My great grand dad had one. I used to love riding in that car. I guess that’s why I’m here. Memories. He gave it to my grand dad and he ended up selling back in the late 90’s. I had a fit. I would have bought that car and would still have it today.
I bought my first 1972 Oldsmobile 98 in 1978 when I was 18. It was a silver and black 2-door car with vinyl interior seats, an AM & FM radio with an 8-track tape player, power windows, power locks, power seats, and a power trunk button inside the glove compartment. The engine was the 455 with a 4-barrel carburetor.
I fell in love with the '71 98 that a golfing buddy of my dad had, when I was about 13. My parents finally got a '76 98 Regency. It was yellow with a tan vinyl top and that wonderful pillow-top velour interior in light brown. Best car they ever had. A funny coincidence was that we had a '76 model, my aunt and uncle had a '75 2-door Regency, and my other aunt and uncle had a '74 98 Regency. We were definitely an Olds-loving family!
@@TomSnyder-gx5ru My dad bought a '71 LS 98 2 door new. I took my driving test in it in 1974. Pop gave it to me in '77 when he bought a new downsized Caprice. I drove that 98 to 250K miles when it rusted away. My family still mentions that car.
My grandparents had a one. Dark brown with tan vinyl roof. It had pretty much ever option there was. Power everything. It went to all of the lower 48 states. Had almost 500,000 miles on it by 1979 when grandmother passed away. So dependable. Normal stuff to replace. Water pump, fuel pump and brakes of course. Threw the timing chain on one of their trips. The thing got about 15 mpg on the highway. Remember grandad calling saying he had a flat and wanted me to help change it. Had to climb in the truck just to get to get to the spare and jack. He traded it off shortly after grandmother passed as to many memories in it. Bought an Impala. Really miss that 98! Thanks for the memories with this video Adam!!!
Great video. My father was a great fan of the 98 and owned a number during the decades of the 70s and early 80s. This video brought back many memories as teenager riding with four other kids and two parents around Indianapolis 40 to 50 years ago. Thanks.
I worked at an Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac, American Motors, and light, and medium duty IH truck dealership for almost two years in the 1971-72 model year, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass WAS the most beautiful car that I have ever seen, my ex wife had a 2-door1972 Delta 88 Royale hardtop (IIRC), and it too, was a very, very nice looking car. Of the three GM brands sold at the dealer, the Oldsmobiles gave the least trouble, the Pontiacs had their infamous fiber geared camshaft gear, and the Buicks had problems with the oiing system for the rocker arms. I notice that Mr. Adam has done a video on the AMC Gremlin, as the years have passed the looks of that car have grown on me.
Pontiac, Olds, Buick, AMC, and IH trucks all under one dealership roof? Wow, that's sure a one of a kind diverse combination. Either that was a huge dealership, or they couldn't stock nearly enough to represent any one of those lines.
Many of the rural dealers in the U.S. offered multiple makes as a way of keeping customers local. After the 2008 economic bubble burst, most dealers went down to one or two marques.
You know where I cannot complain a lot of people around the country complain about us making bigger bigger cars here but we made the best American cars here in America I'm not ashamed to say that because we made excellent cars here in the United States 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The father of a buddy of mine had a 69 LS to pull his travel trailer. We borrowed it one night to go cruising and ended up downtown at the bottom of one of the steepest hills in town. Stopped at the bottom and put it to the wood. That 455 painted a stripe all the way to the top of the hill that was there for YEARS. No lack of torque here!
When i was bout 13 my dad got a very nice mint used 1969 Olds 98 with 455 ( this would have been around 1977 ish), He got it from a old lady that had got it new and barely put any miles on it. It was loaded with ac, 8 track power everything. Me him and my mom traveled all across Texas in it. It was a very nice riding car. The seats were like couches and the ac would freeze you. My dad passed away in 2003 but always said that was one of his favorite cars he ever owned.
@@JTA1961 "That's a big ole 10-4, good buddy!" That (the 55mph speed limit) was why we all had CB radios back in the 1970's. We all played cops and speeders!
I have a 71 delta 88 royale convertible with fully rebuilt 455 bored over 30, headers, hpipe, high torque starter, electric ignition, edelbrock 4bbl carb with high rise intake, trans cooling kit and lots more goodies with flowmaster super 10's. All original, even frigidaire ac compressor and oldsmobile radio. Just had top rebuilt and redone. Beast.
In 1974 Stevie Wonder Release Boogie on Reggae Woman. I cannot forget riding to swim team practice in an Olds 98 with Stevie blasting from the surround sound. Oh the velvet seats made me want to ride around all day! I was a teenager, and looked forward to being able to own an Olds some day. Thanks for the great memories!
As I recall, Tom McCahill (journalist for Mechanix Illustrated) tested a 1972 98 coupe optioned with the dual exhaust system (250 net horsepower)- The old beast got to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds and the car had a top speed of 122 mph making it one of his all time favorite cars before his death in 1975.
Even as a little kid, I recognized that these GM C-bodies from this era were extremely heavy. They were just massive. I can still hear that Rocket 455 exhaust. The Rockets sounded different from the other GM big blocks.
Our extended family always much preferred Olds over Cadillac during the 1970’s and 1980’s. The preference started with my uncle’s 1965 Olds 98 Regency. He loved that car and many of us took our cues from him, and no one ever complained. I really miss Oldsmobile 😢.
My Dad had a '72 Buick Electra 225. I got it when he got a new car and drove it all through high school. Then we gave it to a friend who drove it all through college and beyond. Ran for over 200K mi. Loved that car.
That could have been my father's car, color and all. He bought it while I was in college. I loved that car. It was my favorite of the many cars he owned.
I had this in Gold with a White TOP LS Hardtop. My First car was the ‘72 Delta Royal Hardtop in Deep Blue with a Medium Blue Top and that Biscuit interior. I was 15 when I bought it in 1975 from my school teacher who kept it in pristine condition. Loved my Big Cars. My Second Car in 1976 was a ‘73 Fleetwood a Naples Florida Car my Dads Uncle owned and kept Immaculate with very low miles. Loved that it had that EXTRA LARGE CHROME Hood Cap with the Flying Goddess as the hood ornament. Brown with a Cream Top and Brown supremely soft leather. I watched the gas gauge move every time I drove it. I Polished all my cars Daily and covered the carpets in the winter time like a nut. LOL. Thank You ADAM for the Trip down memory Lane.
