Oldsmobile 88 The Oldsmobile 88 was a full-size car sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and produced from 1949 until 1999. From 1950 to 1974 the 88 was the division's top-selling line, particularly the entry-level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88. The 88 series was also an image leader for Oldsmobile, particularly in the early years (1949–51) when it was one of the best performing automobiles thanks to its relatively small size, light weight and advanced overhead-valve high-compression V8 engine originally designed for the larger and more luxurious 98 series but dropped into the smaller six-cylinder Oldsmobile 76 body, creating what was considered the granddaddy of the musclecars of the 1960s.
A large number of variations in nomenclature were seen over this long model run—Delmont, Delta, Dynamic, Jetstar, Starfire, Super, Holiday, L/S, LSS, Celebrity, and Royale were used at various times with the 88 badge, and Fiesta appeared on some station wagons in the 1950s and 1960s. The name was more commonly shown as numbers in the earlier years and was usually spelled out in the later.
The Oldsmobile Eighty Eight was produced in Wentzville, Missouri; Flint, Michigan; and Lake Orion, Michigan.
1949
Oldsmobile introduced the 88 badge in 1949. It was named to compliment the already-existing 76 and 98. The new car used the 76's platform with a powerful new Rocket V8 engine. This combination of a relatively small light body and large, powerful engine made it a precursor to the muscle car. This combination performed well in various racing classes, which led directly to increased sales to the public. There was a pent up demand for new cars in the fast-expanding post WWII economy, and the 88 appealed to many ex-military personnel who were young and had operated powerful military equipment.
The 88 enjoyed a great success, inspiring a popular 1950s slogan, "Make a Date with a Rocket 88", and also a song, "Rocket 88", often considered the first rock and roll record. In the 1960s, Oldsmobile would adopt the rocket as its logo, and the 88 name would remain in the Olds lineup until the late 1990s, virtually until the end of Oldsmobile itself.
1950
Styling changes include the replacement of a two-piece windshield with a one-piece unit and the addition of the Holiday hardtop coupe to the line. Also a three-speed manual transmission with column shift became available as a "delete for credit" option to the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The 88 now outsold the six-cylinder 76 lineup, which was dropped entirely after the 1950 model year.
1951
The new Super 88 model was introduced in 1951 as a more luxurious version of the basic 88 and produced until 1964. The base 88 was now the entry-level Olds as the six-cylinder 76 line was dropped.
1957
For this year only, the basic 88 was officially named Golden Rocket 88, taken from Olds' 1956 Motorama two-passenger show car. However, the only badging was an "88" underneath each taillight. Also for 1957 the "J2" option was offered, with three 2-barrel carburetors, similar to the Pontiac Tri-Power.
1958
The Dynamic 88 debuted in 1958 and lasted through 1966 positioned as the entry level model below the Super 88.
1964
The Jetstar 88 shared the many of the mid-size car components with the Oldsmobile F-85 line in the 1960s. The Jetstar 88 used the smaller 330 V8, Jetaway (Super Turbine 300) two-speed automatic transmission in place of the Hydra-Matic found in other Oldsmobiles, and 9.5 in (241.3 mm) drum brakes which were less effective than the 11-inch drums found on other full-sized Olds models including the top-selling Dynamic 88, the plusher and more powerful Super 88 and the larger and more luxurious Ninety-Eight. 1964 also saw the introduction of the Jetstar I. This model was produced for just two years and was a direct competitor to the Pontiac Grand Prix in the same $3,500 price range. The Jetstar I shared a notchback body style from the Starfire along with its more powerful Rocket V8 engine but included less standard equipment.
The Jetstar I is distinguishable from the Starfire and Jetstar 88 in that the rear window on the Jetstar I is concave, rather than convex.
The year 1964 was the last for the Super 88 series, which was replaced by the new Delta 88 for 1965. It was also the last year for Olds to offer full-sized station wagons for several years as the division introduced a new Vista Cruiser wagon in mid-1964 that featured skylights and a raised roofline over the rear seat and cargo area and offered six- or nine-passenger seating with all seats facing forward. The Vista Cruiser was basically a stretched out version of the intermediate F-85/Cutlass wagons with a six-inch longer wheelbase, making it comparable in overall size to the full-sized Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Catalina wagons, though not in power as the Vista Cruiser was powered by the same 330 cubic-inch Jetfire Rocket V8 found in the mid-sized models rather than the larger 394 V8 used in full-sized cars.
1965
The Delta name appeared for the first time in 1965 as an upscale trim line of the Dynamic 88, the Dynamic 88 Delta, replacing the previous top-series B-body Olds, the Super 88. Early '65s were referred to as Dynamic 88 Deltas, but within a few weeks after the start of the model year, Olds began marketing the line as a separate series known as the Delta 88. Other full-sized Oldsmobile model lines included the Dynamic 88 and Starfire on the General Motors B-body shared with the Chevrolet Impala and Caprice, Pontiac Catalina and Bonneville, and Buick LeSabre and Wildcat; and the luxurious Ninety-Eight, which used the larger C-body shared with the Buick Electra and all Cadillac models. Wheelbases were unchanged at 123 inches for 88s and 126 inches for Ninety-Eights.
