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Hello everyone I just bought me this beautiful 1973 Oldsmobile 98 Regency and I’ll be on here to ask for help and advice for when I fix it up nice and good. Hope to see lots of help and everyone else’s nice classics on here.
That's a four-door hardtop, a body style last made by GM in 1976.
Beautiful car.
I own a sister to it, a '73 Delta 88 convertible. I might have an answer to an occasional question you might have.
I also at one time owned a '73 Custom Cruiser, another sister to your car. This one I sold in 2014.
Note the difference in the grilles on these cars. The Custom Cruiser and 98 have a checkerboard style while the Delta 88 has a waterfall style.
The Custom Cruiser was often thought of as a station wagon version of the 88, but it was really a 98-based station in that the CC and 98 had the same wheelbase at 127 inches while the 88s had a wheelbase of 124 inches.
Note also that your car and the CC have the vertical bumper guards on each side just inboard of the headlights while my 88 does not. Those were an $18 option on the CC and 98 and included guards on only the front bumpers. They were a $31 option on the 88, and the higher cost was because guards on the rear bumpers were included.
That's a four-door hardtop, a body style last made by GM in 1976.
Beautiful car.
I own a sister to it, a '73 Delta 88 convertible. I might have an answer to an occasional question you might have.
I also at one time owned a '73 Custom Cruiser, another sister to your car. This one I sold in 2014.
Note the difference in the grilles on these cars. The Custom Cruiser and 98 have a checkerboard style while the Delta 88 has a waterfall style.
The Custom Cruiser was often thought of as a station wagon version of the 88, but it was really a 98-based station in that the CC and 98 had the same wheelbase at 127 inches while the 88s had a wheelbase of 124 inches.
Note also that your car and the CC have the vertical bumper guards on each side just inboard of the headlights while my 88 does not. Those were an $18 option on the CC and 98 and included guards on only the front bumpers. They were a $31 option on the 88, and the higher cost was because guards on the rear bumpers were included.
those are some nice cars. I believe the one I have is a Tiffany edition as well.
I believe the one I have is a Tiffany edition as well.
It does look like it.
Here's a page from the 1973 Olds brochure. Except for the color of the vinyl top, your car could be this car. This one is also a four-door hardtop with the windows rolled down.
Cool, I never heard of the tiffany edition. I always loved the 71-76 98's. My grandpa had a brand new 73 Olds 98. It was the most basic stripped 98 I have ever seen- vinyl seats, no vinyl top, basic hubcaps- actually that car was sorta ugly- love yours.
It was the most basic stripped 98 I have ever seen
Do you remember if it had air-conditioning? Even on as high-end a car as the 98, A/C was still an option. The base "Four-Season" unit cost $431 while the famous/infamous "Comfortron," the one with the temperature selection dial, was $507.
It always seemed odd to me that A/C was still an option on a car like this as late as this. If it was 1953 or 1963, I could understand. But by 1973, A/C had become much more mainstream, especially among the jet set (remember that term?), and anyone with the financial wherewithal to afford a 98 at all you would think would certainly want to equip it with air-conditioning. I have to believe that very few were ordered without it.
Do you remember if it had air-conditioning? Even on as high-end a car as the 98, A/C was still an option. The base "Four-Season" unit cost $431 while the famous/infamous "Comfortron," the one with the temperature selection dial, was $507.
It always seemed odd to me that A/C was still an option on a car like this as late as this. If it was 1953 or 1963, I could understand. But by 1973, A/C had become much more mainstream, especially among the jet set (remember that term?), and anyone with the financial wherewithal to afford a 98 at all you would think would certainly want to equip it with air-conditioning. I have to believe that very few were ordered without it.
I'd think, because not every area, having a/c was needed all that much, so to that buyer, it wasn't worth the 431. dollars to have it and almost never need it.
Also leaving as an "option" allowed the cars base price to be listed lower. Somewhat Like today were an ad will state after 20 seconds or more of showing the vehicle. Starting at 26896 knowing you are not going to find one on the lot for that. It allows the base price to be as low or lower than other options in it's "Class" . Marketing 101.
I would assume most dealerships ordered these cars with a/c for their lots. Then again. People didn't require a/c everywhere and were ok with being outside in the heat of summer. Times were different.
Nice car the O/p has, good luck with it.
Last edited by CutlassMarc; Jul 17, 2025 at 06:01 AM.