A grade school friend's family had a new 1972 Ninety Eight LS and he attempted to demonstrate the spring-loaded front bumper by riding his bicycle into it, managing only to bend the fork on the bicycle...
I remember the television advertisement for these cars including a demonstration of the spring steel behind the bumper (painted yellow for the ad) the cars was being driven on a wharf by a distracted driver and front passenger when they ran squarely into a crate - cutting away to the test lab view from below the bumper - showing the spring action of the front bumper compress then return. Great cars!
Thank you Adam. Thank you for sharing this Ninety Eight. A few points to make. That instrumentation panel was shared with Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight, Toronado and Custom Cruiser. That was like that through the 1976 model year even after the 1974 redesign. Then it was just Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight and Custom Cruiser sharing until 1985 then Custom Cruiser carried it until 1990. The braces under the hood did not disappear. My 1992 Toronado has two and my 1996 Ninety Eight has one that is near the firewall. The Luxury Sedan trim package was produced up until 1980-1981 model year. It later reappeared on the Eighty Eight for 1984-1985 and it used Ninety Eight parts. The early Luxury Sedan trim packages had a tissue dispenser where the clock is located in this luxury sedan trim package.
I'm always torn between the Buick and Oldsmobile versions of this platform. As an 18 year old, back in 1975 - I watched an Electra 225 pass by in a motorcade. Royal blue with black vinyl top. It looked arrogant, aloof, and commanded all attention. I've loved them ever since. That massive chrome cow catcher in front probably had something to do with it. The 71-72s are more demure 🖖🙏
Late 60's early 70's was the pinnacle for US auto makers in my opinion. Maybe because I was at the age when I started taking an interest in cars, being 11 years old in 1970.
I drove my folks’ extra car to college in 1980 in the Midwest, it was a ‘72 98 4 door hardtop with split bench. Of course my 4 buddies and I jumped in and drove to Colorado to ski for a week. Comfort and luxury all the way, like driving your living room sofa. At the time, we were in shock over $1 gas.
A few of us were coming back home on the NY State Thruway when my friend hit a patch of ice with his father’s 72 Regency in cream and that black cloth pillow interior. We did a 180 and luckily no one behind us. We crawled home after that.
My Dad loved Oldsmobiles and he had the 1972 Olds Delta 88 2 door hardtop. Nice ride, pretty quick for the time, but a real handful on narrow or twisty roads. BTW- He never got A/C and always bought black cars. We did a lot of sweating in the summer.
My first wife's dad had a "74 Olds 98 Regency. I love that car, especially that loose cushion look (first year) velour interior. The 1974 model year also featured a new instrument panel and cluster.
I learned to drive on my parent's 72 Delta 88, it was 3 years old and drove like new. Only now do I appreciate those cars. Olds had a great lineup in 72.
My first full-size GM car was a 1972 Regency 98. I absolutely loved that car! It was smooth, fast, and comfortable, with enough space to fit all of my friends and every bit of our stuff. Unfortunately, Big Blue was also exceptionally thirsty, and I had to let her go when gas went over a dollar per gallon.
Wow that Regency interior in black and with the velour seats and the extra poofy door panel looks sooooo inviting!! I would so love driving that Olds just based on that interior man. Horsepower of any kind would just be a bonus at this point Adam! Just the definition of amazing my Dude.
I have one of the same year 4 dr color is Saturn Gold. All original car. It's got almost all the options. Rocket 455 under hood. 57k original miles. Absolutely love that car. Thank you Adam for showing us this. This really hits home for me!
I remember newly experiencing the "auto fan speed" section of Automatic Temperature Control. At first I felt a bit put out of the loop... but then I realized, "oh... this is better" after the fan slowed. The temp in the car was fine, and now there was less fan noise... yes. Yes, I like this.
I just love all us fullsizes from the 70s, before downsizing. Maybe not most powerful or quality, but proportions and styling is the best for me. I just want to ride these cars everyday to my work😁
Single bench seats were the bane of my childhood. My mother was about 5'6', and the only way to drive our bathtub '71 Impala was to pull that sucker fully forward and sit on a pillow, which meant the front seat passenger had his knees in his face. Our neighbor had a Ninety-Eight like this one with split front seats and I thought those were so nice.
I had an 82 C. C. one of the best cars I've ever had, paid $2500 used and only needed a radiator immediately and never anything else. Huge front seat, got laid on it 😂 like a couch
Great video! My Dad bought a 73 brand new very similarly equipped to this example. We bought it literally off the trailer. It still had plastic on the seats when we test drove it. Clock in the back seat. Chestnut brown metallic with a beige vinyl top. It had the parchment leatherette seats. Loved it. As a car crazed 13 year old, it was my joy to was and wax it religiously. I’d back it out under a tree, roll the windows down and zone out to my favorite radio station while lovingly cleaning & waxing it. My first time driving on the open road was behind the wheel of this car at age 15. It had 3 issues that troubled it during the 6 years we had it. It burned out 7 alternators, which various dealers never could figure out. It had bearing noise in the rear that only got resolved after the 12/12 warranty ran out (pinion bearings), and the Comfortron AC failed at year 6, which prompted my parents to trade it on a much less classy 1979 Olds 88 Royal coupe. I think the 98 LS had maybe 55,000 miles on it. Dad got $1,800 trade. It was still rust free; a cream puff that was immediately snapped up. I’d love to get another one like it.
I agree! My favorite front end. ‘72 Olds was my favorite, for so long now. -And for so many reasons. My parents had a ‘72 Olds Custom Cruiser, which my mom primarily drove. Crème color, with wood grain in the middle, & it did have a number of options. It was a huge car, and as a kid, I loved the huge amount of room in the back. I’ve always loved that front end the best. It had nice seats, I still remember a pattern in the fabric. I remember how hot the seat buckles got, in the summer! Back to the front end, I agree with what you said about it, and the word that I’ve always used, was bold. It had a bold, powerful look, especially due to the 4 headlights where the trim came to a point between them, and how the bumper & grille, etc. all worked together to give it the bold and powerful look. I also liked the V-shaped parking lights / turn signals. I still remember trying to help wash the car, & clean the bug guts off the front header above and between the grilles. I liked the lines down the sides of the car, especially the lower skeg lines you spoke of, but my next favorite exterior aspect, after the front, was the rear. I always loved the long oval taillights, the little fins, and the clamshell tailgate / rear window. As for the interior, I love the entire dash & especially instrument panel, the best. Next, the middle seat / jump seat and the third seat….I also loved how they’d lay flat. My favorite option was the thermometer on the mirror of the left front door. -I loved that! The car also had an AM / FM radio, and A/C. I think it had air shocks in the rear, but am not positive about that. I don’t remember what other options it had…I think the 455 was standard. I would so love to find one of these cars, and Eighty Eight, Ninety Eight, or especially Custom Cruiser.
