1971 Oldsmobile 98 LS: The Last of the Breed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ม.ค. 2022
- Take a look at this "last of breed" Oldsmobile from 1971: the 98 Luxury Sedan. This one is particularly well optioned with Comfortron, tilt/tele wheel, Nite Watch, rear defog, and cornering lights.
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I had one of these when I was in my 20's back in the 90's. Same color except 4 door. $725 from original owner with 76k original miles with 455. That car was sooo awesome. All my friends would cruise with me in summer all windows down pillarless....good times
Wish they were that cheap now.
Hilarious, I️ thought I️ left this comment. I️ had one in the 90’s when I was in my 20’s. About the same miles with the 455.
@@TinHatRanch Nice....✌️wish I would've kept it
Omg, same here! I had one but a maroon four door!
Let's see the Cadillac Coupe deville 1979
I do love those, that was when you had a car with style, room, everything, you don't have that anymore!!
Oldsmobile produced some of the best riding cars ever. My dad had several and they lasted a long time.
I was 20 years old and bought my second car in 1977, a 1973 Olds 98 coupe for $400. Silver with a black cloth interior. It had less than 40k miles on it. People were dumping these cars because of the oil crisis. It was someone's wife's car, or the family second car.
After I put $250 in it for valve train work on the 455 engine, and Pennsylvania inspection, it ran great.
Wish I had it today. Comfortable and powerful.
Valve train work at only 40K! Wow.
Brings back memories. My grandparents had a '73 98 LS 4 door in navy blue and my parents special ordered a '76 Custom Cruiser red with a white top.
Had a '72 4 door 98. It's been long time since I've driven a full size GM product from that era. I had 2 Cadillacs, a '71 & '72, a 72 Olds 98, a '71 4 dr. LeSabre, a '71 Chevy Kingswood station wagon, and a few more. All great cars.
I was a 98 fan from the 60s to the early 70s. The 1980 to 84 was good looking too.
Adam, We are all fans of Oldsmobile especially this last great run of gorgeously sculpted, full size 98s of the early 70s. May I prevail upon you to allow me to
share a little fan mail I recently sent to Oldsmobile?
Dear Oldsmobile,
We all know you have had a rough decade or two but we want you to know your fans are
still out here. We are cheering you on to make a comeback. Gosh darn it, if Bronco can do it,
we all know Oldsmobile can do it too and come back better than ever.
Sincerely,
Your Loyal Fans
PS
Stay Classy
c.c.
Mary Barra
CEO General Motors
😁😍😸
Bronco is a model where Oldsmobile is an entire car line. Long Live these remarkable cars.
Even the big 9 seater wagons had vertical tail lights and sharp mud skirts. They're great cars.
i luved these when they came out...still do...always thought they were more stylish than even the Cadillacs. '71-'72 was peak styling for GM...and the full size did not disappoint.
I had a 1971 Oldsmobile 98 LS 4 door hardtop, white with black vinyl roof and gorgeous black interior; I used to let a friend drive with his wife so my wife and I could enjoy the comfort of the back seat; he was also an A D ATTORNEY. This car was great in a foot of snow and could ave 25 mpg highway cruising at 65 mph. Traded for a 84
Cadillac that could not get out of it's own way. Got a 84 98 as soon as I found a good one.
My dad bought a 71 '88 in this same color scheme, an LS four-door, with brown brocade interior; had the 455 4bbl, and optioned out it was $5405. I remember going with him to pick it up. Later, it became my college car - loved it, except for the gas mileage! By the late 70s, I was hard pressed to put gas in it while still in college! But loved that car. Mechanically, it was very solid - seldom had any issues - and that engine! It was so smooth. He'd traded in a 70 Chrysler Newport which had given him nothing but trouble from day one. Lots of eye candy in the video, Adam - thanks!
Thank you for the look at a wonderfully original 98. That interior is just..something else.
