1969-1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight

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About 1969-1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight

The 1969 and 1970 full-sized Oldsmobiles including the Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight. The Delta used the GM B-body shared with all full-sized Chevrolets and Pontiacs, along with Buick's LeSabre and Wildcat; while the Ninety-Eight used the C-body shared with Buick's Electra and most Cadillac models.

These cars were not the biggest in Olds history but were darn well close. They were powered by Rocket V8 engines of 350 and 455 cubic inches, and a few 88s were built in both years with the W-33 option that included a 390-horsepower 455 - same engine found in the 68-69 Hurst/Olds and was rated at 400 horsepower as the W-34 option on the front-drive Toronado. Many W-33 Delta 88s were built as part of the Olds "Police Pursuit" package available to law-enforcement agencies.

1969:
First year for two-year body design which featured new crisper bodylines and rooflines. Though the bodyshell was all new this year, the basic 1965 chassis was carried over and even the roofline of the pillared Town Sedans was unchanged from the 1965-68 era though vent windows were dropped on all models. Wheelbases increased one inch to '124 on Delta 88s and '127 on Ninety-Eights.

Inside was a new instrument panel with square pods for speedometer, fuel gauge and other instruments. Headrests initially were option but became standard Jan. 1, 1969 due to federal mandate. All full-sized Oldsmobiles featured new ignition switches mounted on the steering column that also locked the steering wheel - a feature common to all 1969 General Motors cars a year before the ignition interlock became a federal mandate for 1970 models.

All B-body cars were Delta 88s this year. The low-priced base Delta 88 replaced the Delmont 88, while the former base Delta became the Delta 88 Custom and a new offering was the Delta 88 Royale coupe with standard vinyl roof and luxurious interior with Custom Sport notchback bench seat or no-cost Strato bucket seats that was similar in concept to the sporty 88-based Starfires of 1961-66.
Engine offerings included a two-barrel 350 Rocket V8 (250 hp) standard on base Deltas, two-barrel 455 Rocket standard on Custom and Royale, and optional on base 88s - both two-barrel engines were designed for use of regular-grade fuel. Optional on all Delta 88s and standard on Ninety-Eights was the "Ultra High Compression" 455 four-barrel (365 horsepower) which required premium fuel. Also optional on all 88s was the W-33 option 390-horsepower "Ultra High Compression" 455 Rocket, which was the highest horsepower engine offered in Olds' price/market class.

Ninety-Eights came standard with Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, power steering and power brakes - all of which were optional on Delta 88s. Power windows and seat were standard on all Ninety-Eight models except the Town Sedan, where they were optional, as well as on Delta 88s. Air conditioning was a popular option across the board on all full-sized Oldsmobiles along with a Tilt-Away steering wheel.

1970
The 1970 full-sized Oldsmobiles featured only minor changes from 1969. Grilles were revised and no longer extended to surround the headlights. Tailight lenses were revised on both 88s and 98s along with backup lights.

All versions of the 350 and 455 Rocket V8s were carried over from 1969, but now featured "Positive Valve Rotators", an Olds exclusive designed to provide for longer valve life.

Initially, power steering and power front disc brakes were standard on all Delta 88s, but became standard equipment Jan. 1, 1970. Both items were already standard on 98s along with the Turbo Hydra-matic transmission.