Time to face the facts. It's going to be awhile before I can get to her, and I need to reclaim the space in my workshop. Not happy about it, but maybe someone who really appreciates how special this car is can give her a good home. And don't worry, WMACHINE, I won't pull the drivetrain for my H/O clone project . I'm only selling the car in it's complete, original state.

It's a 1969 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Custom, 2-door hardtop (Holiday Coupe). Car was special ordered to be the highest performance Delta possible! This is an extremely rare Oldsmobile.

Here’s a list of some of the original, factory installed equipment:

Police Apprehender Highway Patrol Package (RPO B07)
455 engine 390-hp 500 lb./ft torque w/4-bbl carburetor and dual exhaust (RPO L32)
Special Heavy-Duty Turbo 400 Transmission (RPO M41)
Anti-Spin Differential (RPO G80) - 2.93 ratio
Heavy-Duty 'Torque-beam' Frame (RPO F35)
Variable Ratio Power Steering (RPO N47)
Heavy-Duty Power Front Disc Brakes (RPO JL2 or J55)
Safety Sentinel Speedometer (RPO U15)
4-Season Air Conditioning (RPO C60)
Rear Window Defogger (RPO C50)
Heavy-Duty Cooling (RPO Y72)
AM Push-button Radio (RPO U63)

The February 1970 issue of Car & Driver has a road test of a 1970 Delta Royale and they had high praise for the cars ability to handle and accelerate. That car was similarly equipped but heavier than my car. They also estimated the car's top speed to exceed 140 MPH! These were rare cars when they were new and are almost never seen today. Remember, although this car was built with the Police package, it was privately owned and operated by the man who ordered her built to his exact specifications.

Last time I started her (a couple years ago), the engine ran well, although the carb should be rebuilt from sitting with old fuel.

The car has VERY little rust. Just the lower fenders and just a little behind the rear wheel well. The frame, floors and trunk are rock-solid. Rocker panel pinch welds are tight. The paint is original (Platinum) and although it needs to be redone, it shows no evidence that any body work has ever been performed. The car has a black, cloth, bench seat interior. Except for a rip in the bench seat upholstery it's in very good condition but will need a good cleaning.

The original owner kept a detailed journal that documents everything ever done to this car from the day he picked it up at the dealership in July of 1969, through 1991 when he stopped driving the car for health reasons. It shows every oil change, scheduled maintenance and mechanical repair. He also recorded every drop of gasoline to the 1/10th of a gallon, the brand and the blend, as well as the odometer reading at the time of fill-up.

I also have a huge collection of NOS/NIB parts including:

NOS moldings, emblems, lenses, etc.
NOS LH Fender
NOS RH Fender
NOS Gas Tank
NOS Safety Sentinel Speedometer
NOS Electric Clock
NOS Headlight Bezels
NOS A/C Suction Hose Assembly
NOS Fuel Gauge
Pair of front Disc Rotors (very hard to find!)
Power Antenna Assembly
Parts to convert to Power Front Seat

This is just a partial list. Between these and the rest, there's a small truckload of NOS/NIB (and a few used) parts that will be of serious interest to anyone interested in restoring the car properly. NOS/NIB B-body parts are hard to find no matter where you look.

The car is in Connecticut and the price with all the parts is $7,500 Firm

Please feel free to contact me at:

seposcrap@hotmail.com

Thanks for your interest!

 

I wish I had the dough and the room!
NICE 88!

 

I found some pictures I took of the original owner's log book. He kept meticulous records of everything done to the car from Day One.

The first picture shown is the first page and the first few entries read:

Date Miles Remarks
7/3 Picked up
7/4 28 White Gas
7/5 266 White Gas 19.1
7/6 519 White Gas 21.7
7/6 519 Oil Change/Filter-LDO
7/7 809 260 Sunoco 12.0

I love this book! It reveals so much about how the car was maintained its entire life. this guy kept great records. Take a look at the entry for December 17,1976:

12/17/76 85,802

Completed valve job.
Heads done by Downing Racing Ent.
Waldwick, NJ. #7 intake
valve replaced. Rest remachined.
All lifters replaced with TRW
lifters. Springs, pivots, rockers,
pushrods checked & cleaned.
Intake manifold boiled out.
2nd lower head bolt from
front pass side, reinstalled
using heli coil.

