Two Olds Friends: Oldsmobile 455 and Rocket 350 Startup and Idle
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 พ.ค. 2022
- Enjoy this brief video comparing the sounds of an Oldsmobile 455 and Oldsmobile 350 V8. The 455 is in my 1975 Delta 88 Royale; the 350 is in my 1973 Cutlass Colonnade sedan.
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It’s strange to think that outside of an Oldsmobile car show, when you start two Olds V8’s at the same time…it might be the only place in the universe this is happening.
I know right!!
40 years ago, it was happening in nearly every parking lot.
Until a '79 Trans Am shows up with gold valve covers.....
Mind trip. Whoa.
This guy, I have a suspicion, is still at it…although channel inactive.
All Olds V8s.
th-cam.com/video/UJgdM1Tq4o8/w-d-xo.html
That Delta without the ac during summer would be the epitome of "hotter than a popcorn...". All that freakin greenhouse.
Love that Cutlass and that smooth 350 but both are great. Never any Olds in my family as we always had Chevy, Pontiac or Buick as I was growing up. When I was a teenager in the mid 70's I worked at a Mobil gas station not far from where you are, 15 & Dequindre. A guy would regularly stop for gas in his 69 Cutlass with that amazing W-31 350. A VERY underrated engine!
Absolutely love those cars! I was surprised that 88 doesn't have air conditioning, or at least I didn't see a compressor. I sure would like to be your next door neighbor!
Adam has talked about this in other videos. No fan clutch either.
He seems to have a large number of non a/c full and mid-sized cars in his collection.
@@ThePrissy11 guessing a fair number of these cars are from the upper mid-west, add to that the fact older buyers often didn't want A/C
love those classic Oldsmobile V8s my late maternal grandmother drove a 72 Delta 88 455 for 3 years when my mom was young yeah she traded that for a 1975 Ford Granada and then she traded that for a used 1979 Cadillac Coupe Deville the first car of hers I actually rode in as a young child
Olds had those wonderful high torque starters that gave them such unique start up sounds vs other gm vehicles.
Boy there can't be many 73 4dr Cutlass S's left with that kind of miles. I also really love the color combination. You really have a winner there. I'd have a hard time choosing as the 75 Delta 88 Royal is fantastic as well. Another great video!
Thats a hard choice. Love the cranberry paint on the Cutlass, the dashboard and the sweet ass-end.
Everytime I see that body style it reminds me of the legendary Jackie Gleason
I'm picking the 73' Cutlass.
We had a ‘74 Cutlass Supreme coupe in the family. Same colour as yours. It had the Rocket 350 also with factory dual exhaust. That added 20 hp. according to GM specs. Compared to most cars back then it moved out pretty good. That was the last year of the gold engines. After that they were all blue then eventually black.
SWEET JESUS, WHAT GLORIOUS CARS.
I just love Oldsmobiles! They were always my favorite GM division. My family started with Pontiacs but graduated to Oldsmobile all the way to the late 1980's. I miss them so much.
The only new car that my family had was a 1968 Olds Cutlass with a 350 and Turbo Hydra-matic. That was a hell of a combo for my mother. It was a special order by my dad. It had dog bowl wheel covers and no radio. I still have the transistor radio that I had to use when I drove the car. It must not have had resistor plug wires, because there was always RF Interference. The sound of the engine was nice, for a while.
Amazing sounds from both of them. Thank you for sharing… Olds 455 all day.
The '73 Cutlass two door is simply beautiful. That, and the GTO were the stars of the collanade cars.So underrated and still look awesome. Not a bad consolation to have the sedan.
I grew up with Oldsmobile my father worked at a. Oldsmobile dealer he was a mechanic we always had several Oldsmobiles at a time brand new and older ones
You don't see 4 door American cars here in New Zealand apart from Gm pontiacs and impalas that were built here in the 60s so all the cars on this channel are a treat for me excellent work Adam hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿
73 was the first year for the Cutlass Salon offered on the 4 dr only, beefed up interior, sway bars front and rear, and the Grand Touring Flags, 74 a two was was added. I bought a new 75 Supreme and later wished I'd spent a few more hundred and got the Salon. Cutlass lover here, I've had three.
My first car was a ’73 Cutlass Supreme four-door that had been my Grandmom’s. I had more fun with that car. That Quadrajet was amazing after a rebuild, and the dual-exhaust conversion with two-chamber Flowmasters made for a great sound. I miss it. So glad to see this fine specimen here.
My grandfather had a Cutlass. He died before I was born and my grandmother never learned how to drive (despite living in rurual north Alabama where you can't get anywhere without driving). Of course she kept the car after he died (in 1973 I think) until she died (1986) even though she didn't drive and anyone who took her anywhere used their own car. I found the registration card for it in his wallet and I think it was a 1970. All I can really remember is it had 4 doors and power windows and locks. Whenever I look at pictures online, I get confused about what I'm remembering vs the pictures I'm looking at filling in memory.
