My Dad was a Greyhound bus driver and a trained mechanic. He had a 1982 98 with the diesel. He loved it and me and my brother would use it when we had a long road trip to say on fuel. It had the factory built in CB radio which made road trips really fun. No better entertainment than listening to the truckers. The seats were the most comfortable I have ever sat in a car.
I was a metal fitter on the 88/98 line at Lansing Car Assembly back in the 80s. Those cars were beautiful with a very solid record for quality! We sold them just as fast as we could build them!
My Dad bought a new 1983 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham in September of 1983. It drove so smooth and was so nice. I cried when he traded it in on a 1986 Taurus station wagon lol
@Scott Wagner it only had 30 000 miles on it royal blue with the padded top. That Taurus was bright red and had that cheap looking plastic interior. I learned how to drive in that wagon lol
Got a 84 98 right now. It drives great just her re spray and new vinyl roof put on. 307 is a little more peppy with the pollution pump disconnected and cat removal. Has a complete dual exhaust. Really enjoying driving her.
Hello Adam, I am a big fan of this generation of the Oldsmobile 98 Regency. It's upright design with it's vertical taillights makes it look very tall, a skyscaper on wheels, if you will!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
@@twoeightythreez I had this exact white car. Those vertical tail lights had all the other GM divisions salivating with envy, for none of them came close to that classy look of the Olds vertical tail light.
Hi Chris. I have a 83 98 Regency Brougham. It’s all original and I’ve won two trophy’s and a ribbon at car shows. Not bad for what they call a grocery getter. With groceries costing what they do now, it’s a high end grocery getter. 😂
To Die for!!! I have a burgundy 81 Olds 98 4dr Diesel. Pillow top cloth, the absolute most comfortable car I own!! I love the 80 81 grill!!! Just a beautiful car!! So comfortable, warm, and whisper quiet inside!!
The cornering light to me was a detail of luxury. Was nice to see one of these machines at night signal to make a turn. It was a nice safety feature but GM managed to make it into a feature of elegance. Even Ford did the same thing with the Lincoln. It is a feature I simply love.
It’s a feature that should come back. Either that, or something like the Citroën DS and SM, which had lights that turned with the steering wheel, and self leveled depending on whether the front-end was pointing upwards or downwards.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Cornering light were available up to the late 2000s if I'm not mistaken. The last Cadillac Devilles, Cadillac DTS, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car came with that feature. Although turn signals mounted on the side mirrors have replaced cornering lamps they don't have the same classy effect as they became mainstream in lower priced vehicles while cornering lamps were never available in those segments
@@engineer_alv the late V8 DTS is a car I love. It owes a lot to a favorite large FWD car of mine: the Toronado. The cornering lamp as GM began using it had the best touch of elegance and functionality.
I have a “cornering light fetish”. Love them! I have had two cars that had them. 1985 Continental Mk VII LSC and my current daily driver, 2018 Buick Regal TourX.
@@wmalden I recall W body Regals and the later Park Avenues using cornering lights but I never thought the last Regals from a couple years ago also had that feature. Nice and refreshing in this day and age
Instant like. We talk about this model on one of the Brocasts. I learned to drive on a 1980 Ninety-Eight Regency sedan that brought me home from the hospital when I was born. My brother learned to drive on a 1983. Both were 307s. Mine had the 3 speed auto with the cornering lamps; he had the 4 speed over drive. The back seat was undeniably sofa on wheels. Both sedans are still in the family. And we love ‘em.
Agreed on the armrests! I place a towel on the center console of my 2016 Escalade to cushion my right elbow (c'mon Cadillac, give us back some plush interiors). I also really miss the pillowed cloth seats in the '80s-era full-size GM sedans. They were the best for road trips.
--They won't. Everything today is about sportiness, function, and keeping building costs low. It's why we have almost the same exterior colors with only grey or black interior choices with few exceptions. I miss those comfy interiors too along with the array of colors to choose from. 🙁
I had a 1980 4 Door 98 Regency Brougham with a Oldsmobile 350 gasoline V8 coupled to a THM 400 transmission. Used it for 4 years from 1985 through 1989. Absolutely a bulletproof combination, although I did have to change the timing chain and plastic sprockets.
My father ordered this back in 1980 in top trim level and diesel. He did install a water separator filter and it never gave us any problem. Most highway driving did indeed yield 28+ mpg. His also had the built in CB radio which never really was used. I drove it often including with a utility trailer attached. Having picked up stainless steel casting from Mobile Al docks, I can attest to lack of power coming up and out of the Mobile tunnel heading to Pensacola. The only slower car I ever drove was a Volvo 240 diesel in ‘82.
I had a 1982 delta 88 royale which rode extremely comfortable . Such a good looking car and very roomy. The modern generation will never know this kind of luxury...
One of my favorite eras in Oldsmobile. These 98’s and Delta 88’s were popular in our extended family and when we all got together, the driveway and surrounding street looked like an Olds dealership. I had a 1980 Olds Cutlass Supreme and loved that car.
We were a big Olds family too. I had a 1979 Hurst/Olds with a 350 V-8 and T-tops. They aren't super valuable today, but it turns out that it was a pretty rare car. I still kick myself for not keeping it.
Thank you Adam! I was not expecting this at all! This video is appreciated tremendously! Oldsmobile Ninety Eight indeed! I liked this generation a lot too. I especially like when they added the updated Regency Brougham package for 1982 with the new Brougham seat design and updated steering wheel in 1982. As you know I own a 1996 Ninety Eight I drive daily. It tried to recapture the look of this generation 1980-1984. I was a huge fan of 1963, 1965-1966, 1968, 1969-1970, 1973, 1975, 1980-1984, 1991-1996. There are others, but those stand out for me. It was the details. You covered it so nice in this video with the information, features, and the footage. The thing I will never understand was the engines. I knew the 307 had torque, but seemed underpowered. I know the Cutlass Supreme 442 had the high outout 307 at 165 hp. I do not know why they did not offer that in the Ninety-Eight and Toronado. I liked the loaded Eighty Eight Brougham and Brougham LS from 1984-1985. You could get more gauges. I saw them on Custom Cruiser and some Ninety-Eights and Eighty-Eights. It was a gauge package.It gave you temp, oil, and voltage. The Custom Cruiser had more controls because it was a wagon. You are telling the truth about the headliner. Several of those features from this era Ninety Eight ended up on the Eighty Eight and Custom Cruiser wagon.
Our family had the Pontiac near-equivalent -- the 2 door Bonneville Brougham -- with the 307 Olds V8. We absolutely loved it. [And today I learned (or re-remembered) that the 98 was C-platform and Bonneville and 88 were B-platform].
@@BrownsFaninIowa The Bonneville Brougham was top of the line for Pontiac, but still a notch below the 98 and Buick Electra. A smaller and cheaper car, simply put.
A-ha! Now I get it (after a little searching). The distinction is C platform (98, etc.) vs B platform (88, Bonneville, etc.). Man, 40 years ago was a LONG time ago. The car nerd things I knew then that I've since long forgotten... Still, was an awesome car. At least according to my feeble memories from 40 years ago.
@@BrownsFaninIowa Well, there you go! Those cars were terrific. I remember them very well, but my preference was always the 98 and Electra, because they were a little larger and fancier. Had both, and both were stolen.
These '98 Coupes as you show here were gorgeous substantial luxurious roomy and could tow an RV if properly equipped Along with the Buick Park Avenue.....my favourite cars ever....any year '75 onward
Hi Adam, I had an Aunt and Uncle from Ohio that were big Oldsmobile buyers having had many over the years. My Aunt always had two door models and my Uncle was the four door person of the family. I recall one year when they visited us here in Connecticut they drove her 1976 Oldsmobile 98 which was in a cream color with all the power options. What a boat that was. On the occasion of a trip we took to Ohio in 1973 I was able to ride in my Uncle's 1970 Oldsmobile Holiday four door also in a cream color. They certainly were big ,luxurious cars that still had some power back in the early seventies. Thanks for the video.
When you say "acres of fake plastic wood" or "acres and acres of wood", well, that joke never gets old for me! Also, I'd like to point out that your passion for classic American cars, your knowledge and your soothing voice makes the greatest possible unintentional(?) car ASMR content.
I don't get the level of hate for the fake wood. I think if it's well done, it's nice to look at. Of course it's not real wood, that wouldn't even be practical in anything past the early 1900s. That being said, I do get the hate of car companies cheaping out on stuff, and he does have a nice speaking voice. I'm less into these old American sedans than I thought thanks to seeing the level of interest that can exist for them, but I still listen because he makes it a pleasant experience. I'm a car guy and I watch a lot of videos. It's a nice gentlemanly contrast to the younger guys "what's up TH-cam" and their friggin editing and music.