I had one in 1976 my older brother had just bought a 1976 4dr. Regency those cars don't wear out and they're so much fun to drive,a pleasure to own.
I owned a 76 98 regency . It was a 4 door hard top white with black interior.
I always liked these cars. I remember a friend whose family owned one of these and took driver's test on one of these. In 1992 the 71 Olds 98 (4 door) was the only car the family had. They bought it new and it was their only car for 21 years. After that they bought another car but still kept the Olds 98 around.
The 1971-1976 Ninety-Eight were, I believe, the last American cars with tailfins.
My best friend in high school inherited his parents ‘71 Olds 98 LS back in 1980, a white 4 door with a black interior. We all cruised in that car and split the gas money, it was such a comfortable and classy ride. It was in mint condition inside and out with around 50k miles on it. Once I had to take the top end of the 455 apart to replace a couple of bad valve lifters, they had nasty grooves carved in them that caused a misfire and terrible valve train clatter. All was good after that though, what a nice ride!
You should have torn the whole thing down, and installed the Toronado camshaft that this guy said you couldn't get in the Ninety Eight, or maybe from the 442, and perhaps roller rockers. Button it up, stock looking.
I really like those early ones 71 72,I owned a 72 four door back in the late 80s.
Amazing! We had a 72 when I was a young kid. It was a burgundy hard top well optioned sedan with a black vinyl roof and black interior with I leather upholstery.
Mine was a black two door with red crushed velour interior.Had the 403,I believe,and automatic transmission of course.Bought it from my buddy's grandmother who bought it new.Everyone in the family just thought it was a super giant piece of trash but a few months later the 15yr old daughter said she never knew how cool the car really was till she saw me driving it!
Good day. Many thanks. Enjoyed of course. Bravo! Didn't forget to press the like button. Lots of love and greetings from country Azerbaijan
Brocade cloth interiors are among my favorite aspects of this era of car. I also quite enjoy those holdover tailfins! It's amazing that Oldsmobile would integrate that much of a vertical fin even in the early 70s. Definitely a very handsome car. 71 gets my vote over the 72, but the 72 is also an amazing car.
Boy, this one takes me back. I had a blue 73 Olds 98 LS 4 door in High school, (real car) not sporty but, lots of room for friends! Great car, never an ounce of trouble, lots of power and with a set of snows would go pretty much anywhere. Course the poi-traction rear end made all the difference, and it Didn't matter if it was 40 below zero or a 100 above. Thoroughly enjoy your presentations. Thanks!
Always enjoy seeing an Oldsmobile from the 70’s...That interior & that dash: something to be said for that era. And thanks for discussing the vertical tail lamps that trace their roots to earlier Oldsmobile’s...I always thought they were attractive.
Absolutely gorgeous! I had one of these in the late 80s it was a 98 from 1969 and it was a four-door. Boy did I love that car. These cars just float down the street like a boat and you never feel any bumps. I wish I had that car now.
From what I've learned from Adam's videos, I think the 69 would ride better than the 71.
@@toronado455 ..you're probably right at that!
A woman that likes cars. Doesn't get any better than that.
I've always loved the wrap around dashboard on the '71-'72 Olds! My aunt had a 4-door '72.
Greetings from Glenn in Cleveland! Some of the cars you present evoke so many happy childhood memories. My Grandfather bought a "71 98 LS 4 door, no window frames. Brown in color with a black vinyl top and black brocade interior. He took delivery of it in early September of 1970. He came straight from the dealer to pick up myself and siblings. As I recall, that was when new cars were introduced to the public. The two things that I remember about the car were the wiper swipe button in the tip of the gear selector knob, and the clock on the back side of the front seat.
Every fall the new models would roll out and one a day was pictured in the newspaper (remember those). Some models were shipped with cheese cloth covering the front and rear until the day of revelation. I remember train cars delivering stacks of full frame metal chassis to the GM factory in Janesville, WI. Long live the good old days.
