1976 Oldsmobile 98: Daily driver

It's funny that, when we moved to this country from the UK in the early 90s, I saw 1970s cars around town all the time. I didn't notice them become fewer and fewer in number until I realized that the big square Caprices and Crown Victorias were also vanishing. In fact, most rear-wheel-drive cars are now hard to spot, and it's a rare occurrence to see a 1980s car still on the road, at least up here in the rust belt.  
I therefore had mixed feelings when I first saw the car in this post. It's a 1976 Oldsmobile 98, and the owner has decided to use it as a daily driver. There are a few things to note. 

1. The owner works down the street from me so I see the car at least a few times a week. I have watched the car go downhill just over the last few months.
2. Things are being damaged and no repairs seem to be attempted.

While it's nice to see an older, larger car on the road, it's a shame that someone has clearly picked up a good condition 37 year old car cheap somewhere in order to use it so carelessly.

The 1976 Oldsmobile may not be your cup of tea - it's a big boat, but it has nice details, like the flared fenders, polygonal quarter windows and the cathedral taillights. All 1976 98s had the 455 engine, and like most 70s cars, it was anemic and slow, but at roughly 190 hp, still enough to get this big sedan up to speed at the sedate pace expected by the occupants. The days of giving granny 400 horses in her big Olds were over, but this is still a fine example of the last year of the truly full-sized cars. 

The following year, the car dropped a foot and 1/2 a ton, but also all the character. Here is a car not ashamed to be large and comfortable. The curves around the wheels and the pillarless roof (when all the windows are down, there is no center pillar) reek of 60s flair, still hanging on in the car-design conservative 70s.  The next year, the Olds 98, along with other GM cars across the line, became more boxy, less flamboyant, and less interesting. If I had to drive across the country today, I'd choose this car in an instant. If you've never driven a 1970s full-sized American car, I urge you to do so. In these fast paced times, it's like taking a Xanax, and I mean that in a positive way. Comfort, smoothness and luxury are the keys, and it is the most relaxing drive. There is no feel from the steering, you can rest with just a fingertip on the wheel, the brakes are soft enough that the weight of a politicians honesty would begin to slow the car down, and the suspension is softer than a whore's bed.

This example looks mostly sound. It's a former PA car now living in OH, so the inspections have expired, but like many people living near the PA/OH line, this person has taken advantage of the fact that PA requires strict annual inspections, while OH doesn't care what moves along the road as long as it has a light somewhere on it. This was clearly well-enough taken care of in order to last this long and remain this solid. 

Judging by the tears in the front pillow-top upholstery, some of the foam may remain on your person after enjoying a smooth ride in this 98, but its a small price to pay. Interestingly (or not), the 98 sedan shared the same underpinnings as the Buick Electra, Chevy Impala, Cadillac DeVille and Pontiac Bonneville, as did the coupes of each model. When I say underpinnings, I mean chassis, firewall, layout, glass, dash parts, and misc other items. Clearly each looked distinctive and had different mechanicals. 

This car was very clean in August 2012. Since then, the driver's door has stopped closing properly, the rear bumper has been bent and that damaged the two plastic surrounds of the taillights, the rust on the drivers door has gone from a tiny bubble to a bigger spot, the hood has been buckled near the hinge, and the rocker molding on the passenger side was damaged then went missing. 

Looks ok from here, just missing the skirts.

At least some attempts have been made to resist the rust

The front section of this molding was damaged, then vanished.

Still such a friendly front end

I'm sorry to say that after 37 years, the damaged parts are being attacked ferociously by the aggressive salting of the winter roads.  This Olds has a limited life left, unless action is taken soon.