New points, condenser, rotor,
cap, plugs. Heat riser
valve removed from left
exhaust line. Water temp &
oil sending units replaced.
Bypass hose replaced.
180° thermostat.

There's ths kind of detail throughout. I guess this post has nothing to do with selling the car. I just this this kind of stuff is really exciting. Thought you guys might enjoy it as well.

 

Nice car Steve. When are you going to sell me the 67 I want, haha. Sal from Deep River.

 

Hey, Sal! Great to hear from you. You would look goooooood in this. The B07 Police Apprehender option would fit you perfectly ;-)

Haven't had a good espresso since!

Did you find a carb for my other project yet?

 

No carb, sorry. If you sell me that 67 then you can keep the B07. Also put a little cash to help finish those projects. lol. Give me a price...

 

Wow, Unk! What a great car!

Having had a '68 88 and a '68 98, both with the "normal" high-comp. 455, I would LOVE to have that baby.

Of course, the realities of space and money have to come into play...

I hope you find it a great home, though - it deserves it!

- Eric

 

Thanks, Eric! I'm hoping someone steps up. I hear that H/O clone idea whispering in my ear again

 

Here are some more pictures. Any questions, please ask.

 

So cool Uncle H.
My first car was a 69 88 4-dr. with the 455...Ah memories...
A 2-dr. with the BO7? Where is the drooling icon?

 

And still more pictures.

By the way, if ANYONE hear knows of another 1969 B07 Delta please let me know. The only other B07 Delta I've ever heard of was "Detective Goldie", the 1970 Delta Royale that was on here a few years ago. A member here remembered one his father had and was nice enough to send me a scan of a picture from when the car was new (and when he was a little boy). That's it. I would love to talk to someone who has owned one of these. To get to talk to an original owner would be incredible!

 

Thanks, Tru-Blu 442! I appreciate the kind words very much!!

 

Hey bud did you ever find this stuff i would love to have it to keep with car, also have you used motor or sold trans yet??
Thanks
Brian

 

"It's got a cop motor, a 455 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"

 

That is a big chunk of pre 70 455 right there.

 

Great sleeper, and a very unique find. The NOS parts alone are worth thousands.

 

So I have a question, I have a 1969 Delta 88 Royale 2dr Holiday coupe, has the 455 and I think they came with 2 barrel carbs, but four barrels were at hand if the customer wanted it. I was wondering if you have any clue what my w block can exceed? I did read a website that gave me the specs, if you had the four barrel you had 390 hp, if you had 2 barrel you had the 310 hp. What would the Police Apprehender package cost to have put on?

 

In 1969, the L-32 390hp 455 cost $77.93 over the cost of the standard 2bbl 455, and required the M-41 transmission, at $15.84 over the cost of the regular TH400 transmission, and Y-72 heavy duty cooling, at a cost of $21.08 if your car was already equipped with A/C, for a total of $114.85, which is the equivalent of $745 in 2015 dollars.

The list price of the Delta 88 2-door was $3341.50, so this represents about a 3% increase in the price.

I cannot find a listing for the price of the B-07 suspension package in the B-body.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

 

You forgot about the 365 hp 4bbl engine. Not all 4bbl equipped Delta 88s were W-33 390 hp cars. I had one; great cars.

 

The B07 was described in factory literature as follows:

B07 Suspension with Rear Stabilizer Bar, Heavy-Duty - Includes heavy-duty front and rear springs, stabilizer bars, and shock absorbers. N.A. with FG2, G51, G66 or U15. Sedans and coupes..........................$17.80

This package was only offered on Delta 88 and Delta 88 Custom. It was NOT available with the Delta 88 Royale. The B07 Highway Patrol Suspension Package did not specify a specific engine.

