1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight

When General Motors redesigned its full-size vehicles in 1965, the updates were applied to the Ninety-Eight (98) but continued to wear the larger C-body platform. Its exclusive wheelbase size of 126-inch was used through 1968 when it grew an inch to 127 inches. The prior 394 cubic-inch Rocket V8 was replaced by a 425 cubic-inch Super Rocker V8 which was more powerful, lighter, and had a more efficient design. The four-barrel 'Ultra High Compression' 425 Super Rocket engine delivered 360 horsepower, approximately 30 more horsepower than the previous 394 CID V8. It was paired with a new three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission with torque converter, replaced the three-speed Roto HyrdrMatic which had been in use for the previous three model years.

The Ninety-Eight was positioned as Oldsmobile's top-of-the-line full-size model in 1965 and was offered as a convertible, town sedan, Luxury sedan, Holiday Hardtop, and sports coupe. It was the most expensive, largest, most luxurious, and most powerful vehicle Oldsmobile in 1965, and the styling introduced in 1965 would continue through 1970, albeit with updates from year-to-year.

Among the list of standard equipment included power windows, power steering and brakes, a padded dash, foam-padded seats, Deluxe steering wheel, special wheel covers, front seat belts, a glove box lamp courtesy lights, windshield washer and two-speed electric wipers, and parking brake light. The upholstery was cloth, leather, and vinyl.

The 1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight
The 1968 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight two-door holiday hardtop was priced at $4,360, the convertible at $4,620, the town sedan at $4,160, the Luxury Sedan at $4,495, and the four-door holiday hardtop at $4,420. The Luxury Sedan was the most popular with 40,755 examples built, followed by 21,147 of the four-door Holiday Hardtop, 15,319 of the two-door Holiday hardtop, 10,584 of the town sedan, and 3,942 of the convertible.

The 455 cubic-inch V8 engine had overhead valves, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a dual master cylinder, a 10.25:1 compression ratio, a cast-iron block, and delivered 365 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. Among the list of standard equipment included Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, power brakes, power steering, shoulder belts, Deluxe steering wheel, special moldings, rear armrest ashtrays, side marker lights, back-up lights, an energy-absorbing steering wheel, four-way flasher, and an electric clock. The interior upholstery was vinyl, cloth, or leather.

The 91,747 examples of the Ninety-Eight produced in 1968 represented approximately sixteen percent of Oldsmboile's total production.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2022