Yes I enjoy very much! Can’t believe someone else loves the 1970’s as much as I do! I have a 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood and a 1977 Lincoln Continental. We had a 1971 Mercury Marquis growing up and I also has the 72 as an adult, so many memories. I literally was in tears seeing yours knowing how rare they are. Seeing the condition of yours took me back. I don’t think there are many in that shape and there are no videos of other owners with there Marquis. So happy you have it. Thank you for sharing it.
I have lots of Mercs, especially Marquis. Stay tuned.
What a gorgeous car. My neighbor had a '71 just like that. Had it for years. Brings back memories
Finest car made from GM and it beat the hell out of Ford and Chrysler. The Olds 98 LS and Regency for 71-76. Bullet proof. I remember my folks buying these babies new. Wonderful.
I always loved how long the name was. "Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency Brougham" had to be the longest car name ever.
One of my all time favorite full sized GM cars. It’s hard to believe now that this came in a 2 door body style. I worked at an Oldsmobile dealership in the 70’s and remember several customers that drove these.
Funny how you said those buckles will burn you on a hot day. I was born in 1982 and can still remember the heavy buckles from many vehicles in the 1980s. My aunt had a 1985 Town Car. When the buckles were hot, I had to somehow use something like a rag to help block the heat from my body while riding along.
Every video I watch of yours I find my new favorite car...
The 1971 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight freaked me out with the return of tail fins! In school, all the guys were cracking up on those fins - giving it to Cadillac. But Adam, you are so right about the sticker price of the 1971 Olds. I went with dad to see the new Oldsmobiles and he lost his breath when he saw the sticker on a 4-door Ninety Eight LS, "that's Cadillac money", he said. Double digit inflation of the 1970's was just gettin' started. Remember President Nixon's "90-Day Freeze" on prices, trying to damp out runaway inflation pressures? Wish I didn't, lol.
Well, it worked for 90 days ;)
When the US tried to reintroduce the $2 bill I said that they should have put Nixon's picture on it. He was smart to resign before he got impeached and convicted. Trump should have earned that distinction but the GOP covered for him twice.
We had the 1973 Olds Custom Cruiser - same body style. Very expensive at the time: $8500. Downfall of the car was the fierglass lined gas tank tank - which the gas eroded and allowed fibers to travel through the fuel system into the engine, killing it.
That is a shame. That was one fine station wagon.
How did the fibers kill the engine? Did the fibers "liquefy" & pass thru the filters & carburetor & then solidify on the valves & pushrods? I've heard of that happening with boaters who used portable 'glass lined fuel tanks. I know ethanol will dissolve fiberglass but didn't think straight gas from that time period could.
We had a 73 Custom Cruiser as well. It was purchased new by my grandparents and handed down to my dad in the early 80s when I was a little kid. I don’t recall any issues with fiberglass damaging the engine, but the gas tank did leak notoriously on ours after a decade of northeastern winters took its rust toll on the underbody. Other than rust issues it was dead reliable and supremely comfortable.
I bought a 71 98 LS Coupe in 2009 from a guy (craigslist ad) in Antioch CA, paid I think around $2000 for it, great shape, same Sandlewood paint, Sandlewood vinyl top and a Dark Rosewood vinyl interior (not the prettiest color, kind of a malted brown). Flew into SFO, took BART to near Antioch, and the seller met me at the train station in the 98. Drove back to his place and saw his collection of cars that were eclectic to say the least. Great car, drove it from Antioch to Dallas with no problems. Original everything, paint and all in truly fine shape. No rust, sun damage or accidents. It had regular AC, power everything, no cornering lights, standard 98 wheel covers. The weirdest option was Night-Watch mentioned here, a Rube Goldberg-style Twilight Sentinel. Mine proved to be totally untrustworthy... basically a timer that might or might not turn the headlights off. It was a wonderful car, sold it in 2014 to a guy that kept coming by and asking if it was for sale. Let it go for basically what I paid, super cheap. Wish I still had it.
