1960
A major facelift with new grille and taillights and revised rear design highlighted the 1960 Oldsmobiles. The larger 315 horsepower (235 kW) 394 cubic-inch Rocket V8 continued as standard power for Super 88 and Ninety -Eight models. Dynamic 88s continued with the 371 cubic-inch Rocket V8 that was detuned to 240 horsepower (179 kW) thanks to a lower compression ratio that permitted the use of lower-priced regular gasoline.
1961
An all-new body and chassis with all-coil suspension replacing the previous leaf springs highlighted the 1961 full-sized Oldsmobiles, which for the first time were joined by the new compact F-85 models. Wheelbases remained the same as in 1960, but overall length and width were reduced a bit to more sensible proportions. All full-sized Oldsmobiles were now powered by the 394 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with the Dynamic 88 getting a two-barrel, 250 horsepower (186 kW) version that used regular gas, while the Super 88 and Ninety-Eight were powered by a four-barrel "Ultra High Compression" 394 Skyrocket V8 rated at 325 horsepower (242 kW). The Skyrocket engine was available as an extra-cost option on the Dynamic 88.
A new three-speed "Roto" Hydra-matic transmission that was smaller and lighter than the previous four-speed unit was introduced on all full-sized Oldsmobiles (optional on 88s and standard on Ninety-Eight) with a scaled-down version used in the compact F-85.
At mid-year, a sporty and luxurious convertible called the Starfire was introduced. It was based on the Super 88 ragtop and featured leather bucket seats, center console with floor shifter for the Hydra-matic transmission (incidentally the first U.S. full-sized production car to feature an automatic transmission with a console-mounted floor shifter) and loads of other standard items such as power steering, brakes, windows and driver's seat. The Starfire was also powered by an even higher-performance version of the "Ultra High Compression" 394 cubic-inch Starfire V8 rated at 335 horsepower (250 kW).
1962
The 1962 Oldsmobiles received a minor facelift that included a revised grille and tailights, along with a new convertible-like roofline on Holiday hardtop coupes. Length was increased somewhat to give the '62 Olds a longer look. The Starfire gained a new two-door hardtop in addition to the original convertible. Engines uprated to 280 horsepower (209 kW) for the standard engine in the Dynamic 88 thanks to a higher compression ratio that demanded the use of premium fuel (a regular-fuel 260 horsepower (194 kW) version was offered as a no-cost option), 330 horses for the "Skyrocket" V8 standard on Super 88 and Ninety-Eight and 345 horses for the top Starfire Rocket V8.
1963
New, squared-off styling highlighted the 1963 full-sized Oldsmobiles. Rooflines on most models were unchanged from 1962, except that the Starfire Holiday (hardtop) coupe received an exclusive squared-off roof with concave rear window. Models and drivetrains in both the Dynamic 88 and Super 88 series were unchanged from 1962. New options this year included a "Tilt-Away" steering wheel that could be adjusted to six positions, AM/FM radio and cruise control.
1964
Oldsmobile's new price leader full-sized car, the Jetstar 88 used the same basic bodyshell as other 88 models, but shared the many of the mid-size car components with the Oldsmobile F-85 line in the 1960s. The Jetstar 88 used the smaller 330 V8 and Jetaway (Super Turbine 300) two-speed automatic transmission in place of the 394 cubic-inch V8 and Hydra-Matic found in other Oldsmobiles, and 9.5 in (241.3 mm) drum brakes which were less effective than the 11-inch (279 mm) drums found on other full-sized Olds models including the top-selling Dynamic 88, the plusher and more powerful Super 88 and the larger and more luxurious Ninety-Eight. 1964 also saw the introduction of the Jetstar I. This model was produced for just two years and was a direct competitor to the Pontiac Grand Prix in the same $3,500 price range. The Jetstar I shared a notchback body style from the Starfire along with its more powerful 345 horsepower (257 kW) 394 cubic-inch Rocket V8 engine but with less standard equipment and a lower price tag.
