One Owner 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale
GM downsized the Oldsmobile Delta 88 in 1986 having done so previously a decade prior to that. It also went from being a rear-wheel-drive B-platform to a front-wheel-drive H-body platform. Just when it seems like vehicles are getting bigger and bigger now, they were shrinking with every generation a few decades ago. This 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe is listed here on eBay in Inverness, Florida and the seller has a buy-it-now price of $4,495 listed or you can make an offer.
You may have noticed the unusual “silver” stripe below the bodyside molding on the bottom of the car in the opening photo. The first thing I thought is why did someone put duct tape along the entire bottom portion of this car? I can’t quite tell if that’s factory or not but I’m guessing not. Any thoughts? It appears to be covering some deteriorated bumper filler material and the seller does mention that it needs to have those replaced.
You can see it here pretty well on the bottom left corner of the quarter panel. It’s on the right quarter panel, too. That’s scary looking to me, but maybe it isn’t as bad as I think it is. The seller doesn’t mention rust or the condition of the body at all other than the deteriorated bumper filler material but I’d want to check this one out personally.
The body looks good otherwise so maybe it’s a trick of the camera or shadows or something. The interior looks great if maybe just in need of a good cleaning on those velour seats. The back seat looks like new. This car has just under 60,000 miles on it and it’s hard to beat the two-door body style on this generation of Olds 88, or Eighty-Eight. The ninth-generation Olds 88 was made for the 1986 through 1991 model years.
The engine and engine compartment would benefit from a two-hour detail for sure. It’s a Buick 231 V6 which would have had 150 horsepower. The seller says that it has “new EVERYTHING”, they show two recent receipts showing almost $3,000 worth of maintenance work, and they say that it can be driven anywhere. Are there any fans of the ninth-generation Olds 88 out there?
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Comments
Many will lament this Barns Find, deeming it a pos.
When cared for properly, these are really nice cars to drive. Quiet, smooth and comfortable with surprisingly good fuel economy and overall reliability, especially for it’s time. This one just happens to be an unfortunate color.
Assuming the oddity along the rockers is not terminal someone will wind up with a nice little driver here.
Actually I’ve seen the duct tape trick before. It’s the opposite to what most people think.
It’s to protect the lower panels from stone chips and wear.
The thought of moisture getting under that tape and just sitting there – like a vinyl top – ugh!
It was around this time the 231 v6 finally hit its stride. Early on when they were carbureted, they were pretty much dogs. ‘
This same car is on Craigslist for 3450.
https://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/d/inverness-1986-oldsmobile-delta-88/7273648257.html
Nice find, Frank! I wish I wouldn’t have seen that, I want it even more now.
My sister had a 4-door Eighty-Eight back in the day with the 3800 V6, it was a good car that lasted forever and honestly it was a lot of fun to drive too.
Maybe some white-letter tires on the black steelies underneath those wheel covers would spruce it up a bit. Do they make car bras for a Delta 88 anymore? The ‘80s were sweet, man 😎
Nope, that wouldn’t help it a bit.
The silver trim below the body molding is factory. I’m guessing trim on the left side was damaged so the owner used duct tape to look like the right side.
The trim below the side molding is NOT factory. It is an aftermarket add on and was common back in the day. I worked for an Oldsmobile Nissan dealer in Wisconsin from 1980 to 1992 and sold these cars new,
Always thought this was an attractive design, and with so much work already done someone will get an enjoyable project with an apparent short punch list.
Yup, This most definitely is a car.
I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when these things were celebrated, but here we are. For me, there is no fond memories, these (and many of the other late 80’s econo boxes) were just background cars.
But if you are a Movie producer and looking to fill a period scene with a good representation of general cars for background shots – here you go!
Nothing annoys me more than period movies that only seem to have the coolest cars in the background. Want to know what the majority of people drove in a specific time period, find a movie from that time showing highway traffic shots (for the 80’s look at Karate Kid and all the beige and cream barges floating around).
Well that got off course. But hey, if this is your thing… Buy this, buy a comfortable hat, and just putter around at 20 miles under the speed limit with your blinker on while looking for the best Sunday brunch bargain. Maybe the seller will take a coupon.
