Oldsmobile 88 Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Oldsmobile 88 is a fullsize car from General Motors produced from 1949 until 1999. Although it was never the marque's top-seller, the 88 was an image leader for the company from its introduction.
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.
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2 1951 3 1958 4 1961 5 1964 6 1965 7 1967 8 1969 9 1977 10 1982 11 1990 12 1996 13 External links |
Oldsmobile introduced the 88 badge in 1949. It was named to complement 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 body and large, powerful engine made it a precursor to the muscle car.
The 88 enjoyed a great success, inspiring a popular 1950s slogan, "Make a Date with a Rocket 88", and also a song, "Rocket 88". 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.
The new Super 88 model was introduced in 1951 and produced until 1964.
The Dynamic 88 debuted in 1958 and lasted through 1966 positioned just below (and very close to) the Super 88.
A smaller Jetstar 88 shared the midsize car platform with the Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1960s. The 1961 Jetstar 1 shared a notchback body style from the Starfire but was included less standard equipment. The Jetstar used the smaller 330 V8 and Jetway transmission.
1964 saw the introduction of the Jetstar 88. This model was produced for just two years.
The Delta name appeared for the first time in 1965 as an upscale trim line of the Dynamic 88, the Dynamic 88 Delta.
The Delmont 88 was produced for just two years, 1967 and 1968. It replaced the Dynamic 88 and featured the 330 V8 in 1967 and the 350 V8 in 1968. The 425 V8 was optional on the Delmont.
The Delta package became Delta Custom.
The 1969 88 series dropped the Delmont and replaced it with the Delta 88. The Royale line appeared.
There were now two body styles of 88 on the GM B platform - the town sedan and coupe. The 1977-1979 Custom Cruiser wagon was a Chevrolet clone.
The Royale name was removed from the trunk to become a simple interior trim option, the Royale Brougham in 1979. The next year, this became the high-line model of the 88, a position it occupied through 1983.
From 1978 through 1981, a Holiday 88 model featured a floor-mounted shifter and console between the front seats of a Delta 88 coupe.
The new front wheel drive 98 debuted with a major redesign in 1984, and the new Delta 88 Royale Brougham LS model of the 88 took its place as Oldsmobile's most luxurious rear wheel drive car.
The Delta 88 name was dropped after 13 years in favor of 88 Royale.
For 1990, the Eighty-Eight name was dropped. Instead, the vehicle was called the Royale. It used a 110.8 in wheelbase on the GM H platform.
Engine:
The Oldsmobile Eighty Eight name was brought back for the restyled 1996 vehicle. This would prove to be the last Eighty Eight or 88 model from Oldsmobile when they were replaced by the Intrigue and V6 Aurora after 1999.
It was available as three different models:
Engine:
This is an Article on Oldsmobile 88. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Oldsmobile 88 1949
1951
1958
1961
1964
1965
1967
1969
1977
1982
1990
1996
All three vehicles used the same 110.8 in wheelbase and shared an updated version of the GM H platform. The suspension tuning, interior appointments, and certain exterior trim was used to differentiate the three models.
From 1996-1999, the Eighty Eights were produced in Lake Orion, Michigan. The first 1996 Eighty Eight rolled off the assembly line on August 22, 1995. The last Oldsmobile LSS was produced on September 23, 1998. The last Oldsmobile Eighty Eight 50th Anniversary Edition was manufactured on January 6, 1999. External links