I have a thing for all that fake wood on the 1984 Buick Riviera. It seems the entire dash was fake wood. And the doors had fake wood with integral molded speaker grills. I just love 1980s GM cars! I can’t think of a single brand new car for sale today that I lust over. That’s why I drive a 30 year old Cadillac! Come to think of it, I think the wood on the dash of my 1994 Eldorado is real! Is that possible?
@@jdslyman I bought it in 2018 with 24,000 miles on it. Today it has almost 49,000 miles on it. Yes, you are right. It’s a fine car. Drives down the highway straight and true with no vibrations. I love the magnetic ride control. It runs flawlessly. I did the test for exhaust gas leakage into the coolant when I first got the car and it tested perfect. No trace of any exhaust leaking into the coolant. Several months ago I had both shift solenoids in the transmission replaced with an improved design that doesn’t fail prematurely like the ones from the factory that did fail on me! I limped home with only second gear and reverse. It’s my daily driver, but I don’t drive it hard, if that matters at all. Approximately when should I expect the head gaskets to blow? Just the other day I was looking into this guy from Limerick Pennsylvania. Jim Adair. He claims to have repaired over 1,000 Northstar engines over the years. He charges a flat $2,650 for his service. He removes the engine, replaces the head gaskets and installs head bolts that don’t pull out of the block like the originals. He replaces several other gaskets and some other stuff and reinstalls the engine. I’m on the fence as to what to do. Sell it soon before it fails. Drive it till it blows and repair it. Drive it till it blows and junk it. I’m left scratching my head…
@@CH67guy1 Yes, it is. All of the Sevilles, DeVilles and Eldorados of the 1990s and 2000s are real wood. As a Cadillac tech, I accidentally broke the trim plate around the shifter of a 1998 Seville STS once and that was when I realized it was all real. It's not cheap to replace either, so be careful with it!
@@CH67guy1 Yes , that transmission repair was common on pre-1996 4T80-E transmissions. The TCC filter in the lower valvebody would pop out and put a side load on one of the shift solenoids, causing the solenoid to break. There was a kit that came with two new solenoids, a new TCC filter, and a bracket to install over the filter to retain it so it would not push on the solenoid. It also came with a longer bolt to accommodate the bracket thickness. As for the head gaskets, as long as you maintain the cooling system, you should be okay. The vast majority of head gasket failures I encountered on Northstars could be traced back to cooling system leaks and overheating. On your Eldorado, a common leak point is the heater crossover pipes that run across the back (firewall side) of the engine. They are formed painted steel and eventually rust out, especially if driven during salty winters like here in Michigan. The water pump housing/coolant crossover gaskets (there are four of them) are another common leak point. If you ever have to have the head gaskets done, the best thing to do is have Time Serts installed in the head bolt holes. This will ensure that the new head bolts will not pull out of the block. These engines generally need to be removed to do this, so it is best to have the entire engine resealed at the same time. There is a procedure to remove the lower crank case seals and oil pan gasket and replace them with grey GM engine sealant. This is a permanent repair and will not leak again if performed correctly. Like the other person you mentioned, I have done a ton of them during my tenure at a Cadillac dealer as a tech. The Northstar is an otherwise great engine. Lots of people bash it, but they have a bulletproof lower end (especially with 8 qts of oil) and we never really had issues with internal parts failing with the exception of the low tension piston rings causing oil consumption on the 2000-2003 versions. They also produce a good amount of power for their time, and they sound great when zinged up to 6500 rpm. For reference, we used to charge 35 hours to do a full reseal and Time Sert install at the dealer, so the price you were quoted for labor is very fair. Although my opinion is biased because I have always thought those Eldorados were beautiful cars, I see no reason to let it go if it is in otherwise good shape. I myself owned a 1998 Seville SLS for 9 years and only got rid of it because I needed a more efficient commuter (2013 Volt which I still have today). I wish I had had the space to keep the Cadillac.
Own an 1981 Olds 98 (Diesel) WITH the gauge package. And leather. It has 30,000 original miles and was own owner. Runs and drives like a dream. It’s obviously slow and loud on the outside. On the inside and on the open road hard to beat.
Growing up, I knew someone who had an '84 98 Regency Brougham. It looked just like the lead photo to this video. Dark maroon interior/exterior, matching quarter vinyl roof, coach lights, fender skirts. Just different wheel covers. Everything you described in this video about these cars rings absolutely true to my memory. It had the 307 engine, which was not especially enthusiastic particularly by today's standards, but it was smooth, reliable, and did the job well. Such a comfortable and spacious interior, nothing like it is available today. At that same time, our next door neighbor had what I think was a '79 or '80 Delta 88 Royale. It was white with a blue interior and had that God-awful diesel engine. He had the block heater for it, and I remember the extention cord running from their house to the car every year from late fall to early spring. The noise and smoke that thing made in the cold weather until it warmed up always fascinated me though. He was retired WWII era air force, so I'm sure he knew how to get it started and running even on the coldest winter mornings if he needed to go out. Thanks for your wonderful channel, Adam!
My dad had a titanium grey 1985 Olds Delta 88 Luxury Sedan, fully optioned (with wire wheels!), with the Olds 307 v8...to Adam's point it was VERY smooth and refined, but very little oomph. It could cruise silently all day at 75-80 mph, but there wasn't much reserve. The engine sounded like it was in another zip code, so quiet. The car was fairly trouble free, and he drove the wheels off it in his consulting engineering business...going over 200K miles. The leather seats, though large, with big, wide bottom cushions, were not that supportive. Ultra thick cut-pile carpeting and opera lights on the B-pillar made for a luxurious ambiance. At the end, it was pretty tired, but a solid, well built car...the transmission never failed. The car never let him down, ever. Just a competent, stately wafter.
I had one and the guy that owned it treated it like it was a Corvette he put upgraded wheels and tires and suspension and exhaust and it really handle being a big heavy duty car I truly enjoyed it anybody that can get one will not be disappointed!
I had the 1983 Olds Delta 88 Brougham 4 dr sedan- the ceiling drooped but back then it was easy to find somebody to fix it. My transmission went out - got a life time warranty repair from a friend of mine who worked for ScAamco - the trans went out again - he gave up and sent me to a buddy of his who put in a turbo 350 which apparently was a direct bolt up. The trans never went out after that. I screwed up and used Armour All on the dash which caused it to crack. On or about 1991 I sold the car to a guy in Dallas , Tx who bought it for his mother-in - law - she was still driving it into the late nineties. I thought the fit & finish was really pretty good and I believe Oldsmobile set some sales records with that model.
Dad was a car distributor for Oldsmobile. My mom had a new 78, 79,80 cutlass supreme and a new 81, 82, 83 and 84 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight. I believe the first three were Regency models, and the 84 was a Regency Brougham with the velvet interior, electroluminescent coach lamps between the front and rear doors and the plushest carpet I have ever seen in an automobile. Still have a lot of dealer brochures from the early 80s.
Back in 1980 my dad bought a pristine metallic-brown ‘72 Olds 98 which he kept for about 4 or 5 years. It rode like a big Cadillac - like sailing on a big fluffy cloud in the sky. About 35 years later (maybe 8 or 10 years ago) I bought a pristine, low mileage, light-metallic-blue, huge 4-door ‘86 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham powered by the 307 Olds engine. It was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Way back in 1966 or ‘67 when I was a 7 or 8-year-old kid, my dad brought home a like-new, 2 or 3-yr-old, gold-mist ‘64 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I’d be happy to have any of those 3 cars today! Or the Olds featured in this video! It no doubt rode as nice & smooth, and was as plush as any of the big old Caddies and Olds of the American “land-yacht” era!
We had a 73 Buick Park Ave Electra, pillowed valour int, 455, that was the best riding car I've ever been in, comfort is what it was all about, olds made some great cars as well.
My father had the two door one in Royal Blue. I was just a kid; but, the styling of the car still made an impression on me. I remember noticing the size of those doors. Huge! This was a great nostalgic experience for me. Thanks.
1980 you could still get the 403 . 6.6 liter.. I had no complaints about the Torque & H.P. moved the 98 perfectly.. But the options by 81 were definitely under powered.. The Diesel was absolutely dangerous on a two lane Highway & slow as hell in city traffic if you needed to pull out into traffic..
I had an '82 Olds 98 2-door with the 307CI V8 when I was a senior in high school. Since I worked at the airport, I ran that car on 100LL Avgas. Boy, that car loved that gas.
