Surprises come in all sorts of packages. It’s that old “Don’t judge a book by its cover” admonishment that applies to so many things, cars included. Take this 1983 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight for example. Yes, it does look like my father’s Oldsmobile, a typical luxury car favored by our greatest generation as well as other demographics. But, this one is packing an unexpected surprise – stay tuned. Located in Newburgh, New York, this big cruiser is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $12,000.
In 1983, Oldsmobile still had a size differential between its Ninety-Eight series (119″ wheelbase) vs. the Eighty-Eight series (116″ wheelbase). It was a distinction that dated to the late forties. And of course, the Ninety-Eight exuded more of a luxury vibe than the Eighty-Eight. Our subject car is one of three different Ninety-Eight styles that were offered that year, a Regency Brougham Sedan, a Regency Sedan, and a Regency Coupe such as our subject car. Some may disagree with the term “Coupe” to describe what is really a two-door sedan but that’s the way Olds, and other manufacturers, rolled.
Listed as having a mileage recording of only 49 K miles, this Ninety-Eight is exceedingly clean. The Cream finish (code 59), chrome, and trim present perfectly as does the landau vinyl top covering. And it wouldn’t be an ’80s Oldsmobile without wire wheel covers and fender skirts.
Where things get interesting is under the hood. The original and anemic 140 net HP 307 CI V8 was deep-sixed for a larger 403 V8 that has undergone some mods. Specifically, the seller states, “It was built up with 1971 7A heads, a mild Edelbrock cam, Comp roller tip rockers, Nodular crank, Dick Miller main girdle, and ARP fasteners resulting in a 9:1 compression ratio. Carburetor was jetted and tuned to the 403 by a professional GM technician. It has a custom mandrel bent 2 1/4 dual Y-pipe off exhaust manifolds leading to a 3-inch single exhaust all the way back to the brand new aftermarket muffler“. Gear changing occurs thanks to a Turbo-Hydramatic 200-4R four-speed automatic transmission that may be native to the original engine. No word how this coupe motivates but it has to be a far, far improvement over its original state. Visually, the engine is a surprise too as there is no indication of enhancements other than a dual inlet air cleaner topped with a chrome lid.
Inside is typical Ninety-Eight fare – it’s like a mobile living room. The pillowy velour-covered seats look fine with just a hint of driver use and of course, the back seat has, as is usually the case, seen few behinds. The carpet and dash pad show as unspoiled. All-in-all, it still appears to be a comfy environment.
Well, by 1983 I would have thought full-size hot rods were done. There was a later factory attempt with the ’94-’96 Impala SS and the ’03 Mercury Marauder, but wrench turners had pretty well moved on from hopping up big cars, Oldsmobiles included. Early on I stated that this car looked like it could pass for my father’s Oldsmobile; appearance-wise yes, mechanically, no way. Pretty cool, huh?
I really like what the seller did here. What a great highway cruiser. I bet even with the larger mill and the overdrive transmission mileage is probably comparable to the original anemic lump that was under there. Now all you need is limited slip if not already equipped. Nothing more silly than one wheel peel.
So, this or the 4 door cutlass presented earlier for the exact amount. I know where I’d spend my $$
Nice job, this reminds me of many Oldsmobile sleepers from my (70’s) youth
Nice motor upgrade. Keeping it fairly quiet w single exhaust too. Cool. Bet it eats up the miles very nicely.
Nice mod, but I wonder if the time amd money would have been better-spent changing the rear end gearing. For a light-to-light wonder or a smoke-show dazzler the highway gears have to be upgraded to 3:73 or better.
I had a 1984 and, despite its comfort and esthetics, it was a slug. No reason to put the pedal to the floor to merge into highway traffic. The “poster child” of the malaise era.
Corrected the weak point without mischaracterizing this handsome Olds.
Perfect.
The solution for many 307 powered 442’s and Hurst/Olds. The Oldsmobile 403 came factory equipped in tons of Pontiac Trans Am’s. There are still a lot of aftermarket parts available to wake them up.
I would drive it, very cool.
Why the covered plates???
Witless Protection Program
Any one who puts a car on the interwait should cover the plates.
If the car has significant value or an appeal to the underworld, there are A,,holes out there that will trace the plate, find out where it is parked and show up to make it disappear in the middle of the night.
A well documented issue.
I suppose the 403 was chosen over a 455 because its exterior dimensions are exactly the same as the 350, allowing the use of the same accessory brackets and belts. The 403 isn’t exactly a performance engine, with its siamesed cylinders and an engine block that favors light weight over strength.
Very clean!
The extra 100 cubic inches over the stock 307 will make a huge improvement to its drivability. Adding the FE2 Rally suspension from an 88 will upgrade the handling immensely. I transplanted a complete 455 from a ’71 442 into an ’81 Delta 88, added 3.08 posi gears and dual exhaust back in the early ’90’s.Also put front and rear sway bars with 7″ wide steel rims on it. My employee loved to remind me that it wasn’t my father’s Oldsmobile.