Oldsmobile 98/88 of that era was a wonderful vehicle . Had a Delta88 of that era . Though smaller ( not much) . Had a 455 and it was a great family hauler .
The 1972 Tiffany edition celebrating 75 yrs of Oldsmobile production is just exquisite, especially that incredibly detailed interior. As always thank you for you're efforts .
Keep on featuring 98s from the '71-'72 era--my favorite look for this substantial car. My parents moved from 98s to Sedan deVilles in 1970, so we never had one of this model. I had learned to drive in a '66 98. The one advantage that the Cadillacs had over the 98s in my opinion was the extra tall seat backs. They were so comfortable. But the 98s' exterior styling was always tops in my book.
My restored 72 Camaro SS has the red fasten seat belts light with the warning buzzer. I graduated high school in 73 so I'm very familiar with those era cars. Back then that was the first thing we disconnected. When I was restoring my Camaro in the late 80s I made sure I got it working like when it was new. I miss the days when you could look at just about any car on the road and identify it by make and model. Can't do that today. Especially with the cross overs. They all look the same.
Childhood friend, next door in the mid seventies his parents had a 98 with the trailer towing package. The torque from that motor moved that car and made it feel feather lite. What a blast it was to go to 'the library' to study 🌝
15:47 I think that tagline denoted the 98 had presence. And it most certainly does! It’s Big, Badassed, and Beautiful and like you said Adam, the Olds 455 with 4bbl and dual exhaust was an absolute torque monster and you KNEW it the first time you gave it maybe a little over than 1/4 of its beans and it snapped your neck back!
I learned to drive on a '75 98 LS coupe. Silver/black/black. Classy even with the fixed rear windows. If you can parallel park that, you can parallel park anything!
Timing is everything, and Eddie Robinson Sr., Grambling State University Football Coach, became the voice of Oldsmobile in 1972 with a series of ads in newspapers, radio, magazines and television. Oldsmobile acknowledged the popularity of luxury cars within the black community and Coach Robinson's appearances in Ebony Magazine helped to raise the profile of the Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Toronado. The '70's "Super Fly" chic melded perfectly with the "Personal Luxury Car" craze, setting the stage for Oldsmobile's success with the Cutlass Supreme Coupe.
My father had one. The power of the 455 was very apparent. You barely had to touch the gas pedal and the car would take off. The power steering was over assisted. You could steer it with a few fingers on the wheel. My only complaint was that it handled best when you were going in a straight line. Turning it seemed like turning a boat. You would turn the steering and the front wheels would turn, but the front end would follow a few seconds later.
I picked up a 71 Ninety Eight Luxury Sedan with 13,000 original miles in the Spring of 2023. My (then) 20-year-old son & I promptly drove “Gertie” on a cross-country trip & had a blast! The big Olds rode & drove beautifully - with none of that infamous “GM jiggle” - though the gas budget was outrageous! They’re hardly engineering marvels but there’s something about these big old GM C bodies that makes you feel like a king behind the wheel. The brocade fabric on mine - coupled with the faux wood & chrome trim pieces - really gives the interior a classy, understated appearance while the 127” wheelbase & 5000 lb curb weight completely absorb even the biggest bumps.
Grandparents had one for YEARS AND YEARS. I love these. Great video. I know you probably gave a lot of videos planned but I'd love if you did detailed comparison videos on Olds 98 1976 v. 1977 and for all downsized models. Most car lovers know a lot about this but you always manage to bring up new facts and even prototype photos.
I know I've posted before but one of my friends in high school had a 72 Olds 88 that was in GM's copper paint at the time. It was just a base model with the 350 and 2 barrel but it was a good car. It was tough as nails and it had to be considering he drove it like a Formula 1 car. I can tell some wild stories about him and that car, some of the things he and my other friends and myself did during those days. And yes, you could get these to do some mean burnouts even with the underpowered base engines.
My neighbor had a '71 2 door. Light blue with a white painted metal roof. He always had the seats covered in a textured clear plastic covering. GM used to send him Cadillac brochure's as he always traded his 98's in every 2 to 3 years. I was always excited when he gave me the Cadillac brochure's. He told me he liked the Olds because it was comparable to the Cadillac but less expensive.
@@bobmarker6812 I think my Dad always wanted a Cadillac. Our next door neighbors had a 58 convertible, white with red interior. Dad considered buying it and fixing it up. But, looking it over, he decided the project's expense and scale was beyond his resources.
In the early '90's I drove a '72 Olds 88 4-dr that had the 455 4-bbl . So easy to maneuver for a big car & sneaky fast (many a Camaro or Mustang had great views of my tail lights...)
We'd always called these cars "Sleestaks" because of the way the headlights were designed. Hadn't thought of that family tid-bit in a long time; but it's also been a long time since I've seen one of these Oldsmobiles. Another great video!
When I was a kid in the mid-to-late 80s - early 90s my parents had one of these. It was white with a dark red top + red interior. T'was the day before seatbelt laws and we could easily fit 6+kids in the back seat, or 4 smaller adults up front. Looking back I wish I would have appreciated it more than I had as a child because it truly was a plush vehicle... Much more so than the fox body mustang they had at that time.
I know the loaded 72 Delta 88 Royale 455 convertible well. A true sweetheart. I find it interesting this car’s lower seat stitch pattern was replicated in 1979-1985 in the Delta 88 Royale Brougham. Which is curiously used in the 83-84 Parisienne Brougham and 86 Caprice Classic Brougham and LS. So that seat stitch jig if you will that had to have been extremely profitable.
1972 was my favorite year of the 1971-76 C body cars, I feel it was the best/most refined looking vehicle of the 1971-76 C-body cars. For some reason I think the Oldsmobile and Buick versions of the C-body car looks so much better than the Cadillac of that vintage.