Hey Adam… this is Randy Norris… from Troy,MO. I have a 1982 Olds 98 Regency… with 58,000 original miles… it’s the very exact same light tan color at the 7:27 timeline in your video… only mine is 4dr…. It has the marvelous 5.7L 350 diesel engine with the TH200-4R 4 so tranny with overdrive. All my power windows still work.. cruise, tilt, factory installed cassette stereo… analog clock on the dash… both driver and passenger side…6-way power seats… arm rest in the rear seat.. light gray pillow-top seats front and rear… I am the 3rd owner from new!!! It was an original Oklahoma vehicle… the man I bought it from lived in an Indian reservation in lower Oklahoma… 60 miles north of Texas ! So… even the entire underneath of the vehicle has almost NO rust at all… still has the fender skirts on it…I am 53…. And grew up riding in early ‘70’s Grand Marquis’… Mercury Monterey’s… Cadillac Fleetwoods… etc…. No comparison to the ride quality of those “Land Yatch’s”. Great memories… and now I have one of my own…. Thx for the great video!
Those Ninety Eight’s of that generation were some of the best. Very luxurious and handsome. I owned an ‘83 Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe in ‘87. It was a very good looking and luxurious car. I thought about,buying a Ninety Eight but I was only 25 years old at the,time and thought that it just wouldn’t be a young persons car, even though a Delta 88 was far from being a young persons car…LOL. I still think that the early 80’s generation of the Nighty Eight Brougham sedans were such a beautifully designed car with the fender skirts and formal roof treatment. Great video! ❤
I have one of these. It's a 1983 with the regency trim, I've got the pillow top seats, top end radio, and the rare gauge cluster package. No cornering lights or fiber optic though unfortunately. I had a fair bit of trouble with the computer controlled carb when I first got it but I converted it to analog and it's been a great car ever since. Absolute tank in the winter, it performs better than my lincoln with traction control! I've really grown into liking the car, it really is one of the better ones ove owned
Oh man...thank you for this!! My Grandpa bought a brand new '85 98 Regency from Bommarito Oldsmobile Cadillac GMC out in west county STL. I absolutely loved it, and was so crushed to see GM downsize it in '86. To the armrest on the interior, I believe they even had an "R" embroidered into the armrest. The 98 Regency was his, and he bought a Delta 88 for my Grandma... As always, thank you so much for the great video, Adam.
@@charlesmcginness7214 You're correct! Well... that's embarrassing, but thank you for the correction. I could have sworn it was an '85. Maybe it was an '84? I'm 49 yrs old, and I was 10yrs old...that was a lot of beers ago!!
@@jefweb5043 I’ll be 53 soon. Remember that time so well because my aunt and uncle took me car shopping any time they went. They had a beautiful ‘83 Park Avenue. We looked at the “cut down” Cadillacs in May of ‘84. They ended up buying another Park Avenue. I was as excited as it it was Christmas morning. I was used to new model years coming out in the fall but May was unheard of. Maybe your grandfather bought a left over ‘84 in ‘85. A lot of older folks didn’t want the “smaller” cars. I thought they were great!
G'pa did go for a couple of the FWD Ninety Eights, an 88 and a 91 Elite - gotta say the interiors were still very roomy, and they were comfy cars. By then I was able to drive and I thought they drove fantastic. I went on to own several cars with the 3800 V6 and just LOVE that engine. Favorite had to be my Bonnie SSE, white with white alloys and peanut butter leather.
In this era of "luxury" cars that claim luxury by taking a corner at 60 miles per hour and lap the Nurburgring like a formula 1 car - it's a pleasure to see a true luxury vehicle. With a quiet cabin with plenty of room to stretch out in and those comfortable seats to while away the miles on - That Ninety Eight was one fabulous vehicle. Those seats also tended to have a longer bottom cushion which gave greater support to the entire body when seated and made long trips much more comfortable. When one sees a near $100K new Cadillac today and observe what seems to be the same diminutive bucket seat they put in a Chevy Trax, well, you understand why so many have moved to full-sized trucks. The cabin room, seat dimensions and quiet available with their full frame/body configuration are the modern day equivalent to vehicles like that Ninety Eight in terms of comfort while underway, ( Ha! But so is the handling!)
My folks bought this car brand new and drove it off the lot..My Dad paid cash for the car and it really was beautiful..It was a beautiful dark wine red with dove grey fabric interior..My Dad loved that car and put over 160.000 miles on it before they traded..
GM made rolling artwork in their heyday. El Dorado, Riviera, Toronado and the mid-sixties full size Pontiacs were all automotive sculpture. In 1976 11 year old me was still mesmerized and impressed by the sheer presence of his uncle’s Firethorn Red 1976 Coupe DeVille, but looking back I have to I agree with your take: the 1971 B bodies marked the beginning of the end of GM as a styling and engineering tour de force as badge engineering and cost cutting took over. It was a hell of a legacy to throw away. OTOH, the C8 Corvette shows the world that the fire is still lit: turn the engineers and stylists loose!
We had (2) 1980 98s growing up and both had the wonderful diesel engines. Aside from all the issues with the engines, they rode like a dream. So comfy and to me some of the prettiest styling of the era. I am partial to fender skirts. I think they are so classy. One funny memory of riding in one of these diesel barges, is one time we took off from a red light and there was such a thick and dark cloud of black smoke the people behind us had to pull over because they couldn’t see where they were going 😂
This is Gerry..the 88 Eldorado guy from VA. YAS....I owned...from 1989-1996....a wonderfull 81 Regency coupe...waxberry metallic....with the exact color seats in your example.....what a great car overall....slow.....after getting rid of my 460 4V Colony Park....lol....cars would pass the 98 like I was chained to the guardrail. Great gas mileage.....reliable.....Y-code 307. Had new headliner....viral top....repaint.....than like an idiot gave it to my younger brother.
My mom dated a guy with a 80 Deville Coupe. I was in middle school and that 80 impressed me so much. Of course my mom had a 78 Honda Civic so this caddy seemed like a revelation. 😂. The caddy was on the same chassis as this Olds. Beautiful riding car. Quiet and smooth. GM knocked it out of the park with these cars. The 80 still had a decent engine.
My father bought a 1980 it had a 403 . 6.6 liter V8 .. pretty sure was available in Cadillac & Buick . Same motor that was similar or same in Trans AM.. I drove that 98 and she was about as fast as any automobile made at the time . A great cruiser and a blast at the Drive in Movies 😅.. I had a small Datsun 210 as my daily driver . Slow as all get out off the line , but was a great car , incredibly good MPG .. Wishing I still had them both . Appreciate your sentiment for the Honda & the Cadillac. :)
Yes! I had an 83 Olds 98 Regency 2 door. Bought it when I graduated in 1990. Drove it for 10 years and never had a single issue with it other than the alternator. Sadly I was hit by a drunk and it was totaled.
My dad, at least until the 1980s, was a Buick-guy. Me? When I was out of college and buying my own cars, was an unapologetically Oldsmobile buyer. I bought, new, a series of Cutlass coupes which I just loved. (Sadly, I seemed to be the only one buying a new Olds.) I never drove or owned a Toronado but I sure wished I had. The Ninety-Eight was a car your dad drove. Or the local vicar, if it was a prosperous parish. A beautiful car. 👍
Adam i have a 1984 98. The same color as your 81. It should be called Sand Grey. Mine his a Royal blue interior and a blue quarter vinyl top. The 307 as you said is not a hot rod by any means. But it is reliable as reliable as hell. And it is Bulletproof my father bought his new it was later handed down to me and I still have it to this day. The car has over 151000 miles and it'll still turn right over and I have no fear of driving it anywhere it is solid as a rock. Even the interior there isn't a rattle or a shake in it. My other car is a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale with the 350. I was lucky enough to purchase this car from the original owner with only thirty-three thousand original miles on it. The car was dealer service and kept in a climate-controlled garage. It is a real time capsule. I stripped off all the Pollution Control devices such as the catalytic converters I put true dual exhaust on it even got rid of the PCV valve. It was like the car. A shot of espresso. I love both cause they were built when Oldsmobile was at their best
I had an '82 Regency 4 door, 307, throughout most of the 1990's. Had that exact interior in light grey. Dead reliable, and routinely got 21-22 mpg highway. There is no equivalent to these cars today, and it's a shame. I think the end of Olds began around the time of the "This is not your Father's Oldsmobile" ad campaign. Father's Oldsmobile is what made them great!
We had the Oldsmobile Diesel and I loved it, I wish they would have been more reliable, I miss those 80's Diesel engines, I use to love hearing that rattle and knocking.
I owned a 1981 Oldsmobile 98 with the 307. The headliner had to be repaired. I remember doing a water pump and a power steering pump as well as the power seat motor. The engine was very smooth but under powered. It was a very comfortable car that ran great when I sold it with over 180,000 miles on it. If only they had offered it with a 350!
I had a 1985 Olds Delta 88 Royal Brougham with the 5 litre, 307 V8. Not meant for drag racing but not a slouch either once it got going. Can cruise comfortably at 80 Mph. Smooth, quiet and ultra comfortable.
