FEBRUARY 2025: 1966 OLDSMOBILE DELTA 88 TWO-DOOR HARDTOP–RESCUED FROM A NASTY 50-YEAR HIBERNATION

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Most bush cars don’t get saved for a simple reason—they’re bush cars.

This 1966 Oldsmobile Delta 88 would have played out the string as a derelict–except for one thing. It was Brayden Sauve’s uncle’s car. Brayden explained how his uncle, “Owned it, then he parked it after five years in 1971—then he gave it to me about ten years ago”.

Brayden said he wouldn’t have considered the project except for the story behind it. The family connection was the only reason he took on the ’66 Olds.

He learned the Delta 88’s 425 cubic inch engine was stuck after it threw a rod, so that explained why the Olds was taken off the road 53 years ago. Brayden solved that problem by buying a ’65 Olds donor car with a 400 replacement block.

Brayden called it a rattle-can rebuild because he just checked it over, replaced some basic parts and painted it the block. He was reasonably confident in the donor car, but Brayden was faced with some serious rewiring thanks to a very active mouse infestation.

This bush car was in better shape than expected in some areas as Brayden explained, “It was dented from trees, but no serious rust and the frame’s totally solid”. 

He focused on the floor pans, brakes and suspension because this car had to be solid mechanically—the cosmetics are in next-year country. Believe it or not, Brayden said the fuel tank was exceptionally clean after 53 years in hibernation.

There’s another family connection to this ’66 Olds. Brayden has a family, so he had to get buy-in from his wife and kids because he wanted them to go on what he called ‘Vacation ‘67’. He explained what Vacation ’67 means, “No iTunes—no iPad”.

Vacation ’67 meant the vintage Olds had to haul a trailer that was built in 1965 on a significant road trip to show Brayden’s uncle the car was back in action and doing well.

There was only issue. The Olds was running hot in the summer heat with the trailer behind it. Brayden upgraded the fans on the car, but he thinks there may be two issues. The original radiator needs to be replaced or upgraded on the Delta 88, plus the front grille doesn’t allow much airflow.

Brayden compensated for excess heat by taking the hood off. He also left the trailer behind to pick up later with a truck on a return visit because he didn’t want to put his family through a serious road trip adventure.

Despite the cooling issues on the trip, Brayden’s family loves the car. He also had a chance to let his uncle drive his old car and that was the highlight of the trip. Brayden knows what he has already invested in the Olds is far beyond what it’s worth even though he’s done most of the work.     

Brayden called this car a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because he saved a bush car and preserved a family legacy in the process. He said the car was hit early in its life and a fender was replaced—all part of the Delta 88’s biography.

Brayden had the final words on this car.

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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