I loved the time when GM had actual divisions and design diversity. This really was one of Oldsmobile's best styling eras, loved the look of these big cruisers and the Cutlass, as well. I do miss the days of the real General Motors.....Yes they did some bad things and real screw ups, but they built a lot of great vehicles as well.
So cool. I sold my exact same car, except it was Canary Yellow with a tan interior , due to a move across country a few years ago. 48k orig miles. 455 4V loaded. Will be very hard to replace
My shop teacher in H.S. had a brand new 73' 98. Beautiful car. At the time my father had a 69' 98 and I was trying to get him to get a 73' but he was not interested in a new car. His next car was a 78' 98 when the began the downsizing.
Thought these '71-'72 full size Oldsmobiles were cool when i was a kid- very interesting design! The '70-'72 Skylark had a conceptually similar bodyside treatment with the same creases further up the wheel opening(s).
That home builder was double checking his garage plans, adding another 3 feet or so. Just in case you want to park your 98 in the garage with the door closed.
Hilarious. My grandfather actually had to have about a foot and a half of his similar age Buick Electra sticking out of the garage. He would just close the garage onto the trunk.
grandmas delta 88 had the big red seatbelt light. I remembering un fastening my seatbelt and moving on and off the sensor to make the light illuminate and the buzzer to sound off. grandpa actually had someone make a fake belt clip to insert into the buckles o override the system so you did not have to wear those annoying seatbelts.
Around 1993, a friend said, "I have a car you need to look at". We went to an apartment building north of town (Marion, NC), and a lady had a 1973 Olds 98, white with a black non-padded vinyl roof, and navy blue velour interior with the loose-cushion tailoring. The driver's window motor had failed, and the woman decided that was the end of the car. I paid her $200 for it. The car had sat beneath a tree, so it looked pretty terrible, but I spent an afternoon scrubbing it, and it looked great! Then I went to a junkyard, pulled a window motor from a '72 Electra for $15, and it wasn't too hard to swap. I paid a garage to replace the driver's side lower control arm, and I had new tires fitted. A little later I put in a cheap-ish radio/casette. It must have been leaking a little bit of oil, because I remember pulling the valve covers, carefully cleaning them, and painting them an authentic Oldsmobile green/blue. So I guess I had about $800 in it, or less than $2000 today. The car was incredibly comfortable, fast with the 455, and actually economical at around 16 mpg. It could handle curvy US70 between Old Fort and Marion without slowing from 55mph, with the predictable handling. One day in an Asheville parking lot, it would not start. I checked, and it was getting fuel to the base of the carb. I caught a ride down to Marion (about 40 miles), and ordered a rebuilt 4-barrel carburetor from Advance (I think this is while I was working there). The next day, I had the carb, caught a ride up to Asheville, swapped the carb in the parking lot, and it started up first try. Later, I moved to Durham, and one evening I realized the alternator was failing just as I was coming into town. I shut down everything electric, ran only my parking lights, and coasted into a parts store right at sunset. There I changed the alternator a few steps from the front door. The parts guy did not advise me to charge the battery, as I would later advise parts customers. Alas, I was only 24-25 then, and didn't have the experience to know that I should have charged the battery, that the new alternator would not fully recharge it. A few months later there was another no-start situation, but it was far enough removed from the alternator incident to make me think it was something other than simply a dead/tired battery. So I donated the car, can't remember if it was to the kidney foundation or public radio. Ignorant move...that car would probably still be humming along just fine today.
Adam, This 1972 Oldsmobile 98 has more class than the whole 2025 GM lineup put together. 🤩
I second that
Confirmed
I agree 100%! ✨
DemocRATS running the whole show for years now. Vote Left until there is nothing Left.
DemocRATS running the whole show for years now. Vote Left until there is nothing Left.
My great grand dad had one. I used to love riding in that car. I guess that’s why I’m here. Memories. He gave it to my grand dad and he ended up selling back in the late 90’s. I had a fit. I would have bought that car and would still have it today.
I bought my first 1972 Oldsmobile 98 in 1978 when I was 18. It was a silver and black 2-door car with vinyl interior seats, an AM & FM radio with an 8-track tape player, power windows, power locks, power seats, and a power trunk button inside the glove compartment. The engine was the 455 with a 4-barrel carburetor.
You are 64 years old now
In 1980, I was 20 and bought a 78 Olds 98 Regency 4dr with 403 and 4bbl. Drove it for 11 years. Loved that car.
@@msparr01, Oh okay.👍
If I may ask, what did you pay for it then?
@, Back in 1978, I paid $1,100 with 82,000 miles one owner.
My parents had a ‘73 98 LS. Battleship Class.
Great car.
I fell in love with the '71 98 that a golfing buddy of my dad had, when I was about 13. My parents finally got a '76 98 Regency. It was yellow with a tan vinyl top and that wonderful pillow-top velour interior in light brown. Best car they ever had. A funny coincidence was that we had a '76 model, my aunt and uncle had a '75 2-door Regency, and my other aunt and uncle had a '74 98 Regency. We were definitely an Olds-loving family!
The '71 98 is my personal favorite, beautiful car - rolling sculpture! A '71 LS 98 coupe is on my "when I win the lottery" list!
@@TomSnyder-gx5ru My dad bought a '71 LS 98 2 door new. I took my driving test in it in 1974. Pop gave it to me in '77 when he bought a new downsized Caprice. I drove that 98 to 250K miles when it rusted away. My family still mentions that car.
Had a 72 olds 88 4 door and a 72 88 2 door convertable both great cars.
My grandparents had a one. Dark brown with tan vinyl roof. It had pretty much ever option there was. Power everything. It went to all of the lower 48 states. Had almost 500,000 miles on it by 1979 when grandmother passed away. So dependable. Normal stuff to replace. Water pump, fuel pump and brakes of course. Threw the timing chain on one of their trips. The thing got about 15 mpg on the highway. Remember grandad calling saying he had a flat and wanted me to help change it. Had to climb in the truck just to get to get to the spare and jack. He traded it off shortly after grandmother passed as to many memories in it. Bought an Impala. Really miss that 98! Thanks for the memories with this video Adam!!!
So much better than an Impala!