Had a 1982 olds 98 Regency, and ir was a great car. Lots of parts were interchangeable chassis wise with a Caddy, and the 307 ci olds engine was a great advantage from the diesel, or the HT4100. Great to ride, and drive.😊
I special orderd a 78 Olds Vista Cruiser Wagon, totally loaded with the 5.7 Diesel. Loved the big wago hated the slog slow engine. I was on the road a lot and racked up miles. head gasket blew after warranty ended and GM fixed the car. All in all it worked out well and was a beautiful car.
Fine lookin car man I have a 1981 oldsmobile toronado same color with a tan vynyl top and tan pillow top leather seats a mighty fine lookin car with the same engine 5.0 litre 307 V8 engine with 4 barrel carburetor and front wheel drive and the engine sitting front ways like a rear wheel drive and rides just as good as she looks. The same kind of car as the cadillac eldorado and buick riviera that's a beautiful 98 regency coupe the same kind of car as the cadillac coupe deville and buick electra coupe and the pontiac bonneville brougham coupe of that year.... beautiful car...I love these big rides....
My dad bought a new diesel, from Willowdell sales company, a John Deere dealer that also sold Olds. The JD mechanics about shit, it was so bad. Dad got a replacement engine for little cost from olds and the second one was not bad at all, however the dealer would install John Deere fuel filters on the car, big improvement. The fun story is GM sent a snot nosed expert out to show them how to rebuild injection pumps. He demanded a special dust free room and special air filtration systems and told them they didn't know anything about injection systems, the JD service manager and one of his mechanics over lunch opened up two pumps and spread the parts over some newspapers on the bench. Little snot nose crapped when he got back, they made him watch as they rebuilt the pumps and installed them in an 88 and a 98, the cars ran great. Old Bob who grew up fixing tractors since he was a kid in the 30's just laughed and told the little snot, we know more about injection pumps than you ever will so buzz off Years later I purchased a 15th anniversary hurst from them, one of my favorite cars, a real cruiser . Also owned a 66 Toronado, one of olds best designs, GM destroyed Olds
I factory ordered a 1978 403 V-8 for pulling a 21 foot tandem trailer. The car was a Delta 88 4 door. It was a beautiful cream colour. However, the engine developed a camshaft knock when it was first started. The dealer said not to worry. I ordered a 1980 Delta 88 for pulling our trailer. It had a 350 Olds engine. The car arrived and I was ready to undercoat it the first night. I saw the small TH200 transmission and my heart sank. The car was factory ordered complete with HD transmission cooling etc. It had an aluminum hood to save weight. It had the spoke hubcaps etc. The car dealer said not to worry because GM said there was lots of warranty. My automotive friend teaching at an automotive tech school said that the TH200 had parts thinner than an apple juice can. He was not impressed. The dealer said to drive the 1980 4 door Delta 88 back to him. He had an Olds station wagon due in a few weeks. I drove to pick it up. The station wagon had a 350 Olds V-8 with a TH350 transmission. It turned out to be a "lemon" In fact I did use the car to pull our trailer but it never had the power of my 1969 Chev 427. (The Chev 427 Caprice was also factory ordered. I kept it for 100,000 miles until premium gas became difficult to find.) In the Rocky Mountains, I would let the station wagon churn in first gear through some of the high passes going 25 mph. I had a number of defects repaired under warranty. I then left General Motors for a number of years. One service manager said he thought that GM had built some engines out of "reject" parts. I came back to GM in 2008 when I purchased a GMC Duramax powered 3/4 ton truck. It pulls a 5th wheel with no problem. The Allison transmission shifts like a dream. The Oldsmobiles are no more. There is a reason why General Motors is called government motors. I was sure disappointed in some of their products back in 1978, 1980, and 1981.
My dad gave me his 1978 98 diesel which was basically a gas conversion engine. I remember driving it cross country and climbing a steep grade in Colorado with a cloud of black diesel smoke trailing me like a jet taking off
I always found it funny that the dash in these early 80’s model Oldsmobiles had basically the same dash that was in my 77 Olds delta 88 royale. Also I remember having to have the headliner replaced in my 77 Olds and my 81 Monte Carlo. Those headliners never lasted, but back then it was so easy to get them replaced. I also had friends that had an early 80’s Oldsmobile delta 88 2 door diesel, I was fascinated with that car and the different hood ornament. It was a cool car, silver and navy blue interior but you know how silver 80’s paint was so it always looked so worn. But an awesome car I thought.
I had a customer in Central Oregon that rolled one of these in a triangle from his home base to San Francisco to Salt Lake City. It was a great car ... his being a four door ... white w/ blue vinyl top and blue interior. As it neared 300K miles, the spring in the hood ornament broke causing the crest to fall over. We all laughed about it and suggested he write Oldsmobile a letter complaining about the unit not having longevity. He did. A factory rep replied and had him meet up the local dealer where they replaced it at no charge. Photographs were taken of everything including the odometer reading in excess of 300,000 miles! I'm not sure what became of it all but thought that was pretty cool. 307 was a great engine.
The first time I came across one of these Oldsmobiles with the 5.7 diesel was in about 1989/90 when the owner of the garage said they had just pulled out the diesel and replaced it with a crate 350 petrol V8, it was a lovely car.
You are right about the 3.8-V6 (231 cu).I owned a used 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix,bought it when it was 8 years old.The oil pump wasn't working and the oil light came on.A mechanic told me to use motor honey in Winter & 20W50 in Summer.The oil light never came on again and drove it for 2 and a half years. Considering i paid only $1100,i got plenty of use out of it.
The 1980-1984 Olds 98 was one of the best looking cars from that time period although the '81 was the least desirable. The 1980 model was still available with an Oldsmobile 350 V-8, gas not diesel. The 1982 model received an updated steering wheel design along with the multi function turn signal lever which had the windshield wiper controls integrated into it. 1982 also introduced the radio design that GM would use for the next twenty years. My Father was an Olds dealer back then so I got to examine and drive all the different models back then. The 307 V-8 wasn't a screamer, but is was adequate and very smooth.
My Dad was a Greyhound bus driver and a trained mechanic. He had a 1982 98 with the diesel. He loved it and me and my brother would use it when we had a long road trip to say on fuel. It had the factory built in CB radio which made road trips really fun. No better entertainment than listening to the truckers. The seats were the most comfortable I have ever sat in a car.
Adam, This is one of the last classy Oldsmobiles. 🤩
That's when the beautiful yachts were killed off by Jimmy Carter.
I was a metal fitter on the 88/98 line at Lansing Car Assembly back in the 80s. Those cars were beautiful
with a very solid record for quality! We sold them just as fast as we could build them!
Mine was a great car. 34 MPG
on the freeway, amazing. I once drove from Deerlodge Montana to Ocean Shores WA on ONE tank of diesel.
Owned a 1981 Custom Cruiser 5.7 Lit. Diesel. It proved to be one of the most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned.
This era 98 had to have been one of the quietest, best riding cars, ever. Really classy looking, too. Wish I had one now.
My Dad bought a new 1983 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham in September of 1983. It drove so smooth and was so nice. I cried when he traded it in on a 1986 Taurus station wagon lol
@02WIFE Wow, sounds like a radical change in the type of car he wanted! Taurus was totally different in every possible way.
@Scott Wagner it only had 30 000 miles on it royal blue with the padded top. That Taurus was bright red and had that cheap looking plastic interior. I learned how to drive in that wagon lol
My Dad bought a brand new Delta 88 (1981). Best looking and riding car I've ever seen. Great handling too!
@@02WIFEdamn I would have been mad😂
The loose cushion seats are really genius. They look great and are so comfy.
And they were surprisingly supportive too!
They sure as hell didn't age well though. Like anything from this era. But "classy" will look all-the-more and especially trashy with wear.
We had a few 98s & 88s of this generation over the years - pretty much my favorite cars of all time for everyday use.
Got a 84 98 right now. It drives great just her re spray and new vinyl roof put on. 307 is a little more peppy with the pollution pump disconnected and cat removal. Has a complete dual exhaust. Really enjoying driving her.
I have a 1984 GM chassis service manual that includes the 98 if you are in need of it.
I had a 1980, 2 door in maroon. Mine had the Turbo 400 trans. What a beautiful car that was. Chicago winters took its toll on that car.
Sounds like what I need to do to my 1988 Cadillac Brougham.
Just bought a 1981 98. Can't wait to add duels
Hello Adam, I am a big fan of this generation of the Oldsmobile 98 Regency. It's upright design with it's vertical taillights makes it look very tall, a skyscaper on wheels, if you will!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
Ive always liked vertical tail lamps, they just look luxurious for some reason
Well I am a fan of the 70s Oldsmobile 98. To be exact, from 71-76 models.
@@twoeightythreez
I had this exact white car. Those vertical tail lights had all the other GM divisions salivating with envy, for none of them came close to that classy look of the Olds vertical tail light.