I had a 1970 Delta 88 and loved that car. People wouldn't stop running into it. It was finally totaled.
Totally agreed with you that the 1971-72 Ninety Eight's were the best looking ones of the bunch, I slightly favor the 1972's over the 1971's because I feel it has a slightly cleaner and more refined design, I also love the way the headlights look on the 1971-72's.
One of the greatest cars ever made.
Mom and Dad had a '72 in baroque gold with a beige vinyl top and interior. Was a nice car.
My first car was a '71 Olds Delta 88 with a 350 V8. Thanks for the video!
I worked for an Oldsmobile dealership back in these days. I remember driving many of these as we frequently picked up and delivered customers cars when service was required.
Had one in 1977-80 dark green, black top and interior. Rocket 455. Passed everything but a gas station calculated about 8 mpg on a good day 😂 Sold it to a co worker in '81 who promptly went out and totaled it. Brings back memories...
I have the ‘75 version of this Ninety-Eight coupe. It is the first year with the rectangular headlights, and the taillights rise to a sharp point. It is all original except for some rust. The top landau vinyl is gone and I can’t leave it in the rain, but the frame is solid and that mechanically perfect 455 just sounds awesome as you float down the road. 🚀
Hey Adam, I have fond memories of the fancy brocade interiors of the early 70s GM luxury cars. Compared to the Oldsmobile 98 that Imperial looks like a skyscraper on wheels!!! Thanks for sharing this informative video 👍👍
Still sporting tail fins in 71! Shows you their target market .
Definitely knew the 98 was longer than 88 after I switched from a 76 Caprice to a 77 98 Regency back in 1990. I thought they were the same until I drove the 98 away from the kids selling grandmas Olds. That was a great, great car. Still regret selling it.
Another nicely done clip. thanks.
This was the top of the line Oldsmobile Ninety Eight until the "Regency" appeared in 1972. Then Regency got replaced by Regency Brougham in 1982. Then Regency Brougham got replaced by Regency Elite in 1991. Then LS became a top of the line Eighty Eight ( Delta 88 Royale Brougham LS)with Ninety Eight parts in 1984-1985. The Regency came back in 1997-1998 model years when Ninety Eight was dropped after 1996 model year with Ninety Eight parts again. It was simply called Oldsmobile Regency. Thank you for the video. I am sure you are aware the Ninety Eight, Eighty Eight, Custom Cruiser and Toronado shared the same instrumentation panel from 1971-1976 too.
They were all junk after 72.
My first car was a 73 442 with a 350v8. I pulled the 455 out of 71 Delta 98 and installed it in the 442. What a huge difference in power!!! Especially torque, I could break the wheels lose at 50mph .
I had a '73 Oldsmobile 98 twodoor hardtop. Same body color but with cream vinil top and cream interior. The vertical back lights looked like gothic lanterns.
Absolute love it. Brings back memories. I had 2 1972 Nighty Eight LS 4 dr. Sedans. 1 deep Blue and the other Beautiful Gold with a Cream Top. I loved these boats and have a lot of appreciation for them like you. My 2 car at age 17 was the 1973 Fleetwood Brougham full leather and every factory option. Sure you could watch the Gas Gauge move down every trip no matter how small. Gas was under $1 a gallon.
Some really cool facts about the 71 Olds . Thank you for sharing
What an amazing vehicle. Thank you so much for sharing.
These were shapely cars. The lower longitudinal view elegantly shows the curviness of the lower body lines with the classy flares designed right into the fender skirts. Nice touch. Thanks for sharing another gem Adam.