Great video. My father was a great fan of the 98 and owned a number during the decades of the 70s and early 80s. This video brought back many memories as teenager riding with four other kids and two parents around Indianapolis 40 to 50 years ago. Thanks.
👍
Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History. "It's quite a substantial channel."
👍👍
That's funny AF!😂😂
I worked at an Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac, American Motors, and light, and medium duty IH truck dealership for almost two years in the 1971-72 model year, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass WAS the most beautiful car that I have ever seen, my ex wife had a 2-door1972 Delta 88 Royale hardtop (IIRC), and it too, was a very, very nice looking car. Of the three GM brands sold at the dealer, the Oldsmobiles gave the least trouble, the Pontiacs had their infamous fiber geared camshaft gear, and the Buicks had problems with the oiing system for the rocker arms.
I notice that Mr. Adam has done a video on the AMC Gremlin, as the years have passed the looks of that car have grown on me.
Pontiac, Olds, Buick, AMC, and IH trucks all under one dealership roof? Wow, that's sure a one of a kind diverse combination. Either that was a huge dealership, or they couldn't stock nearly enough to represent any one of those lines.
Many of the rural dealers in the U.S. offered multiple makes as a way of keeping customers local. After the 2008 economic bubble burst, most dealers went down to one or two marques.
I always loved these growing up (in Chicago). Always have loved the Caddies (in general), but really my GM fave over the years, has been Oldsmobile.
My brother has one except it was 2dr. Beige color had all the bells and whistles, just like a Cadillac excellent car!!!
You know where I cannot complain a lot of people around the country complain about us making bigger bigger cars here but we made the best American cars here in America I'm not ashamed to say that because we made excellent cars here in the United States 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I'm sorry people I mean around the world
The father of a buddy of mine had a 69 LS to pull his travel trailer. We borrowed it one night to go cruising and ended up downtown at the bottom of one of the steepest hills in town. Stopped at the bottom and put it to the wood. That 455 painted a stripe all the way to the top of the hill that was there for YEARS. No lack of torque here!
The 84 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham was one of the best looking cars.. and super luxurious interior
My Mom had an 88 coupe red with white Landau top and spoke wheels what a looker it was.
When i was bout 13 my dad got a very nice mint used 1969 Olds 98 with 455 ( this would have been around 1977 ish), He got it from a old lady that had got it new and barely put any miles on it. It was loaded with ac, 8 track power everything. Me him and my mom traveled all across Texas in it. It was a very nice riding car. The seats were like couches and the ac would freeze you. My dad passed away in 2003 but always said that was one of his favorite cars he ever owned.
Right on...&...thanks for sharing...Texas is a big state...55mph limit was a sad joke
@@JTA1961 "That's a big ole 10-4, good buddy!" That (the 55mph speed limit) was why we all had CB radios back in the 1970's. We all played cops and speeders!
I have a 71 delta 88 royale convertible with fully rebuilt 455 bored over 30, headers, hpipe, high torque starter, electric ignition, edelbrock 4bbl carb with high rise intake, trans cooling kit and lots more goodies with flowmaster super 10's. All original, even frigidaire ac compressor and oldsmobile radio. Just had top rebuilt and redone. Beast.
In 1974 Stevie Wonder Release Boogie on Reggae Woman. I cannot forget riding to swim team practice in an Olds 98 with Stevie blasting from the surround sound. Oh the velvet seats made me want to ride around all day! I was a teenager, and looked forward to being able to own an Olds some day. Thanks for the great memories!
After 44 years thinking my Olds was a 72 and comparing your video with fotos i learn that it was a 73!!! Thanks
As I recall, Tom McCahill (journalist for Mechanix Illustrated) tested a 1972 98 coupe optioned with the dual exhaust system (250 net horsepower)- The old beast got to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds and the car had a top speed of 122 mph making it one of his all time favorite cars before his death in 1975.
I had a '71 with dual exhaust. Took it to Island Dragway and it ran 16.3 sec at 86 mph.
@@1957mrmark Those '71's were "peak" 98 IMO - beautiful cars!
Even as a little kid, I recognized that these GM C-bodies from this era were extremely heavy. They were just massive. I can still hear that Rocket 455 exhaust. The Rockets sounded different from the other GM big blocks.
Our extended family always much preferred Olds over Cadillac during the 1970’s and 1980’s. The preference started with my uncle’s 1965 Olds 98 Regency. He loved that car and many of us took our cues from him, and no one ever complained. I really miss Oldsmobile 😢.
I really miss Oldsmobile too.
What did your uncle and your family think of Buick then?
My Dad had a '72 Buick Electra 225. I got it when he got a new car and drove it all through high school. Then we gave it to a friend who drove it all through college and beyond. Ran for over 200K mi. Loved that car.
That could have been my father's car, color and all. He bought it while I was in college. I loved that car. It was my favorite of the many cars he owned.
The 1972 Oldsmobile 98 was an impressive, beautiful car.
I had this in Gold with a White TOP LS Hardtop. My First car was the ‘72 Delta Royal Hardtop in Deep Blue with a Medium Blue Top and that Biscuit interior. I was 15 when I bought it in 1975 from my school teacher who kept it in pristine condition. Loved my Big Cars. My Second Car in 1976 was a ‘73 Fleetwood a Naples Florida Car my Dads Uncle owned and kept Immaculate with very low miles. Loved that it had that EXTRA LARGE CHROME Hood Cap with the Flying Goddess as the hood ornament. Brown with a Cream Top and Brown supremely soft leather. I watched the gas gauge move every time I drove it. I Polished all my cars Daily and covered the carpets in the winter time like a nut. LOL. Thank You ADAM for the Trip down memory Lane.
I remember hot rodding a 73 olds 98 coupe ! Dam that was a big fun car to drive ! Had it for 26 years and it never let me down !
This is one of my favorite Oldsmobiles.
A grade school friend's family had a new 1972 Ninety Eight LS and he attempted to demonstrate the spring-loaded front bumper by riding his bicycle into it, managing only to bend the fork on the bicycle...
I remember the television advertisement for these cars including a demonstration of the spring steel behind the bumper (painted yellow for the ad) the cars was being driven on a wharf by a distracted driver and front passenger when they ran squarely into a crate - cutting away to the test lab view from below the bumper - showing the spring action of the front bumper compress then return. Great cars!