Hi Chris.
I have a 83 98 Regency Brougham. It’s all original and I’ve won two trophy’s and a ribbon at car shows. Not bad for what they call a grocery getter. With groceries costing what they do now, it’s a high end grocery getter. 😂
@@madmatt1964ify
That 76 98 is a great looking car. I had one back in the day.
To Die for!!! I have a burgundy 81 Olds 98 4dr Diesel. Pillow top cloth, the absolute most comfortable car I own!! I love the 80 81 grill!!! Just a beautiful car!! So comfortable, warm, and whisper quiet inside!!
Love any yr Olds 98 especially the 70s and 80s
Absolutely exquisite design. Great car.
The cornering light to me was a detail of luxury. Was nice to see one of these machines at night signal to make a turn. It was a nice safety feature but GM managed to make it into a feature of elegance. Even Ford did the same thing with the Lincoln. It is a feature I simply love.
It’s a feature that should come back. Either that, or something like the Citroën DS and SM, which had lights that turned with the steering wheel, and self leveled depending on whether the front-end was pointing upwards or downwards.
@@stoneylonesome4062 Cornering light were available up to the late 2000s if I'm not mistaken.
The last Cadillac Devilles, Cadillac DTS, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car came with that feature.
Although turn signals mounted on the side mirrors have replaced cornering lamps they don't have the same classy effect as they became mainstream in lower priced vehicles while cornering lamps were never available in those segments
@@engineer_alv the late V8 DTS is a car I love. It owes a lot to a favorite large FWD car of mine: the Toronado. The cornering lamp as GM began using it had the best touch of elegance and functionality.
I have a “cornering light fetish”. Love them! I have had two cars that had them. 1985 Continental Mk VII LSC and my current daily driver, 2018 Buick Regal TourX.
@@wmalden I recall W body Regals and the later Park Avenues using cornering lights but I never thought the last Regals from a couple years ago also had that feature. Nice and refreshing in this day and age
Always loved these Olds
My first car was an ‘86 Fleetwood Brougham with the Olds 307. I feel your love for these and am digging the Olds ‘98
Instant like. We talk about this model on one of the Brocasts.
I learned to drive on a 1980 Ninety-Eight Regency sedan that brought me home from the hospital when I was born.
My brother learned to drive on a 1983.
Both were 307s. Mine had the 3 speed auto with the cornering lamps; he had the 4 speed over drive.
The back seat was undeniably sofa on wheels.
Both sedans are still in the family. And we love ‘em.
Agreed on the armrests! I place a towel on the center console of my 2016 Escalade to cushion my right elbow (c'mon Cadillac, give us back some plush interiors). I also really miss the pillowed cloth seats in the '80s-era full-size GM sedans. They were the best for road trips.
--They won't. Everything today is about sportiness, function, and keeping building costs low. It's why we have almost the same exterior colors with only grey or black interior choices with few exceptions. I miss those comfy interiors too along with the array of colors to choose from. 🙁
These now outdated Luxury Boats STILL outdo almost every luxury car today ! Today, they ALL LOOK ALIKE ! BORING !
BEAUTIFUL! They don't make them like that anymore.
Soooo agree.
I had the exact white 98 shown here and it was a beauty.
Someone had to say it😊
I miss those cars! They were wonderful!
I had a 1980 4 Door 98 Regency Brougham with a Oldsmobile 350 gasoline V8 coupled to a THM 400 transmission. Used it for 4 years from 1985 through 1989. Absolutely a bulletproof combination, although I did have to change the timing chain and plastic sprockets.
I loved these Oldsmobile, these were true dependable cars and rode very nice !! Nothing will ride like these did
My Dad had an '83 Brougham ... I loved that comfy car as a kid.
I had a 77 and then 78 Delta 88. Awesome cars!!!
My father ordered this back in 1980 in top trim level and diesel. He did install a water separator filter and it never gave us any problem. Most highway driving did indeed yield 28+ mpg. His also had the built in CB radio which never really was used. I drove it often including with a utility trailer attached. Having picked up stainless steel casting from Mobile Al docks, I can attest to lack of power coming up and out of the Mobile tunnel heading to Pensacola. The only slower car I ever drove was a Volvo 240 diesel in ‘82.
What year was that 240 and which diesel engine did it have?
I had a 1982 delta 88 royale which rode extremely comfortable . Such a good looking car and very roomy. The modern generation will never know this kind of luxury...
Huge dream car for me, this and the 1976’ regency brougham are two of my all time favorite land barges!
That is a beautiful car! Those 4bbl V8's and skinny tires made for some fun Friday nights in high school.
One of my favorite eras in Oldsmobile. These 98’s and Delta 88’s were popular in our extended family and when we all got together, the driveway and surrounding street looked like an Olds dealership. I had a 1980 Olds Cutlass Supreme and loved that car.
We were a big Olds family too. I had a 1979 Hurst/Olds with a 350 V-8 and T-tops. They aren't super valuable today, but it turns out that it was a pretty rare car. I still kick myself for not keeping it.
One of my high school friends, back in the 70s, had one of those previous generation 98s. Man was that thing huge.
Oldsmobile outclassed Cadillac with these
I inherited a '77 Olds 98 with 25k miles. Had the 403 ci engine, which was not available in later years. A complete luxury dream.
I had one in yellow, a TWO door with the 403. Had brown tufted leather interior. I was just a kid but loved the size and comfort.
Thank you Adam! I was not expecting this at all! This video is appreciated tremendously! Oldsmobile Ninety Eight indeed! I liked this generation a lot too. I especially like when they added the updated Regency Brougham package for 1982 with the new Brougham seat design and updated steering wheel in 1982. As you know I own a 1996 Ninety Eight I drive daily. It tried to recapture the look of this generation 1980-1984. I was a huge fan of 1963, 1965-1966, 1968, 1969-1970, 1973, 1975, 1980-1984, 1991-1996. There are others, but those stand out for me. It was the details. You covered it so nice in this video with the information, features, and the footage. The thing I will never understand was the engines. I knew the 307 had torque, but seemed underpowered. I know the Cutlass Supreme 442 had the high outout 307 at 165 hp. I do not know why they did not offer that in the Ninety-Eight and Toronado. I liked the loaded Eighty Eight Brougham and Brougham LS from 1984-1985. You could get more gauges. I saw them on Custom Cruiser and some Ninety-Eights and Eighty-Eights. It was a gauge package.It gave you temp, oil, and voltage. The Custom Cruiser had more controls because it was a wagon. You are telling the truth about the headliner. Several of those features from this era Ninety Eight ended up on the Eighty Eight and Custom Cruiser wagon.
Our family had the Pontiac near-equivalent -- the 2 door Bonneville Brougham -- with the 307 Olds V8. We absolutely loved it.
[And today I learned (or re-remembered) that the 98 was C-platform and Bonneville and 88 were B-platform].
That's not quite an equivalent. More like one notch below and in the same class as the Delta.
@@BrownsFaninIowa The Bonneville Brougham was top of the line for Pontiac, but still a notch below the 98 and Buick Electra. A smaller and cheaper car, simply put.
A-ha! Now I get it (after a little searching). The distinction is C platform (98, etc.) vs B platform (88, Bonneville, etc.).
Man, 40 years ago was a LONG time ago. The car nerd things I knew then that I've since long forgotten...
Still, was an awesome car. At least according to my feeble memories from 40 years ago.
@@BrownsFaninIowa Well, there you go! Those cars were terrific. I remember them very well, but my preference was always the 98 and Electra, because they were a little larger and fancier. Had both, and both were stolen.
Great videos, I've been running the oldsmobile 307 for 4 years in my 81' Eldorado. Its fantastic! Box cars are making a come back.
These '98 Coupes as you show here
were gorgeous substantial luxurious roomy and could tow an RV if properly equipped
Along with the Buick Park Avenue.....my favourite cars ever....any year '75 onward
Hi Adam, I had an Aunt and Uncle from Ohio that were big Oldsmobile buyers having had many over the years. My Aunt always had two door models and my Uncle was the four door person of the family. I recall one year when they visited us here in Connecticut they drove her 1976 Oldsmobile 98 which was in a cream color with all the power options. What a boat that was. On the occasion of a trip we took to Ohio in 1973 I was able to ride in my Uncle's 1970 Oldsmobile Holiday four door also in a cream color. They certainly were big ,luxurious cars that still had some power back in the early seventies. Thanks for the video.
When you say "acres of fake plastic wood" or "acres and acres of wood", well, that joke never gets old for me! Also, I'd like to point out that your passion for classic American cars, your knowledge and your soothing voice makes the greatest possible unintentional(?) car ASMR content.
