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I'll preface this with saying, I have a huge love for big, ahem, huge 60s/70s American stuff. It just does it for me, always has. Having owned lots of big Fords in the past, I wanted to try something different.
My requirements were that the car would run, and drive, be rust free, and be a good fit for my daughter to come cruise around with me.
Some stuff here and there caught my eye, went to look at some total busts. Including a memorable, as described "absolutely 100% rust free car" near Waterloo, Iowa, that I could put my hands through. After a 6 hour drive, the thought of committing several felonies was there, but dissipated as soon as I had the ability to mull over taking up residency in an Iowa Penitentiary.
Saw some good looking pictures of a big, and clean looking Olds on Facebook marketplace, and sent the seller a message. Got a quick response, and an affirmation that the car was rust free, ran and drove. After getting some additional pictures of my areas of concern, I took this past friday off, and me and my usual copilot, my friend Gus, decided to make the trip.
We live in Chicago, and met at my mother's house near O'Hare. I work afternoons, so by the time I got to her house, it was nearly 2 AM. I did the tool loading, and checking that I had money, maps, and everything else. That all done I took an hour nap, and waited for my friend to show up at 04:45. We departed Chicago at 05:00 en route to Centerville Iowa.
Our route was as follows,
TriState Tollway (I-294) to the East-West Tollway (I-88) west to Interstate 74, near the Quad Cities. From there 74, down to Galesburg, Illinois, where we would follow US 34 to Burlington Iowa. US 61 down to Ft. Madison and cutting over to State 27 into Missouri. From there we'd take US 136 west to State 202, crossing back into Iowa, then State 2 for our final approach into Centerville. Route back was more or less the same with some small deviations.
I used to live in Galesburg, Illinois, so we decided to shoot for breakfast there.
It's a 1975 Oldsmobile Regency 98. 455-4V, TH400, and all the options you could want. The car started its life, and spend most of it anyway, in Colorado, Montrose, to be exact. Extremely clean, with a new trans in 2014, and no rust to be found, it was a no brainier, we shook hands and I took possession of my new olds. The seller said he wouldn't trust the battery too long, it was an older Delco, so we headed over to the Wal-Mart and grabbed a decent enough replacement. Good CA, and CCA, and for 60 bucks I'm not complaining, it did its job.
Battery replaced, we headed back south out of town. I had noticed a roadside bar when we went through Downing, MO the first time, so we aimed the cars that way. But not before a fuel stop was required. The TDI was returning 46 MPG average so far, and only ended up using 32 dollars in fuel for the entire 755 miles it was driven.
After lunch we hit the road again. Radio was working good, heat was going, and it was quite a comfy ride as I started to settle into the big Olds. It's the kind of car that you really do grow into. Every piece of yourself finding the right spot on the pillowtop upholstery, legs stretched out, warm enough to take off your jacket, as the outside temps hover precariously close to 15, and the strong wind is just a minor annoyance, to be felt but absolutely not heard as the big car slides down the road. Curves bumps and lane changes are accomplished by a vauge, unhurried, waddle over.
Car running well, we stopped at a Flying J to check the tires and hit the bathrooms. At this point we decided our next stop would be the I-74 Rest Stop near the Quad Cities.
Night falls quickly in the Midwest winter. Although the days are lengthening, it can seem like dusk is nothing but a blink. This just about 8 O'Clock on I-74 near Woodhull, Illinois.
Groovin' along we headed towards Rochelle, where we would make our final fuel stop and hit it heavy towards the city.
Car ran and drove great, needs an alignment, wheel is off a bit. Slight wind leak from one of the window weather strips. Also a good detailing!
Wel after getting the Olds home, it was time to give it a good cleaning. That's usually been my first order of anything I pick up, and it really gives me an opportunity to go over every inch of the car and really take a look at it in depth. Well and see the stuff I usually miss when I'm in full car boner buying mode. Clean, but years of dust and barn dirt were in great supply.
The car came with a bunch of receipts, manuals, and brochures, tucked into different places. That and the everything is absolutely original, gave credence to the fact this is an actual 14k mile car. Neat!