The Jetstar I is distinguishable from the Starfire and Jetstar 88 in that the rear window on the Jetstar I is concave, rather than convex.
The year 1964 was the last for the Super 88 series, which was replaced by the new Delta 88 for 1965. It was also the last year for Olds to offer full-sized station wagons for several years as the division introduced a new Vista Cruiser wagon in mid-1964 that featured skylights and a raised roofline over the rear seat and cargo area and offered six- or nine-passenger seating with all seats facing forward. The Vista Cruiser was basically a stretched out version of the intermediate F-85/Cutlass wagons with a six-inch (152 mm) longer wheelbase, making it comparable in overall size to the full-sized Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Catalina wagons, though not in power as the Vista Cruiser was powered by the same 330 cubic-inch Jetfire Rocket V8 found in the mid-sized models rather than the larger 394 V8 used in full-sized cars.
1965
The Delta name appeared for the first time in 1965 as an upscale trim line of the Dynamic 88, the Dynamic 88 Delta, replacing the previous top-series B-body Olds, the Super 88. Early '65s were referred to as Dynamic 88 Deltas, but within a few weeks after the start of the model year, Olds began marketing the line as a separate series known as the Delta 88. Other full-sized Oldsmobile model lines included the low-priced Jetstar 88, the best-selling Dynamic 88, sporty Jetstar I and the sporty and luxurious Starfire, all riding on a 123-inch (3,124 mm) wheelbase and based on the General Motors B-body shared with all full-sized Chevrolets and Pontiacs, as well as the Buick LeSabre and Wildcat. The luxurious Ninety-Eight used the larger C-body shared with the Buick Electra 225 and all Cadillac models.
All 1965 Olds models featured all new styling and engineering. The B-body cars featured more rounded styling than previous years with Coke-bottle profiles and semi-fastback rooflines on Holiday (two-door hardtop) coupes – Jetstar I and Starfire coupes got a more rounded variation of the squared-off 1963-64 roofline with concave rear window shared by Pontiac's Grand Prix.
Also introduced this year was a new 425 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 with horsepower ratings ranging from 300 to 370 depending on carburetion and compression ratio. The new three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission with torque converter replaced the original Hydra-Matic transmission used by Olds since its 1940 introduction. Also new to the option list for 1965 on all B-body cars was a four-speed manual transmission with Hurst floor shifter, which was a seldom-ordered offering.
No station wagons were offered in the full-sized Olds lineup as the division now concentrated its cargo-carrying business on the stretched-intermediate Vista Cruiser wagons.
1966
Few styling changes other than revised grilles and tail sections marked the 1966 full-sized Oldsmobiles. The sporty Jetstar I series was dropped with a lower-priced Starfire only offered as a hardtop coupe taking its place. The Starfire's price and equipment level was now at the same level as the former Jetstar I series with a less plush interior thanks to the leather seats being replaced by Morroceen vinyl and the movement of power windows and seats from standard equipment to the option list. Also downgraded from standard to optional equipment were the Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering and power brakes. The same assortment of drivetrains were carried over from 1965.
All other series' 88 models were carried over from 1965 with a new convertible added to the Delta 88 line and the same bodystyle dropped from the Starfire and Jetstar 88 lines.
A new option for all Olds 88 (as well as Ninety-Eight and the new front-drive Toronado) models was GM's automatic Comfortron Air Conditioning system first introduced by Cadillac in 1964 that permitted the driver to automatically set a year-round temperature at a constant level. The basic Frigidaire air conditioning unit offered in previous years continued as before and becoming an increasingly popular option on full-sized Oldsmobiles.
Another new option for 1966 was a Tilt-and-Telescopic steering wheel that could be vertically adjusted to six different positions as well as telescoped outward from the instrument panel to improve driver comfort.