Adam - I owned a 1972 olds cutless supreme 2dsd with the skyrocket 350 cubic inch engine with the 4 barrel carburetor. By far the most reliable car I owned during this time period.
I miss it - body rot in rear quarters ate her up. Couldn’t put anything in the trunk cause it would fall out onto road
Got 20 years of reliable service from her. Great car!!
Yes, if memory serves me correctly the early 70s Cutlass was only matched by the Dart and Valiant for long term reliability.
My cousins had a yellow w black vinyl top cutlass. Lot of rust to end its life but I love those body styles.
I can tell how much you love these cars - it’s part of what makes the videos so enjoyable. You started out letting us look and listen to a nice pair of Oldsmobiles, and couldn’t resist taking one for a ride. Love it!
*My Dad owned a 2dr1974 Olds Delta 88 Royale with the Rocket 350 engine in it, and bought it brand new. It had the metallic green exterior, with the green vinyl hard top, green cloth fabric interior, and A/C in it. Bought it brand new. With the factory exhaust that car was a stealth muscle car. I really liked the stately refined quiet until you pushed the accelerator to the floor, wow that car could get out of its own way in now time at all. It was also a very reliable car as well.*
The 73 Cutlass any day. Even with lower compression, still decent power.
Another great -- if brief -- comparison of two cars that would have been on the lot at the same time. I can see Olds customers of this era cross-shopping the Cutlass and 88, so this makes perfect sense to me. Thank you.
I know it's usually not a favorite, but I personally love the 1973-77 A-body cars. Buick Century/Regal was my favorite of them, love the '73 Century GS with the 455 Stage 1. These Olds are pretty neat as well, love the content!
I love the '73 Buick Regal 455, 2 or 4 doors. You could get the gauge package similar to the Century GS. Drove one back in the day but couldn't afford to buy it. They would give practically nothing for my '70 GS 350 on trade.
That's pretty rad, i wish i would have been around back then. Sad they didnt give you enough for trade, but that '70 gs 350 would be in my stable if i could in a heart beat as well!
Just read the shout-out you got in this months Car and Driver! The editor is moving to Michigan from cali and is looking for a car like you share with us (now that he’ll be in a state with much more automotive freedom).
Something very soothing about that whisper quiet 455. Leave that single exhaust, preserve originality. Must be so fun to drive that car, well both of them.
Very nice, my 18 year old self is really enjoying them cars here, one day ill own one of these, as a kid i always wanted to already, atm got a 96 mustang and 92 corolla
Olds was the #1 seller in the 70s. Shame what the next 20 years would bring.
Sounds like our 68 cutlass exhaust. Olds had that sound at idle. You knew it as a kid
Tough choice. But I like the looks of the Cutlas over the later full size. You have some real gems and they run outstandingly well
The rocket 350 sounds awesome 😎
I like the 73 Cutlass; stunning color and roof combo. Great styling; beautiful
The Olds Cutlass is probably the best looking and most cohesive of the 4 door colonnades. Yours is particularly attractive in that color combination.
Both are sweet and unique, however I prefer the 73 Cutlass because size isn't everything, four doors {and four barrels} need love too. I would bet on a handling course the Cutlass could run away and hide from the 75 Delta. These camparos are interesting, thank you, appreciate all the work you put into this.
I have a soft spot for the Rocket. My dad had a black Cutlass Supreme with console shift,bucket seats and the Rocket 350.I loved that car and I always thought his taste in cars was impressive
Thanks for the memories again
I don't think I can make a choice, I love both models as they are unique and wonderful
The 4 door colonnade became cool to me when I saw Kojak with Telly Savalas and his Buick version in the seventies. Fast car!
Oldsmoburble. The center two exhaust ports contribute to that distinct Olds sound.
My answer: 64, F85, nicely equipped, white on maroon with white/black interior.
The Seventies were basically all about image, which was good in its own way.
back in the 80s the neighbor kid would rip around in his moms cutlass when his parents were out of town. it sounded so sweet. Maybe you could rip around the neighborhood for old times sake?
I’ll have that Cutlass all day long… cars like these seem ridiculous in 2022, but I grew up with ridiculous American cars and I love them.
I am looking forward to the day SUVs become ridiculous. ;-)
fun fact! alot of old john deere tractors from the 70's used the olds 350 alternator.
They both sound terrific. While I love land yachts, I'm not a fan of the horizontal speedometer. I always thought that they were hard to read.
Me neither, and inacurate....
Vinyl seats....dont miss those!..sitting down into those seats in the suummer would feel like sitting on the surface of the sun.
