Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible.
For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Shriners International is a global fraternity of about 200,000 people that is known for its parades and its philanthropy. The organization dates back to 1872, and since its inception, it has been guided by the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Some of the group’s key efforts have been directed toward medical care for children.
You also may not have known that there were 12 special Oldsmobiles custom-made for Shriners International for 1974. One of those cars was owned by the same family for the last 45 years. We are now pleased to direct your attention to that very automobile. It is being sold by a dealer in Waconia, Minnesota; the auction will end on Friday, September 6th.
It will come as no surprise that a car with this level of exclusivity has been parade-featured throughout its lifetime. Even its color, Shriners Burgundy (code SPEC), was exclusive to the limited-production run of just a dozen vehicles.
As with many cars from the 1970s, the Delta 88 was known for being big and heavy when it was new. In fact, promotional materials called the car “One Tough Cookie.” During preproduction testing, the car’s underbody was reportedly splashed through salt brine, the driver’s seat was pummeled thousands of times, and the engine was tested to 100,000 miles (and subsequently disassembled for inspection).
This generation of the 88 took shape in 1971 and shared the General Motors B-body platform with the Buick LeSabre, Chevrolet Caprice, and Pontiac Bonneville. As with other cars in the U.S. marketplace at the time, 1974 was a year for design changes, including government-mandated rear 5-mph bumpers.
Providing motivation for this machine is a reportedly numbers-matching, 180-horsepower 350ci Rocket V8 mated to a THM400 three-speed automatic transmission. The selling dealer asserts that the car’s indicated 28,466 miles is a true reading.
This Delta 88 Royale checks a lot of boxes for Oldsmobile enthusiasts: It is an unmodified, low-mileage, and limited-production car that carries special provenance due to its affiliation with a philanthropic global fraternity. Place your bid today and you can help write the next chapter of this car’s story.
The auction for this 1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale ends Friday, September 6, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
