My aunt kept the Highway Patrol busy back then in that car. Would get from San Jose, Ca to Madera, Ca in 90 minutes with her. It took my dad 2 1/2 hours. I think her foot was made of lead. Great car she drove until she traded it in 1983 for a new BMW 633 CSI.
That is a 350.
if it is a 350 …not much juice for that tank
Thankfully, the 71s & 72s didn’t suffer from the federal bumpers as much as the later models did.
The 71 is the purest example as 72, GM started reinforcing [and adding length] to the bumpers prior to the gov’t mandates. On the 71 all the details are delicate and refined and not dumbed down to make way for battering rams on both ends.
Beautiful hardtop. Seller missed an opportunity [again], to show it at it’s best with all the windows down, though.
dweezilaz, I like the big federal bumpers.
When I wash a car this big I need a place to sit and rest halfway through the wash. :)
Great Cars. I had a Dark Blue 1972 Delta 88 2dr with a 455 and a Rochester Quadrajet 4 barrel, dual exhaust and some type of Thrush mufflers, a 3:08 Posi 15×7 Crager S/S and Sears R70H Road Hugger Radials. If asked to race, I would say sure, we race to Albany. Lived in Queens NYC. I put some 200,000 miles on that car. Wish I had a picture to attach.
“new Corroborator”, was the old one removed for collusion?
Get some under-car pix. I’ve had a few of these, they have a weird way of the body tub rusting out under the rear seat and floor pan kickup before the doors and quarters show it.
It’s usually caused by rust-out of the rear window channel, which dripped into the car and forward under the seat instead of the usual rearward to the rear quarters.
No A/C.
Still of the the prettiest 88’s ever.
These were and are very good cars, but just too darned BIG! When GM introduced its 1971 full-size cars, it caused a lot of their traditional buyers to go down to a mid-size car (Cutlass, Skylark, Malibu, etc.). You’d better have a large garage to house one of these. This one is too nice to leave outdoors.
My family had a 4 door from 1971 to 1990. It had the 350 (painted gold – I believe the 455 was painted blue). Power was fine by standards of the day – easy to induce power oversteer (yes this is the car I learned to drive on) or cruise at 70.
I agree, 455’s were blue in the 70’s
My first car was a ‘72 model in the same color. Drove the hell out of it and somehow managed not to kill it. Did great burnouts with snow tires and loved to be tossed around in big parking lots. It had close to 200,000 miles when it was So rusted out in the body that my sister didn’t want to drive it. A great car. I was usually the driver in my group of friends as a bunch of teenagers could cram into it’.