This channel has it all! Great reviews, tips, and general info, and the drive...keep up the good stuff!
My father grew up in an Oldsmobile family, and has told many stories of Rocket V8s doing big smokey burnouts and leaving potholes in the driveway afterwards. Big or small, they all deserve respect for being smooth but potent engines (even the non-rocket ones). Personally, I think I'd have to pick the Cutlass. Dual exhaust sounds great, and I love the color combo...despite the 88's killer roofline.
Thank you Adam for your videos and love of the automobile!! God bless.
6 thousand miles on it.....that is incredible
Great video, Adam! Maybe you can do a porch talk video about the (technical) differences between small and big blocks in general? As I European I have read something about them a long time ago but I'm not so familiar with them as you. Thanks! Greets from the Netherlands.
Wow that takes me back! Lovely cars. By 75 the engines were definitely wheezing. The 73, although not high compression, still had a bit more pop in the exhaust note imho. Nice video! Thanks for posting this time capsule!
I had a 1973 Cutlass with the 350. It got terrible gas mileage but it never failed to start up and always had power to spare. Unfortunately it was too far gone to make a restoration a good idea. Still I miss it.
I like the rumble of the dual pipes
I absolutely love the channel - great stuff!
I like both of them. Unleaded gas did so much to prolong exhaust systems. You were lucky to get 3 years on exhaust up north on a leaded gas vehicle. Had something to do with a chemical reaction that created acid in exhaust from leaded gas.
I think its more about if the exhaust system is mild steel or stainless steel.
I appreciate you making this video. Love the way the 455 turns right over!
Black Olds Delta 88 is an amazing vehicle.
Its always nice to watch these older vehicles. But now i want one-lol. I would just drive it everyday.
I had a 65 88 with hi compression 425. It had single exhaust (about the size of a small stove pipe).
They both have a great sound, but I think I actually prefer the sound of the 350.
However I really like the interior of the Royale with the black split bench front seat. Looks really comfortable.
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.
Love it best video! Love the 73 drivetrain and the Delta's look!
I like Oldsmobiles so I like both cars. But between these two I would take the Cutlass hands down. Nice color on that one. Looking forward to the review.
both are stunning
Excellent video. Thank you.
The bigger brother has the plush interior, but the 350 has the old gold engine color. The later year colonnade Cutlass with the waterfall grill really sold. No more Olds gold in those either.
I like and prefer the 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo you have sitting in the garage the best by far! I'd take that any day over both the two Olds's combined!
The 455 in the Delta is remarkably quiet at the rear end. Even the sound under the hood is very smooth and sedate. The 350 with duals in the Cutlass sounds identical to my now-departed '68 with a similar Rocket 350 and duals at the rear end. Under the hood, I thought I picked up a sound of a bearing starting to go, either alternator or water pump, which I was also familiar with. In my case the alternator belt was too tight and caused failure of the water pump bearing.
Close call. Both fantastic.
1975 88/455 has the edge for me. Period Ziebart decal pushed it over.
Yes, the styling of the '73 and later was probably not as successful as the prior generation, but this particular example of the Olds (Cutless) is quite handsome. As an old man, I should probably be drawn to the comfort of the larger Royale, but the Cutlass's looks are more appealing to my eye. And it's not exactly a compact, so it's no doubt a comfortable ride. The cruise along those springtime Michigan roads looks wonderful.
Owned a lot of these olds and buicks back in the 80s nice cars to drive dependable and not expensive to fix -I owned 2 buick lasabre both pea green everything 🤣
Liked the muscular sound of the 350 through the duals.
The 1975 Delta 455 would have had an even greater advantage in quietness over the 1973 Cutlass 350 had it also had a clutch fan. We had a 1972 Cutlass 350 and a 1973 Omega 350. The 1972 Cutlass engine was quieter. They changed the camshaft in 1973. Quietest of all was the 1966 Cutlass we had with the 330 "ultra high compression" engine. Perhaps not as quiet as the 1959 Pontiac Parisienne 261 L6 you have, but a comparison would be interesting.
It's a daunting choice, but I think I prefer the '73. The exterior/interior color combination, single round headlamps, and the traditional gold paint on the 350 tick all the boxes for me. I would be thrilled to have either though
I would take the Olds 88 for sure. More luxury in that car.
You some beautiful low mileage classics! I love low mileage cars too. If you ever put one up for sale, please let me know. I have a small classic car collection and love the era cars that you have in your collection.👍👍👍
The 1975 no longer had the word ROCKET on the air cleaner because a handfull of full sized Olds (and I think Buicks) in 75-76 (including 98s and Custom Cruisers) had Pontiac 400 V8s.