I don't get the level of hate for the fake wood. I think if it's well done, it's nice to look at. Of course it's not real wood, that wouldn't even be practical in anything past the early 1900s. That being said, I do get the hate of car companies cheaping out on stuff, and he does have a nice speaking voice.
I'm less into these old American sedans than I thought thanks to seeing the level of interest that can exist for them, but I still listen because he makes it a pleasant experience.
I'm a car guy and I watch a lot of videos. It's a nice gentlemanly contrast to the younger guys "what's up TH-cam" and their friggin editing and music.
I have a thing for all that fake wood on the 1984 Buick Riviera. It seems the entire dash was fake wood. And the doors had fake wood with integral molded speaker grills.
I just love 1980s GM cars!
I can’t think of a single brand new car for sale today that I lust over. That’s why I drive a 30 year old Cadillac!
Come to think of it, I think the wood on the dash of my 1994 Eldorado is real! Is that possible?
@@jdslyman I bought it in 2018 with 24,000 miles on it. Today it has almost 49,000 miles on it.
Yes, you are right. It’s a fine car. Drives down the highway straight and true with no vibrations. I love the magnetic ride control.
It runs flawlessly. I did the test for exhaust gas leakage into the coolant when I first got the car and it tested perfect. No trace of any exhaust leaking into the coolant.
Several months ago I had both shift solenoids in the transmission replaced with an improved design that doesn’t fail prematurely like the ones from the factory that did fail on me! I limped home with only second gear and reverse.
It’s my daily driver, but I don’t drive it hard, if that matters at all.
Approximately when should I expect the head gaskets to blow?
Just the other day I was looking into this guy from Limerick Pennsylvania. Jim Adair. He claims to have repaired over 1,000 Northstar engines over the years. He charges a flat $2,650 for his service.
He removes the engine, replaces the head gaskets and installs head bolts that don’t pull out of the block like the originals. He replaces several other gaskets and some other stuff and reinstalls the engine.
I’m on the fence as to what to do.
Sell it soon before it fails.
Drive it till it blows and repair it.
Drive it till it blows and junk it.
I’m left scratching my head…
@@CH67guy1 Yes, it is. All of the Sevilles, DeVilles and Eldorados of the 1990s and 2000s are real wood. As a Cadillac tech, I accidentally broke the trim plate around the shifter of a 1998 Seville STS once and that was when I realized it was all real. It's not cheap to replace either, so be careful with it!
@@CH67guy1 Yes , that transmission repair was common on pre-1996 4T80-E transmissions. The TCC filter in the lower valvebody would pop out and put a side load on one of the shift solenoids, causing the solenoid to break. There was a kit that came with two new solenoids, a new TCC filter, and a bracket to install over the filter to retain it so it would not push on the solenoid. It also came with a longer bolt to accommodate the bracket thickness.
As for the head gaskets, as long as you maintain the cooling system, you should be okay. The vast majority of head gasket failures I encountered on Northstars could be traced back to cooling system leaks and overheating. On your Eldorado, a common leak point is the heater crossover pipes that run across the back (firewall side) of the engine. They are formed painted steel and eventually rust out, especially if driven during salty winters like here in Michigan. The water pump housing/coolant crossover gaskets (there are four of them) are another common leak point.
If you ever have to have the head gaskets done, the best thing to do is have Time Serts installed in the head bolt holes. This will ensure that the new head bolts will not pull out of the block. These engines generally need to be removed to do this, so it is best to have the entire engine resealed at the same time. There is a procedure to remove the lower crank case seals and oil pan gasket and replace them with grey GM engine sealant. This is a permanent repair and will not leak again if performed correctly. Like the other person you mentioned, I have done a ton of them during my tenure at a Cadillac dealer as a tech. The Northstar is an otherwise great engine. Lots of people bash it, but they have a bulletproof lower end (especially with 8 qts of oil) and we never really had issues with internal parts failing with the exception of the low tension piston rings causing oil consumption on the 2000-2003 versions. They also produce a good amount of power for their time, and they sound great when zinged up to 6500 rpm.
For reference, we used to charge 35 hours to do a full reseal and Time Sert install at the dealer, so the price you were quoted for labor is very fair. Although my opinion is biased because I have always thought those Eldorados were beautiful cars, I see no reason to let it go if it is in otherwise good shape. I myself owned a 1998 Seville SLS for 9 years and only got rid of it because I needed a more efficient commuter (2013 Volt which I still have today). I wish I had had the space to keep the Cadillac.
My grandparents had a Delta 88 from this era. Very comfortable cars. The back seat was like a living room sofa.
Own an 1981 Olds 98 (Diesel) WITH the gauge package. And leather. It has 30,000 original miles and was own owner. Runs and drives like a dream. It’s obviously slow and loud on the outside. On the inside and on the open road hard to beat.
Beautiful cars.
Growing up, I knew someone who had an '84 98 Regency Brougham. It looked just like the lead photo to this video. Dark maroon interior/exterior, matching quarter vinyl roof, coach lights, fender skirts. Just different wheel covers. Everything you described in this video about these cars rings absolutely true to my memory. It had the 307 engine, which was not especially enthusiastic particularly by today's standards, but it was smooth, reliable, and did the job well. Such a comfortable and spacious interior, nothing like it is available today. At that same time, our next door neighbor had what I think was a '79 or '80 Delta 88 Royale. It was white with a blue interior and had that God-awful diesel engine. He had the block heater for it, and I remember the extention cord running from their house to the car every year from late fall to early spring. The noise and smoke that thing made in the cold weather until it warmed up always fascinated me though. He was retired WWII era air force, so I'm sure he knew how to get it started and running even on the coldest winter mornings if he needed to go out. Thanks for your wonderful channel, Adam!
My dad had a titanium grey 1985 Olds Delta 88 Luxury Sedan, fully optioned (with wire wheels!), with the Olds 307 v8...to Adam's point it was VERY smooth and refined, but very little oomph. It could cruise silently all day at 75-80 mph, but there wasn't much reserve. The engine sounded like it was in another zip code, so quiet. The car was fairly trouble free, and he drove the wheels off it in his consulting engineering business...going over 200K miles. The leather seats, though large, with big, wide bottom cushions, were not that supportive. Ultra thick cut-pile carpeting and opera lights on the B-pillar made for a luxurious ambiance. At the end, it was pretty tired, but a solid, well built car...the transmission never failed. The car never let him down, ever. Just a competent, stately wafter.
I had one and the guy that owned it treated it like it was a Corvette he put upgraded wheels and tires and suspension and exhaust and it really handle being a big heavy duty car I truly enjoyed it anybody that can get one will not be disappointed!
I remember these cars well
My 84 Grand Prix was lucky to get 21 MPG on the highway with a 305 Chevy V8
I had the 1983 Olds Delta 88 Brougham 4 dr sedan- the ceiling drooped but back then it was easy to find somebody to fix it. My transmission went out - got a life time warranty repair from a friend of mine who worked for ScAamco - the trans went out again - he gave up and sent me to a buddy of his who put in a turbo 350 which apparently was a direct bolt up. The trans never went out after that. I screwed up and used Armour All on the dash which caused it to crack. On or about 1991 I sold the car to a guy in Dallas , Tx who bought it for his mother-in - law - she was still driving it into the late nineties. I thought the fit & finish was really pretty good and I believe Oldsmobile set some sales records with that model.
Dad was a car distributor for Oldsmobile. My mom had a new 78, 79,80 cutlass supreme and a new 81, 82, 83 and 84 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight. I believe the first three were Regency models, and the 84 was a Regency Brougham with the velvet interior, electroluminescent coach lamps between the front and rear doors and the plushest carpet I have ever seen in an automobile. Still have a lot of dealer brochures from the early 80s.
Back in 1980 my dad bought a pristine metallic-brown ‘72 Olds 98 which he kept for about 4 or 5 years. It rode like a big Cadillac - like sailing on a big fluffy cloud in the sky. About 35 years later (maybe 8 or 10 years ago) I bought a pristine, low mileage, light-metallic-blue, huge 4-door ‘86 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham powered by the 307 Olds engine. It was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Way back in 1966 or ‘67 when I was a 7 or 8-year-old kid, my dad brought home a like-new, 2 or 3-yr-old, gold-mist ‘64 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. I’d be happy to have any of those 3 cars today! Or the Olds featured in this video! It no doubt rode as nice & smooth, and was as plush as any of the big old Caddies and Olds of the American “land-yacht” era!
We had a 73 Buick Park Ave Electra, pillowed valour int, 455, that was the best riding car I've ever been in, comfort is what it was all about, olds made some great cars as well.
My father had the two door one in Royal Blue. I was just a kid; but, the styling of the car still made an impression on me. I remember noticing the size of those doors. Huge! This was a great nostalgic experience for me. Thanks.
To say these cars being underpowered IS an absolute understatement!