Wow, and I thought I was the only one that gets annoyed at the period movies ! -Like in a 1930s movie where nearly all the cars are spotlessly clean ,and all sport whitewalls , including Model As !
Cheech and Chong’s “Up In Smoke” had a lot of city driving scenes, great for spotting lots of interesting 60’s and 70’s vehicles.
This car should be the poster car for felony traffic stops.
I had (still have) the exact same year (1986) coupe Brougham with the FE3 suspension & aluminum wheels, with leather interior & optional digital dash & computer. Also had the high output 231 engine. I put nearly 250000 miles on it before I get transmission got weak…only had to change the CV axles & timing chain & oil pump in the engine just a few miles before the trans started slipping. And I drove it very agressively most of it’s life. It has set outside for the past 20 years, so the rust has taken its toll…should have stored it inside. I would gladly take another in the same shape that I started out with my original Delta…this time take better care of her.
TOROGUY: Any pictures?!!
I will post on classified section
Hello, what color is yours?
White
Let me know if you are looking to get rid of yours or part out. [email protected]
@toroguy, what color scheme is yours? are you looking to get rid of it or parts off of it? thanks.
The HT440 transmissions were horrible in 86 and 87. Also MAF sensors would often cause engine stalls on torque. The crap on the bottom is not factory. Aftermarket kit put on by dealers.
I’d buy it just for the color yellow heart 💛
I do remember these cars my uncle always drove Oldsmobiles He had a 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88, 1978 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight; 1981 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight; 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88; In 1987 went to trade because he and my aunt traded every 3 years called me very upset with the downside I explained they were very reliable he hesitated and bought a 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 because like he said paying 4,000 more for the Ninety Eight same platform didn’t make sense. He and my aunt loved the car never any problems actually drove it 6 years traded for a 1993 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Elite this car was a program car driven by the owner of the dealership so my uncle got a great deal then traded in 1999 for an anniversary edition Oldsmobile Eighty Eight beautiful car still has it with 78,000 miles my uncle is 90 and aunt 88 so they don’t drive it much these are great cars
Very nice and thank you. If I had the room I’d jump on it.
A 231 was not a perfect motor. I had an 89 Buick with one. At a 100,000 the top end of the motor gave up. The guy I was working for at the time said he had two just like it sitting in his yard with the same problem. Had I been aware I could have fixed the problem and not have a blown motor.
I have one of these on my side yard. Runs great. Only has 37,000 miles if anyone is interested
Hi Tony: I am interested! Any Pictures please!
Regard’s Mr.TROFEO’
I have one if anyone is interested. It has 37k miles
This was my first car, except mine was grey with grey interior. I was 16 in 1994 when my great uncle Pat passed (RIP) and I inherited it. Great car never left me stranded over the 3 years I owned it.
I had an 88 Olds Trofeo and 97 Olds 88 with this great engine. The 88 was far better because it had a good ole metal intake manifold. The 88 had the junk GM plastic intake, which of course leaked DEX CLOG junk coolant into the engine and clogged the oil pan with thick like fudge. Other than that after I fixed it with a Dorman intake, the car was flawless. I sold it in 2010 after driving it four years, my kids used it for college. It is still being driven by a kid at Penn State and has never been apart other than the intake manifold fiasco, which happened to EVERY ONE of these cars with the junk plastic parts. I would buy this car in a minute. So much more reliable than any computerized POS out there. I put 200,000 plus miles on that Trofeo and sadly creamed a deer as big as a horse on I-84 in NY. Destroyed the car.
I learned how to drive on a similar car: A 1988 88 handed to me by my aunt who was entering the nunnery. Baby blue. (She referred to it as “Blessed Mother Blue”.) The car’s suspension floated you on a cloud. So that soft suspension pared with its rather quick 3.8 liter V6 had me driving irresponsibly fast around the twisted and bumpy back roads of Connecticut. So, on one end, you had no road feel, but on the other end, the car oversteered every chance it got. The car was designed for the straight grids of other parts of the country and there, it would shine.
When I was buying and selling cars I had quite a few of these but did not have good luck with the transmissions.
I learned to stay away.