Model History: The Oldsmobile 88

The progression of The Oldsmobile 88 from 1949 to 1999.

[@toddbonin6926]

We were an 88 family in the 60s and 70s. We had one Dynamic 88, two Delmont 88s and three Delta 88s. In those days, 88s were the best cars around, and my dad loved them.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

A lot of people felt that way.

[@LlyleHunter]

I grew up in these cars. My favorites were 1965, 1968 and especially the very elegant 1970 4dr hardtop. All of ours were four door holidays but the 1970 was spectacular.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

We had a '71 but I don't remember much about it other than it was a white 4-door.

[@rockoyouthman]

I’ve got a 1949 convertible 88. Love love love it

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Now that is cool.

[@djjeffdjrabito6757]

my favorite show of yours so far - forgot how many of these we owned and drove . I love your format for these model reviews as well, so thanks again.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks. It has been an evolutionary process, hopefully for the better.

[@robertchristie9434]

The best memory of an Olds was my uncle's '50 Rocket 88 Club coupe when I was 7 or 8, going to Flint from Detroit on US 23 at 112 mph. My aunt was sitting in the back seat & couldn't see the speedo but mentioned the telephone poles were going by awfully quick. He worked at Holley carburetor in the lab and did some "tweaking" to the 88. The smile on my uncle's face was priceless.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

That is an exciting memory. Do you suppose he got in trouble later?

[@robertchristie9434]

@@thehopelesscarguy The only comment I remember my aunt made while getting out of the 88 for lunch at the Howard Johnson's in Flint was " We're making better time than I thought" and said it with a laser focused glare at my uncle and he just shrugged his shoulders. Later he mumbled to me that he didn't buy it to look at it. The great thing about having a large family that lived and worked in Detroit was most of them were gearheads and car people. Back then it was an exciting time to experience some awesome cars.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

@@robertchristie9434 I bet.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you for the video. I enjoyed the OIdsmobile Eighty Eight history. It went up until the end. I would like to see videos on Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Toronado and Pontiac Bonneville and Parisienne and Grand Prix. I really enjoy this video.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thank you. I will be doing other videos along these lines but it may be awhile before I get to them.

[@brienfoaboutanything9037]

Thats amazing information about Oldsmobile: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYO7qWZ4j5pqnKM

[@djjeffdjrabito6757]

Love your method of these model run throughs by year. Great format.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks, I thought it was a bit to spec oriented.

[@djjeffdjrabito6757]

BTW my mom drove hour and a half each way for groceries through the woods - she ran several delta 88s into the ground - very reliable cars

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Might have lasted longer if she used roads.

[@colibri1]

Agree with those who like the systematic way you do these. Good job. I would add that for the 1976 models a bigger change than a spring-loaded standup hood ornament was the introduction of square headlights, only legally approved for use in the US the previous year, when the 98 and a range of other US cars featured them, but the Delta didn't receive them until '76.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks. Not sure why I missed that.

[@johnneves9580]

I have a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham loaded moonroof 307 V8. I would not sell that car ever. What a wonderful car it has been over the 36yrs that I have owned it.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice. When those were new I was stationed at Ft Gordon with a guy that had a picture of one hanging in his locker. I always wondered if he ever bought one.

[@zxtenn]

When i was a little kid we had a 59 Dynamic 88 wagon, i think since it had power window on the tailgate it said 'Fiesta' where the key went to operate, we later had a 66 Toronado. Early 80's i worked PT at a Sunoco station and a woman customer had a Custom Cruiser, BIG to say the least My father had a Delta 88 brougham with 307==what a DOGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG I would have to see the top speeds in real life, sounds a little upgraded

[@thehopelesscarguy]

All you need is a long enough space to allow it to eventually get there.

[@WC_Beer_Reviews]

I like the late 70s to early 80s two door models. They would make an awesome sleeper!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Sure, if you could find one.

[@dansimon1100]

My first car was a 1994 oldsmobile 88. But i'm had so many of these cars They are good car Especially the ones with 3.8.

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great video ! I own a 1981 Oldsmobile Delta 88 sedan and boy she's a Cruiser .

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Oh I bet.

[@johnhaberstroh9510]

Thanks for the video on the 88's. My parents owned a '67 Delmont 88 with a 425. I ❤ that car.. I used to ride & fall asleep in the back deck.. How safe was that, eh?? LOL

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Common practice back in the day, and yet, most of us survived.

[@davidpistek6241]

Olds had excellent styling

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Some years were very nice.

