Exploring East Harlem one day, I suddenly got caught in torrential summer rain… not the light downfall Belinda Carlisle sang about dancing in! Bereft of an umbrella, I sought shelter but I simply had to run into the rainstorm to get a photo of this Oldsmobile Delta 88 coupe. I’d spotted the odd Olds C and H-Body sedans a handful of times, but this was the first time I’d seen a coupe in the metal. Judging by the sealed beam headlights, this would be a first-year 1986 as the Delta 88 switched to composites for 1987. The rainstorm prevented me from getting any more photographs – at the time I had a mere iPhone 4S with the headphone outlet on top which made it prone to water damage – but I wish I could have stumbled across this Delta again on a day as light and sunny as its paint color. Have you ever braved inclement weather or some other unideal situation to get a closer look at a car?
I strongly prefer the coupe version of these with the faster C-pillar, although they hardly sold any. I always thought the more upright roof on the sedan was too staid and boxy for the sloping front clip and and relatively swept (for the time) front windshield rake.
GM held onto that damn “formal roof” about 5-10 years past its usable life – by the late ’80s they had a lot of cars with “aero” fronts ends and windshields but razor sharp 90-degree C-pillars! They just looked weird. The first generation N-body was probably the worst, somehow these H-body coupes escaped.
Those are probably the ugliest Pontiac ever. Yes, to me they are uglier than the Aztek, because at least they tried to make the Aztek look unique. The Grand Am simply makes me nauseous with its funhouse mirror proportions!
It’s refreshing to know some Americans thought they looked weird too. Back then, from looking at American car magazines I was convinced Americans must have a different sense of aesthetics! It’s amazing GM persisted with the look – someone must have realised how out of step they were with the rest of the world. I guess nobody had the guts to say the Emperor had no clothes!
On the other, there’s nothing wrong with that coupe that some selective repeal of misbegotten legislation (lights, bumpers) wouldn’t fix. And flush door handles.
Growing up back in the late 80s in the old Yugoslavia, I remember a Cadillac with this severe roof parked in my blok along with legions of VW Golf 2s, Renaults and what have you. It looked so unmodern, with very disjointed front and back styling. So totally disconnected to my mind’s picture of America based on films and music.
Yeah. American music and films rocked. But GM styling sucked.
Or as Belinda Carlisle would say, “I get weak when I look at you” – I have a soft spot for these fwd Delta 88 coupes and it’s sad to see such a rare and good looking Olds slowly decaying away.
Brendan – I’m not a big GM fan but I have to agree with you – I think this coupe is one of their timeless designs. Well balanced.
Rather than be sad for this car’s condition, let’s celebrate that someone is squeezing every ounce of useability out of it. In NYC no less…quite a feat.
The sedans are getting rare enough, yet I managed to see an 88 coupe in Rhode Island just a few weeks ago! It was in decent condition as well. I agree that these are the best-looking first-generation H-bodies. I don’t mind the sedans, but as Max P. pointed out, the windshield rake and “formal” C-pillar don’t quite mesh in the sedans. The Cadillacs were by far the worst of the trio, with their exaggerated upright C-pillar.
Edit: yes, I know the Caddy was a C-Body. I’m referring to the downsized C/H bodies in a general sense.
Hey MT, I bet we see a lot of the same cars! I see an older woman driving a white Delta 88 coupe all the time in my neck of the woods, as well as a younger looking family in a dark blue one.
I have always thought this body style in the coupe version was very attractive. Too bad they didn’t sell better.
I really love these coupes–the fast C-pillar just creates, to me, a really harmonious and pleasing shape. If I could find one of the rare LeSabre Grand Nationals, which used this same body in Buick flavor, that just might find a spot in my fantasy garage!
As to inclement weather, not so much. A drizzle or light snow, sure. But I don’t know that I’ve ever ventured into a downpour to get a photo. Very intrepid!
I’ll bet that windshield seal is leaking like a faucet in that interior. My family had a 1987 Red Delta 88 Coupe. Lots of fun to drive, miss that car, but if it was raining you had better pack a towel, because that windshield seal was crap. Folks bought it new, was basically always like that. Had windshield replaced once, still never really could get the leaking to stop. My stepdad tried some caulking on it, to no avail. Nothing like soaked seats and a humid interior from being out in the rain…..Otherwise a good car, lots of power, fairly nimble for what it was. It was the FE-3 package if that helps with visualization. Red on red.