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Pro Commuter Perfection? Is This 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 On The Right Track?


Pro Commuter Perfection? Is This 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 On The Right Track?

There are days where I almost wish I had never typed the words “Pro Commuter”. I’m not kidding. It’s one thing for me to want a cool daily driver that gets solid MPG and doesn’t look like I neutered myself with dull gardening shears, but honestly, how BangShift-worthy is that, anyways? At best, it’s mixed reactions and at worst, I can hear the laughter though the computer. Then shit like this makes it’s way onto my eBay feed and I stop, think about it for a second, and I have to put it up, if only for the sake of discussion. The basic idea of Pro Commuter does have some merit and some cars are worthy. Surely, nobody here would say no to a Shelby Mopar, would they? We aren’t talking the high-dollar, high-horsepower machine here, we’re just talking about the car you’d take out and drive every day. Surely some concessions can be made, like additional comfort and a move towards fuel mileage. Maybe I’m delirious, maybe I need to get more sleep. But look at this Oldsmobile and see if it makes sense to you.

The Oldsmobile Delta 88 had made the move to the front-wheel-drive H-platform in 1986, following a downsizing trend that removed it from the B-body lineup. They came in two-door versions through 1991, and the body even made it to NASCAR at one point with drivers like Rick Wilson and Terry LaBonte wheeling them around. That was the closest the Delta 88 came to being a musclecar of any kind, but that didn’t stop one enterprising individual from whipping up a kit of his own.

Customized 1987 Delta 88.  Custom 442-like paint and custom “Oldsmobile Super 88” logo on doors and trunk lid.  Extremely rare “W88” dealer-installed front air dam.  Grill/headlight surrounds have been blacked out and the grills recessed.  Chrome on body has been blacked out. Rear bumper has been professionally powder-coated.  Rear spoiler and functional hood vents are from an 89 Pontiac Firebird T/A.  The non-functional “Turbo Bulge” was installed “new in box” and was a spare part for a 1981 Turbo Monte Carlo.  Hood pins are functional and are 1968 Oldsmobile 442 reproductions. Wheels are aftermarket.  Original load-leveling system to include rear struts, rear springs and air pump have been removed and replaced with heavy-duty springs and air bags. Steering unit, sway bar bushings and tie-rod ends recently replaced.  Steering is tight. Front strut bar (under hood) is off of a Cadillac that had a V-8 and utilized the same chassis (bolted right in with no modifications required).  Brakes were completely redone summer 2017. 
No engine or transmission modifications. Drivetrain is completely stock. Engine does not burn or leak oil or antifreeze.  Transmission shifts great with no leaks.  In fact this car does not leak any fluids.  Original muffler was replaced with a dual exhaust muffler.  It is not true dual-exhaust as exhaust system from engine to catalytic converter is totally stock. Car has been in the family since new and has always been meticulously maintained.  On to the interior…  custom, one of a kind Oldsmobile floor mats in front and back.  Converted from column shift, bench seat to floor shift and bucket seats.  Floor shifter and console are from a Delta 88 Touring Edition.  Bucket seats are manually adjustable and are from a 2007 Saturn.  I had seat mounts custom-made to use the original seat bolt locations. No hack job on this car. Alpine Radio/CD/satellite with Bluetooth  for hands-free phone usage.  Customizing this car has been a labor of love for me for the past 8 years. Attention to detail has been my passion. I am getting on in years. It is time for someone else to take it to the next level such as installing a turbocharger or later model turbocharged or supercharged drivetrain.

You know, the seller does have a point…a supercharged 3.8L V6 with a minor bit of tweaking would wake this Olds right up. Better yet…what about an LS4 swap? Everything but the engine seems downright sorted.

eBay Link: 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 coupe


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9 thoughts on “Pro Commuter Perfection? Is This 1987 Oldsmobile Delta 88 On The Right Track?

  1. Matt Cramer

    Nothing wrong with adding more interest to a cheap beater, but $7500 is rather overpriced. This isn’t something you should build with the expectation of getting your money back.

  2. BennyB

    Needs an LS4, in my opinion. See how it acts with that aluminum V8 up front, but hold the idea of a remote/trunk turbo in reserve in case cubes aren’t enough.
    The look of the car is spot on for a domestic 80s commuterbox.

  3. Pete231

    Ooooooooo…. Wow, flashy decals and paint, “extremely rear air dam”, Bluetooth, zippy floor mats, “Turbo Bulge”(?), farty exhaust, etc…..This is so much low hanging fruit, I just can’t bring myself to do it. MEH !!

  4. Pete231

    Sorry about the “rear” word in the air dam slam. My auto-correct has been really pissy lately. This taco wagon is still a steaming pile………

  5. Bryce

    This is a one of a kind Olds that was put together by a car enthusiast. Something that should be considered is it\’s unique, not just another civic rolling around town. The the time, thought, and labor put into this build ment something. Honestly I give credit to the builder for his imagination and vision put into making this grandma car into a one of a kind \”Pro Commuter.\”

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