1981 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight

Royale Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

1G3AY37Y6BM258299

Clear

Gasoline

I Am A Serious Car Collector And Enthusiast !!! I Love And Truly Appreciate ORIGINAL, SURVIVOR CARS Like This, ORIGINAL, UN-RESTORED, 21,573 Actual Mile, 1981 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham Coupe !!! THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL CAR !!! This is the type of car that everyone thinks are NOT out there to be found anymore !!! Believe me, for the most part they ARE NOT, but once in a while you get LUCKY !!! Just Imagine For A Minute What Your Investment Car Collection Would Be Worth Right Now, If You Had Bought Several 21,000 Actual Mile, Pristine, Un-restored, Unmolested Original, 1961 Impala, Oldsmobile, Buick, Pontiac or Cadillac Bubble-Tops 20 Years Ago !!! Your cars would probably be worth TWENTY, THIRTY or FORTY TIMES what you paid for them !!! In the meantime you would have had some beautiful cars to play with as they appreciated !!! This Car Amazes Everyone Who Looks At It. SOLID, STRAIGHT, SHINY and UNMOLESTED INSIDE and OUT !!! THIS CAR IS INCREDIBLE !!! this is an investment quality automobile through and through !!! This Magnificent Oldsmobile, Can Be Accurately Described In Just Four Words !!!! Original ! Original !! Original !!! ORIGINAL !!!! Original Paint !!! Original Interior !!! Original Top !!! 21,523 Actual Miles !!! Original Everything !!! Everything Works !!! Looks New !!! Smells New !!! The Factory Chalk Marks Are Still Under The Hood !!! The Factory Chalk Marks Are Still On The Spare Tire !!! The Body Was Ziebart Rust Proofed When New !!! This Car Is An UN-RESTORED, ORIGINAL SURVIVOR, That Is As Nice As You Will Ever Find !!! This car looks almost as nice today as it did on the show room floor in 1981 !!! What More Could Any Serious Collector Want ???? The newest "Hot Spot" in auto collecting and car shows is true appreciation for original, unmolested and un-restored cars. The hobby has finally realized that anybody can win a trophy by restoring any car regardless of it's starting condition but ORIGINAL ONLY HAPPENS ONCE !!! IT TAKES A RARE SERIES OF LOVING, CARING AND PAMPERING OWNERS AND EVENTS TO PRESERVE A CAR IN THIS CONDITION !!! The organization behind this movement is promoting "Survivor Collector Car Events" Nationwide, which are only open to UNRESTORED vehicles over 20 years old . They award Survivor Certification in three Top Award levels. 1. Limited Survivor- cars 20 years old or older with at least 50% of the original paint. 2. Freeze Frame- cars 30 years old or older with at least 75% preservation of original finishes. 3. ZZenith- for 40 year old or older cars with at least 90% of factory original finishes. This car would currently be a Freeze Frame and will soon be a ZZenith. All you need to do is wait awhile. There is no way anyone can restore a car into the ZZenith category or any of the other categories for that matter for any amount of money. It has to age into it and be kept ORIGINAL. This movement is exciting as it will assure that this car and others like it will rise to the top of the value scales in the market and stay there. There is simply no way to restore original back on a car. It has to be kept original from day one !!! Original, unrestored cars like this are nearly impossible to find !!! When they are found they tend to be bottom of the line, boring four door sedans that "Gramma bought NEW " !!! Gramma usually didn't buy SPORTY, V-8, TWO DOOR HARD-TOPS !!! FORTUNATELY, THIS TIME SHE DID !!!! As a car collector and former High School History Teacher, I love it when you can document a car's history. This is usually impossible to do but in this case it was quite easy. Here Is This Car's Story; This car was delivered to Christiansen Motors in Adel, Iowa in 1980 as a "Dealer Stock" car. The equipment and options were specified by Paul Christiansen who was the owner of the dealership and is affectionately known in the community as "Tall Paul". He ordered the right combination of color, luxury and comfort options. HE EVEN ORDERED THE RARE LIGHT WEIGHT BODY OPTION which included such things as the Aluminum Hood and Bumper Bars. Mr. Christiansen liked flashy cars and knew it would look good in his TWO CAR showroom. Christiansen Motors was a bustling small-town Iowa GM dealership that also carried the Chevrolet and Chevrolet Truck lines. The Chevrolet Truck line would end up playing an important role in the chain of circumstances that kept this Oldsmobile so pristine. You see in 1978 a pair of unmarried ( can we still say "Old-Maid") sisters, Cleta Dell Marchant and Zola Belle Marchant had bought a black Chevy Silverado Pick-up from Christiansen Motors. The sisters were emphatic about keeping their vehicles in tip top shape and always had the truck serviced regularly by the dealership Service Department. The day "Tall Paul" set this Olds 88 up in the showroom the sisters just happened to bring the pick-up in for service. They went in front to the waiting area near the showroom. That's when "it" happened. One look was all it took for them to fall in love with this gorgeous NEW black car with the PLUSH Burgundy Velour interior. They could instantly see themselves cruising to church or to Des Moines to see relatives in this fabulous car. THEY DIDN'T NEED IT .....BUT THEY WANTED IT !!!! THEY WERE TRULY IN LOVE WITH IT !!!! By the time the truck was finished they had made the decision. They would keep the truck to drive back and forth to work at the Firestone Tire Factory and buy the Oldsmobile to drive on special occasions. After-all they worked hard a deserved some luxury in their lives. A deal was struck. The car was bought and paid for. Cleta Dell drove the car home with Zola Belle following in the truck. Before they left with the car Cleta Dell asked about servicing instructions. "Tall Paul" told her she should have a complete service done every 90 Days. She listened well and returned the car to the Dealership for servicing EVERY 90 DAYS until shortly before her death. One wonders how many times oil with less than 100 miles on it was drained from the crankcase. This type of attention and diligent care really pays off today. Cleta Dell and Zola Belle loved and pampered this car. They truly only drove it on nice days and for special occasions for nearly 30 years. The car was never driven in the snow and ice of the harsh Iowa Winter. Never. Most of the time the car was stored safely away in their cozy garage. The loving care shows today....THIS CAR IS A TIME CAPSULE !!! I am told Zola Belle passed away a few years ago. After that Cleta Dell drove the car even less frequently and some in the community even forgot the car was tucked away in her garage. Cleta Dell passed away suddenly in April of 2009 at the age of 78. IN NEARLY 30 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP SHE HAD BARELY DRIVEN THE BEAUTIFUL BLACK OLDSMOBILE 21,000 MILES !!! Her estate was settled and the beautiful Oldsmobile ended up in the hands of her nephew. The nephew didn't really want the car. He wanted a 4X4 Chevy Pick-Up. As a result he ended up trading it in on the truck of his dreams. A few days later the car was sitting back in the SAME DEALERSHIP BUILDING, IN THE SAME SPOT, IN THE SAME SHOW ROOM WHERE CLETA DELL and ZOLA BELLE HAD FIRST SEEN IT NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO. The day I arrived to buy the car I was transported back in time some 30 years. There the shiny black car sat glistening in the sun which was streaming through the show room windows. The showroom itself has not been changed since the day this car sat there brand spanking new. The car looked as it did when it was brand new. When I opened the door the interior looked as if it had never been sat in and even smelled new. I could not believe my eyes. To me this was the FIND of a lifetime !!! I can't resist a "Cream-Puff" when I find them. I took the car for a short test drive. She ran GREAT. I went back and paid for it in cash and signed the paperwork in the same office where Cleta Dell had done the same thing some thirty years prior. ( Maybe even in the same chair and at the same desk). Adel is about 100 miles from my home. I had taken my truck and trailer as you really never know what these cars are going to be like when you get there and I actually figured it would need to be hauled home. NO WAY !!! THIS CAR RAN LIKE NEW !!! I drove the car home over 100 miles at highway speeds. I sat back in the comfort of the soft cushy seats. I listened to 80's music on the local "OLDIES" radio station and just soaked in the experience. I got tons of 'High Fives", "Thumbs Ups" and the "Looky Lews" crowded around the car when I stopped to eat and gas up. The car ran perfectly and cruised like a luxury yacht. It was a FUN trip. The car ran, drove and looked really nice but did require some freshening , cleaning and detailing as it had been sitting a year or so without being driven very much. That sort of thing is right up my alley. This car has been primped inside, outside, top and bottom. SHE LOOK'S LIKE A MILLION BUCKS !!!! Nothing has been modified or cut on the car. THIS CAR IS AS OLDSMOBILE BUILT IT THIRTY YEARS AGO !!! As I said at the start, I am a serious Car Collector. As such, this means I like to find, buy, collect, play with, improve and own a car for a time. Then it is time to pass them along for someone else to enjoy. That time has come.....I'm ready to move along !!! Here Are The Details ; Body and Floors- This car HAS NOT been restored. It is ORIGINAL. STRAIGHT and SOLID with NO RUST EVER. No evidence of crash repair or abuse just a few door dings as one would expect on a 30 year old car. The doors, Hood and Trunk shut with a click. The panel gaps are excellent. This body is as nice as you will find in original condition. I'd guess that most of the bolts you find on this car were last turned by the guys in the factory. This car was ordered with the RARE LIGHT WEIGHT PACKAGE with ALUMINUM HOOD, HINGES and BUMPER BARS. All original sheet metal. All factory weather seals are perfect or near perfect. The Floors, Trunk and Body Mounts are perfect....NO RUST EVER Ziebart Rust Proofed when NEW !!! The Padded Landau Vinyl Top is PERFECT. Beautiful Body !!! Interior- ALL ORIGINAL, LOOKS BRAND NEW !!! NEVER SMOKED IN. SMELLS NEW !!! Beautiful Burgundy Red Velour loose cushion style which was all the rage in 1981. THE SEATS ARE PERFECT !!! 