Citcapp and Jamesbo brought up this question in another thread. I thought I would start my own thread to address this pressing issue.

IMHO, Oldsmobile land yachts include all 4 door 88 and 98s. The earliest year considered a land yacht would probably be 56. The latest would probably be 84. Although anything after 79 is merely a luxo barge since it is powered by the meager 307.

 

At least a 307 is still a v8.
I assume that we're sticking strictly to Oldsmobiles, and excluding such 2-door boats as the mid-70's Pontiac Grand Prix and Chrysler Newports (despite their being undesirable, at least the Newport anyway).
How about the big wagons? I think you could land a helicopter on a Vista Cruiser, and even stow it inside if you folded the rotors back!

 

To me it means the traditional 4 door, V8 "full size" cars, usually over 4500 lbs dry weight and at least 18' long.
If you can comfortably seat 6 adults, AND stow all of their furniture in the trunk for a cross country trip, it is a land yacht (or barge, depending on the engine).

Station wagons are in a class of their own - the old style of suv...
The term "station" means a lot. When my friend's mom used to tell 8 of us kids to meet her at the station, she did not mean the train station!

 

I consider my 62 a land yacht, or as my wife calls it "the titanic after it hit the ocean floor."

 

Should the Toronado line be included?

 

No. There was never a 4 door Toronado.

 

IIRC the chassis that Olds64 has ('71 to what '75?) were the physically largest 98s that Olds ever produced.

My Aunt and Uncle had a '72 or '73 and I rode in it a fair amount as a kid. One difference in that model was the fact it was pillerless between the front and back doors. While it makes a styling point, I never liked the additional wind noise caused by it.

I believe that the Fleetwood's of the time were also longer than the 98's, Electra's and Bonneville's.

 

Only Oldsmobile [Hey its and Olds forum]

No Toros
No Wagons

And naturally the Commodore has to have a hat [with scrambled eggs]

All political donations to candidates for Commodore must be limited to a "case quarter" [25 cents] and must be reported. [Just to keep the PAC's out of our election]

 

Like the one this first guy is wearing, or the second?

 

Come on Oldsguy

I know a Capt'in when I see dem sleaves.

Bye the Bye, Who was the last U.S. Navy Commodore?

I believe it was stopped 1899 when they all became Rear Admirals and then started up again during WWII, then stopped again in 1983 but I dunno

 

That guy is. I picked up that picture from this site. A Commodore is a positional title given to a US Navy Captain (in rank not title) usually during war time which enables him to command more than one ship, usually referred to as a Battle Group which has a vessel such as a Carrier or Cruiser as the central vessel from which he commands. That is why he has four bars on his sleeve because rank wise he is still an O5

 

If you need to modify your garage as i did, it is considered a

Land Yacht

 

The skipper said so and I agree. That is a land yacht!!

If I were piloting said land yacht while towing a camper would I be a commodore?

 

Well let see ,If you need to have a shopping center parking lot to make a U turn then I'd consider it a Land Yacht ,even 2 door 98's they are a Yacht with a flying Bridge .

rocwal
Dan B

 

I guess this leaves out my 85 Delta 2-door.

It was called the boat and the tank, but crumpled up like a soda can

 

consider my 57 super 88 with the connie kit a land yacht 6-people in the car in the back seat you cannot sit back and touch the front seat from the rear seat and the car will not fit in my garage, the connie kit sits under the garage door allowing the door to just hit benind the trunk

 

hmmmmm I wonder

 

Lookin good. Has great lines. Needs girls on the deck

 

I love it.

 

X2

Did anyone see the Oldsmobile Home in JwOlds mag for sale.

 

Are you talking about the unrestored Olds camper for 9K?
I HAVE been thinking of owning a small RV...

 

Yep,

I called for pics but haven't gotten any

Cool huh?

It would give new meaning to the ole song "Get your kicks on route 66"

 

That is awsome! 76 was a good year for the 98.

 

The Vista is no yacht, more of a cabin cruiser, the roof windows are for illuminating the pool table and bar in the rear below deck.
The Custom Cruiser is a battleship fitted for civilian use, strip the paint off and there's gray under it and large white block numerals painted on the front fenders.

