Home » The Russian, The Witch, And The Oldsmobile: Cold Start

The Russian, The Witch, And The Oldsmobile: Cold Start

Cs Oldswitch
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I have to admit, this 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 is a really striking-looking car. Inspired by the look of the front-wheel-drive Toronado, the Delta 88 coupĂ© shared a similar long hood/fastback look with no B-pillar. I mean, look at it! It’s imposing and swoopy in all the right ways. This picture has some nice bokeh effects over a nice, rich, pea soup-colored background, and two models, one of whom seems to be wearing traditional Russian peasant clothes and the other is a…witch? A good witch? That’s a magic wand, right?

What’s the theme, here? Is this Oldsmobile in the Russian-occupied part of Narnia or some shit? Are those streamers or vines? Was this representative of Old’s target market? Witches and Russians?

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Lh1985
Lh1985
1 year ago

I have to say I’m just loving all the recent Oldsmobile articles; Thanks Autopian!

Iwannadrive637
Iwannadrive637
1 year ago

At first glance I thought it was a Toronado. All this and vent windows too? No wonder those Russians are plotting to defect.

C N
C N
1 year ago

Best guess is it’s meant to be people dressed up as characters from the Slavic (?) folk tale The Cossack and the Witch. My question is: which character is the Olds? The apples that tempted him (effective!) or (my bet) the fairy/eagle that let him fly away and triumph over the witch?

I spend way too much time thinking about all y’all’s posts…

Hugh Crawford
Hugh Crawford
1 year ago

“Under capitalism your gourds would look like this”

JDE
JDE
1 year ago

looks great from the side, but the lack of hide away headlights made the front look a bit dopey. still a nice car though. And really all the 67 Olds front ends were a little ugly.

TommyG
TommyG
1 year ago

My grandfather was an Oldsmobile man, though all of his were 4doors in the light Champagne color offered from the 1950’s until some time in the 80’s when he bought a green one. I will always have a soft spot for any Olds.

RIP Grandpa & Oldsmobile.

Parsko
Parsko
1 year ago

I worked at Hutchins Automotive in the 90’s. It was a good day when someone with an ’88 88 came in.

Richard Odenweller
Richard Odenweller
1 year ago

The “hardtop” look was pretty popular back in the 60s. Typically cars were designed and marketed as coupe (2-door), sedan (4-door), both with B-pillars, or as a hardtop (2 or 4-door), no B-pillar. The hardtops usually got a different roof treatment and fastback was a popular choice.

Also, this is a costume party. The woman as a fairy godmother (wand has a star), the man as a cossack, and the Delta 88 as a sports car.

Paul Brogger
Paul Brogger
1 year ago

I think it should be “Olds’ target market” unless one shortens Oldsmobile to merely “Old” (break it before “smobile”?) But everyone shortens it as “Olds” so I believe my inclination is correct (but, I admit, also picayune and irrelevant).

Richard Odenweller
Richard Odenweller
1 year ago
Reply to  Paul Brogger

The proper noun Olds here is being used as an adjective to identify a particular market. It’s not really indicating possession. What you are saying isn’t wrong. It’s just not necessary.

Hugh Crawford
Hugh Crawford
1 year ago

Just imagine the word play if Ransom Eli Olds had used his first name when starting his euphonious auto company.

Michael Beranek
Michael Beranek
1 year ago

Perhaps the early key parties were costume-required?

TOSSABL
TOSSABL
1 year ago

“Hello? Look, next time you send a princess who has been cleaning ashes to a ball, just use a Toronado: pumpkins are so played out!”

Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
1 year ago

Was the ad done as a teaser for some sort of aborted plan to launch Oldsmobile in the Soviet market?

Steven Chabot
Steven Chabot
1 year ago

“are those streamers or vines” do you mean the dangly things or the people?

unclesam
unclesam
1 year ago
Reply to  Steven Chabot

My 14 year old talks about both streamers and vines constantly. Maybe this is what is actually being referenced.

SquareTaillight2002
SquareTaillight2002
1 year ago

The Russian cassock is peaking under the mask of the fairy godmother. This type of image has societal and psychological implications that keep people in therapy for years. Oh, and nice car.

Larry B
Larry B
1 year ago

The witch and Russian costumes are good but the guy dressed as an Oldsmobile blew it out of the park.

Carl Nichols
Carl Nichols
1 year ago

My guess is two attendees at a costume ball. It looks like he’s lifted up her mask and they’re having an “oh, it’s you” laugh. I think you’re right that those are party streamers.

Drew
Drew
1 year ago

I think the green background and the styling of the good witch suggests this is the magical land of Oz (not the one David’s in). So you can get there by Toronado or tornado.

Drew
Drew
1 year ago
Reply to  Drew

Maybe the Russian is the Great and Powerful Oz, coming out from behind the curtain to speak to a good witch about the fact that a near-Toronado made it. I dunno.

Flyingstitch
Flyingstitch
1 year ago

Pretty, but give me the full-on bonkers Toronado look. Because that car was bonkers, one of those cases where the GM car guys got the bean counters drunk and slipped something crazy past them.

As for the witch and the Russian guy…I got nothing.

Richard Odenweller
Richard Odenweller
1 year ago
Reply to  Flyingstitch

My dad had a 1969 back when I got my license. I didn’t drive it often, but when I did I was stylin!

Anthony No
Anthony No
1 year ago

I’m guessing the peasant wished for an Oldsmobile from his fairy godmother?

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