27k Genuine Miles: 1972 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Coupe
At more than 19-feet in total length, this 1972 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Coupe could easily be considered to be your stereotypical 1970s land yacht. The fact is that these could offer a surprising level of straight-line performance. This one also comes fully loaded with luxury equipment and has a genuine 27,000 miles on its odometer. It has remained in the same family since new. However, the time has come for it to find its way to a new home. It is located in Decatur, Illinois, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the BIN at $18,450, and there are currently 103 people who are watching the listing.
The Cameo White paint that graces the flanks of this Oldsmobile appears to be in exceptional condition. It shines beautifully, and the only flaws seem to be some stone-chips around the nose of the vehicle. This is a common occurrence because you are talking about a broad expanse of painted steel that is always going to be susceptible to this sort of drama. If the buyer is striving for perfection, then they could treat the nose to a repaint, and then have transparent vinyl film applied over the top of the paint. I have seen this done before with great success. The vinyl top is in matching White, and once again, this appears to be flawless. The panels are straight and clean, while the gaps are about as good as you are ever likely to find on an American car from this era. There are no signs of any rust issues, and the external trim presents just as impressively as the rest of the vehicle. The Olds is equipped with tinted glass, and this also appears to be flawless.
I have spent some time examining the photos of the Ninety-Eight in a bid to find a significant flaw. I have found one with the interior, but I’m not sure just how significant it is. The interior is trimmed in a combination of White cloth and leather. The upholstered surfaces are free from rips and tears, but they aren’t perfect. There appears to be a stain on the driver’s seat, which is visible in this photo. It isn’t clear whether this could be fixed, but it would sure be worth a try. It is about the only thing that detracts from an otherwise immaculate interior. It doesn’t just look beautiful, either. The original owner pushed the boat out when ordering the car. It comes equipped with ice-cold climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power front seats, power locks, cruise, a tilt/telescopic wheel, and an AM/FM radio/8-track player.
Unfortunately, the owner doesn’t provide any engine photos, but we do know that the Olds is in excellent mechanical health. Under the hood is a 455ci V8, producing 250hp. These horses find their way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed TH-400 automatic transmission. It seems appropriate that a car with this level of luxury should also come equipped with power steering and power brakes. At 4,524lbs, the Oldsmobile is one hefty beast. However, it could still find its way down the ¼ mile in 16.9 seconds. When you consider its size and weight, that figure is quite impressive. The owner states that the Ninety-Eight is showing 27,128 miles on its odometer. He further says that not only is this mileage genuine, but that it is fully documented. The vehicle remains mechanically original, although it has new tires, a new battery, and new shocks. The exhaust has also been replaced, but the replacement system is a match for the original. The buyer of this classic won’t need to spend a penny because this Olds is said to run and drive perfectly.
This 1972 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Coupe is a giant of a car. It hails from an era before gas prices were a real issue. When this car rolled off the production line, luxury was king. Nobody really cared that this was a car that would struggle to better 10mpg. It was a car that allowed its occupants to travel in comfort and splendid isolation. This is not a car that would make a viable daily commuter for most people, but for the occasional weekend jaunt or a trip to a Coffee & Cars, it is perfectly suited. Its price is getting towards the top end of what you might expect to pay for a Ninety-Eight of this vintage. However, its condition could well justify it. If you fancy your classic motoring experience to be provided with more than a touch of luxury, then this Olds might be worth investigating further.
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Comments
This is a great car, I had a ’72 88 2dr and it was a real cruiser, fast and reliable but I’d rather have this one. I wonder if this one has a rear sway bar, mine did and it took the corners very predictably for such a big car.
My first car was a ’72 Delta 88 Holiday Sedan (4-door hardtop). It was a great car! I had air shocks installed in the rear and could transport everything I owned back and forth from law school in Miami to my hometown of Burlington, Vermont.
I forgot how wide the brake pedals were on these land yachts. Wide enough to fit both feet when emergency braking
I had an 84 caprice with a brake pedal about that wide, which I learned to my chagrin one day. I had switched to this car from a manual, and had to panic stop right after I started driving it. I slammed down where the clutch should have been and locked all four wheels. :)
I, too, switched back and forth from a newer 5-speed car to my old console shift automatic in my Cutlass. In both cars I’d regularly manually hold a lower gear until I got up to speed. One time on the freeway I had the Cutlass in “Scat” gear until I hit 70, then stabbed my left foot at the “clutch” (brake pedal) while I popped the lever one click up into drive. It threw me forward and my arm over shifted into neutral. Luckily the reverse lockout worked.
The interior is actually a very light ivory shade; not white. This `72 is extremely clean for it’s age. It probably won’t last long on the market.
Nice car, incredible price.
I ownwd a 67 4 door variant and i loved it.
let me guess it had that amazing slant 6 225 c.i. you could run that engine without oil and it wouldn’t die
Joe – I think Martinsane had a ’67 Olds four door. Unless he is like me, a terrible speller…did I ever tell you about the evening I spent at a warehouse?
Thanks, I’ll show myself out…
Ha ha. Not a “Valiant”, a “variant”. IE similar nut different being mine was a 1967 98. 4 door, beautiful turquoise. And it was equipped with the 425 with room to house the 6 under the hood as well. Probably the best car i ever had, power everything and drove like a dream.
