Every guy eventually goes through a midlife crisis, and I guess this is mine. I have been looking for quite awhile for just the right something. I could not describe what I was looking for, but always knew that I would know it when I see it. Well, I saw it. And here it is.
Most of you will be surprised that I did not end up with a big Mopar C body, but truthfully, I have sort of tired of them. I grew up in an Oldsmobile family, so I guess that this kind of takes me back to my roots. My mother bought a new 72 Cutlass, but it was one of these that I really lusted after.
It is a pretty straight old car, and the price was certainly right. The owner could not find the title, but he seemed like a pretty nice fellow, so I doubt that he will give me any trouble. Sure, it needs a little attention. But I figure that I can use it as a driver while I slowly improve it. These were really pretty good on gas if they were tuned right and driven easily.
I was swayed by the fact that this was the Royale model. There were not many of these made, at least that is what the seller told me. As you can see, these were very luxurious cars. I think that these big 1970s Oldsmobiles are poised to become pretty collectible in the next decade or so. Everyone who sees it really makes a fuss over it, so I am sure that it will be an easy and quick sale if I ever change my mind.
I have always considered the 72 big Delta to be one of the best looking Oldsmobiles of the postwar era. The unique upper and lower taillight treatment has a classic simplicity that appeals to me.
I realize that I have said things here on CC that may have led people to believe that I did not like these. Well, I will confess that it is part of my nature occasionally to take a strong position so as to provoke discussion on the site, and I have used these 1970s B body cars to do this from time to time. But in truth, I have always had a fondness for these and consider them one of GM’s better efforts. Now I can finally call one my own. I suppose that it is now time for me to change my avatar.
Whereabouts is the luxury located, exactly?
It looks poverty pack Statesman to me bench vinyl tree shift very plebian
Best part: “I was swayed by the fact that this was the Royale model. There were not many of these made, at least that is what the seller told me.”
My dad had a ’73 Delta 88 Royale
With CheeseHoliday sedan with the 455 for awhile in the late ’70s. This was in the days when the old man thought GM was the only carmaker worthy of consideration, and even after 35 years of continuous disillusionment with the General, he still speaks fondly of how comfortable that car was and about the effortless torque from that big block. However, Dad also purchased that Olds shortly after my folks got married and without Mom’s input; She still talks about what rusty, gas-guzzling pile of embarrassing garbage that car was.Preaching to the choir here, JP. I think that Olds looks fantastic, good luck with it and I hope you enjoy many happy cruising miles.
Congratulations! Jim, I knew eventually you’d come around and see the light. These early seventies big GM cars just have a way of getting under one’s skin, no matter how hard one tries to resist. I’ve been feeling the fatal attraction growing in me too; something in the water? I’ve been keeping an eye out for one, but it’ll have to be a ’76 LeSabre with the ultra-rare V6.
I’m still kicking myself for letting this one get away:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1973-oldsmobile-delta-88-gms-deadly-sin-154/
You know I love it! It may not seem like it these days, but I am still an Olds man at heart, so I get it. Enjoy it!!!
The most important question here is: What’s under the hood? Most probably a 350 Rocket which worked well until EGR came along in 1973, along with the battleship bumpers.
As for the “pretty good on gas” part, well, that sounds like damage control, Jim! Refitting it with HEI would help. Not driving it much would help even more!
If you don’t want to bother with HEI and yet hate setting points, then find the right Pertronix electronic ignition for it. I got them for every old car I had. Well worth the price.
My favorite detail has to be the divided dual headlamps, it’s such a jewel-like detail. I just remember these as huge and fast, and since the last one left the family by I was 10 I can’t say that I have any bad memories of them. If I saw a clean one with a 350 so I could expect 12-15mpg I would have fallen too.
Is that Jim Rockford’s Esprit in the background?
And is that Jim Rockford ducking for cover behind that Esprit? I wonder what kind of mess Angel got him into this time.
Beat me to it. I watched way too much TV growing up.
You guys are a riot! Love Jimbo but not such a fan of his strippo Camarobird.
Congrats, Jim! I agree with Laurence about the headlights. It looks so good they put it on the cover of the 1979 Grammy-winning Weather Report album, “8:30”.
PS: Was this car the origin of the waterfall split grille that became an Olds style mark in later years?
Has anybody noticed today’s date?
I’m not buying it for a minute (No title, no problem? Good on gas?)!
APRIL FOOL’S people…JP for the win…right, JP?
“As you can see, these were very luxurious cars.”
By a close margin, this edges out “it is a pretty straight old car” as funniest line in the piece. 🙂
Aside from the broken nose, it does look nice and straight for a forty-year-old car with Indiana plates. Most ’72 cars look like this Pontiac by now.
