New Alaskan Oldsmobile
October 25th, 2013, 10:20 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Anchorage,Alaska
Posts: 40
New Alaskan Oldsmobile
Hey guys!
I figured i'd take some time to introduce myself. My name is Russ i'm 24 from Anchorage,AK and a member of some other car/truck forums. My grandparents have owned our 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible since 1990. The car came from Montana and was sold to my grandpa from his brothers used car dealership in Williston, North Dakota about a year before his brother passed away. The car as the story goes was owned by a farmer and used sparingly over the years and did not see much winter use. My Grandparents kept the car stored in Williston, ND and drove it when they would go back and visit family every year, since buying it in 1990 with 78,000 original miles it has only seen around 400 miles a year in the last 23 years.
In 1997 the car was taken to a good body and paint shop in ND. the floor pans where replaced, the car was repainted the gold color you see in the current pictures as it used to be a green color. a new white top was installed at the same time the rest of the work was done.
After my grandmother's mother passed away earlier this summer they did not plan to go back to North Dakota as much as they had in the past and i convinced them to ship the car to Alaska so our family could enjoy it more often. After waiting FOREVER the car finally showed up at the end of September and we have put over 500 miles on it since.
The specs
88,5xx original miles
Transmission rebuilt (October 2013)
350 engine
power windows
Air conditioning
new shocks
newer tires
otherwise just needs some small TLC but its a WONDERFUL driver! Cruises right down the highway like a big boat
We have a few other classic cars also...heres some pictures since we got the car to Alaska.
001_zps1fcdbb16.jpg
002_zps67d3d58a.jpg
2013-09-28_15-35-38_44_zps59e25035.jpg
2013-09-30_18-52-20_798_zps941c834e.jpg
004_zps015082b5.jpg
012_zps76c0cf33.jpg
010_zps98d47089.jpg
014_zps003aef2c.jpg
Here is a few pictures from 2011 back in North Dakota
034-17.jpg
032-24.jpg
039-20.jpg
Anyway that's my story, i hope to learn more about these awesome cars and fix a few of the small nick-nacks to make this car even better!
I figured i'd take some time to introduce myself. My name is Russ i'm 24 from Anchorage,AK and a member of some other car/truck forums. My grandparents have owned our 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible since 1990. The car came from Montana and was sold to my grandpa from his brothers used car dealership in Williston, North Dakota about a year before his brother passed away. The car as the story goes was owned by a farmer and used sparingly over the years and did not see much winter use. My Grandparents kept the car stored in Williston, ND and drove it when they would go back and visit family every year, since buying it in 1990 with 78,000 original miles it has only seen around 400 miles a year in the last 23 years.
In 1997 the car was taken to a good body and paint shop in ND. the floor pans where replaced, the car was repainted the gold color you see in the current pictures as it used to be a green color. a new white top was installed at the same time the rest of the work was done.
After my grandmother's mother passed away earlier this summer they did not plan to go back to North Dakota as much as they had in the past and i convinced them to ship the car to Alaska so our family could enjoy it more often. After waiting FOREVER the car finally showed up at the end of September and we have put over 500 miles on it since.
The specs
88,5xx original miles
Transmission rebuilt (October 2013)
350 engine
power windows
Air conditioning
new shocks
newer tires
otherwise just needs some small TLC but its a WONDERFUL driver! Cruises right down the highway like a big boat
We have a few other classic cars also...heres some pictures since we got the car to Alaska.
001_zps1fcdbb16.jpg
002_zps67d3d58a.jpg
2013-09-28_15-35-38_44_zps59e25035.jpg
2013-09-30_18-52-20_798_zps941c834e.jpg
004_zps015082b5.jpg
012_zps76c0cf33.jpg
010_zps98d47089.jpg
014_zps003aef2c.jpg
Here is a few pictures from 2011 back in North Dakota
034-17.jpg
032-24.jpg
039-20.jpg
Anyway that's my story, i hope to learn more about these awesome cars and fix a few of the small nick-nacks to make this car even better!
Last edited by 907delta88; October 25th, 2013 at 11:09 PM.
October 25th, 2013, 10:48 PM
#3
Justin
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: utah
Posts: 3,448
October 26th, 2013, 06:04 AM
#9
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 13,808
Welcome to the site! I agree with the others, nice photos of the car with the background planned. I was also struck by the contrast from the plains of North Dakota to the mountains of Alaska... dramatic differences.
