For 1977, Oldsmobile got the nod to provide the Pace Car for the 61st running of the 500 Mile International Sweepstakes, better known as the Indianapolis 500. It was the fourth time since 1970 that Olds had paced the race, the previous three with various iterations of the midsize Cutlass.
The Delta 88 was a full-size Olds, which was freshly revised for the 1977 model year. The seventh generation of the 88 rode on a 116" wheelbase and stretched 217.5" between the bumpers.
More plebeian Delta 88 coupes could be had with a base 231cid V-6 rated at 105 SAE net horsepower or a couple optional V-8s, namely the LV8 110hp 260 cube Rocket or the L34 170 horsepower 350 Rocket.
The Indianapolis 500 Pace Car version, of which Oldsmobile built 2,400 examples, came with the top of the line W44 403 cubic inch Rocket V-8, making 185 net horses. It was backed by a TH350 three-speed automatic and could push the 3,700 pound coupe to sixty in a little under ten seconds, which was decent by Malaise Era standards.
This example was photographed in October of 2025 using a Canon EOS 7D and an EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS zoom lens.
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