Wish u would take it on the road next video 👍
We had a 1970, it had,a different but an amazing WIDE "Electro Luminescent" instrument display that was gorgeous at night! And Map reading lights built into the Big Rearview Mirror! It also handled like a smaller car! And also had a limited edition luxury cloth fabric seats that were so comfortable, we would ride all day and not get tired.😊 And the back of your thighs wouldn't get burned on a hot summer day🤣🤣🤣
My Mom had a Cadillac Sedan DeVille and an Electra 225 as well as '79 Lincoln Town Car! All in about a 12 year period! And out of all those GREAT Cars the one she loved the most to drive was the Oldsmobile 98!!!! Thanks for the
Great memories!
I love the ‘71 Olds 98 and 88. Beautiful character lines, low and sleek. We had a ‘71 88. Base model. It had quite a bit of power compared to a ‘77 GM variant we also owned
Your videos bring back memories of relative's cars. Grandad had a 1976 Delta 88 Royal 4 door hardtop. He called it the last of the biggies. His cars always had burn marks in the passenger seats from grandma smoking. She stopped smoking in 1976 due to health issues so this car never had the seat burns. In 1984 it was in good condition with 60,000 miles. He was too old to drive and wanted to give it to me but I didn't have any place to keep it inside. He wanted to build me a carport for it but I'm not much on carports. I guess he was disappointed in me. I wish had that one to do over. My buddy had a 1973 Electra 225 Custom Coupe. I drove it a lot. It was huge but easy to drive. It had the standard wheel covers on it. First thing he did was put Buick sport road wheels on it and of course it had whitewalls. Thanks.
Can you imagine trying to parallel park these boats today? They would not fit.
I have a 1973 LS 4 door in the same paint scheme in not as good of shape. The black interior is mint and the body and frame are still solid but it ihas surface rusting from sitting. Still has a cool factory style dual exhaust on it. 😎 Time to get it back on rhe road, Spring is coming.👍
Get er going!! 👍👍
Very elegant car. Those seats are amazing.. my girlfriends father was a dentist back then. Theirs was dark green. It was always funny that the car is so huge but her mother, who drove the thing, was only 5 feet tall. Odd site.
I’ve heard they were popular among doctors and dentists. The original owner of mine was a dentist.
I remember my family’s 1972 Electra 225 coupe it was beautiful my dad was so proud of that car. I cried when he traded it in on a 1976 lesabre being 4 at the time he didn’t care lol.
Your tears were not in vain!
Here we go I had a gold 4door with a black vinyl top just like this one with all black vinyl interior this is a road car classic and can run I do miss it
Time machine. Back in the early 80s I had a friend who drove a 73 Ninety-eight in yellow. It had kind of an Uncle Buck treatment, sporting a pair of giant radio antennas in back. It sported the typical GM sagging rear springs and sagging door. The differential sung a tune at highway speeds. Long and low and could hold a bunch of us. I would sit in the front seat and roll the windows up and down as power windows were a relative novelty then. One night we were driving on some dirt back county roads, clearly not in the forte of giant Olds cruising. We were going down a road with a steep incline with some nasty break over angles, and managed to high center the car. Good thing my friend was driving really slow, but boy was he shrieking as we could hear the scratching and crunching from below. We all got out of the car and it rose just enough to clear the crest of that hill. Memories...
I’ve been dailying a 1971 98 4 door for the last 6 years that I bought from my neighbor. Tough, fast, comfy and they can corner. Does the best burn outs I’ve ever seen. Love the 455 but they eat motor mounts from all that torque. Got a dick Miller racing solid mount for the pull side made a world of a difference.
I also have a 71 98 4 door best car I've ever driven and the suspension is shot on mine . Thanks for that motor mount tip (don't know if mines brake or not ) basically just go to cruise lights with it.
@@josephschaekel5293 something I did recently for my suspension was got a set of 1998 Chevy suburban shocks for mine, they are stiffer than the original but not obnoxious. Still rocking the original springs. I tried a set of stiffer springs and didn’t like the way it rode and handled. The suburban shocks will bolt right in on the front and for the rears top will bolt in bottom you can press the bushing out and fit them to an off the shelf dorman shock bolt from the auto parts store that will make them fit. Handles very nicely now even gives new cars a pretty serious run for their money in the corners. Chevy f body upper control arms for the front will fit these I’ve got a set of fully adjustables on the shelf waiting to install. There is also an extended upper ball joint you can get that will put the upper control arm at a better pivot for when the suspension compresses in the corners.