John
John
October 26th, 2013, 02:41 PM
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Anchorage,Alaska
Posts: 40
Thanks guys! i'll look into getting some pictures submitted.
Yeah being born and raised in Anchorage it was always a stark contrast when i would go back to ND. Flat does not even being to describe it haha i will not miss trying to sit on the dark green vinyl seats when its 100F out and the top is down...talk about burning! the car will see alot more miles up here and i plan to drive it alot in the summer.
Yeah being born and raised in Anchorage it was always a stark contrast when i would go back to ND. Flat does not even being to describe it haha i will not miss trying to sit on the dark green vinyl seats when its 100F out and the top is down...talk about burning! the car will see alot more miles up here and i plan to drive it alot in the summer.
October 26th, 2013, 07:26 PM
#12
Proud Viet Nam Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 10,280
Both of those are nice cars. It is great you have kept the car in the family. A convertible in Alaska has to be interesting. How many days a year are you able to put the top down. My 54 was actually taken to Alaska by the original owner. He was an attorney with Chevron and spent a couple years up there. I don't think he drove the car and very little if at all.
October 26th, 2013, 07:40 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Old Bridge, NJ
Posts: 570
Welcome to the site Russ! That's a sharp looking Delta you got there, very cool! I agree with the others, those pics are really nice...and WOW, that ND is FLAT!
You still have that Cougar? Any info on that baby?
You still have that Cougar? Any info on that baby?
October 26th, 2013, 08:20 PM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Anchorage,Alaska
Posts: 40
Convertibles up here great! depending on the summer. this summer we had some amazing HOT weather that made it wonderful. but we will ride with the top down if its above 50F and not raining 
gotta enjoy what you have when you can.
part of the reason i wanted to bring the Olds up for so long is i loved taking the '56 Bel-Air out but its a manual with no power steering or brakes. plus its my grandpas baby and he gets concerned about parking it in busy parking lots or taking it out late night. the Olds is much more of a easy every day driver and hes not as overly concerned about it as its not a $50k+ car.
we have a few classics that we drive, some of the others are..
1969 Mercury Cougar 390/C6 w/77k miles it was bought new in Anchorage in '69 its original except paint and wheels. Bought in '81 by my grandparents for my uncle. he could not handle the car so they took it away and my grandpa took it to shows and tinkered with it over the years. its Due for another re-paint/refresh next year.
1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air 265 w/power pack 3 on the tree, restored mid 80s and we bought it in 1997. its a very nice and clean car and we have put 35k miles on it since getting it. my grandparents had a '56 just like it when they got married in '59 and he wanted another one ever since he sold that one, this is his baby!
1976 Chevrolet Corvette L82 t-top 4 speed with 40k original miles, my dad bought this car in 1978 when he was 18 in North Dakota and drove it back to Alaska. Its had many different paint jobs over the years and alot of modifications and its pretty fast these days. he used to like to autocross it but since his knee has gotten worse he just cruises around trying not to get speeding tickets.
some pictures of the other cars from this summer.
2013-06-18_16-28-26_851_zps1b12c7de.jpg
2013-06-18_16-25-39_623_zps50d6888f.jpg
2013-05-31_18-51-14_684_zps736b9290.jpg
2013-05-31_18-51-04_891_zpsb01bf19f.jpg
2013-05-25_16-30-53_327_zpsf91ae474.jpg
378_zps71fa1c09.jpg
gotta enjoy what you have when you can.part of the reason i wanted to bring the Olds up for so long is i loved taking the '56 Bel-Air out but its a manual with no power steering or brakes. plus its my grandpas baby and he gets concerned about parking it in busy parking lots or taking it out late night. the Olds is much more of a easy every day driver and hes not as overly concerned about it as its not a $50k+ car.
we have a few classics that we drive, some of the others are..
1969 Mercury Cougar 390/C6 w/77k miles it was bought new in Anchorage in '69 its original except paint and wheels. Bought in '81 by my grandparents for my uncle. he could not handle the car so they took it away and my grandpa took it to shows and tinkered with it over the years. its Due for another re-paint/refresh next year.
1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air 265 w/power pack 3 on the tree, restored mid 80s and we bought it in 1997. its a very nice and clean car and we have put 35k miles on it since getting it. my grandparents had a '56 just like it when they got married in '59 and he wanted another one ever since he sold that one, this is his baby!