The L32 option reads as follows:

L32 Engine, 390-hp High-Performance Rocket 455 V-8 H.C. (4-bbl. carburetor) - Includes dual exhaust system. M41 and Y72 required............$141.13 (Note this price is for the Delta 88. Since the Custom includes the L30 310 hp 455, the L32 option was only an extra $27.82)

Related options:

M41 Transmission, Heavy-Duty Turbo Hydramatic 400 - L32 required........$242.88

Y72 Engine-Cooling Equipment, Heavy-Duty - Includes special radiator, heavy-duty water pump, Thermo-Cool engine fan, and 55-ampere Delcotron:
With C60 or C61..............$21.06
Without C60 or C61.........$57.93

I found it interesting that the L32 was only available with the M41 transmission AND the M41 was only available with the L32

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, but remember, as I did in my post, you have to add the numbers as though you are ordering a car - for instance, if you are already buying an automatic transmission, the cost of the engine does not mandate the cost of the entire transmission, just the difference between the M40 and the M41.

- Eric

 

Correct. If you're sitting down with the salesman and want the M40 Turbo 400 in your Delta Custom, he's going to add $227.04 to the price. If you change your mind and want the M41 Turbo 400, he'll change the $227.04 to $242.88, a difference of $15.84 (plus the price for the required L32, etc).

 

So does this mean that my 69 Royale can't equip the B-07 package? And do you know if I can get one from a 70's Royale and use it on mine due to the little differences. And if so do you know a listing price for the B-07 package in todays pricing? If so where can I get it?

 

Is there anyway I can tell if my block is a W 33. I have the Delta 88 Royale.

 

M-41 trans will have a different code on the side of it than the M-40 trans.


What two letter code is on your trans?


If I recall correctly the W-33 engine came with dual exhaust including the S manifold on the driver side. Does your car have duals?

 

My car does have dual exhaust, I am not sure what exact trans I have, I know it's a synchromesh. Here are the gear ratios.

1st/2.42
2nd/1.61
3rd/1 to 1

 

All 455 powered Olds Delta 88s with auto trans have a T400 trans. On the side of the trans is a tag with a 2 letter tag. Tell us the code on the tag & this will discern the M-40 from the M-41. Both use the same gear ratios.

 

If that's the original engine, it's not an L32. That engine required dual exhaust.

 

But he says that his car DOES have duals. See quote.


"My car does have dual exhaust"

 

Ooops. My bad. I didn't read closely. Look for the trans code and let us know.

 

Uncle Hulka you still have this car or did it find a good home?

 

I found a great home for the car (minus the L32&M41). The man who bought it planned to do a full restoration, but health issues intervened and last I heard was that he was selling the car and all the NOS parts that went with it.

Here's his thread:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...88-custom.html

 

How do I start my own post?

 

Can a Casting number tell me if it's a 390 hp 455? If not what will?

 

Have you not been reading the answers to your own hijacked thread?
You need to look at the tag on the side of the transmission, and the VIN-derivative number stamped into the other side of the transmission case.
The L-32 transmission should be code O-L. Only ONE transmission was used with the L-32 390hp motor, and that transmission was not used with any other motor, so if you have that transmission, and the VIN-derivative matches your VIN, then the 390hp motor was originally installed in your car.




I just checked my option list and found that dual exhaust is not listed as an option for any B- or C-body in 1969. That does not mean that it is impossible for one to have gotten or installed duals on a non-L-32 car, but it is unlikely.
The left-hand exhaust manifold for dual exhaust on the rear-steer fullsize cars is unique and rare, so go take a look at yours, and send us a picture.

The L-32 engine did not have a unique distributor, or any other unique external components, as far as I can tell.

The only true way to know whether your car was produced with an L-32 is to look at the build sheet or original order form.

The only true way to know whether you actually have an L-32 is to look at the camshaft.
The L-32 and W-34 use the same cam, which has the same grind marks as the 400cid manual transmission cars (but is not the same cam), and looks like this:




Go to ClassicOldsmobile.com/forums/, select an appropriate forum, and click the "New Thread" button at the top left.


I hope this was helpful.

- Eric