1966 Oldsmobile Dynamic Eighty-Eight

Oldsmobile rode the tide of changing demands during the mid-1960s, most noticeably with its compact F-85 which moved to a larger platform following disappointing sales. The vast array of full-size models within Oldsmobile's 1966 model year portfolio included the 'entry-level' Jetstar Eighty-Eight, the 'mid-level' Dynamic Eighty-Eight, and the 'top-of-the-line' Delta Eighty-Eight. The Starfire two-door, six-passenger hardtop coupe was a personal luxury car that competed with the newly introduced Toronado. The Starfire had conservative styling and conventional rear-wheel drive that the market was accustomed to. For the daring, the Toronado came with numerous technological innovations and was the first mass-produced front-wheel drive American car since the 1937 Cord 810. Honoring its coffin-nosed predecessor, the Toronado was given a horizontally-lined grille, hidden headlamps and massive styled wheels. Priced at $4,585, it was a full $1,000 more expensive than the Starfire, but its nearly 41,000 sales far exceeded the 13,000 of the Starfire.

The 1966 Oldsmobile line offered another full-size luxury model dubbed the Ninety-Eight, available several two- and four-door body styles including a convertible. Prices began at $4,000 and rose to $4,400. Attractive styling and a long list of standard amenities were appealing to many buyers, and over 88,000 examples were sold, accounting for approximately 15% of Oldsmobile's model year production.

Full-Size Oldsmobiles
Of the three full-size Oldsmobile models offered in 1966, the most popular was the mid-priced Dynamic Eighty-Eight with 95,923 examples sold. The top-of-the-line Delta Eighty-Eight was also very popular with 88,356 sales, with just 30,247 of the 'entry-level' Jetstar Eighty-Eight. This was the final year for the Jetstar 88.

Jetstar Eighty-Eight
The Jetstar Eighty-Eight four-door Celebrity sedan was priced at $2,900, the two-door holiday hardtop was priced at $2,960, and the four-door Holiday Hardtop at $3,040. The most popular was the Celebrity sedan with 13,734 examples sold. A total of 8,575 were the 2-door holiday hardtop and 7,938 of the 4-door holiday hardtop. Standard amenities included back-up lamps, Deluxe armrests, carpeting, parking brake light, windshield washer, two-speed wipers, a padded instrument panel, front and rear seatbelts, special chrome moldings, and left outside rearview mirror. The upholstery choices included cloth or vinyl.

The Jetstar 88 was powered by a 330 cubic-inch V8 engine which it shared with the Vista Cruiser. It had a cast iron block, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 10.25:1 compression, a Rochester two-barrel carburetor, and developed 260 horsepower at 4,800 RPM.

Dynamic Eighty-Eight
The Dynamic Eighty-Eight was offered with the same body styles as the Jetstar Eighty-Eight, plus a two-door, six-passenger convertible. The two-door holiday hardtop was priced at $3,050, the four-door holiday hardtop at $3,120, the celebrity sedan at $2,990, and the convertible at $3,380. The most popular body style was the celebrity sedan with 38,742 examples sold, followed by 30,784 of the 4-door holiday hardtop, 20,857 of the 2-door holiday hardtop, and 5,540 of the convertible.

The Dynamic Eighty-Eight and the Delta Eighty-Eight both shared a 425 cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 310 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. It had five main bearings, a cast iron block, 10.25:1 compression, hydraulic valve lifters and a Rochester four-barrel carburetor.

The Dynamic Eighty-Eight rode on 8.25 x 14 inch tires (compared to 7.75 x 14 tires of the Jetstar 88) with Deluxe wheel discs, carpeting, a padded dash, foam seat cushions, courtesy lamps, parking brake light, chrome window moldings, back-up lamps, windshield washer and two-speed wipers, and front and rear seat belts. Interior options included cloth, vinyl, or leather.

Delta Eighty-Eight
Previously a 'sub-series' within the Dynamic Eighty-Eight, the Delta Eighty-Eight was now a separate series. Body styles were the same as the ones offered on the Dynamic Eighty-Eight, with prices that were approximately $180 higher. The most popular was the four-door holiday hardtop with 33,326 examples sold, followed by 301,40 of the celebrity sedan, 20,587 of the 2-door holiday hardtop, and 4,303 of the convertible.

Standard amenities bestowed upon the Delta 88 included special wheel discs and 8.25 x 14 tires, back-up lamps, courtesy and map lights, foam seat cushions, windshield washer and two-speed wipers, Deluxe steering wheel, padded dash, carpeting, seat belts (front and rear), parking brake light, and special armrests. Interior upholstery choices were the same as the Dynamic 88 - vinyl, cloth, and leather.

The Delta Eighty-Eight was built in the same plants as the Dynamic 88s.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024