1976 Chevrolet Corvette L82 t-top 4 speed with 40k original miles, my dad bought this car in 1978 when he was 18 in North Dakota and drove it back to Alaska. Its had many different paint jobs over the years and alot of modifications and its pretty fast these days. he used to like to autocross it but since his knee has gotten worse he just cruises around trying not to get speeding tickets.
some pictures of the other cars from this summer.
2013-06-18_16-28-26_851_zps1b12c7de.jpg
2013-06-18_16-25-39_623_zps50d6888f.jpg
2013-05-31_18-51-14_684_zps736b9290.jpg
2013-05-31_18-51-04_891_zpsb01bf19f.jpg
2013-05-25_16-30-53_327_zpsf91ae474.jpg
378_zps71fa1c09.jpg
October 28th, 2013, 06:06 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,471
November 3rd, 2013, 09:36 PM
#17
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Anchorage,Alaska
Posts: 40
Thank you guys again, I've got some questions on a few little issues the car has i'll bring up as i get to them.
Today though was the last day for the Olds this year. I put it in one of our storage containers for the winter. We are having a VERY odd year and there is no snow on the ground yet.
I got a picture of my Grandmas two babies together today before putting her away.
2013-11-03_15-18-05_636_zps62bbc77f.jpg
put her away and pulled the battery cable...
2013-11-03_15-58-09_38_zps9b9476fb.jpg
Today though was the last day for the Olds this year. I put it in one of our storage containers for the winter. We are having a VERY odd year and there is no snow on the ground yet.
I got a picture of my Grandmas two babies together today before putting her away.
2013-11-03_15-18-05_636_zps62bbc77f.jpg
put her away and pulled the battery cable...
2013-11-03_15-58-09_38_zps9b9476fb.jpg
April 6th, 2014, 09:25 PM
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Anchorage,Alaska
Posts: 40
well after 5 months and a VERY mild winter i decided to pull the Olds out yesterday.
hooked the battery up and she fired right up! i thought things were going really well.
I drove it up to my grandparents house and thats when things went down hill, fast! as i went to leave it started missing really bad, back firing actually blew the whole muffler out before refusing to run. we had fuel but i suspected the 42 year old stock coil of going bad.
today we went down and got a new coil, fuel filter and some vacuum hose to replace some that fell apart in my hand. after putting the new parts on she runs great! i put 15 miles on it and filled it up with fuel. when i got home figured out the brake lights are not working. looks like the turn signal switch has went bad after hours of testing wires and tearing the dash apart. i did fix a few small other wiring issues after i took the car apart and found them. once i get the signal switch replaced it will be going in for new exhaust and a good look over from our mechanic that we trust.
yesterday and today
20140405_175024_zpsang8auku.jpg
20140406_143959_zpsj6iuaqkl.jpg
hooked the battery up and she fired right up! i thought things were going really well.
I drove it up to my grandparents house and thats when things went down hill, fast! as i went to leave it started missing really bad, back firing actually blew the whole muffler out before refusing to run. we had fuel but i suspected the 42 year old stock coil of going bad.
today we went down and got a new coil, fuel filter and some vacuum hose to replace some that fell apart in my hand. after putting the new parts on she runs great! i put 15 miles on it and filled it up with fuel. when i got home figured out the brake lights are not working. looks like the turn signal switch has went bad after hours of testing wires and tearing the dash apart. i did fix a few small other wiring issues after i took the car apart and found them. once i get the signal switch replaced it will be going in for new exhaust and a good look over from our mechanic that we trust.
yesterday and today
20140405_175024_zpsang8auku.jpg
20140406_143959_zpsj6iuaqkl.jpg
April 7th, 2014, 03:26 AM
#19
Welcome aboard......I love the mud flaps...you just don't see those anymore. Killer
Man check out those plains,,,,not a tree in sight. That is not seen here in Texas much. Not around here anyway. Lot's of contrasts in terrain yes, plains not so much however I rode my bike once from Cleburne to Longview via Hillsboro//Longview/Corsicana and the Corsicana/Athens leg was mucho farm land but nothing like that. Beautiful pics man...beautiful.
Man check out those plains,,,,not a tree in sight. That is not seen here in Texas much. Not around here anyway. Lot's of contrasts in terrain yes, plains not so much however I rode my bike once from Cleburne to Longview via Hillsboro//Longview/Corsicana and the Corsicana/Athens leg was mucho farm land but nothing like that. Beautiful pics man...beautiful.
Last edited by txrob779; April 7th, 2014 at 03:34 AM.
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