60/40 Front Seat with center armrest. The locals and relatives could not recall anyone ever sitting in the back seat. By the looks of things I agree with them. The door Panels and Arm Rests are PERFECT....no cracks, no missing Pull Straps, no wear. PERFECT DASH PAD !!! PERFECT DASH and Dash Trim. Perfect Steering Wheel. Perfect Headliner. The Carpet is perfect !!! The Color Keyed Factory Floor mats are included. The Trunk Liner LOOKS NEW. SUPER INTERIOR !!! Paint- AS THE PICTURES SHOW THIS CAR SHINES LIKE A MIRROR !!! SHINY and SMOOTH, Factory Tuxedo Black. This is the ORIGINAL PAINT, as such one must remember Original Paint only happens once. This car is 30 years old, of course there are a few chips and scratches that have been touched up over the years, some chips on the nose and so forth ....just normal wear and tear....no big deal. You can find them if you look close enough or are trying to be picky but most people don't notice. They are basically too small for my camera to pick up and I am not about to try a description like " there is a 1/8 inch chip 4 inches from the bottom of the drivers door rear edge" for every mark on the car. That would be both ridiculous and impossible. There are some checks on the Right Quarter panel...not a big deal just some "Patina" which original paint can get and it is too small for my camera to pick up. This car has WONDERFUL PAINT and shows GREAT !!!!!! Engine and Transmission- Powerful Oldsmobile Rocket V-8 with 3-Speed Turbohydromatic Transmission. This car starts and runs flawlessly. No noises. No smoke. No leaks. No surprises. 4bbl Quadrajet Carburetor with single exhaust. Recently serviced and tuned up by the dealer that sold the car new. This car is ready to go. RUNS GREAT !!! Glass- Factory original. Date coded and perfect. Windows roll up and down and seal as they should. No cracks or chips in the windshield. Chrome and Trim - Factory Original and Excellent. Perfect grill. Perfect Headlight Bezels. Perfect Vinyl Top Moldings. Perfect Hood Ornament. Near perfect Bumper Impact Strips. Perfect Wheel Opening Moldings. Near perfect Rocker Moldings. The rear bumper has a small but forgivable tweak on the left end. Over-all, the bumpers, trim and moldings are as nice as you will find....period. EXCELLENT TRIM !!!! Frame and Suspension- Perfect. Solid and works as it should. This car handles and drives like it did when it was BRAND NEW !!! Wheels and Tires- Factory Rally Wheels. The wheels still have the ORIGINAL paint on them and the Trim Rings are perfect. Brand new 215/70R15 Yokohama Radial tires. I was told the original tires had split, checked and flat spotted to the point they were no longer safe. That's OK by me.... this way you can drive the car and have fun with it. The Factory Donut Spare has never been out of the trunk and still has the FACTORY CHALK MARKS ON IT!!! Excellent Tires !!! Other Stuff- ICE COLD Factory Air Conditioning. Power Steering. Power Brakes. Intermittent Wipers. AM/FM Stereo Radio works great. Dual Right and Left Remote Mirrors. The Dash Board Clock is not working ( WOW, that's a SURPRISE). The trunk, Trunk Floor and Trunk Mat look like NEW. New Delco Battery. The Jack and Tools have never been out of the trunk. THIS IS A TRULY AMAZING AND WONDERFUL CAR !!!! This Car Can Not Be Duplicated !!! Is this car perfect ? No. There is no perfect car but I believe this is as close as you will come. Is this car nice ? Yes. This car is very, very, very nice. Is this car a car I can drive and be proud of ? Yes. I love this car and feel very proud when I drive it. Is this car a good investment ? YES, THIS CAR IS ALL ORIGINAL AND ABOUT AS PERFECT AS YOU WILL EVER FIND. A RESTORED CAR IS NOT ORIGINAL. ORIGINAL CARS ARE JUST BEGINNING TO BE APPRECIATED FOR THE WONDERFUL AND RARE FINDS THAT THEY ARE. As you can see I've tried to cover it. If I missed something I'm sorry. This car is For Sale locally as well and I reserve the Right to end this Auction at any time without notice. Despite What The Barrett-Jackson People Try To Convince You On TV, You Don't Have To Spend $100,000 To Have A Car People Will Admire !!! I will post a ton of large, high resolution pictures so you can admire this car and see her exactly as she is !!! Please take your time, look her over well and