I want to fly one of those boat " The Party is Here" pennants with the image of the champagne glass and the couple dancing in evening wear on it. I have a flag holder on the bow rail just above the running lights. Then I can be just like yacht club members and sit around in the docked car all day partying.
It sure saves gas but the booze bills would get real high because those yacht people only drink the top shelf stuff.

Remember the rules of the road and always watch your wake, you could easily capsize a Smart car going by it too fast in one of those babies.

Allan

 

Well it would appear we have a Olds 64 as a Land Yacht Club President [ all be it self appointed] and a "Skipper" in 69Convertible

But I'm not going to join without Tina Lousie

 

jamsbo,

Your got that rignt!!!!!!!!!!!

 

always went for mary-ann myself

 

i believe this is the land yacht club i was instructed to look up! lol. well i certainly feel that Lyle fits the criteria: 1971 98 LS four door hardtop.

so would i be Gilligan then? lol...i would find that ironic, because being 6'5" and "300lbs of heaven and joy" (howlin wolf tune, fyi) i look more like the Skipper! haha

-Bob

 

I think my 56 98 (4dr Bpillar) fits the bill as a land yacht. One of the originals I believe.

 

WOW, nice car, is that the origional paint? More pics?

 

That is an AWSOME land yacht. Post more pics please.

 

Hi...It is original paint...original everything actually..It is an awesome car..started the resto a couple months ago so it's not looking quite as nice at present....I've attached a couple "during" photos.

 

56oldsnub, your 98 is a beauty, even in the state its in now. those mid fifties oldsmobile's were awesome looking cars, with 56 being probably my favorite year.


and dont ever feel shy about sharing pics!

-Bob

 

That is going to be a beautiful ride when you are done. I am sure you are ready to drive it.

 

elwood565 and 56oldsnub welcome to the Land Marina

 

or the "Dry Dock"

maybe even the "Asphalt Harbor"

-Bob

 

thanks for the 'land marina' (and dry dock) welcome...yeah I'm looking forward to driving the old gal....but I've got myself psyched up to just take my time and do it right...so I don't think I'll be driving for a while..but I'll sit on the floor pan and pretend once and a while..lol

 

Pressing issue? What pressing issue? Although 79 was the last year Olds put the 403 into the 88/98, you missed the 1980 model year. It came with a 350. Not sure but I believe you could order a 350 in 1982 also. I personally don't have any concern about Oldsmobile engines in big cars. They were simply forced to address issues related to fuel economy to meet federal standards and emission control standards.

Luxo barge?? If you consider Olds land yachts to be all 4 door 88/98's it really doesn't matter what powers it does it? I owned a 73 Custom cruiser and a 83 Regency Brougham. Both qualified for yacht status based on size. Nose to nose the 73 and 83 are only inches apart in length. Plus, the 83 had more ***** than the 455 in the Custom Cruiser and got better mileage too. Your 73 came with downgraded power same as my Custom cruiser and additional pollution controls so I'm not sure what you're qualifying as meager power. My 307 with the 200R4 and posi was pretty quick off the line for an almost 5000 pound car.

My 1995 regency elite may not look big by design, but it has more interior room than most of the early model 88 and 98 models. Do you measure yacht status by interior room too? BTW it has a pretty snappy 3800 series 2 that would probably leave your 73 98 in the dust, so again, why do you think that everything after 1979 has a meager??? engine? What about the Aurora flagships? Their 4.3 is hardly meager.

 

Meager < 350

I guess the 80 and 81 would be ok if they had a 350.

 

in my opinion the downsized 77-later GM's hardly count. they certainly are big, especially by today's standards...but they dont compare to anything older than that, in size and style. i learned to drive in my dad's 1976 coupe deville, which is a land yacht for sure...about 19ft long and 500 cubic inches under the hood. my first car was a 1988 cadillac brougham, which i always thought was small, especially in comparison to my olds or my dad's caddy, but then all of my friends would always ask me how i could drive something so big. i just looked at them like they were stupid. haha.

-Bob