1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88

Description

With maximum intimidation and awesome workmanship, this big, bad, black 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 moves slower traffic out of the way like a snow plow. It's got a heck of a lot of presence, plenty of horsepower from a 350 cubic inch Olds V8, and I guarantee nobody else at the local cruise-in will have one like it.

That's a lot of sheetmetal to restore and it must have taken months of work to get it all so straight. The sleek fastback profile is something you don't see often, and the Delmont 88 is a rather rare piece today. Obviously a relative of the Riviera (remember the Toronado went front-wheel-drive), it's one of GM's better-looking full-sized coupes and in black it looks like a heavyweight fighter in a tuxedo. In fact, almost every single part on the exterior of this car was dipped in that deep, rich paint, including the grille, bumpers, and even the windshield wipers. Most of the emblems were shaved, as were the side marker lights, and a subtle chin spoiler and a deck-mounted wing give it a sporting look. It's downright brutal to see this car in person, and you'd better get ready for an awful lot of people asking you about it, because this big Olds gets noticed!

The interior came from the factory with a bunch of good stuff already baked right in, including bucket seats and a console, something you'd hardly expect from a full-sized Oldsmobile. The late-model seats have been neatly reupholstered so they look quite modern and the three-spoke steering wheel add a racy look the same way the win on the trunk does. The original gauges are set deep in three round nacelles and are joined by a set of auxiliary dials down low above the console. A modern Pyle head unit offers an iPod interface and a clean look in the center of the dash. This car also came with factory A/C, which is something you'd probably expect from a big luxury car like this. You'd also expect a giant back seat and a massive trunk, the latter of which shows zero rust or other issues, suggesting a car that's led a very easy life in a warm climate.

Under that 442-style dual-snorkel air cleaner there's a rebuilt 350 cubic inch 1970 Olds Rocket V8 that pulls the big coupe around with ease. A big Rochester 4-barrel carburetor gives you right now throttle response and an HEI distributor ensures reliable starting and effortless performance. Stock exhaust manifolds keep it Oldsmobile quiet inside, but with a pair of growling mufflers out back, there's a nice rumble that matches the insidious look. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission doesn't even blink at the power and weight it's managing and stock gears out back mean that it's an excellent highway cruiser. The undercarriage is unrestored, but at a glance, you'd think that someone has cleaned it up because the floors are excellent and there's just no evidence that this car ever spent any time up north. A stock suspension still rides well, even with those gigantic 20-inch wheels with black centers and 275/40/20 performance radials.

Only built for two years and very skillfully upgraded, this Olds is a cool car for the dare to be different crowd. If you like them big and brutal, then this is the coupe for you. Call today!