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Very informative video, thanks for sharing. What was Oldsmobile thinking???
Market share. J88 was a car for people who wanted a full-size Oldsmobile without feeding a thirsty 394/HydraMatic, and who didn't want the smaller Cutlass.
There was doubtless some desire to cannibalize sales of full-size Chevrolets too.
I owned a '64 Jetstar 88 just like the one in the video, a 2-door hardtop, from 1991 to 1996. I knew all about the mid-size-engine/brakes/drivetrain-in-a-full-size-car thing right from the beginning, but I never felt that the car was underpowered or underbraked. I eventually sold it because I had done everything I had wanted to with it and wanted to move on to another vehicle.
Here's a few photos of it the day I brought it home in August 1991. I never understood why it was the color it was. The original color was a dark red, and this gray-ish color looked more like primer than anything else. I had it repainted to the original color.
I apologize for the poor photo quality of some of them. These are scans of prints taken with a film camera (ugh!).
Here's a few photos after I had had it repainted and had the front seat reupholstered. Also cleaned up and painted the trunk, and put a replacement, rechromed rear bumper on it.
To be fair to Oldsmobile.
The Jetstar 88 hardtop was 223 pounds lighter than a similar Dynamic 88 with a 394 and a slim jim.
Whether that made up for the smaller brakes is debatable. Maybe?
Thank you for this presentation about the 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible. I enjoyed it very much. I own a 1966 Cutlass convertible, Target Red. What is most exciting about this particular car that I bought in 2016 is that it does have a factory 4-speed. It sure does raise eyebrow especially with those that appreciate the 1966 Cutlass. The purchase of this car was the results of another 1966 Cutlass convertible that I purchased brand new in March 1966.That car was a factory 4 speed in Lucerne Mist, light blue interior and top with the usual street posi-traction dual exhaust etc. I yet have yet to see that car again.
Last edited by 35tac; July 26th, 2023 at 05:58 AM.
Here's an article about auctions in the southwest and features a '64 Jetstar 88 two-door hardtop in blue and white that sold for $11,000 at one of the auctions.
July 25th, 2023, 08:14 AM
