Like New Coupe: 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88

Here’s one you don’t see every day, a 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale in two-door form. And this 42 K-mile example is in like-new condition! It caught my attention because I can’t recall the last time I saw this version, so let’s check it out and see what makes it tick. We can thank Zen for this Dix Hills, New York discovery, and it’s available here on craigslist for $9,750.

Oldsmobile’s 88 designation was used for 50 years, from 1949 until 1999. This 1987 example is a member of the ninth generation, having been introduced for model year 1986. It’s also the first of the front-wheel drivers and was built on GM’s H platform. Body styles for ’87 included two and four-door sedans with trim levels consisting of Delta 88 Royale (our subject) and Royale Brougham. Our Royale coupe is one of only 4,500 assembled thirty-nine years ago, and the total two-door count amounted to only 8% of total production. The listing text for this car is extremely light, stating, “Original owner, like a new car…all original paint and miles.” Yup, looks like new and has clearly been carefully used and isolated from New York winters. This one just oozes ’80s GM with its velour upholstery, wire wheelcovers, and padded landau top. It has the look that was apparently popular as Oldsmobile sold 157K 88’s in 1987. Try as I might, I can’t find any exterior detractions.

Inside, as referenced earlier, we find that GM staple known as velour upholstery, and in this case, it’s decked out with pillow-top cushions. Comfort? Yes! Support? Unlikely. Regardless, it’s all in very clean nick with no sign of wear. Even the carpet has escaped the ravages of slew-footed clunkers and boots that lodge all sorts of unclassified dreck upon auto carpet – and most obvious with shades such as light blue. The instrument panel, in its most minimalist form, is clear and clean, if not very informative. Note the shoulder harnesses; they attach to the doors – I was never certain how effective they would be in a collision that does an “open sesame!” on the doors.

The powerplant isn’t identified, but research indicates that it’s a 150 net HP, 3.8-liter Buick V6 engine engaged to a four-speed O/D automatic transaxle. The engine compartment is exceedingly tidy, and the seller exclaims, “drives great!”

So, absence makes the heart grow fonder? Well, in 1987, I wouldn’t have given this car a second look; “Yeah, it’s my father’s Oldsmobile, big deal!” But today, in an automotive world choked with massive SUVs, CUVs, ridiculous brobdingnagian-sized pickups, and no Oldsmobile at all, this Delta 88 Royale looks better all the time. That’s my thought, what’s yours?