Spectacular Survivor! 1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88
It’s an oft-told tale. The owner of a lightly and gently used automobile passes on, his significant other holds on to it for years, and then finally decides that it’s time to part company. And that’s the case with this 1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88. It’s a sharp-looking car and, sadly, you are gazing at the only exterior image included in the listing – how unfortunate! Anyway, this Olds is located in Auburn, California and is available, here on craigslist for $11,500. Thanks to rex m for this tip!
Except for the last six months, this Oldsmobile has been supposedly sitting garaged, since 1980 and the seller states, ” just serviced with new water pump, fuel pump, carb, tuneup, belts and hoses, approx. $4,800 spent on service. Drives and runs like a new car“. Driving like a new car is courtesy of a 330 gross HP, 425 CI V8 engine, assuming that the non-identified motor is the standard Delta 88 powerplant and a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission.
The chrome and stainless are described as “like new” on this 60K mile example and the finish, from what can be detected from the single image, looks great – nothing appears to be out of place. Aesthetically, this is an excellently designed car as so many of GM’s ’60s entries were. Its long, low, and wide lines encapsulate the era perfectly, it actually has a breezy appearance, a trait usually not found in such large cars. And note the instrument panel, it has an identity all its own but it just perfectly reflects the styling elements that were in vogue in 1966. Most notably, the stainless steel trim, there is no dearth of it here, but it’s still tasteful in its application. And the rest of the interior, the door panels, carpet (what can be seen) and the matching blue vinyl upholstery still shows like new – no demerits warranted here.
Big domestic coupes like this subject, a two-door hardtop in this condition with low mileage, just don’t surface that often. I page through innumerable examples each week and this is one of the finest to surface yet. If a bygone model like this 1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88 floats your boat, and you’ve been considering such an acquisition, this is one to seriously consider. Cars like this will not be produced again! It would be better suited if it were more centrally located, geographically, but if it weren’t in California, it probably wouldn’t be this nice, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
If I had the garage space to park it in…
This would be my summertime ride to work/play/everyday.
But it would have to sit out, and that just wouldn’t do this car justice.
The family had a ’68 Delta 88 4-door hardtop, with the 455/2bbl. Absolutely great highway cruiser. What a ride, at any speed you felt was appropriate.
Judging by the size of the air cleaner, this has the 330-cid V8. The 425 would have a 4 barrel carb and an air cleaner to match.
My mother had a 66 Delta 88 four door hardtop that had a 425 and a two barrel carb. Looking at this ad I can smell her cigarettes. I learned how to drive on Dad’s 67 F100 three on the tree but since he was working daylight the day I took my test Mom’s car had to do.
Standard engine in the Delta, Dynamic, line was a 425 2 bbl. This is probably the original engine for this car. 2 bbl cars air cleaners are smaller. I have three of them in the garage, two with 2 bbl and 1 4 bbl, all are factory air cars and one is the same color as this one.
Since it’s a Delta it should have the 425 – the 330 was limited to the lesser Jetstar88 and intermediates.
Now if this Olds really is as good as it looks and a documented Cali car I simply cannot comprehend how it is this car is still up for sale at 11k. While I’ve seen many mid60s Oldses for sale none have appeared this complete and untouched as this one; just the condition of its interior and engine bay are worth the $ alone – I’m almost tempted to think this is fraud. Though I find the ’64,’65 and ’67 to be prettier designs I would still have a hard time passing on this one were I in the market for a mid60s fullsize Olds.
Extremely unusual and interesting find! 👍
Only the Starfire would be better but they won’t fit in my garage.
I had a 1965 Dynamic 88 convertible I drove from New Jersey to California in 1971. Not sure of the engine, but I could and did smoke those rear tires all day long.
Installed an 8 track player under the dash and cruised with “The Doors” all the way across the country. “Riders on the storm”
I still blast “the Doors” when I’m alone in the car. My fav is I think their best song, ‘LA Woman’
I had one bought in ’67, it stayed in the family forever, wonderful cars. I don’t have the room. Someone jump on this and enjoy.
I had a 67 Olds Delmont 88 4 Dr left in a will to me back in 1984. It still had plastic covers on the seats and in the trunk to. Hardly had any miles on it. I should have kept it, but who knew back then. I sold it for $500.00 and I moved to Florida. I just couldn’t take it with me.
Nice Saturday night Cruiser car.
I had a 1965 Delta sedan that I really liked. Seeing the dashboard in this ad makes me miss mine.
Mine had a very similar story as this one. I bought it from a man who bought it from the widow of the original owner. The widow kept it until the mid 1980’s, the man I bought it from kept it until about 4 or 5 years ago.
That car was an awesome cruiser.
I see the ad for this one is gone. Someone got a sweet ride!
Huh? $4800 spent just on service work? Time to find a new mechanic’s shop. Nothing on the list would require a journeyman. :-) Terry J
My uncle Lewis had a white 66 four door Delta with the 425 2 bbl carb. On a trip tp NJ on the interstate this large heavy car cruised along with the traffic at 80 plus with no problem. It probably had a rear gear ratio of about 3.07 or 2.9. The 425 had a lot of torque. It remined me of the torque of the 454s and 455s.
Posting deleted.
That is a cool dash!
I’ve got the exact same car, year, model, color, engine – only in a convertible. The new owner will it … just floats down the road like a dream!
Since when is 60k miles is low miles? Shopping for my first car in 1968 I was told don’t buy anything over 50k.
Since about 1985.
Engine not broke in yet at 60K
You don’t have to worry with authentic Oldsmobile motors that were manufactured before 1977. When other American cars struggled to get to 100,000 miles Oldsmobiles usually topped over 200,000 and often made it to 275,000 miles. They were GM’s engineering division and the division that Cadillac entrusted with big projects when major feats of engineering had to be done. In fact when Cadillac had a sister division name LaSalle Oldsmobile provided distinct motors for them and in 1966 the Olds Tornado was designed as a test Bed for the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado.
When America ruled the world. We are a total joke today.
@ Terrry….no 330 there. It’s a 425, the base motor in a ’65 Delta 88.
And it’s a HI-Comp. 425 due to the red air cleaner (2bl. or 4bl.). Low compression Olds motors had black air cleaners.
I have owned this particular car since fall 2021, it is an original Oldsmobile Delta 88 Holiday Coupe, engine 425cui HC 310hp 2bll (TH400, A/C, deluxe steering wheel, power windows, power six-way seats ) body color Lucerne mist ( code DD ), repainted once in the original shade + vinyl white roof additionally installed (only black and beige were offered from the factory)
The car was in the garage of the original owner from 2000 to 2021 (year of birth 1930 – death 2020), the whole time the car was in California (Yreka), everything works except for hours, the carburetor was rebuilt (it was refurbished when the car was sold, but it was assembled incorrectly or did not work systěch ) original brakes converted to two-circuit, original steel discs and new tires with strip installed.