Thank you Adam. Thank you for sharing this Ninety Eight. A few points to make. That instrumentation panel was shared with Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight, Toronado and Custom Cruiser. That was like that through the 1976 model year even after the 1974 redesign. Then it was just Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight and Custom Cruiser sharing until 1985 then Custom Cruiser carried it until 1990. The braces under the hood did not disappear. My 1992 Toronado has two and my 1996 Ninety Eight has one that is near the firewall. The Luxury Sedan trim package was produced up until 1980-1981 model year. It later reappeared on the Eighty Eight for 1984-1985 and it used Ninety Eight parts. The early Luxury Sedan trim packages had a tissue dispenser where the clock is located in this luxury sedan trim package.
@@OLDS98
‘79 Delta 88 & 98 still had them, as did my 80s to 1990 Custom Cruiser wagons.
@@patrickflohe7427 Thank you.
I'm always torn between the Buick and Oldsmobile versions of this platform. As an 18 year old, back in 1975 - I watched an Electra 225 pass by in a motorcade. Royal blue with black vinyl top. It looked arrogant, aloof, and commanded all attention.
I've loved them ever since. That massive chrome cow catcher in front probably had something to do with it. The 71-72s are more demure 🖖🙏
My parents owned a new one of these. It was the best car they ever owned, & our families favorite car!!
I miss the big Oldsmobiles a lot.
They had character.
Late 60's early 70's was the pinnacle for US auto makers in my opinion. Maybe because I was at the age when I started taking an interest in cars, being 11 years old in 1970.
You are 65 years old
@@drift3rkid66 Yes I am.
My parents had the 75th anniversary edition of this car. Black and gold.
I drove my folks’ extra car to college in 1980 in the Midwest, it was a ‘72 98 4 door hardtop with split bench. Of course my 4 buddies and I jumped in and drove to Colorado to ski for a week. Comfort and luxury all the way, like driving your living room sofa. At the time, we were in shock over $1 gas.
A few of us were coming back home on the NY State Thruway when my friend hit a patch of ice with his father’s 72 Regency in cream and that black cloth pillow interior. We did a 180 and luckily no one behind us. We crawled home after that.
My Dad loved Oldsmobiles and he had the 1972 Olds Delta 88 2 door hardtop. Nice ride, pretty quick for the time, but a real handful on narrow or twisty roads. BTW- He never got A/C and always bought black cars. We did a lot of sweating in the summer.
My first wife's dad had a "74 Olds 98 Regency. I love that car, especially that loose cushion look (first year) velour interior. The 1974 model year also featured a new instrument panel and cluster.
I learned to drive on my parent's 72 Delta 88, it was 3 years old and drove like new. Only now do I appreciate those cars. Olds had a great lineup in 72.
My first full-size GM car was a 1972 Regency 98. I absolutely loved that car! It was smooth, fast, and comfortable, with enough space to fit all of my friends and every bit of our stuff. Unfortunately, Big Blue was also exceptionally thirsty, and I had to let her go when gas went over a dollar per gallon.
My uncle owned a service garage around this time and I always remember him recommending Oldsmobiles to my Mom.
Gorgeous.
Wow that Regency interior in black and with the velour seats and the extra poofy door panel looks sooooo inviting!! I would so love driving that Olds just based on that interior man. Horsepower of any kind would just be a bonus at this point Adam! Just the definition of amazing my Dude.
I have one of the same year 4 dr color is Saturn Gold. All original car. It's got almost all the options. Rocket 455 under hood. 57k original miles. Absolutely love that car. Thank you Adam for showing us this. This really hits home for me!
I like 1970s oldsmobile 98s.
I remember newly experiencing the "auto fan speed" section of Automatic Temperature Control. At first I felt a bit put out of the loop... but then I realized, "oh... this is better" after the fan slowed. The temp in the car was fine, and now there was less fan noise... yes. Yes, I like this.
I just love all us fullsizes from the 70s, before downsizing. Maybe not most powerful or quality, but proportions and styling is the best for me. I just want to ride these cars everyday to my work😁
Single bench seats were the bane of my childhood. My mother was about 5'6', and the only way to drive our bathtub '71 Impala was to pull that sucker fully forward and sit on a pillow, which meant the front seat passenger had his knees in his face. Our neighbor had a Ninety-Eight like this one with split front seats and I thought those were so nice.
Fabulous. The 1972 GM Holden Statesman, and Caprice, are also sublime pieces of engineering, even though Australian built.
It is indeed quite a substantial car.
We had the 72 custom cruiser. What a land boat.
I had an 82 C. C. one of the best cars I've ever had, paid $2500 used and only needed a radiator immediately and never anything else. Huge front seat, got laid on it 😂 like a couch
@@davidkastin4240Custom Screwsher? 😂😂😂
@@jeffshadow2407 Yep and disco ball hanging from the rear view mirror 😁
I like those hubcaps & this one has cornering lights!
One of my fav options.
Even when new, I don't recall seeing very many of these with the optional corning lights.
Great video! My Dad bought a 73 brand new very similarly equipped to this example. We bought it literally off the trailer. It still had plastic on the seats when we test drove it. Clock in the back seat. Chestnut brown metallic with a beige vinyl top. It had the parchment leatherette seats. Loved it. As a car crazed 13 year old, it was my joy to was and wax it religiously. I’d back it out under a tree, roll the windows down and zone out to my favorite radio station while lovingly cleaning & waxing it. My first time driving on the open road was behind the wheel of this car at age 15. It had 3 issues that troubled it during the 6 years we had it. It burned out 7 alternators, which various dealers never could figure out. It had bearing noise in the rear that only got resolved after the 12/12 warranty ran out (pinion bearings), and the Comfortron AC failed at year 6, which prompted my parents to trade it on a much less classy 1979 Olds 88 Royal coupe. I think the 98 LS had maybe 55,000 miles on it. Dad got $1,800 trade. It was still rust free; a cream puff that was immediately snapped up. I’d love to get another one like it.
88 Royale, not Royal.
I agree!
My favorite front end.
‘72 Olds was my favorite, for so long now.
-And for so many reasons.
My parents had a ‘72 Olds Custom Cruiser, which my mom primarily drove.
Crème color, with wood grain in the middle, & it did have a number of options.
It was a huge car, and as a kid, I loved the huge amount of room in the back.
I’ve always loved that front end the best.
It had nice seats, I still remember a pattern in the fabric.
