About a week ago, I covered this 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham, and it garnered quite a few comments. That being the case, I thought I’d serve up another: a 1985 Delta 88 Royale Brougham – once again in coupe form. This 78K-mile subject example appears to be a little nicer than the ’83 find, and one that’s certainly worth reviewing. Zen gets the nod for discovering the listing for this stylish resident of West Babylon, New York, and it’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500.
So, the combined (Brougham and non-Brougham) coupe volumes for the ’85 Delta 88 Royale amounted to 47K units, not far off from ’83’s 55K copies – coupes still sold. Unfortunately, ’85 was the end of the line. Oh, there would be a Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe for ’86, but it would now ride on a front-wheel-drive “H” platform as opposed to the trusty and reliable rear-wheel-drive “B” platform that had underpinned the 88 since 1951. The change dinged the 88 coupe’s volume a bit for ’86, as it amounted to 37K copies – still, not too shabby. This Brougham coupe, recognized by its Landau vinyl top, coach lights, and velour “buttoned” upholstery shows well. The finish and vinyl top are still strong, as is the chrome, and there’s no evidence of crash damage or the potential harsh effects of New York’s winter weather. The listing is light on details, but I imagine this Olds has seen a lot of garage time. Two sets of wheels accompany this Delta 88: chromed Magnum 500-style rollers with center spinners, and wire-style wheels (spoke hubcaps(?) as they’re described), whose origins are not disclosed. In either case, wide-whites make an accompanying appearance.
The engine room is not referenced, but the one poorly photographed image reveals what looks like another 140 net HP “Oldsmobile” 307 CI V8 engine. “It’s a nice cruiser” is the only statement of running or driving characteristics uttered. Oldsmobile used both three and four-speed automatic transmissions in ’85, but this model/engine combination should be employing the four-speed overdrive unit.
The interior is a blue version of the tan innards found in the previously reviewed ’83 example. It looks fine with no evidence of wear and/or tear. Even the carpet shows minimal usage, just the effects of normal foot traffic. As is often the case, the back seat appears to be derriere untouched. The seller assures us that the A/C works – good to know!
OK, decisions, decisions! Both this car and the ’83 have the same mileage. I’d suggest this car presents better; the dual-wheel option is nice, and the rear end isn’t jacked. Also, this Delta 88 Royale Brougham has a two-year age advantage. Of course, it’s almost twice the price too ($8,500 vs. $4,750). “Eenie meenie miney mo…?” No, let’s be a bit more objective: which one of these coupes is your preference, and why?
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