• The Oldsmobile ninety-eight was first produced in 1941 and continued in production until 1996. Designed to compete with the Cadillac Fleetwood, it was named the 98 because it was the most deluxe, full-sized car offered by the Oldsmobile division of the General Motors Corporation. Lesser models were titled with lower numbers, including the eighty-eight and the seventy-six. In 1973 the 98 set sales records when Oldsmobile sold more than 125,000 units of the car.
  
  

Modifications

• The 1973 ninety-eight was nearly identical to the 1972 anniversary ninety-eight. The header panel was significantly altered, and the grille openings were smaller than the previous year. Also the parking lamps were moved to the car's bumper. Two distinct models were available, the standard and the Regency. The Regency was a super luxury model, with an ungraded interior.
  
  

Power Train

• The only engine offered in the 1973 ninety-eight is a 455-cubic inch, inline V-8. This engine, called the Rocket, was the first overhead valve engine to be mass-produced. The 7.5-liter gasoline engine is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and produces 225 horsepower, with a maximum torque of 278.90 foot-pounds. It has a 4.08 by 3.4 inch bore and stroke, and a compression ratio of 8.5:1. The car is equipped with an automatic three-speed turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The 1973 Oldsmobile had a larger fuel tank than previous models, holding 26 gallons and rates an average fuel economy of 8.9 miles per gallon.
  
  

Drive Train, Brakes and Tires

• The Oldsmobile ninety-eight is a rear-wheel drive car, with variable ratio power steering. The power brake system utilizes disc brakes in the front, and drum brakes in the rear. The 98 rides on 14-inch tires with 14- by 5-inch rims. The rims have a five-lug pattern, with 4.75-inch spacing.
  
  

Body

• The Oldsmobile ninety-eight is a four-door sedan. The front bumper is spring-mounted for shock absorption in the event of an accident. The car has a total length of 232.2 inches, a maximum width of 79.6 inches and a maximum height of 54.1 inches, with a 127-inch wheelbase. Its curb weight is 4244.57 pounds, and it has a ground clearance of 5.3 inches. The 1973 Oldsmobile 98 has an exterior-mounted spare tire, with a cover designed to match the body.
  
  

Interior

• The ninety-eight has seating for six. The floors and trunk are fully carpeted, and there are three ashtray consoles, each with its own cigarette lighter. The exterior rear view mirrors can be remotely adjusted. The interior is detailed with wood trim on both the dash and the door panels, with matching headrests on the driver and passenger's sides. The seats on all Regency models are covered in high-quality, tacked velour. In terms of space, the ninety-eight offers 39.3 inches of front headroom and 38.2 inches in the rear. Front and rear passengers have comparable shoulder room, at 64.3 inches and 63.4 inches, respectively. Front legroom is 42.4 inches, and rear legroom is 41.1 inches. There is 22 cubic feet of luggage space.