enjoy yourself !!! __________________________________________ Overseas Bidders are Welcome !!! I can assist you in arranging low cost, professional transport Nationwide Or Worldwide. We can have this car in your driveway in a few days !!! Let Your Money Buy You Happiness !!! ______________________________ Now for the business stuff and the Terms and Agreements of this Auction/Sale. Please read thoroughly before you bid. Your bid indicates acceptance of and agreement with all of the descriptions and Terms outlined in this Auction. You are bidding for ownership of this vehicle, not the right to come kick the tires and take a test drive. You are welcome to come examine this car before you bid, WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE !!! I take great care in preparing the descriptions of my cars so that you can a good idea of their quality and condition without the hassle of traveling but I am not perfect. A motor vehicle has thousands of parts and aspects and there is no way I can cover everything that may be important to you in a description. If you want to come and take a first-hand look I will me glad to meet you as long as I am available. If you have questions or issues that important to you please ask me before you bid. I will do my best to get an answer for you. We must receive a $1,500 non-refundable deposit within 72 hours of the Auction end with the balance due within 7 (seven) days of the Auction end. All payments must be cash, Cashiers Check or by Bank Wire Transfer in USA funds. We prefer Bank To Bank Wire Transfer as it is quick, clean and secure for both you and me. Bank to Bank Wire Transfer is REQUIRED for all International Sales. We will hold Cashiers Checks until they clear both Banks. This can take several days , sometimes weeks. We are a Licensed and Bonded Iowa Auto Dealer and have been in business in the same location for over 25 years . A flat fee of $98.00 will be added to the final bid price to cover Title and Document Administration fees, FedEx overnight costs for paperwork and Title, Dealer Prep, Handling, Packing and shipping preparation and loading assistance charges. $1,500 of the total purchase price will be considered as the non-refundable deposit if you choose to make one payment. Iowa residents will have to pay Iowa sales tax, Non-residents of Iowa are exempt from Iowa sales tax. This car will be sold with a current and valid Iowa Title unless otherwise described. This is a used car and is being sold as/is with no warranty written or implied. As a used car imperfections may be present . These cars are rarely perfect and this car is not being represented as being perfect in any way , shape or form . Paint chips, blisters, minor scratches, buffer marks, smudges, scuffs, nicks, dings, wrinkles, minor interior wear and so forth must be considered normal wear and tear. Engine size, heritage, displacement and horse power are NOT guaranteed. All sales are final. This description is based on my personal knowledge of the car and information provided by the previous owner and/or people I consider knowledgeable about it. Neither I or my Company can be held responsible for misinformation given to me by others and passed on in good faith. I am a car enthusiast and not an expert in any particular make or model. If you have specific concerns or questions that are important to you it is your responsibility to verify it. Please call or come look at the car before you bid. It is the bidders responsibility to verify the validity of all statements in this description that are important to you before you bid. I will try to find the answer for you. This is a used, vintage car. It has been driven and is not perfect, it may have defects which I am not aware of. Such defects must be considered normal wear and tear. We can assist you in arranging low cost shipping virtually anywhere in the World. All shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer. The seller will not pay any shipping costs. Shipping costs incurred are not refundable under any circumstances. If you want to pick this car up yourself or arrange your own shipping we will store this car FREE up to 14 days while you make arrangements. After 14 days the car will be placed in secure storage and the buyer will be responsible for all storage fees incurred. The car will not be released for pick up or transport until paid in full and all payments and checks have cleared my Bank. Questions ???? Please Call Skeet, (515) 573-5353 days, Or (515) 571-4691 cell phone. Please be aware... I spend a lot of time traveling and away from my computer. I also spend a lot of time at my lake cabin which has no computer or internet access. If you have a serious question, want to do the Buy-It-Now, want to discuss an offer or what ever, please call me at one of the above numbers !!! If you don't catch me leave a message and I will call you back. ______________________________________________