The Oldsmobile 88 (a.k.a. Eighty-Eight) was a full-size car sold by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors and produced from 1949 until 1999. From 1950 to 1974 the 88 was the division's top-selling line, particularly the entry-level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88. The 88 series was also an image leader for Oldsmobile, particularly in the early years (1949–51) when it was one of the best performing automobiles thanks to its relatively small size, light weight and advanced overhead-valve high-compression V8 engine originally designed for the larger and more luxurious 98 series but dropped into the smaller six-cylinder Oldsmobile 76 body, creating what was considered the predecessor of musclecars of the 1960s.
A large number of variations in nomenclature were seen over this long model run—Delmont, Delta, Dynamic, Jetstar, Starfire, Super, Holiday, L/S, LSS, Celebrity, and Royale were used at various times with the 88 badge, and Fiesta appeared on some station wagons in the 1950s and 1960s. The name was more commonly shown as numbers in the earlier years ("Delta 88", for example) and was changed to spell-out "Eighty Eight" starting in 1989.
The Oldsmobile Eighty Eight was produced in Wentzville, Missouri; Flint, Michigan; and Lake Orion, Michigan.
Tenth generation 1992-1999
The Oldsmobile Eighty Eight was redesigned for 1992, following the redesign of the Ninety Eight the previous year. This was the last Eighty Eight or 88 model from Oldsmobile (along with its performance LSS and Regency models) before being discontinued in 1999 and being replaced in 2001 with the Aurora. The 3.8 L Buick V6 was still the only engine, but output increased to 170 hp (127 kW) and 220 lb⋅ft (300 N⋅m) of torque.
The Eighty-Eight's front and rear were restyled for 1996, and with it the nomenclature was changed from "Eighty Eight Royale" to three models – Eighty Eight, Eighty Eight LS and LSS (A "Luxury Sports Sedan" targeted to male European car buyers, available with a supercharged V6 and a floor mounted gear shifter). It is important to note, however, early LSS models (1995) were rarely equipped with the 3800 Supercharged engine. The LSS was an originally a trim level package on the 88 starting in 1992. In 1996 the LSS received Aurora-inspired seats. 1996 was the final year that the original-style rocket (in black and silver) appeared on a hood emblem. 1997 would welcome the new Oldsmobile logo on all Eighty-Eight trims except the Regency.
After the demise of the Ninety-Eight in 1996, Oldsmobile added the Regency to the 1997 and 1998 lineups, which used the same front fenders and chrome grille as the Ninety-Eight sedan but kept the standard Eighty-Eight body. The Regency featured a long list of standard features including traction control, leather upholstery, dual 6-way power seats with power lumbar and a driver's side memory function, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and an electronic level control for the rear suspension. A driver's side electrochromic outside mirror was also standard on the Regency, a feature that even Cadillac didn't offer as standard equipment. The interior day/night auto-dimming mirror was linked to the outside mirror and dimmed both with the same intensity at the same time. Some of these options, like the 2-driver memory feature, were not available on the Eighty-Eight Royale or LSS.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 88/Eighty-Eight nameplate, Oldsmobile offered a special 50th Anniversary Edition of the 1999 Eighty-Eight. This edition included front and rear leather bench seats from the 98/Regency, steering wheel with audio and HVAC controls, the older rocket logo, electronic climate control unit, gold plated badges, and special Anniversary badges on the C-pillars and front door panels. All four vehicles used the same 110.8 in (2,810 mm) wheelbase and shared an updated version of the H-body. The suspension tuning, interior appointments, and certain exterior trim was used to differentiate the three models.
Oldsmobile Guidestar
The Guidestar system was designed off of the previous TravTek GPS that Oldsmobile developed with Avis and AAA,and was tested in the 1990-1992 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo. Once the Toronado was discontinued after 1992, the Oldsmobile division continued working on the system as the Guidestar using the newly acquired Hughes Electronics division and EDS. The Oldsmobile Guidestar was a hard disk-based system that offered satellite navigation for 17 states but lacked live traffic updates. The states were California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. It was a 2000 dollar option, plus 400 dollar per map cartridge. In 1995 it was the first on-board navigation system to be offered on a US production car.
Engines:
1992–1994 3.8 L (231 in³) 3800 Series I V6, 170 hp (127 kW)
1995–1999 3.8 L (231 in³) 3800 Series II V6, 205 hp (153 kW)
1995 3.8 L (231 in³) supercharged 3800 Series I V6, 225 hp (168 kW) which was only installed on 100 vehicles of its kind.
1996–1999 3.8 L (231 in³) supercharged 3800 Series II V6, 240 hp (179 kW)
From 1992 to 1999, Eighty Eight models were produced in Lake Orion, Michigan, Flint, Michigan, and Wentzville, Missouri
Year to year changes
1992: The redesign. Models included the Eighty-Eight Royale and the Eighty-Eight Royale LS. The 1992 full line Oldsmobile factory brochure makes brief mention of the LSS (Luxury Sport Sedan) model in one small photo, yet it doesn't appear later in the options summary.
1993: Trunk mounted key cover emblem removed. The Eight Eight LSS returned with better factory promotion of its sporty option package that included: Bucket seats (a pair of right-hand halves of the standard 60/40 split bench seat), steering wheel audio and HVAC controls, floor shifter and center console (borrowed from the previous generation Pontiac Bonneville SSE) in the interior, and full instrumentation for the dash. Sixteen inch alloy wheels, higher spring rates and larger diameter stabilizer bars for the front and rear suspension gave the LSS a firm ride and more controlled handling.
1994: The first facelift: Front grille and headlamps were redesigned, 'sculpted' aluminum turbine rims were made available. A major redesign to the dash added a passenger side airbag and made it less cluttered and more modern.
1995: The 3.8L V6 engine was bumped from 170 hp (130 kW) to 205 hp (153 kW). All models shared this same 3.8L engine. The optional L67 3800 Supercharged engine, making 225 hp (168 kW), was made an available option for the LSS, and later other models. First OEM GPS system introduced by any manufacturer, as an option the Oldsmobile Guidestar.
1996: The second facelift: New front grille and new round headlights, all body trim was changed to give the car a cleaner, more aerodynamic appearance. Tailamps and rear reflector bar were slightly reshaped. All models were renamed from Eighty Eight Royale to Eighty Eight and Eighty Eight LS ([LS] which migrated from an 88 Royale trim). The LSS continued with the same changes to the exterior as other models, the addition of Aurora styled seats, but the same center console was retained for one more year. The supercharged LSS engine was bumped from 225 hp (168 kW) to 240 hp (180 kW).
1997: An upscale, "fully loaded" version of the Eighty-Eight was introduced as the Oldsmobile Regency to satisfy previous Ninety-Eight buyers. All Oldsmobile Eighty Eight and LSS models (except for the Regency) changed badges from the '80s Oldsmobile "Rocket" logo to the 1997–2004 Oldsmobile "Rocket Oval" logo, inspired by the Aurora's logo. The center console on bucket seat cars was also redesigned to fit up against the lower part of the dash, allowed for rear passenger vents, and 2 cup holders for front the occupants.
1998: Last year for the Regency which kept the old "Rocket" logo. The last Oldsmobile Regency rolled off the assembly line on June 18, 1998.
1999: Last year for both Eighty Eight and LSS models. This was also the last Oldsmobile sedan to have 6-passenger seating as an option. The last Oldsmobile LSS was produced on September 23, 1998. The last Oldsmobile Eighty Eight 50th Anniversary Edition was manufactured on January 6, 1999.
Source: wikipedia.org
Last edited by Man of Steel; 11-06-2019 at 11:34 PM.
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