Oldsmobile 88 10 Generation Car

The Oldsmobile 88 was marketed from 1949 to 1989. It was a full-size car that was produced by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors. From 1950 until 1974, the car was the division’s most popular line, particularly the entry-level models such as the Oldsmobile 88 and Dynamic 88. Oldsmobile’s naming conventions were such that the first number signified the chassis platform, while the second number signified how many cylinders. It had a relatively small size, light weight, and an advanced overhead-valve high-compression V8 engine. Since this car was popular, did your family own one?

Oldsmobile 88 Generations

First Generation

The Oldsmobile 88 was introduced for its new Rocket V8-powered mid-range in 1949, replacing the older straight-8-engined 78 and complementing the existing division lineup of entry-level Seventy-Six and luxury 98. That was a lot of power for 1949. The new car used the same A-body platform as the straight-6-engined 76 but paired it with the company’s new 303 cubic inch 135 horsepower V8 engine.

Second Generation

The 1954 Oldsmobiles were completely restyled, so there was a new Oldsmobile 88. The car remained on the General Motors B platform but received longer and lower body shells, and one-piece wrap-around windshields and rear windows. Wheelbases increased to 122 inches. Base models reverted to being simply called 88s after being designated as DeLuxe 88s for only one year, and the Super 88 remained the top of the range.

Third Generation

In 1957,  the third generation of the Oldsmobile 88, the basic 88, was officially renamed Golden Rocket 88. However, the only badging was an “88” underneath each taillight, and the name was gone by 1958. A triple two-barrel carburetor “J2” option was introduced, similar to the Pontiac Tri-Power. The Super 88 continued as the upscale mid-line series. In terms of power, the base Rocket V8 was enlarged to 371 cubic inches, with power up to 277 horsepower (207 kW). Although rare, three-speed manual transmissions were still available.

Fourth Generation

All Oldsmobiles were completely restyled for 1959, so this made a fourth generation of the Oldsmobile 88.  Styling highlights for the new models, promoted as the “Linear Look,” included six-window styling on four-door pillared sedans, glassy semi-fastback rooflines on holiday coupes, and flat-blade rooflines with thin windshields and C-pillars on holiday sedans, which created a large open greenhouse effect. Wheelbases on 88 models increased by one inch to 123 inches.

Fifth Generation

An all-new body and chassis with perimeter “Guard Beam” frame and all-coil suspension replaced the previous leaf springs, highlighted by the 1961 full-sized Oldsmobile 88, which was joined by the new F-85, the division’s first compact. This made a fifth generation. All full-sized Oldsmobiles received the 394-cubic-inch Rocket V8, with the Dynamic 88 getting a two-barrel, 25 0 250-horsepower engine.

Sixth Generation

In the sixth-generation Oldsmobile 88, the Delta name in 1965 was an upscale trim line of the Dynamic 88, the Dynamic 88 Delta, replacing the previous top-series B-body Olds, the Super 88. The car had an all-wheel drive on a 123-inch wheelbase. Oldsmobile had some marketing successes in naming the Starfire after a United States Air Force fighter and tried the approach again, naming the Delta 88 after the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger.

Seventh Generation

All General Motors B-body full-size cars were completely restyled and enlarged for 1971. That resulted in a sixth generation of the Oldsmobile 88. It rode on a 124-inch wheelbase. It reached its maximum size in 1974 at 226.9 inches. It was available as a pillared four-door Town Sedan, two-door and four-door Holiday hardtops, and a convertible.

Eighth Generation

The 1977 Oldsmobile 88s and other General Motors B-body cars were considerably downsized in length and wheelbase, probably due to concerns over fuel efficiency. The car was 900 lb lighter in weight and 116 inches.  Other than a reduction in shoulder room, however, the interior room was not adversely affected. A fuel economy gauge was optional; given the time, it is a good bet consumers took that option.

Ninth Generation

In late 1985, the Oldsmobile 88 Royale switched platforms from the General Motors B platform to the smaller front-wheel drive H platform, with a wheelbase of 110.8 inches. The headlights changed from square sealed beam quads to integrated regular/high beam composite lamps in 1987. A few NASCAR teams built racecars with the car’s sheetmetal in 1986 and ran them on the circuit in the 86–88 seasons.

Tenth Generation

The Oldsmobile 88 was redesigned for 1992, following the redesign of the Ninety Eight the previous year. This was the last 88 model before being discontinued in 1999 and replaced in 2001 with the Aurora. The 3.8-liter Buick V6 was still the only engine, but output increased to 170 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque.

Conclusion

A large number of variations in nomenclature were seen over the history of the Oldamobile 88, Super, Golden Rocket, Dynamic, Jetstar, Delta, Delmont, Starfire, Holiday, LS, LSS, Celebrity, and Royale were used at various times with the 88 brand, and Fiesta was on some station wagons in the 1950s and 1960s. The name was more commonly shown as 88 in the earlier years (“Delta 88”, for example) and was changed to spell out “Eighty Eight” starting in 1989.