I remember how hot the seat buckles got, in the summer!
Back to the front end, I agree with what you said about it, and the word that I’ve always used, was bold.
It had a bold, powerful look, especially due to the 4 headlights where the trim came to a point between them, and how the bumper & grille, etc. all worked together to give it the bold and powerful look.
I also liked the V-shaped parking lights / turn signals.
I still remember trying to help wash the car, & clean the bug guts off the front header above and between the grilles.
I liked the lines down the sides of the car, especially the lower skeg lines you spoke of, but my next favorite exterior aspect, after the front, was the rear.
I always loved the long oval taillights, the little fins, and the clamshell tailgate / rear window.
As for the interior, I love the entire dash & especially instrument panel, the best.
Next, the middle seat / jump seat and the third seat….I also loved how they’d lay flat.
My favorite option was the thermometer on the mirror of the left front door. -I loved that!
The car also had an AM / FM radio, and A/C. I think it had air shocks in the rear, but am not positive about that. I don’t remember what other options it had…I think the 455 was standard.
I would so love to find one of these cars, and Eighty Eight, Ninety Eight, or especially Custom Cruiser.
72 Olds 98s and 88 had great lines and grills .when I was 19 I had 72 88 coupe . Loved it.
Oldsmobile 98/88 of that era was a wonderful vehicle . Had a Delta88 of that era . Though smaller ( not much) . Had a 455 and it was a great family hauler .
👍👍
The 1972 Tiffany edition celebrating 75 yrs of Oldsmobile production is just exquisite, especially that incredibly detailed interior. As always thank you for you're efforts .
Keep on featuring 98s from the '71-'72 era--my favorite look for this substantial car. My parents moved from 98s to Sedan deVilles in 1970, so we never had one of this model. I had learned to drive in a '66 98. The one advantage that the Cadillacs had over the 98s in my opinion was the extra tall seat backs. They were so comfortable. But the 98s' exterior styling was always tops in my book.
Adam has mentioned several times that the is looking for a '72 Olds for his collection. I am surprised it did not come up in his narration today.
My restored 72 Camaro SS has the red fasten seat belts light with the warning buzzer. I graduated high school in 73 so I'm very familiar with those era cars. Back then that was the first thing we disconnected. When I was restoring my Camaro in the late 80s I made sure I got it working like when it was new. I miss the days when you could look at just about any car on the road and identify it by make and model. Can't do that today. Especially with the cross overs. They all look the same.
Childhood friend, next door in the mid seventies his parents had a 98 with the trailer towing package. The torque from that motor moved that car and made it feel feather lite. What a blast it was to go to 'the library' to study 🌝
My Dad had a 72 Regency with the beige interior. Still the nicest car I have ever been in.
LOve the LS interiors.
He's right.. I owned that exact car.. I never forgot it.., and I've owned 5 Cadillac's, 4 Lincolns, 1 Mercury, and 2 Buicks.., all '67 -'74..
15:47 I think that tagline denoted the 98 had presence. And it most certainly does! It’s Big, Badassed, and Beautiful and like you said Adam, the Olds 455 with 4bbl and dual exhaust was an absolute torque monster and you KNEW it the first time you gave it maybe a little over than 1/4 of its beans and it snapped your neck back!
I learned to drive on a '75 98 LS coupe. Silver/black/black. Classy even with the fixed rear windows. If you can parallel park that, you can parallel park anything!
Timing is everything, and Eddie Robinson Sr., Grambling State University Football Coach, became the voice of Oldsmobile in 1972 with a series of ads in newspapers, radio, magazines and television. Oldsmobile acknowledged the popularity of luxury cars within the black community and Coach Robinson's appearances in Ebony Magazine helped to raise the profile of the Oldsmobile Ninety Eight and Toronado. The '70's "Super Fly" chic melded perfectly with the "Personal Luxury Car" craze, setting the stage for Oldsmobile's success with the Cutlass Supreme Coupe.
Love those huge luxury hardtops! So airy driving around in nice weather with all four windows.
My father had one. The power of the 455 was very apparent. You barely had to touch the gas pedal and the car would take off. The power steering was over assisted. You could steer it with a few fingers on the wheel. My only complaint was that it handled best when you were going in a straight line. Turning it seemed like turning a boat. You would turn the steering and the front wheels would turn, but the front end would follow a few seconds later.
I picked up a 71 Ninety Eight Luxury Sedan with 13,000 original miles in the Spring of 2023. My (then) 20-year-old son & I promptly drove “Gertie” on a cross-country trip & had a blast! The big Olds rode & drove beautifully - with none of that infamous “GM jiggle” - though the gas budget was outrageous! They’re hardly engineering marvels but there’s something about these big old GM C bodies that makes you feel like a king behind the wheel. The brocade fabric on mine - coupled with the faux wood & chrome trim pieces - really gives the interior a classy, understated appearance while the 127” wheelbase & 5000 lb curb weight completely absorb even the biggest bumps.
Well that’s what these cars are about…memories. Enjoy! Sounds like a great drive.
Grandparents had one for YEARS AND YEARS. I love these. Great video. I know you probably gave a lot of videos planned but I'd love if you did detailed comparison videos on Olds 98 1976 v. 1977 and for all downsized models. Most car lovers know a lot about this but you always manage to bring up new facts and even prototype photos.
My oldest brother had a forest green 72 Olds 98. It was a great car.
I just love that green one! OMG what a beautiful rolling work of art.
I know I've posted before but one of my friends in high school had a 72 Olds 88 that was in GM's copper paint at the time. It was just a base model with the 350 and 2 barrel but it was a good car. It was tough as nails and it had to be considering he drove it like a Formula 1 car. I can tell some wild stories about him and that car, some of the things he and my other friends and myself did during those days. And yes, you could get these to do some mean burnouts even with the underpowered base engines.
My neighbor had a '71 2 door. Light blue with a white painted metal roof. He always had the seats covered in a textured clear plastic covering. GM used to send him Cadillac brochure's as he always traded his 98's in every 2 to 3 years. I was always excited when he gave me the Cadillac brochure's. He told me he liked the Olds because it was comparable to the Cadillac but less expensive.
What did he think of Buick, which was closest to Cadillac?
@@MisterMikeTexas Don't know. He just always liked Oldsmobile's.