“Hey, let’s go park on the beach!”
Is this what happened to Jack Nicholson’s Vette in ‘Terms of Endearment’?
That scene always made me cry for the poor Corvette.
Aww, c’mon. Jim sounds pretty sincere and plausible here. Say it ain’t so!
“I think that these big 1970s Oldsmobiles are poised to become pretty collectible in the next decade or so.”
Haha — giant 4-doors are slow sellers and always have been. Plus if you want the luxury of the Royale model, you might want one that hasn’t been badly reupholstered! I love these cars (and owned a ’72 98 for several years) but this has April Fools written all over it! Well done.
OK, guys. For those of you who have been reading my posts and comments for at least 12 months and who still think that i would really buy this car are suspended from CC comments for 3 full days. So, let this be a lesson to you. For the record, the 1971-76 GM full sizers are my official, absolute least favorite big cars of all time. I will admit that it could THEORETICALLY be possible for me to be seduced by one of these, but this one? Guys – you hurt me.
Anyway, I have been disinfecting my keyboard and staring at pictures of New Yorkers and DeSotos for an hour or so, and feel better now. Make it a 10 minute suspension. I have to set an example on this sort of thing.
And happy April Fool’s day! 🙂
So that means I can still talk you into buying a C-body Mopar if I find a good deal for you right? 🙂
yes well played.
Just yesterday I was thinking could there really be anyonw who defends The Tempo as The Best car Ever Made. A bit ironic in light of the Delta 88 love as well as The Avenger “Classic”.
Ha! On this day I’d call it a tossup between my Mom’s ’84 Topaz and her/my ’75 75 Monarch as The Best Car Ever Made. Oh wait, there was my Dad’s ’76 Aspen wagon…
It never ceases to amaze or humor me, the Cars I read on here that we car people drive , live with for many years, despite us being the ones you’d think would insist on only truly a fine motoring car.
Yet I lived With a Cavalier for 9 years. At least it was a convertible 5 speed. But I should Have Sprung for a repaint of the $h!t brown that I hated all that time. I can be too frugal or cheap for my own good at times.
Hey! You once lived in Ypsilanti, so anything is possible….
Well, I still think it’s cool. I should buy one and convert it to electric power. Should take me about 364 days…
My aunt had a ’55 Super 88 (purchased new) and my father bought a new 73 Delta 88 Royale. Guess which was the better car and in just about every way? I could go on and on about what 18 years did to the brand.
I simply got snookered on Micheal’s post initially and wised up after that, but then again, it WAS just after I’d gotten up, gotten my first cup of Joe when I’d read it so was not on the up and up first thing in the morning, and forgot it was April 1 to begin with.
Oh well.
Early 70’s Delta 88 Royales were not that rare, they were like the Impala Custom, top of the line before jumping to 98 or Caprice. The first 88 Royales were 1969, btw.
The most collectible 71-75 big GM’s are the ragtops, for sure. Four doors may be collectible with younger generations though, since they grew up with 4 doors being dominant sellers. Older Boomers are into coupes from their teens.
Who said GM made crappy interiors? There is still some left in that rusty Pontiac. Maybe they should have used that stuff in the body panels.
April Fools aside, there are lots of Delta 88 fans out there. Of course, I live in Lansing, MI. – Olds’ hometown, and they may be more popular here than anywhere else in the universe. Many of us dream of finding a nice Delta (with a title) as our collector car.
It better be April Fool. If this is someone’s idea of a mid-life crisis, I feel sorry for them. What next, start dating a middle-aged nun?
It can be very dangerous to get in that habit!
“I was swayed by the fact that this was the Royale model.”
That’s the best line in the story. Pure gold I tells ya, and it really drives home how pointless designations like Royale or Brougham were at the time.
Ha ha ha, JP! You almost had me. That car has all the appeal of a 1970 Biscayne.
I would enjoy a ’70 Biscayne, just to beat the snot out of it…
Hum. It seems like the only ’70 Biscaynes one sees anymore are big-block-powered ones in HMN classified ads.
Great purchase on a sweet ride. I hope you get years of enjoyment and adventure out of it.
I’m a Delta 88 fan. I have a ’72 convertible sitting in my garage right now. 🙂
Well, after the other April Fool’s stories, I really didn’t believe this one. I mean, JP’s a Mopar man, and this tired old Olds is about as far from a desirable Mopar as possible — 4-door, brown, black vinyl roof, missing wheel cover, broken header panel, plain interior.
sorry I disagree with the negative feed back on the 88, there are a few nice ones out there…here’s mine
Unfortunately not all of us have such impeccable taste in vehicles 🙂 This ’73 resides in my basement. I’m a big fan of the ’71-’73 full-size Oldsmobiles.
I have one