1973 marked the beginning of the end of cheap, plentiful gasoline in the US with premium fuel going from around thirty-nine cents per gallon to over sixty cents per gallon. And that was when it could be found at all and you had the time to spend waiting in long lines for the few gallons you were allowed to buy. A relic of those times is this 1973 Oldsmobile 98 LS sedan for sale on Hemmings Motor News in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania for $6,500 OBO.
GM’s oldest nameplate and home of much of the innovative engineering that the General was famous for was Oldsmobile, with features such as Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions and mass-produced turbocharged engines to name a couple of them. It was also an aspirational brand coming close to Cadillac luxury without the Cadillac price.
The seller of this Olds is the son of the late owner. He states that his father bought the car out of an estate sale in 1993 as a running, driving car. When the vehicle was delivered to the buyer’s garage, the truck operator pushed a rear corner of the car into a garage support, causing some damage. The odometer shows a little over 25,000 miles meaning in the twenty or so years it was in use, it averaged a little over 1,000 miles per year. The condition of the paint and interior would confirm this low mileage.
The Crystal Green paintwork on the exterior looks almost pristine, with no sign of rust visible in any of the photos provided. The chrome and other trim look like it’s all there and in good condition. We do not have any photos of the front end of the car, likely due to it being too close to the wall to get any, and with four flat tires, a nearly 2-1/2 ton car isn’t the easiest to push. There are no pictures of the engine bay likely for the same reason. The only engine available for the 98 in 1973 was a 250 HP, 455 cubic inch with a four barrel carburetor driving through a Turbo Hydra-matic transmission.
The interior looks as though it has some mildew issues, especially in the carpets and seat bottoms in the front. The rear seats look as though no one ever sat in them and the storage pouches on the front seat backs is a classy touch. The Olds has air conditioning, AM-FM radio, tilt steering wheel and it looks like there is a cruise control button on the turn signal stalk. Of course, power windows and locks round out the luxury touches. Somewhere there is an Oldsmobile enthusiast looking for just this car. After a 25 year slumber, it will take some work to get it roadworthy but what a car they’ll have.
Not my father’s Olds. His was a ’41 convertible with a Carson top. I’d like to find it though.
Yeah my Dad did have one of these. He liked it so much that he replaced it with a 1975 model. Pretty reliable vehicles. Can’t recall him having any serious problems with either one.
Why are sellers so damn lazy and cheap. Either air up the tires or put some used ones on it and at least push it out of the garage. A little effort always pays off in the end. Imho
The amount of effort in the ad correlates to the care of the vehicle.
Actually the son is selling the car for his father’s estate. Doesn’t mean that the son has any clue about classic cars and the proper way to sell them. I would expect my kid to do the same.
4 door hardtop, not a sedan. Cheap enough though if it’s not full of bondo, great cruiser’s.
I agree with you, but Oldsmobile called it a sedan in their sales literature at the time, so that’s what I went with.
My neighbor had one similar to this one. His was a ’74 98
2-door HT. It had all the bells and whistles you could get that
year–you name it that car had it. Not since my Uncle’s ’71
Fleetwood had I seen so much luxury. The one thing that
really impressed me was the AM/FM stereo radio with casette
player. That unit was awesome! Crystal clear sound and reception
made it seem as though you were sitting in a concert hall listening
to your favorite tunes and you, yes you, had a front row seat to your
own private concert. Sadly though; my neighbor hit a tree driving
while drunk. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt but the Olds was totalled.
‘Twas a very sad day when the wrecker arrived at his home to
take the car to the crusher. Since then, I haven’t heard a stereo
system in any late model car sound as good as GM’s quadraphonic
stereo…just spoiled I guess.
GM never offered a factory quad system and not sure if a cassette player was optional back then
No and not even 8 track.
Had a ’73 exactly like this, with a factory 8 track. It was probably the only Olds 98 that ever had all the windows down, blasting Lynard Skynard over the 8 track!