@@bobmarker6812 I think my Dad always wanted a Cadillac. Our next door neighbors had a 58 convertible, white with red interior. Dad considered buying it and fixing it up. But, looking it over, he decided the project's expense and scale was beyond his resources.
I Also Love the Two-Tone Lincoln Town Car in the Background. I Love them Sooo Much that I Have Several.
In the early '90's I drove a '72 Olds 88 4-dr that had the 455 4-bbl . So easy to maneuver for a big car & sneaky fast (many a Camaro or Mustang had great views of my tail lights...)
We'd always called these cars "Sleestaks" because of the way the headlights were designed. Hadn't thought of that family tid-bit in a long time; but it's also been a long time since I've seen one of these Oldsmobiles. Another great video!
When I was a kid in the mid-to-late 80s - early 90s my parents had one of these. It was white with a dark red top + red interior. T'was the day before seatbelt laws and we could easily fit 6+kids in the back seat, or 4 smaller adults up front. Looking back I wish I would have appreciated it more than I had as a child because it truly was a plush vehicle... Much more so than the fox body mustang they had at that time.
I know the loaded 72 Delta 88 Royale 455 convertible well. A true sweetheart. I find it interesting this car’s lower seat stitch pattern was replicated in 1979-1985 in the Delta 88 Royale Brougham. Which is curiously used in the 83-84 Parisienne Brougham and 86 Caprice Classic Brougham and LS. So that seat stitch jig if you will that had to have been extremely profitable.
1972 was my favorite year of the 1971-76 C body cars, I feel it was the best/most refined looking vehicle of the 1971-76 C-body cars.
For some reason I think the Oldsmobile and Buick versions of the C-body car looks so much better than the Cadillac of that vintage.
I loved the time when GM had actual divisions and design diversity. This really was one of Oldsmobile's best styling eras, loved the look of these big cruisers and the Cutlass, as well.
I do miss the days of the real General Motors.....Yes they did some bad things and real screw ups, but they built a lot of great vehicles as well.
I miss those big old cars, so comfy , like two couches on wheels. I sold my late 70s delta 88 for a couple grand. Biggest mistake after my second wife
Wow , hi from London . That’s a handsome car .
So cool. I sold my exact same car, except it was Canary Yellow with a tan interior , due to a move across country a few years ago. 48k orig miles. 455 4V loaded. Will be very hard to replace
My shop teacher in H.S. had a brand new 73' 98. Beautiful car. At the time my father had a 69' 98 and I was trying to get him to get a 73' but he was not interested in a new car. His next car was a 78' 98 when the began the downsizing.
The ride of the 98 was unmistakable! Like floating on air.
One of my favorite Oldsmobiles!
Thought these '71-'72 full size Oldsmobiles were cool when i was a kid- very interesting design!
The '70-'72 Skylark had a conceptually similar bodyside treatment with the same creases further up the wheel opening(s).
Love these, and also that special edition made in collab with Tiffany's.
I had a '73 Ninety Eight Coupe. What a great ride that was.💯
I wish I still had my 72.
I do a ton of wishing!😊
That home builder was double checking his garage plans, adding another 3 feet or so. Just in case you want to park your 98 in the garage with the door closed.
Hilarious. My grandfather actually had to have about a foot and a half of his similar age Buick Electra sticking out of the garage. He would just close the garage onto the trunk.
Had to add the 3 feet because it’s “quite a substantial car.” 😊
Nice-looking Olds, Adam...Wow, the $100-00 interior upgrade wud have been worth it back in the day...Cheers fm Damo.
great video like all gm big cars from the 1970's
Very similarly designed like the Buick 225. Both nice cars
I had a '73 98 LS, Brewster Green and no vinyl top. Equipped with Cadillac type options. Beautiful car.
grandmas delta 88 had the big red seatbelt light. I remembering un fastening my seatbelt and moving on and off the sensor to make the light illuminate and the buzzer to sound off.
grandpa actually had someone make a fake belt clip to insert into the buckles o override the system so you did not have to wear those annoying seatbelts.
Grandpa sounds like a stand up guy
@@gm12551 he was.
Grandparents had a 62 Olds Starfire 98...Burgundy on Burgundy....great car...
Around 1993, a friend said, "I have a car you need to look at". We went to an apartment building north of town (Marion, NC), and a lady had a 1973 Olds 98, white with a black non-padded vinyl roof, and navy blue velour interior with the loose-cushion tailoring. The driver's window motor had failed, and the woman decided that was the end of the car. I paid her $200 for it. The car had sat beneath a tree, so it looked pretty terrible, but I spent an afternoon scrubbing it, and it looked great! Then I went to a junkyard, pulled a window motor from a '72 Electra for $15, and it wasn't too hard to swap. I paid a garage to replace the driver's side lower control arm, and I had new tires fitted. A little later I put in a cheap-ish radio/casette. It must have been leaking a little bit of oil, because I remember pulling the valve covers, carefully cleaning them, and painting them an authentic Oldsmobile green/blue. So I guess I had about $800 in it, or less than $2000 today.
The car was incredibly comfortable, fast with the 455, and actually economical at around 16 mpg. It could handle curvy US70 between Old Fort and Marion without slowing from 55mph, with the predictable handling.
One day in an Asheville parking lot, it would not start. I checked, and it was getting fuel to the base of the carb. I caught a ride down to Marion (about 40 miles), and ordered a rebuilt 4-barrel carburetor from Advance (I think this is while I was working there). The next day, I had the carb, caught a ride up to Asheville, swapped the carb in the parking lot, and it started up first try.
Later, I moved to Durham, and one evening I realized the alternator was failing just as I was coming into town. I shut down everything electric, ran only my parking lights, and coasted into a parts store right at sunset. There I changed the alternator a few steps from the front door. The parts guy did not advise me to charge the battery, as I would later advise parts customers. Alas, I was only 24-25 then, and didn't have the experience to know that I should have charged the battery, that the new alternator would not fully recharge it. A few months later there was another no-start situation, but it was far enough removed from the alternator incident to make me think it was something other than simply a dead/tired battery. So I donated the car, can't remember if it was to the kidney foundation or public radio.
Ignorant move...that car would probably still be humming along just fine today.
My car in my senior year in high school was a 1973 98 base model. It was one of my favorite cars.
Great content Adam, your eye for detail is outstanding and provocative!!~