You had been by no means speculated to see this advert, however you do wish to test it out.
You had been by no means meant to see this advert. However you’ll wish to look, as a result of it’s fairly cool. Stripped from the pages of Legislation & Order journal (1953-2016), this advert for the 1968 (and 1969, apparently) Oldsmobile 88 Delmont is placing for 2 purpose: First, Oldsmobile wasn’t actually recognized for constructing law-enforcement pursuit automobiles, and, secondly, that 390-horsepower quantity.
Then, as now, Ford offered a large number of automobiles to the law-enforcement neighborhood, as did Chevrolet and Plymouth. Ford form of owns the phase now. Oldsmobile, nonetheless, retailed luxurious and near-luxury automobiles, making their patrol-car choices a little bit expensive for many police departments and federal businesses.
1968 Oldsmobile Apprehender
However, not solely did this cop-prepped Olds 88 come endorsed by the parents at Common Mechanics, it promised to be among the many quickest accelerating cop automobiles in service—when correctly outfitted.
The “Apprehender”
Now, that is advert is for one thing known as the “Apprehender,” which was by no means an precise Oldsmobile mannequin. As an alternative, Olds referred to any fashions in its lineup fitted with the model’s Police Apprehender Bundle, which might be had on virtually each Olds together with the compact F-85, midsize Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme—together with the Vista Cruiser station wagon–and the full-size Delmont 88 and Delta 88 full-size automobiles.
Apprehender Fashions
The one fashions not out there with the Apprehender Bundle for 1968 had been the luxurious Delta 88 Customized, the complete Ninety-Eight lineup, and the personal-luxury Toronado coupe. We’ll get again to the Toro in a second…
Oldsmobile “L32” Engine
The advert proven right here boasts of the automotive’s 390-horsepower engine, which was, even by Oldsmobile big-block-engine requirements, a fairly large quantity, however you needed to pay additional for it. The 88’s Apprehender package deal got here customary with a thumping 365-horse 455-cubic-inch V8. However, for little or no more money, the ’68 Delmont 88 police automotive might be upgraded with the “L32” 455-inch engine, which was rated at a giant 390 horsepower. That tied the police-package 88 for second place amongst all Oldsmobile fashions in horsepower.
Hurst/Olds
Additionally boasting 390 horsepower was the Cutlass-based 4-4-2 “Hurst/Olds.” This overachieving Olds muscle automotive boasted the identical model of the 455 V8 because the Apprehender 88, plus a novel Hurst-brand 4-speed manual-transmission shifter.
Toronado Trumps All
So, what’s higher than 390 horsepower? How about 400. Oldsmobile’s flagship mannequin, the Toronado personal-luxury coupe, got here customary with a 375-horse 455 variant, however may completely be had with a 400-horsepower step-up choice. The expensive “W34” improve ($211) included cold-air induction, a efficiency camshaft, and twin exhaust. Although the W34-powered Toronado was the most-powerful Oldsmobile of 1968, it was unlikely the quickest, as the massive coupe was famously pudgy.
Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile
So, although police Oldsmobiles of any stripe have all the time been uncommon, must you see one, particularly an Apprehender 88, do assume twice earlier than trying to outrun it. Interval specs have the automotive hitting 60 mph from a cease in simply 6.0 seconds, and topping out at 120 miles an hour. No, that is not your father’s Oldsmobile. And, you by no means noticed this advert.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
Oldsmobile Apprehender Footage
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Legislation-Enforcement Insanity! 35 Police Automobile Brochure Covers
