If there’s one factor the Oldsmobile Division did effectively throughout its remaining couple of a long time, it was special-edition automobiles. Simply taking a look at automobiles I’ve documented for this collection, we’ve the XC Version Cutlass Ciera (commemorating the ninetieth anniversary of Oldsmobile), the Wyoming Statehood Centennial Version Cutlass Ciera, the Phoenix Open Version Intrigue and the Remaining 500 Editions for the final 500 examples every of the Intrigue, Aurora, Bravada, Silhouette and Alero. As we speak we’ll be taking a look at one of many final Oldsmobile Eighty-Eights ever constructed, with the extremely uncommon fiftieth Anniversary Version choice bundle.
The 88/Eighty-Eight (Oldsmobile started spelling out the mannequin identify in 1989, simply to be extra elegant) was one of the vital legendary fashions within the Oldsmobile pantheon. The 88 was born within the 1949 mannequin 12 months, and it was most noteworthy for packing a brand-new fashionable overhead-valve V8 engine often known as the Rocket. The early Rocket 88s had been so famend for his or her overwhelming energy that the very first rock ‘n’ roll music ever recorded (by Ike Turner in 1951) had one as its subject material. I really feel a private reference to the Olds 88 as effectively, since my very first automotive trip was in a rusty however nonetheless highly effective 1956 Olds 88.
1999 was to be the ultimate 12 months for the Eighty-Eight, and so the fiftieth Anniversary Version celebrates a half-century of the mannequin simply earlier than getting the axe. The Oldsmobile Division itself bought executed by The Common 5 years later.
This automotive has ANNIVERSARY EDITION badges all over the place.
In line with the official GM press launch, the badges are plated with real pure gold. It is unclear what number of of those fiftieth Anniversary Version automobiles had been constructed; the press launch refers to “about 500 models available in Canada” however this one is a U.S.-market automotive.
Inside, it is typical plastic-and-velour Nineteen Nineties GM.
Energy got here from a great previous 3.8-liter Buick V6 engine, on this case a naturally-aspirated model rated at 205 horsepower. A supercharged model good for 240 horses was obtainable as an choice. In case you needed one with a guide transmission, too dangerous — the final mannequin 12 months for a brand new Olds 88 with three pedals was 1971.
The MSRP for this automotive was $27,350, or about $51,216 in 2023 {dollars}.
So many normal options!
The time to purchase is now!