Edit: energy suspension makes a set of polyurethane bushings that are easy to install for the control arms you can get them at the local parts store pretty cheap. If you want any part #s let me know I still got all the boxes for the parts lol.
Love these Yank Tanks!!! But those seats remind me of someone's grandmother's sofa.
My father had a 1972 Olds 98 LS. It was quite the land yacht, great for weekend cruising with my derelict friends. I also my highest speed ever in that car -- something over 100 MPH! His was a four-door, with a lightish blue exterior with black vinyl roof, and a darker blue, very plush, interior.
I learned to drive on my parent's 70 Oldsmobile 98 and 71 Oldsmobile Delta 88. This really takes me back. Absolutely great cars. What an era to grow up. Thanks for the video.
I’m a cornering lamp aficionado and have always really liked the 71 Oldsmobile style - evidently they were quite rare on 71 models especially the Deltas - didn’t notice whether the rear defog option is the heated glass or blower type
what a beauty- you really know your stuff Adam! Don't know how you keep all that info straight...total genius! A friend used to borrow her Mom's '71 Delta 88 for us teenagers to cruse around, it was the best, living room on wheels, and felt so safe in it's tank like body. The dash was always my fav! Nice to see a few survived,
I had a1976 98 loved that car it would just glid down the road it drove so good
Beautiful 1971 survivor 98 LS coupe! I also enjoyed seeing your sleek, beautiful black Imperial in the background. Great video!
We think the '71's are the finest full-size Old's ever built.
They had everything you'd want in a senior car, back then. This is a great example, thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for explanation of the 71 wheel cover - when I first looked a the car I thought they were wrong, as I've never seen them. In a way they almost look Cutlass grade, but the are showing on both the 98 coupe and custom cruiser in 71 brochure - along with the more traditional discs. This is a well optioned example; I assume they were extra. The 71 & 72 are the pick of this bunch and the only ones to give an Electra run for the money in exterior styling. The 5 mph rear end just did not translate on these compared to the delicacy of the original. always remember the funky back window action on the 4dr hdtps, never experienced a 2dr, but I see they have the same clearance issue - always wondered wasn't there some reasonable simple solution - always looked to me like there was room anyway.
Last of the boats on wheels. Thumbs Up !
These were the used car bargains of the early eightys, I sold tons of them . Great cars
Sure, in 1982 i bought mine for 750$.
WELL We Have Come Along Way Since Then.
I never owned an Oldsmobile but always liked their styling. I prefer Pontiac's but that interior is gorgeous.
I owned four Oldsmobiles over the years and they were truly great cars. Luxurious but not pretentious. One Cutlass Supreme Brougham, one Ninety Eight Regency Brougham and two Tornados. It was a sad day when GM pulled the plug!
Looks like a killer show. I wish I had been there.
Nice car, as good as they got before getting smaller. A lazyboy on wheels. I had a triple dark green one. Loved everything about it but the gas mileage. Last car I had with a telescopic wheel. Had cigarette lighters everywhere but no drink holders. Since I always had the center arm rest down I put an aftermarket console on the hump to hold my drinks. I sorta wish I still had it, it was pure comfort like I'm sure this one is also.
How did we ever survive without cup holders? Credit Lee Iacocca for that design as well with his mini vans.
One of my favorite brands and favorite automobile!
Oldsmobiles of this era bring back so many memories, my Grandfather had one like this and traded every 2 years until 1985 then went to Cadillac.