1980 you could still get the 403 . 6.6 liter.. I had no complaints about the Torque & H.P. moved the 98 perfectly.. But the options by 81 were definitely under powered.. The Diesel was absolutely dangerous on a two lane Highway & slow as hell in city traffic if you needed to pull out into traffic..
I had an '82 Olds 98 2-door with the 307CI V8 when I was a senior in high school. Since I worked at the airport, I ran that car on 100LL Avgas. Boy, that car loved that gas.
Hey Adam… this is Randy Norris… from Troy,MO. I have a 1982 Olds 98 Regency… with 58,000 original miles… it’s the very exact same light tan color at the 7:27 timeline in your video… only mine is 4dr…. It has the marvelous 5.7L 350 diesel engine with the TH200-4R 4 so tranny with overdrive. All my power windows still work.. cruise, tilt, factory installed cassette stereo… analog clock on the dash… both driver and passenger side…6-way power seats… arm rest in the rear seat.. light gray pillow-top seats front and rear… I am the 3rd owner from new!!! It was an original Oklahoma vehicle… the man I bought it from lived in an Indian reservation in lower Oklahoma… 60 miles north of Texas ! So… even the entire underneath of the vehicle has almost NO rust at all… still has the fender skirts on it…I am 53…. And grew up riding in early ‘70’s Grand Marquis’… Mercury Monterey’s… Cadillac Fleetwoods… etc…. No comparison to the ride quality of those “Land Yatch’s”. Great memories… and now I have one of my own…. Thx for the great video!
Those Ninety Eight’s of that generation were some of the best. Very luxurious and handsome. I owned an ‘83 Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe in ‘87. It was a very good looking and luxurious car. I thought about,buying a Ninety Eight but I was only 25 years old at the,time and thought that it just wouldn’t be a young persons car, even though a Delta 88 was far from being a young persons car…LOL. I still think that the early 80’s generation of the Nighty Eight Brougham sedans were such a beautifully designed car with the fender skirts and formal roof treatment. Great video! ❤
Love these 98''s!
I loved my '78 Impala 305cid 4 door. Huge trunk. Ran really smooth.
I have one of these. It's a 1983 with the regency trim, I've got the pillow top seats, top end radio, and the rare gauge cluster package. No cornering lights or fiber optic though unfortunately. I had a fair bit of trouble with the computer controlled carb when I first got it but I converted it to analog and it's been a great car ever since. Absolute tank in the winter, it performs better than my lincoln with traction control! I've really grown into liking the car, it really is one of the better ones ove owned
Oh man...thank you for this!! My Grandpa bought a brand new '85 98 Regency from Bommarito Oldsmobile Cadillac GMC out in west county STL. I absolutely loved it, and was so crushed to see GM downsize it in '86.
To the armrest on the interior, I believe they even had an "R" embroidered into the armrest. The 98 Regency was his, and he bought a Delta 88 for my Grandma...
As always, thank you so much for the great video, Adam.
The 98 was downsized in 1985 like the Park Avenue and Sedan deVille.
@@charlesmcginness7214 You're correct! Well... that's embarrassing, but thank you for the correction. I could have sworn it was an '85. Maybe it was an '84? I'm 49 yrs old, and I was 10yrs old...that was a lot of beers ago!!
@@jefweb5043
I’ll be 53 soon. Remember that time so well because my aunt and uncle took me car shopping any time they went. They had a beautiful ‘83 Park Avenue. We looked at the “cut down” Cadillacs in May of ‘84. They ended up buying another Park Avenue. I was as excited as it it was Christmas morning. I was used to new model years coming out in the fall but May was unheard of.
Maybe your grandfather bought a left over ‘84 in ‘85. A lot of older folks didn’t want the “smaller” cars. I thought they were great!
That's where my G'pa bought a few of his, from the professional singer, Tony something- Bommarito Audi right next door is where we bought our E-tron!
G'pa did go for a couple of the FWD Ninety Eights, an 88 and a 91 Elite - gotta say the interiors were still very roomy, and they were comfy cars. By then I was able to drive and I thought they drove fantastic. I went on to own several cars with the 3800 V6 and just LOVE that engine. Favorite had to be my Bonnie SSE, white with white alloys and peanut butter leather.
My old man had one. Loved that car.
In this era of "luxury" cars that claim luxury by taking a corner at 60 miles per hour and lap the Nurburgring like a formula 1 car - it's a pleasure to see a true luxury vehicle. With a quiet cabin with plenty of room to stretch out in and those comfortable seats to while away the miles on - That Ninety Eight was one fabulous vehicle. Those seats also tended to have a longer bottom cushion which gave greater support to the entire body when seated and made long trips much more comfortable.
When one sees a near $100K new Cadillac today and observe what seems to be the same diminutive bucket seat they put in a Chevy Trax, well, you understand why so many have moved to full-sized trucks. The cabin room, seat dimensions and quiet available with their full frame/body configuration are the modern day equivalent to vehicles like that Ninety Eight in terms of comfort while underway, ( Ha! But so is the handling!)
I owned a 1984 Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe. Yes they were a land yacht, but what a way to travel! Wish I still owned one of those today.
My folks bought this car brand new and drove it off the lot..My Dad paid cash for the car and it really was beautiful..It was a beautiful dark wine red with dove grey fabric interior..My Dad loved that car and put over 160.000 miles on it before they traded..
GM made rolling artwork in their heyday. El Dorado, Riviera, Toronado and the mid-sixties full size Pontiacs were all automotive sculpture. In 1976 11 year old me was still mesmerized and impressed by the sheer presence of his uncle’s Firethorn Red 1976 Coupe DeVille, but looking back I have to I agree with your take: the 1971 B bodies marked the beginning of the end of GM as a styling and engineering tour de force as badge engineering and cost cutting took over. It was a hell of a legacy to throw away. OTOH, the C8 Corvette shows the world that the fire is still lit: turn the engineers and stylists loose!
I had to rewind to look at the pic of the 455 - looks like my old 76 Custom Cruiser & 76 Toronados. I loved those 455s.
We had (2) 1980 98s growing up and both had the wonderful diesel engines. Aside from all the issues with the engines, they rode like a dream. So comfy and to me some of the prettiest styling of the era. I am partial to fender skirts. I think they are so classy. One funny memory of riding in one of these diesel barges, is one time we took off from a red light and there was such a thick and dark cloud of black smoke the people behind us had to pull over because they couldn’t see where they were going 😂
A luxury car that sounds like a tractor! 😂😂
My 1980 Olds 98 sedan has been the most reliable out of all my cars, second is my 1988 Town car and both are the best looking Boats of the 1980's.
Ah yes, Loved these Oldsmobiles, as my Uncle used to be new ones from a dealership right here in western MI.
Picture of 88 looks like the Caprice! Never thought of that.
Loved the 1984 Olds 98 Regency!!
This is Gerry..the 88 Eldorado guy from VA. YAS....I owned...from 1989-1996....a wonderfull 81 Regency coupe...waxberry metallic....with the exact color seats in your example.....what a great car overall....slow.....after getting rid of my 460 4V Colony Park....lol....cars would pass the 98 like I was chained to the guardrail. Great gas mileage.....reliable.....Y-code 307. Had new headliner....viral top....repaint.....than like an idiot gave it to my younger brother.
My mom dated a guy with a 80 Deville Coupe. I was in middle school and that 80 impressed me so much. Of course my mom had a 78 Honda Civic so this caddy seemed like a revelation. 😂. The caddy was on the same chassis as this Olds. Beautiful riding car. Quiet and smooth. GM knocked it out of the park with these cars. The 80 still had a decent engine.
My father bought a 1980 it had a 403 . 6.6 liter V8 .. pretty sure was available in Cadillac & Buick . Same motor that was similar or same in Trans AM.. I drove that 98 and she was about as fast as any automobile made at the time . A great cruiser and a blast at the Drive in Movies 😅.. I had a small Datsun 210 as my daily driver . Slow as all get out off the line , but was a great car , incredibly good MPG .. Wishing I still had them both . Appreciate your sentiment for the Honda & the Cadillac. :)
Yes! I had an 83 Olds 98 Regency 2 door. Bought it when I graduated in 1990. Drove it for 10 years and never had a single issue with it other than the alternator. Sadly I was hit by a drunk and it was totaled.
My parents had a champagne color 1984 two door coupe with brown leather interior.
They loved this car.