The GM radios of the era were crystal clear. Caddy had an option on the floor board that you could hit a button and change radio stations.
Delco car radios always had the best sound. This car was available with an 8-track tape player. My Cousin has a factory Delco unit in his ’72 Cutlass, mounted under the dash. Sounds great, going through the factory speakers!
Nice car, but will need some work to be driveable. I hope it finds a good home. No, it doesn’t look like it has cruise control. It does look like an AM/FM stereo, and maybe even an 8-track player. And Comfortron AC, which is an early climate control system, like Cadillacs had. I agree the owner should make a little effort and put tires that’ll hold air, and get it out of the garage and take some better pictures, especially if he expects to get $5000-$6000. It’ll have to come out of the garage sooner or later, anyway. Or does he expect someone to lift it up and fly away with it?
Did a partial trade on that particular car about 4 months ago great car… had 33,000 miles on it second owner. had the 455 Rocket… traded it he wanted it and I got a 36 5 window chevy coupe original 40,000 miles on it second owner..on that now think I might have done well but I did like that 455 Rocket
25,000 miles and one of the owners was a traveling man
Not my father’s Olds. With 5 hungry mouths to house, feed, & clothe, Pops was a “whatever fits in the budget for a few bucks” guy. He wasn’t a brand snob! This one checks the right boxes for me .. Oldsmobile, big luxo cruiser, unusual color, decent shape. Price might be a little on the high side, but a little negotiation that can be brought in line.
This is correct this was not my fathers Olds, but my mothers. She bought it from her parents a couple of years after they bought it new.
I ended up with it after that. My car was this exact model but a different color.
I would love to find another one, but they are hard to find in good shape
Owning a ’69 Olds 98, I am quite familiar with this car. Also have had a ’72 Delta 88 and a ’78 98. The engines in all 3 cars were rock solid. That being said, there is no information as to whether or not the motor may be stuck. Bought in ’93 and trailered to its current location suggests it was not roadworthy then. One could easily spend the purchase price in repairs. I do think between $3,000 and $4,000 would be a fair price given the body and interior are in such nice condition.
A friend of my Uncle’s had just bought a low mileage 98 exactly like this one, down to the color. It was probably 20 years old about that time. Early 90s
Impressive. He took my parents, Uncle and me to look at properties on the Oregon Coast.
The shocks may have needed replacement as it seemed lightly sprung on the two lanes we were taking inland.
Then my Uncle took the wheel on the ride back. A terror ride. Worse than riding scrub with my older brother.
But that car ! Absolutely mint.A perfect car for my last ride on Earth had it turned out that way.
I owned a ’72 OLDS 98, it has the full height rear tail lights and more chrome on top of the fenders. it was my second car and I owned it for 11 years during which I repainted it. It had Cruise control, power seats, power windows, power locks,power trunk release, night watch, and AM/FM 8 track w/4 speakers. it was navy blue with a black vinyl top and I loved it very much.
Probably a nice car, but all the effort is on the buyer. Sitting for 25 years and trailered before that, so who knows when it last ran. Price is $5,000 too high as it sits.
This looks like it has the Speed Sentinel….set to 120mph. I wonder if that’s a secret signal, like the radio being set to heavy metal, that the previous owner was hard on the car ;-)
Every dip in the road , Bim, Bam, Boom. Trans damage again !
The original owner was obviously a brother Shriner! I am sure under his watch this car was well taken care of! However I feel that the son is asking too much for it, but maybe he listed it high so there should be some wiggle room! This will be a very nice car if someone with a good head on their shoulders brings it back to be a driver! It really stinks when you see a car like this lowered with those rediculous 20 inch rims on them! Somebody save this car!
When collecting in80 s I had the exact twin to this. Look at the back seat picture. Near as big as a tiny house and the trunk is near mansion size I received as gift from widow in 86 with 33000 miles Flawless What a fantastic boat to drive. No worry of leg or hip room in this 73 ninety eight LS
1975 old I have…..1 of 4