[@revolution51]

Great visuals.! Great Info.!👍

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@user-tt2fh8nf1o]

i love this car model, awesome video. please make more of the oldsmobile and pontiac history. subbed.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks, they are coming, just not as quickly as I would like.

[@user-tt2fh8nf1o]

@@thehopelesscarguy take your time.

[@stampedetrail2003]

Nice synopsis. My family had the 1988 88

[@davidkirkham6497]

Great video & history of these great auto’s! I always believed GM lost a lot of gusto when they quit making Oldsmobile! As a mater of fact I believe it was the beginning of their downfall from the top of the heap. Bean counters were taking over. I, myself, owned 2 Oldsmobiles, 1972 Cutlass “S” which I purchased, new. Also I owned a 1989 98 Touring Sedan, which I purchased used in 1993. Both were great cars.

[@dicksanders8206]

Amazing the the number of changes year to year. Today, they don't make changes but every 5 years.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

True.

[@luvr381]

I had a '68 Delta 88 455 Rocket for a while.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice.

[@allenwayne2033]

I recall that my grandfather had a 62 Super 88 sedan. It was his last car. I recall thinking that the dash and the "deep-dish" steering wheel were works of art, and always loved watching the speedo turn from green to yellow to red!. I don't know what the hp rating was, but I recall the air filter cover said "High-Compression" on it. It was way cooler than my family's 64 Plymouth Belvedere with the 318 and it's terribly austere dashboard.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

The Olds was certainly in a different class.

[@bextar6365]

I was shocked at a slow 16 seconds to 60 mph. My stock 2019 Santa Fe with a 4 cyl and 3500 pounds does it in 9 seconds !

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Progress?

[@andregonsalvez9244]

These full-sized cars are not meant for speed but easy cruising and are bulletproof. Hyundai and Kia have major engine issues in which insurance companies don't want to cover some of these cars .

[@PontiacFan68]

@Hopeless car guy you should do a video on the Oldsmobile Cutlass family series car lineup.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Actually I have that in my long term video plans. Will be more complicated due to Oldsmobiles "We should name everything Cutlass" period.

[@PontiacFan68]

@@thehopelesscarguy well Oldsmobile had the Cutlass family lineup, 88, 98 and another models before the 90s of Silhouette and Bravada.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

@@PontiacFan68 When the Bravada first came out, Car & Driver said "There is a new Oldsmobile and it's not a Cutlass". A surprise after the Cutlass, Cutlass Supreme, Cutlass Ciera & Cutlass Calais.

[@PontiacFan68]

@@thehopelesscarguy you should also do a video on the Bravada to LOL

[@PontiacFan68]

@@thehopelesscarguy Also I got a video request on doing a video on the Pontiac GTO its my favorite Muscle car of all time.

[@gene978]

My First Car ‘72 Delta 88 Royale Hardtop. Dark Blue with a light blue Vinyl top. PW, PS, PB, Tilt, A/C, Biscuit Cloth Interior with folding center Armrest. I paid $900 I was 15 years old in 1976. I had to wait a year before I could drive it “Legally” ;) There was NEVER a Cleaner Car. LOL

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Nice

[@edwardallan197]

Fascinating.........

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Glad you think so.

[@raylopez99]

Wow, engine technology came a long way: ten years after this early 1950s Oldsmobile, which produced 134 hp on a 4.98 liter engine, a similar naturally aspirated engine of only 2.2 liters (134 cubic inches), less than half as big, could produce the same horsepower. Better metallurgy yielding a higher compression ratio is the reason. Also I am guessing the distinctive "hump" at the top of the engine was due to the engine configuration, a high-profile 'straight 8'. A boxer engine would have resulted in a lower center of gravity and lower profile. Cool hump however.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Olds had gone V by this point but it would be a few years before hoods would flatten out. The 1950s saw one of the biggest bumps in engine output. I actually have 2 planned short videos on that subject.

[@timothykeith1367]

During the Korean war the U.S. Air Force began moving from piston engine to jet aircraft. That enabled the refineries to have excess high octane capacity, which allowed compression ratios of some U.S. built automobiles to increase.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

@@timothykeith1367 And most did.

[@raylopez99]

@@timothykeith1367 Yes, and there's also this toxic anti-knock chemical which had a good run despite the evidence it was nasty: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraethyllead

[@jamesdaniels3699]

I a friend who had back in highschool,it was his grandma old car. I'm not sure what year it was but it was late 60's and he baby it. It was in the late 70's I went to highschool...1977

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I had a friend who similarly inherited a 73 Olds 98, and he loved it.

