1975 Oldsmobile 98 Regency coupe

Looks like it has the super rare optional driver air bag available on certain GM full size models at the time.

https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/d/1975-oldsmobile-98-regency/6244227091.html

 

Yes, it does! A former friend had the GM air bag system tester with manual, and that's the wheel center depicted in it! That is absolutely cool! But I wonder if it actually would work today?

 

From Wikipedia:

From 1974 to 1975 the 98 reached a record length of 232.4 in (5903 mm), when federally mandated 5 mph (8.0 km/h) bumpers were added both front and rear increasing the overall length of the cars by several inches, while 1976 model year saw minimal length reduction to 232.2 in (5898 mm). It is also worth to note that 1974 Oldsmobile 98 4-door hardtop was the longest car with that body style sold that year, since the longer Lincoln Continental, Cadillac Sixty Special and Cadillac Series 75 were basically sedans (and 1974 Lincoln Continental came only with one hardtop body style: the 2-door). The 1974-76 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight (as well as all full-size Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs) also were among the first US production cars to offer an air bag option ("Air Cushion Restraint System") beginning in 1974. Very few cars were so equipped. The high cost ($700) plus public uncertainty about the yet-to-be proven safety systems that are now universal in today's automobiles saw quite handily to that.

 

It seems, the original owner of this car was one of the very few volunteer potential crashtest dummies.

Only one way to find out.
Ralph Nader once said he'd buy an automobile as soon as that particular manufacturer either offered or made standard both driver and passenger airbags. As far as I know, he's still walking and might be hiring taxi cabs.

 

There was a movie from back then where the stunt driver ran an 88 or 98 into a brick wall, deploying the airbag, and he suffered no serious injuries with just it and the seat belts. I can't remember the movie, though.

 

And I remember when Barbara Mandrell did a PSA about the airbag in the car she crashed, in like '84 or '85, that saved her life.

edit: The accident was on September 11th, 1984.

 

It was driver and passenger airbags according to the brouchure. No. 11.

 

I wonder if the seller even knows it has airbags in it. That seems like something rare enough that you would want to mention in the truncated three sentence ad.

 

Agreed! Doubt seller knows it.

 

He does, now. I wonder, if he'll now sign up, here, and explain:

 

I wonder where the passenger airbag is hidden. The dash looks exactly the same as stock.

 

Very interesting that the brochure notes, that with the air cushion restraint system, it eliminates the need for shoulder belts. Sure enough the front seats are not equipped with them.

 

That's a good catch. I did not notice that. No doubt that would be in violation of the law today.