Spotted: an Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale

The spotted specimen

In a parking garage in Etten-Leur, our colleague Bart came across this beautiful classic American: a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale, which has been in the Netherlands since early 2007. The current owner has been driving it since 2018. The rather large ride height is remarkable, precisely because the Olds otherwise appears to be completely original. The technical data known to the RDW also show no peculiarities. It was not retrofitted with four-wheel drive or anything like that. Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V8 (which nowadays also lusts for LPG) with a modest output of 130 kW (180 hp), but a hefty torque of no less than 400 Nm.

Oldsmobile with different names

The Oldsmobile 88 was 1949 to 1999 model in what they call the fullsize segment in America. That corresponds more or less to what is the D-segment in Europe. For much of this long production period, the 88 models were one of the most popular Oldsmobiles. The exact type name of the model line still sometimes changed. Then “88” was written in numbers, then again in full as “Eighty-Eight. Although Delta was initially an equipment level, “Delta 88” was also used as an umbrella type name for a long time.

New Oldsmobile Delta 88 was downsized

For model year 1977, the eighth generation of the 88 was already on the market, and also at that time all models were called Oldsmobile Delta 88. Compared to the previous generation, the ’77 Delta 88 was considerably downsized. The car was a lot shorter and as much as 400 kg lighter than its predecessor. Thanks to a more compact build, the car still offered the same amount of interior space. The Delta 88 was available only as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan, but there was also a station wagon in the form of the closely related Custom Cruiser. Furthermore, the technical platform was used for a variety of other fullsize GM models, the Chevrolet Caprice Classic being the most famous here in Europe.

Engines Oldsmobile Delta 88

Engine offerings had also been downsized and henceforth began with a relatively modest 3.8-liter V6 from Buick. Optionally, however, there was simply a (over all years) wide choice of V8 engines, ranging in capacity from 4.3 to 6.6 liters. Of particular note was the introduction of a 5.7-liter diesel-V8. A diesel in an American passenger car has always been unusual. This diesel was not a success either, but the how and why of that is a story in itself. Perhaps another time. The transmission was a three- or four-speed automatic, with drive always on the rear wheels.

Even more downsizing for Oldsmobile Delta 88

This eighth model generation of the Oldsmobile Delta 88 remained in production through the 1985 model year. Several model-year changes in the interim provided slightly modified, more aerodynamic looks over the years, but apart from a facelift for model year 1980, really major changes did not occur. For model year 1986, the all-new ninth model generation entered the market, further downsized and switching to transverse engines and front-wheel drive for the first time.