Thanks Adam my grandma had one either a 71 or 72 my dad got it after , he said it would pin the 120 mph all day ! He said maybe fastest car he ever owned smoke tires off the back. He also owned a 68' Delmont 88 convertible with high compression Rocket claimed both were common in power . And they made a police version obviously in the 88 package with 455 , my uncle said it would match the mighty 440, he was a state trooper back then. And luxury im not sure caddy had the advantage?
Those were known as the Apprehender package, the late Tom McCahill tested one in Mechanix Illustrated back then.
My father had a Delta 88 on order, took 3 months to get it delivered. He was in a hurry to get it and almost bought a floor model with a manual transmission. 1971 was the last year for the manual. If I acquired it,I would have installed a floor shifter.
I’m really starting to appreciate and want an early 70s GM boat like this. Thanks for sharing Adam.
We have a 1972 Fleetwood Brougham in the same color (willow) with olive green tuxedo grain (or is it Elk grain) roof treatment. The interior is also olive green leather with the same color steering wheel/controls/etc. Your video brought back many memories of the brocade interiors my family had in our Buicks and Cadillacs. Hope to cross paths with you one day at a car event here in the Detroit area.
A beautiful car and love the brocade interior
Chrysler corporation adopted this style trend with the 1974 full sized C bodies. They lowered belt line gave them the appearance of a lower wider longer look.
While growing up, our neighbors bought one of these new in late ‘70. It had the same avocado green cloth interior but a light green metallic exterior. Sharp car back then!
Absolutly beautiful !...This was my exact first car same color but with black top and interior. My dad bought it brand new at Krouse Oldsmobile in Cherry Hill NJ, Sept 1971. I was with him, 10yrs old. Gave it to me in 1978 when I got my first full time job working shift work. Been looking for another one, on my wish list...Thanks
Definetely the car to drive on a hot summer night off into the sunset with some Barry White
This is reminiscent of our 72 Delta 88.
This is a luxury 71 Oldsmobile 98 2dr 455 Big Block V8 400 Transmission fully loaded a floating down the road like a Dream come true
Beautiful example of a beautiful car.
My father had one and it had lots of power. Turning took a little getting used to, though. It was like turning a boat.
I see you met Tony. I have 1972 Olds 98 base model 2 door with a two tone factory painted top. Tony and park together all the time at shows.
Indeed!
Beautiful car!
By 1974...the some of the B and C and E bodies were early adopters of driver and passenger side airbags. The 1973 Chevy Impala was used as a testbed for real world fleet driving...the Impala had an Olds 88/98 Dash and a four spoke air bag steering wheel. If you watch the later Seinfeld episodes..Kramer is driving one of those Impalas...at first I thought they were using two different cars...an Impala for exterior shots and an Olds for interior..but it was the same car. The airbags were an expensive option with a low take rate so GM didn't offer them in 1977 when the cars were downsized.
By 1975, you had the adoption of rectangular headlamps and catalytic converters. I think the new headlamps cleaned things up a bit but the bumpers did take away some of the style the 71's and 72s had. Personally, I like the 1976's or the last year of this platform. I prefer the velour and leather interior options over the earlier brocade. And it was pretty much an end of an era. GM did hit it out of the park with the 1977 full size cars...perfect market timing and a decent product the first year....usually they either miss the market or introduce an underdeveloped, under tested product that once perfected gets cancelled.
Fun fact: That particular interior shade of avocado green, while shared across divisions, is a one-year only color for 1971.
I always enjoyed the look of these Ninety Eights. Seems more "impressive" when you spell it out. haha. My parents had a couple Buick Electra 225's from the early/mid 70's, as did a friend's parents. Never saw all those seatbelt connectors...so maybe theirs were a bit different from this one. Very cool rides! Should have come with boating registration numbers. Haha.
They changed the seat belt design almost every year from 71-4
Back then most people didn't wear seat belts so the belts were probably crammed in the seats. If anyone did wear a belt it was usually just the lap belt. I was that rare teenager that buckled up both the lap and shoulder belts back then.
I love that instrument panel!