My dad, at least until the 1980s, was a Buick-guy. Me? When I was out of college and buying my own cars, was an unapologetically Oldsmobile buyer. I bought, new, a series of Cutlass coupes which I just loved. (Sadly, I seemed to be the only one buying a new Olds.) I never drove or owned a Toronado but I sure wished I had. The Ninety-Eight was a car your dad drove. Or the local vicar, if it was a prosperous parish. A beautiful car. 👍
Adam i have a 1984 98. The same color as your 81. It should be called Sand Grey. Mine his a Royal blue interior and a blue quarter vinyl top. The 307 as you said is not a hot rod by any means. But it is reliable as reliable as hell. And it is Bulletproof my father bought his new it was later handed down to me and I still have it to this day. The car has over 151000 miles and it'll still turn right over and I have no fear of driving it anywhere it is solid as a rock. Even the interior there isn't a rattle or a shake in it. My other car is a 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale with the 350. I was lucky enough to purchase this car from the original owner with only thirty-three thousand original miles on it. The car was dealer service and kept in a climate-controlled garage. It is a real time capsule. I stripped off all the Pollution Control devices such as the catalytic converters I put true dual exhaust on it even got rid of the PCV valve. It was like the car. A shot of espresso. I love both cause they were built when Oldsmobile was at their best
I had an '82 Regency 4 door, 307, throughout most of the 1990's. Had that exact interior in light grey. Dead reliable, and routinely got 21-22 mpg highway. There is no equivalent to these cars today, and it's a shame. I think the end of Olds began around the time of the "This is not your Father's Oldsmobile" ad campaign. Father's Oldsmobile is what made them great!
We had the Oldsmobile Diesel and I loved it, I wish they would have been more reliable, I miss those 80's Diesel engines, I use to love hearing that rattle and knocking.
My mom had a grey one of these with burgundy interior. RIP mom. ❤
Glad olds brought back the fender skirts for this body style
I owned a 1981 Oldsmobile 98 with the 307. The headliner had to be repaired. I remember doing a water pump and a power steering pump as well as the power seat motor. The engine was very smooth but under powered. It was a very comfortable car that ran great when I sold it with over 180,000 miles on it. If only they had offered it with a 350!
I had a 1985 Olds Delta 88 Royal Brougham with the 5 litre, 307 V8. Not meant for drag racing but not a slouch either once it got going. Can cruise comfortably at 80 Mph. Smooth, quiet and ultra comfortable.
Had a 1982 olds 98 Regency, and ir was a great car. Lots of parts were interchangeable chassis wise with a Caddy, and the 307 ci olds engine was a great advantage from the diesel, or the HT4100. Great to ride, and drive.😊
I had one. I still miss that boat.
Loved the seats in them
The best. And how about that door trim, too?
I love my '80 Delta88 Royale. Rides smooooooth
I special orderd a 78 Olds Vista Cruiser Wagon, totally loaded with the 5.7 Diesel. Loved the big wago hated the slog slow engine. I was on the road a lot and racked up miles. head gasket blew after warranty ended and GM fixed the car. All in all it worked out well and was a beautiful car.
Growing up around these big girls that Rocket 350 olds engine had quite the rumble to er.. beautiful exhaust note..
Fine lookin car man I have a 1981 oldsmobile toronado same color with a tan vynyl top and tan pillow top leather seats a mighty fine lookin car with the same engine 5.0 litre 307 V8 engine with 4 barrel carburetor and front wheel drive and the engine sitting front ways like a rear wheel drive and rides just as good as she looks. The same kind of car as the cadillac eldorado and buick riviera that's a beautiful 98 regency coupe the same kind of car as the cadillac coupe deville and buick electra coupe and the pontiac bonneville brougham coupe of that year.... beautiful car...I love these big rides....
Gotta luv these unique dinosaurs, never again dude, you kno more than i do, good presentation 👍
My dad bought a new diesel, from Willowdell sales company, a John Deere dealer that also sold Olds. The JD mechanics about shit, it was so bad. Dad got a replacement engine for little cost from olds and the second one was not bad at all, however the dealer would install John Deere fuel filters on the car, big improvement.
The fun story is GM sent a snot nosed expert out to show them how to rebuild injection pumps. He demanded a special dust free room and special air filtration systems and told them they didn't know anything about injection systems, the JD service manager and one of his mechanics over lunch opened up two pumps and spread the parts over some newspapers on the bench. Little snot nose crapped when he got back, they made him watch as they rebuilt the pumps and installed them in an 88 and a 98, the cars ran great. Old Bob who grew up fixing tractors since he was a kid in the 30's just laughed and told the little snot, we know more about injection pumps than you ever will so buzz off
Years later I purchased a 15th anniversary hurst from them, one of my favorite cars, a real cruiser . Also owned a 66 Toronado, one of olds best designs, GM destroyed Olds
All of Gm suffered
I factory ordered a 1978 403 V-8 for pulling a 21 foot tandem trailer. The car was a Delta 88 4 door. It was a beautiful cream colour. However, the engine developed a camshaft knock when it was first started. The dealer said not to worry. I ordered a 1980 Delta 88 for pulling our trailer. It had a 350 Olds engine. The car arrived and I was ready to undercoat it the first night. I saw the small TH200 transmission and my heart sank. The car was factory ordered complete with HD transmission cooling etc. It had an aluminum hood to save weight. It had the spoke hubcaps etc. The car dealer said not to worry because GM said there was lots of warranty. My automotive friend teaching at an automotive tech school said that the TH200 had parts thinner than an apple juice can. He was not impressed. The dealer said to drive the 1980 4 door Delta 88 back to him. He had an Olds station wagon due in a few weeks. I drove to pick it up. The station wagon had a 350 Olds V-8 with a TH350 transmission. It turned out to be a "lemon" In fact I did use the car to pull our trailer but it never had the power of my 1969 Chev 427. (The Chev 427 Caprice was also factory ordered. I kept it for 100,000 miles until premium gas became difficult to find.) In the Rocky Mountains, I would let the station wagon churn in first gear through some of the high passes going 25 mph. I had a number of defects repaired under warranty. I then left General Motors for a number of years. One service manager said he thought that GM had built some engines out of "reject" parts. I came back to GM in 2008 when I purchased a GMC Duramax powered 3/4 ton truck. It pulls a 5th wheel with no problem. The Allison transmission shifts like a dream. The Oldsmobiles are no more. There is a reason why General Motors is called government motors. I was sure disappointed in some of their products back in 1978, 1980, and 1981.
In high school got to drive a four door Regency Brougham a lot. It was very nice!! Brown exterior and camel interior
My dad gave me his 1978 98 diesel which was basically a gas conversion engine. I remember driving it cross country and climbing a steep grade in Colorado with a cloud of black diesel smoke trailing me like a jet taking off
I always found it funny that the dash in these early 80’s model Oldsmobiles had basically the same dash that was in my 77 Olds delta 88 royale. Also I remember having to have the headliner replaced in my 77 Olds and my 81 Monte Carlo. Those headliners never lasted, but back then it was so easy to get them replaced. I also had friends that had an early 80’s Oldsmobile delta 88 2 door diesel, I was fascinated with that car and the different hood ornament. It was a cool car, silver and navy blue interior but you know how silver 80’s paint was so it always looked so worn. But an awesome car I thought.
I had a customer in Central Oregon that rolled one of these in a triangle from his home base to San Francisco to Salt Lake City. It was a great car ... his being a four door ... white w/ blue vinyl top and blue interior. As it neared 300K miles, the spring in the hood ornament broke causing the crest to fall over. We all laughed about it and suggested he write Oldsmobile a letter complaining about the unit not having longevity. He did. A factory rep replied and had him meet up the local dealer where they replaced it at no charge. Photographs were taken of everything including the odometer reading in excess of 300,000 miles! I'm not sure what became of it all but thought that was pretty cool. 307 was a great engine.
The two door in the dark charcoal with the dove grey padded roof was my favorite with the tuffed interior of Lazy Boy Recliners...
The first time I came across one of these Oldsmobiles with the 5.7 diesel was in about 1989/90 when the owner of the garage said they had just pulled out the diesel and replaced it with a crate 350 petrol V8, it was a lovely car.
Hi Adam. I have a 1980 Regency 98 sedan with a 350 4bbl Olds and a 3 speed. All original. Best ride of any car I own!
You are right about the 3.8-V6 (231 cu).I owned a used 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix,bought it when it was 8 years old.The oil pump wasn't working and the oil light came on.A mechanic told me to use motor honey in Winter & 20W50 in Summer.The oil light never came on again and drove it for 2 and a half years.
Considering i paid only $1100,i got plenty of use out of it.
Those were nice cars. My uncle had a 1977 Delta 88 with that loose pillow look interior.
The 1980-1984 Olds 98 was one of the best looking cars from that time period although the '81 was the least desirable. The 1980 model was still available with an Oldsmobile 350 V-8, gas not diesel. The 1982 model received an updated steering wheel design along with the multi function turn signal lever which had the windshield wiper controls integrated into it. 1982 also introduced the radio design that GM would use for the next twenty years. My Father was an Olds dealer back then so I got to examine and drive all the different models back then. The 307 V-8 wasn't a screamer, but is was adequate and very smooth.