Did a good wash, and scrub with Meguiar's Gold class, then used a DA, with Lake Country pads, and used Meguair's Ultimate Compound, followed by their #7 (?) Polish, then #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax. Tires/Wheel covers got Meg's Wheel Brightener.
That's also when I discovered the tires are about 25 years old. Yikes. New ones ordered, white walls of course. No dry rot on these though, would have never guessed the age. Car cleaned up nicely.
And got my new air cleaner decal in the mail, along with some other reproduction decals to freshen up the engine bay, when the weather gets decent again.
Great car and super shape for its vintage. I remember those cars well from when I was a teenager. Always though the change from round headlights on the '74 to rectangular on the '75 (and '76) really improved the looks of the front end. Just gave it a more balanced and finished feel to me anyway. Enjoy your new toy.
Probably the most complete intro ever on Classic Olds, great read. I don't know what you paid for it but whatever it was it was well worth it..... Lost in the fifties ....Tedd
One comment about the "Rocket 455" air cleaner decal. That's not correct for your car. In the latter years of the 455 in the big cars ('75 and '76, I believe), Olds dropped the "Rocket" on the decal and just had "455." Not sure whey they did that as they were still Rocket V-8s. But if you want the underhood appearance to be 100% correct, you want the decal below, which Fusick sells.
I recently saw an ad for a '75 Delta 88 with the 350 engine, and the air cleaner decal was old and worn and looked very original, and it was still readable. It said "Oldsmobile 350," not "Oldsmobile Rocket 350."
I paid 3k for the car, which I feel was fair for what it is.
Also about the air cleaner decal, lol, I realized my mistake about a week after I got the rocket one. I did order the other correct one, thanks for the link!
I paid 3k for the car, which I feel was fair for what it is.
Also about the air cleaner decal, lol, I realized my mistake about a week after I got the rocket one. I did order the other correct one, thanks for the link!
That's a lot of car for that money, figuratively and literally. Big, powerful, luxurious, with good looks to boot. I bet the ride comfort is phenomenal. Welcome to the site and congratulations on the acquisition.
PS for all you mileage hounds out-there he managed 11.44 MPG with a mint condition low mileage stock 455 in a 98.
I'm a bit of a weirdo with fuel records and stuff. I keep logs of all of my fill ups, maintenance, etc, and have for pretty much every car I own. Selective OCD I guess. God knows I'm not nearly that organized in any other facet of my life lol.
That's a great deal, George! There are still good deals out there for the full size cars. It will give you a lot of pleasure for the small investment!!
What. A. Tank! Glad you didn't have any mishaps with those old tires. I pressed my luck for a long time with the bias ply's that were on my Starfire when I bought it in '98. Finally replaced them last summer. Just dumb & lazy on my part.
It really is an amazing time capsule, and at a respectable price to boot. Enjoy it!
Replaced a dry rotted fuel hose today, and went for a drive. Cruised around downtown, and didn't interact with anyone or touch anything, so I was being socially responsible, and it was good to get out.
Is trunk lock cover a rocket by chance ?
have a 76 decklid with that & seems like my 75 88 royale conv had a royale script under poly
& has been some discussion on that without any determination & a pic o that would certainly be helpful
Thanks Omishjon4@gmail.com
Is trunk lock cover a rocket by chance ?
have a 76 decklid with that & seems like my 75 88 royale conv had a royale script under poly
& has been some discussion on that without any determination & a pic o that would certainly be helpful
Thanks Omishjon4@gmail.com
It is a rocket, this is the best pic I can do at the moment,
Lol no we got it home before the apocalypse started!
George, you're not kidding. Its like we are living in a horror movie, a combination of The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston and They Live starring Rowdy Roddy Piper. Signs everywhere saying "stay home, stop the spread" then you turn on to a street and are lucky if you see one other human being besides yourself.
By the way, great pic with your ride in-front of the The Chicago Theatre, a winner ! Deserves to be blown up to poster size then professionally framed and hung in the home...seriously.
