Rust is the moral enemy of just about every automobile we hold dear here at BangShift. From the surface burn of a desert car that’s going to need work in the paintbooth to the unbelievably rotted frame of a salt-state winter beater, wherever iron oxide forms, we aren’t a fan. It’s a natural process that is going to happen, no matter what kind of magic humans think they can wield, but some machines just go away faster than others. The cars of the last twenty years hold up pretty well if they aren’t driven in states that salt the roads heavier than McDonald’s fries, but go back into the Musclecar Era and…well, one look at this 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 two-door will tell you everything you need to know. Keep in mind that this isn’t even a bad example…that it’s still this together nearly fifty years on is kind of amazing, considering I found it in Lohnes’ neck of the woods.
The true die-hard in me screams, “It can be saved!” But can it, really? Put aside passion and look at it financially. You’ll never get your money back on the repairs you’ll have to make, you’ll spend tons of dough trying to find the correct parts, and it’s going to be another decade or two before anybody really fawns over a Delta 88, if ever. Kind of a bummer, I know, but here’s what you can do: give this Olds the life it should have had. Someone went to lengths to keep this car decent, and their efforts, while overall in vain, have left 95% of the car in really good condition. 
Our suggestion: patch that rot, get that 455 Olds tuned into a romping, stomping mill we all know it can be, and drive the holy hell out of the car until it can’t drive anymore. It’s not a trophy winner, it will never be a speculation car. It will be a big-block sled that you can spend your time doing burnouts in, bombing around with your friends to parts unknown, and treating it not like a potential investment, but like a freaking car. Novel concept, isn’t it!
It’s really not that bad if the frame is good. If you are handy with a welder. Nice color too. It can be fixed.
It’s not a bad looking car at all. It’s so long it almost looks chopped without being chopped.
Get the rear bumper done, some new skins and have fun. Cool old car.
Looks to be in great shape for a project. For the north I’d call that level of rust ‘minimal’.
Love the large barges! There have been several nice 70s Oldsmobile’s and Buicks for sale at damn good prices in the northwest lately.
Crush it and forget it.
As I proof read this, I somehow find myself sounding like CHMG. OK, changed my mind. LS it and take it to the track.
I grew up driving a 72 Buick Electra 225 with a 455 Buick. Could do one legger bias ply burnouts until the tire grenaded. Another $22 and you were off again. I’d love to own this car.