[@davidpistek6241]

I know plenty about Chevy so as I watch this I'm comparing Chevy models, olds did well,58 however Chevy looks better, great info and photos,,,again good video

[@thehopelesscarguy]

In 58 Chevy managed to look less heavy then the other GM brands.

[@joeseeking3572]

The Starfire was a model, not a trim package. Despite sharing the 88 wheelbase, it had its own series designation and model for model was priced about 25% above the Super 88, at 98 levels (except for '66 when it was decontented) I liked them in the 60's, but (to me) the 71-76 Olds style interpretation of GM's B body was the least successful of the four, and the 77-85 version generally lost out to Buick (and Pontiac, until it became a Caprice clone). Thereafter they were all just dull, dull, dull - until the LSS, which wasn't marketed as an 88 (15-17% more expensive), but an excellent 88 based platform alternative to the Aurora. Would not minding finding one of those - with supercharger.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

The Starfire started as a trim level and was separated, as was often the case in those days. And even after it was separated, the difference really was just trim.

[@fjacks1189]

8 track stereo. Yep, I'm getting old.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I have a collection of 78's and a Victorola.

[@bextar6365]

I bought a used 1956 Olds 88 2 dr back in the early 1960s, it had 3 on the tree, must have been fairly rare ??????

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I wouldn't have actual sales figures, but the manual was essentially a no cost option, making it as rare as a manual in a 2000s Camry.

[@kiprandom7208]

Tri power carbs on a 2 ton car. Did it have a big enough gas tank to get it up to 100?

[@thehopelesscarguy]

That, and a gas gauge small enough you could barely see the needle move.

[@kirbywaite1586]

GM really mismanaged Oldsmobile. What were they thinking?

[@thehopelesscarguy]

They were thinking?

[@wiiambarnarx8485]

I love the "Hopeless Car Guy! Very informative. Does anyone know of a good channel that discusses cars of all sizes of the 1960s. Perhaps a Tailfin channel as well. Also could you please let me know if you collect 1:64 scale diecast models! Have a great day!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks. I'm not a collector, but I have a few. As far as the content, I presume you mean channels other than this one.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Great job. What year was auto trans standard?

[@thehopelesscarguy]

From the beginning. No manual was offered the first year, and those years it was offered, I believe it was as an option.

[@chrisbrown3925]

Ash would be proud

[@thehopelesscarguy]

High praise indeed.

[@pdennis93]

🎶This is not your father's Oldsmobile. This is the new generation of Olds🎶

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Oldsmobile is now Youngmobile.

[@pdennis93]

@@thehopelesscarguy that ad campaign was the beginning of the end for Olds.

[@rockoyouthman]

Worst Olds slogan ever. “Your fathers Olds was BETTER than the later stuff

[@thehopelesscarguy]

@@rockoyouthman Personally, I like when George Burns did the 90th anniversary ads.

[@mikedrown2721]

👍👌👏😊❤️

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks

[@yournostroleeoleeolees.]

DOPE DOPE DOPE DOPE !!!

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Thanks? I think.

[@rgordon6942]

No 49 fastback?.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

No?

[@scrappyjunk8793]

this is the one chuck berrie wrote that song about trading in his broke down raggadey ford for a rocket motor with a jet off take off power olds was king at daytona beach raceway to

[@thehopelesscarguy]

And the song "Rocket 88" of 1951.

[@pdennis93]

Pontiac never had a big block. A 400 Pontiac is the same size as a Pontiac 350.

[@kiprandom7208]

Same as the 326

[@pdennis93]

@@kiprandom7208 yup. All Pontiac V8's except I believe the 301 used the same block.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

Really?

[@pdennis93]

@@thehopelesscarguyyes. All Pontiac V8s were the same size. The later 265 and 301 were a short deck version. "Unusual for a major automaker, Pontiac did not have the customary "small-block" and "big-block" engine families common to other GM divisions, Ford, and Chrysler. Effectively, Pontiac's V8s were all small blocks, sharing the same connecting rod length 6.625 in (168.3 mm) (except for the later short deck 301 and 265 produced in the late '70s and early '80s before Pontiac adopted universal GM engines)." en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_V8_engine

[@thehopelesscarguy]

@@pdennis93 Technically they were neither Big Block nor Small Block as they were the only block, and I really shouldn't be surprised I was called on this.

[@dicksanders8206]

Let's face it -- the '57 and '58 Oldsmobiles were ugly. But the '52 Oldsmobiles were nice! And they had cool 2 tone colors.

[@thehopelesscarguy]

I like the 57s