1967
The Delmont 88 was produced for just two years, 1967 and 1968. It replaced both the Jetstar 88 and Dynamic 88, featuring the 330 V8 in 1967 and the 350 V8 in 1968 as standard equipment. The 425 V8 was optional on the Delmont and standard on the Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight. The Delta 88 gained a new subseries called the Delta Custom which had a plusher interior than the standard Delta 88 featuring a Strato bench seat in the Holiday (4-door hardtop) sedan or, in the Holiday (2-door hardtop) coupe, a choice of either Strato bucket seats with console or Strato bench seat with armrest. The Delta Custom Holiday Coupe was essentially a successor to the former 88-based Oldsmobile Starfire series offered in previous years (1961-66) but with a standard Olds 88 semi-fastback roofline rather than the Starfire's squared off roof with concave rear window.
New options for 1967 included front disc brakes and a Climate Combustion Control system for Rocket V8s designed to regulate carburetor air temperature, boost fuel economy, speed choke warm up and eliminate winter icing to permit easier starting and more efficient operation in cold weather.
More rounded styling cues marked all 1967 full-sized Oldsmobiles which received longer hoods and shorter decks and more sweeping fastback rooflines on 88 Holiday coupes to emulate the styling of Olds' front-wheel-drive flagship, the Toronado.
The same assortment of 330 and 425 cubic-inch V8 engines were carried over from 1966, as were most transmission offerings except the optional four-speed manual with Hurst shifter, which was discontinued due to low buyer interest.
Ted Kennedy drove a 1967 Delmont 88 off Dyke Bridge on Chappaquiddick island on July 18th, 1969
1968
New front end with split grille design that would become an Olds trademark in coming years highlighted all full-sized Oldsmobiles with horizontal lines on 88's and egg-crate patterns on Ninety-Eights. The Delmont 88 got a larger 350 cubic-inch V8 as standard equipment and the optional V8 that was standard on Delta 88/Custom and Ninety-Eight was jacked up to 455 cubic inches with a 390 horsepower (291 kW) W-33 option primarily designed as part of the division's police package available as an RPO on all 88's. Horsepower ratings of other Olds engines included 250 for the 350 two-barrel standard in the Delmont 88, 310 for the four-barrel 350 optional in the Delmont 88. A 455 two-barrel rated at 310 horsepower (230 kW) was standard on the Delta 88/Custom and optional on the Delmont 88. Optional on all 88s was a four-barrel 455 rated at 365 horsepower (272 kW) from the larger C-body Ninety-Eight. Both the 350 and 455 two-barrel Rocket V8 engines were designed to use regular gasoline while the optional 350 and 455 four-barrel carbureted "Ultra High Compression" Super Rocket V8s required premium fuel.
1969
The 1969 88 series dropped the Delmont name and replaced it with the Delta 88 with the Delta 88 Custom appearing as a full-line series. The Royale line appeared on a top-line Holiday coupe and came standard with a more luxurious interior featuring a notchback bench seat with armrest or Strato bucket seats with optional center console. The standard engine in the base Delta 88 was a 350 cubic-inch Rocket V8 with two-barrel carburetor that was rated at 250 horsepower (186 kW) and ran on regular gasoline. Standard on the Delta 88 Custom and Royale models and optional on the base series was a two-barrel version of the 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8 rated at 310 horsepower (231 kW) designed to use regular fuel. Standard on the Ninety-Eight and optional on all Delta 88s was the four-barrel Ultra High Compression 455 cubic-inch Super Rocket V8 rated at 365 horsepower (272 kW). Top option was the 390 horsepower (291 kW) version of the four-barrel 455 V8 available in all Delta 88 models as the W-33 option.
The two-speed Jetaway automatic that was previously offered as an option on the smaller engine 88 models was dropped completely in favor of the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission previously only offered with the larger engines. Also a new GM-designed Variable-Ratio Power Steering system was introduced as an option on the Delta 88 and standard on Ninety-Eight.
All full-sized Oldsmobiles were completely restyled with more squared off bodylines and rooflines. Wheelbases were increased by one-inch to 124" on the Delta 88 and 127" on the Ninety-Eight.