In the early 90s, I was service manager at a large Chevy dealership. Our parts manager had a 4 Dr hardtop mate to this car. We also owned a Hyundai dealership across the street from the Chevy store. One afternoon, the parts manager left our lot to go home and was T-boned by a couple leaving the Hyundai lot in their new car. The Hyundai was totaled ( with less than 6 miles on the odometer), the Olds fenderskirt no longer fit properly. He drove the Olds for another month or so, I bought it from him for the engine and transmission, put them in place of a tired diesel in an 82 Caprice wagon. I parted the rest of the Olds out, was really a shame because, as an Oklahoma car, it had almost no rust. I pulled the body off thinking the frame would look good under a 53 – 54 Studebaker coupe. A project I never got to, eventually was scrapped in a farmyard cleanup.
I owned a 72 ninety eight in blue with a black vinyl top, I would buy this in a heartbeat to bring back that feeling again if I had the money set aside.
Me too. Mine was blue with a white vinyl top. In the day they tried to sell everyone that 55mph was best mileage. No with mine, the faster it went the better the mileage with windows closed and AC on. I installed a computer that measured fuel as it was used vs mileage. About 80 was where I got my best mpg. Didn’t want to buy too many tickets do I didn’t push it any further.
Wow, beautiful car, and only 27k miles!
I’d love to own it but it’s not in the budget.
Three of my favorite cars were Oldsmobiles. Unfortunately I only have a picture of one. y second car, a ’65 Dynamic 88. I broke the original 425 and replaced it with a 455 out a ’69 Toronado.
The other two were:
A ’70 Cutlass SX
A 73 Delta Royale convertible. All terrific cars.
Loved this car. In the late 90s early 00s I had a 4 door version of this car. Navy blue with blue vinyl top, cream interior. Supposedly, Al Pichino rode in it when making Carltos Way. Unfortunately, that scene was cut and you never actually see it in the movie, so who knows. I know my guy that I bought from did have several movie cars that he would lend to producers for vintage movie rolls.
But, these cars also had the flimsiest bumpers. Both my front and rear bumpers were bent from the weight of the car when it was towed to and from the movie set on one of those leather strap tow trucks. Thank God they don’t use them anymore.
With the GM 455’s it’s the torque that you need, not necessarily the HP.
The 71 455 had 460 ft. lb. @ 2600 rpm.
The 72 was down to 360 ft. lb.
Very nice car, hope it finds the right caretaker…
I owned this exact car in college except mine was kind of a puke green. It was a very true cruiser very comfortable very quiet all electric seats with climate control beautiful condition the spare tire still had the plastic cover on it, like that car very much!
I can totally see someone purchasing this car in 1972 as a retirement car. A insurance salesman in my hometown always drove these Olds Ninety Eight coupes. I seem to remember he always had two. He drove them well into the 1990s. My folks had insurance with him and quite a few times he enlisted my dad to find him extra rear bumper filler panels for his 98s.
Great car. My first was a 73 Olds 98 4 door Dark Green and green interior. Dad wouldn’t let me have a hot rod in High School 1980-84. Well, except for the 69 Firebird he didn’t know I owned with my best friend!!
I would buy this simply out of nostalgia. Very nice ride. Any car this nice under $20K is worth it. Can’t do paint and bodywork for that.
Just checked out the ad, wow super clean BUT disappointed there are no photos of the engine bay??
PS: Thanks to the seller for vacuuming the carpets! Seemingly unknown to most people selling a car these days !!
If this were a different color I might have to buy it !!! Thankfully I not falling in love with the exterior paint color. I like the interior though….very cool. I am one of the few that likes brown.
My 71 Olds 98 cost me $50 in 1987 when I was in collage. It was a red 4 door in great shape and everything worked. The only problem was spending about $50/wk in gas. Would love to have this one.
My uncle Chris, was a union local President and speaker of the house NJ Senate, in the 70s, he always had a 98, loaded to the hilt, littered w Frank Sinatra 8 tracks, and his senate shield on the back bumper, great man, always had a great car
I had a 74′ 98 regency–beautiful car , but everyone forgets these cars got 13 mpg on the highway and 10 or so in town on premium gas.
71 and later had lo compression for low octane gasoline. That hurt efficiency a lot. Better gasoline in thees will help, but the biggest gain would be dual exhaust. Breath better and get more power and gas mileage.
I can’t forget, I own a 73 Grand Prix w a 455, gas mileage is Horrendous, it drinks even more gas on the highway I believe, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world, I also only drive it on weekends in good weather
I have owned a dozen Oldsmobiles in my time. Had a1973 2 door 98 for many years. Blew the 400 in my 78 Trans Am. (Crank broke!) Put the 455 from the 98 in the TA. Really woke that car up! Been in it since 1997. Still runs. Sold the 98 for scrap. Still have the TA. And 7 Oldsmobiles. All but one is a Cutlass. I daily drive a 1979 Cutlass Supreme. I like Oldsmobiles. Nice ride and very dependable. That is a good looking 98. Wouldn’t mind having it. No room though.