Also new for 1965 was the Ninety-Eight Luxury Sedan, which featured an even more luxurious interior along with more standard amenities than the regular Ninety-Eight models such as power windows and seats. Most 98 LS's also had vinyl roofs, which were offered only in black that year.
All 1965 Olds models featured all new styling and engineering. The B-body cars featured more rounded styling than previous years with Coke-bottle profiles and semi-fastback rooflines on Holiday (two-door hardtop) coupes and squarer, more formal lines on C-body Ninety-Eights. Also introduced this year was a new 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 with horsepower ratings ranging from 300 to 370 depending on carburetion and compression ratio. The new three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission with torque converter replaced the original Hydra-Matic transmission used by Olds since its 1940 introduction.
No station wagons were offered in the full-sized Olds lineup as the division now concentrated its cargo-carrying business on the stretched-intermediate Vista Cruiser wagons.
1966
Few styling changes other than revised grilles and tail sections marked the 1966 full-sized Oldsmobiles. The sporty Jetstar I series was dropped with a lower-priced Starfire only offered as a hardtop coupe taking its place. The Starfire's price and equipment level was now at the same level as the former Jetstar I series with a less plush interior thanks to the leather seats being replaced by Moroccen vinyl and the movement of power windows and seats from standard equipment to the option list. Also downgraded from standard to optional equipment were the Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering and power brakes. All other series' 88 and Ninety-Eight models were carried over from 1965 with a new convertible added to the Delta 88 line.
1967
The Delmont 88 was produced for just two years, 1967 and 1968. It replaced both the Jetstar 88 and Dynamic 88, featuring the 330 V8 in 1967 and the 350 V8 in 1968 as standard equipment. The 425 V8 was optional on the Delmont and standard on the Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight. The Delta 88 gained a new subseries called the Delta Custom which had a plusher interior than the standard Delta 88 featuring a Strato bench seat in the Holiday (4-door hardtop) sedan or, in the Holiday (2-door hardtop) coupe, a choice of either Strato bucket seats with console or Strato bench seat with armrest. The Delta Custom Holiday Coupe was essentially a successor to the former 88-based Oldsmobile Starfire series offered in previous years (1961-66) but with a standard Olds 88 semi-fastback roofline rather than the Starfire's squared off roof with concave rear window.
New options for 1967 included front disc brakes and a Climate Combustion Control system for Rocket V8s designed to regulate carburetor air temperature, boost fuel economy, speed choke warm up and eliminate winter icing to permit easier starting and more efficient operation in cold weather.
More rounded styling cues marked all 1967 full-sized Oldsmobiles which received longer hoods and shorter decks and more sweeping fastback rooflines on 88 Holiday coupes to emulate the styling of Olds' front-wheel-drive flagship, the Toronado.
1968
New front end with split grille design that would become an Olds trademark in coming years highlighted all full-sized Oldsmobiles with horizontal lines on 88's and egg-crate patterns on Ninety-Eights. The Delmont 88 got a larger 350 cubic-inch V8 as standard equipment and the optional V8 that was standard on Delta 88/Custom and Ninety-Eight was jacked up to 455 cubic inches with a 390-horsepower W-33 option primarily designed as part of the division's police package available as an RPO on all 88's.
1969
The 1969 88 series dropped the Delmont name and replaced it with the Delta 88 with the Delta 88 Custom appearing as a full-line series. The Royale line appeared on a top-line Holiday coupe and came standard with a more luxurious interior featuring a notchback bench seat with armrest or Strato bucket seats with optional center console. The standard engine in the base Delta 88 was a 350 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with two-barrel carburetor that was rated at 250 horsepower and ran on regular gasoline. Standard on the Delta 88 Custom and Royale models and optional on the base series was a two-barrel version of the 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8 rated at 310 horsepower designed to use regular fuel. Standard on the Ninety-Eight an optional on all Delta 88s was the four-barrel Ultra High Compression 455 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 rated at 365 horsepower. Top option was the 390-horsepower version of the four-barrel 455 V8 available in all Delta 88 models as the W-33 option.
The two-speed Jetaway automatic that was previously offered as an option on the smaller engine 88 models was dropped completely in favor of the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission previously only offered with the larger engines. Also a new GM-designed Variable-Ratio Power Steering system was introduced as an option on the Delta 88 and standard on Ninety-Eight.
All full-sized Oldsmobiles were completely restyled with more squared off bodylines and rooflines. Wheelbases were increased by one-inch to '124 on the Delta 88 and '127 on the Ninety-Eight.
1970
Only detail changes were made including a new split grille that no longer extended to surround the headlights and slightly revised rear section. Powertrain selections were carried over from 1969 with both 350 and 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8s now featuring "Positive Valve Rotators" for longer engine life and more efficient operation.
1971
All GM B-body full-size cars were enlarged for 1971 and now rode on a 124-inch wheelbase. It was available as two- and four-door hardtops and a convertible.
Sedans and coupes got a new rear quarter window in 1975. This was the last year for the Delta 88 convertible, the last of which was built on June 11. For 1976, the final year of this generation, the car received rectangular headlamps, with the parking lamps directly below instead of in the bumper.
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