They're both beautiful cars, I do like the sound of the Cutlass rocket engine better. I agree about the styling the 68-69 are probably my favorites even over the 70 to 72s, I like the uniqueness of the 68 front and rear styling best the colonnades especially in the 73s of the GM are fantastic I think, but I do like the two door coupes better honestly. That's beautiful as they are neither of these cars would be very comfortable for me here in Florida, either the 88 with no air or the Cutlass with black vinyl 😐
Hey Adam, both Oldsmobiles sound great to me!!! I think that I prefer the 75 Delta 88 simply because I love big cars & velour interiors!!! 👍👍🙂
Great video as always. Is it me or what? It seemed like the 455 idled at a slightly lower rpm then the 350. Even with single exhaust, the 455 had a throatier exhaust sound then the 350. I would like to seen you install stock dual exhaust on the Delta 88, it would probably have an even better throatier sound. Thank you for your commitment to bringing classic cars to the forefront and your educated assessment of them.
Hey....that is my father's Oldsmobile!
You can get a 1991 Oldsmobile 88 Royale too. Plus, a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue for collection too. 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is cool too.
Nice pair of Olds; these are absolute gems,I remember when these were brand new and they sure do bring back memories. Yes the Olds Rocket V8's were strong torquey engines.
True they're not fast but lots of torque. After all its torque that wins the stoplight dragrace!
Years ago I swapped out an anemic Pontiac 301 V8 for an Olds 350 Rocket V8. What an amazing difference in the cars performance! It had so much torque that the U joints gave up the ghost in no time. I used to surprise many unsuspecting people with that car like no bodies business. Those were fun times for sure,man I sure miss the good old days. Adam where do you find these low mileage gems?😄🙏👍💪💪
I could always tell an Olds coming down the road. The Olds engine had a distinctive engine sound. I'm similarly aware of the 6.2 & 6.5 GM Detroit Diesel clatter, same with Ford small blocks etc
GM introduced double wall exhaust pipes from engine to crossover, or on my dual exhaust 1984 6.2 diesel Suburbans and K5 Blazer, all the way back to the mufflers. Apparently, the inner pipe would collapse if the vehicle was driven thru a deep puddle that submerged the headpipes. My K5 Blazer 6.2 outer pipes have rusted thru after 38 years-139k, but my '84 6.2 diesel Suburban still has 100% of the original exhaust except for 1 muffler. Actually, the K5 is all factory original, except the head pipes rusted due to the 10+ years of upper NY road salt. Both were rust free west coast vehicles until 2008. I drive them in the winter, but thoroughly fluid film rust proofed them
The 350 has a very distinct sound.
I’ll take both thanks!
455...great styling
Enjoyed!!!!!!!!
I like the 2 door , but the engine sound of the 1973 is music
The 75 Delta absolutely should have dual exhaust. I know 1975 was possibly the first year for a converter, and the car came with single exhaust, but being an antique should be exempt. I’m in Illinois it would be.
Thanks!
That 75 is my choice today. Despite the fact that I prefer sedans to coupes.
👍🖖🙏🇨🇦
I think the last time I’ve seen a colonnade Olds Cutlass outside of a cruise night was when I was 7 or 8. An old guy down the street from me had a 75/76 blue coupe with the T-Tops, but I don’t ever remember seeing it move. It was pretty rotted out and by then it was over 15 years old.
Since the Cutlass has AC, I gotta go wit that one. I am a sucker for creature comforts and AC is the top of the list.
I think it would be awesome if you did a porch chat on the difference between small blocks and big blocks. I always find it crazy how Chevy had the 396 big block, but the had the 400 small block, and I know others did similar things as well and it gets a little confusing. An explanation would be great!
Don't forget to add the 402 big block to that list.
The SUX 6000 from Robocop was one of those Colonnade Olds 4 doors.
Nice cars
Had a '77 Cutlass Supreme with the pillow like interior, dual exhaust. Might have been a Salon? Can't remember. Wonderful car. 350/4 but didn't have much power by '77.
I owned a 77 Cutlass 350,it was incredibly quiet and smooth running,of course not very powerful in those years. My understanding is that the real difference in the 455 and 350 is a taller deck. The bottom end is the same. They are essentially the same block.
Even as late as ‘73 you could definitely see the similarities between divisions with the midsize GMs, there was still enough difference in grills, tail ends, and interiors to make them distinct from each other. I owned a ‘73 Malibu SS 350 and even though it was no longer a high horsepower rocket, it had a great ride and handled well.
Beautiful cars, all Olds engines are considéréd Rocket engines even though it was dropped off the air cleaner after '74, Olds has a distinct sound a deep tinny wallowy sound unlike other GM divisions engine, and have always been known for torque, lot of Olds in mr famille over the years.