THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN JULY 2008

It Was Your Father’s

Once upon a time, when GM And what about his father’s was king of the hill in the Olds? Well, several years ago American automobile after talking to his deceased industry, Oldsmobile held a father’s widow, he learned that special place in the lineup of she still had the 1966 Delta 88, GM cars. The brand had an but had lost her driver’s license excellent reputation for and needed to dispose of the car. producing quality, although Ron drove across Alligator not trendy, family Alley in Florida, picked up the transportation and also for car and returned it to his winter introducing many of GM’s home on the west coast. It’s milestone features like Hydra- now restored and serves as his Matic – first fully automatic daily driver in Florida. (1940), the Ron has a life-long preference Rocket 88 OHV V-8 engine for big . After graduating (1949), and front wheel drive high Ron Siegrist’s 1952 from the University of Maryland, he production volume cars (1967). that was rescued from the crusher in bought a new 1952 Oldsmobile 98 Pottstown, PA In 1988, Oldsmobile began a campaign , with a blue exterior and to change the brand’s “family interior. This was his first car” image with younger family car, because when he and buyers by introducing many Julie got married in Florida it models with a youth emphasis. took them on their honeymoon Olds came up with “It’s not and was the daily driver until he your father’s Oldsmobile” bought the 1966 Olds. 56 years marketing campaign to after buying the ’52 he still has reinforce the brand’s new the car in Florida. It is restored direction. with 230K miles on it. Chesapeake Region member About 25 years ago Ron located Ron Siegrist had an Olds another 1952 Oldsmobile 98 experience long before the convertible in a junkyard in 80s/90s marketing campaign Pottstown, PA. It was where the car really was his scheduled for crushing, but with father’s Oldsmobile. Back in 1966 Ron Julie Siegrist with the 1966 only 120K on the odometer, Ron purchased his second new Oldsmobile Oldsmobile 98 that was also the family bought it and restored the car, which 98, a red convertible. Ron learned a car for her daughter has an Olds Club national award. The couple of days later that his engine on the car was so good father had purchased a 1966 that it didn’t need to be rebuilt. Olds Delta 88 four-door Both of Ron’s 1952 98 from the same have exactly the Maryland dealer four days same options. The only before Ron picked up his car. difference is that the Pottstown car has a black exterior/red Ron has a track record of interior. driving his new cars until they achieve high mileage and Ron’s fifth antique Oldsmobile become tired. Then he is a 1970 98 convertible that he restores them for use as bought as a collector car. It’s an antique cars. Sort of the AACA First Junior award car ultimate in automotive with an Olds Club national recycling. Ron drove the 1966 award too. Other antique cars convertible for 16 years, then it became that Ron has include two Chevrolets his daughter’s car for another 17 years. Ron Siegrist with his 1970 Oldsmobile and two Eldorado (1966 and In 2001 Ron took the 1966 back and 98, which is an AACA First Junior & 1976) convertibles. He bought the restored it. It has 287K miles and an Olds Club national award winner 1976 new, kept it all these years and AACA First Junior award. then restored it. 6