While many cars from the Malaise era in the 1980s weren’t known for performance (emissions regulations, after all, caused almost all manufacturers to dial back engine sizes in the interest of fuel efficiency). But one thing that American manufacturers excelled at was cabin comfort – I will never forget the look and feel of the six-passenger velour interior of my Chevrolet Celebrity.
Other GM cars of the era, including Oldsmobiles, had the same idea.
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1983 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Sedan The car is being offered by a dealer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the auction will end Friday.
Plant yourself on the plush driver seat, complete with tufted brown cloth upholstery. Then, look around, where soft finishes continue to the carpeted door panels and even a carpeted dash mat. The cabin is the kind of place you could enjoy a cross-country drive without getting the slightest bit fatigued.
The 98 (later stylized as Ninety-Eight, then Ninety Eight) was the full-size flagship model for Oldsmobile. Its origins date back to 1940, and the name was chosen because the car was on the “Series 90” platform and had an eight-cylinder engine. The car’s 10th generation ran from 1977 to 1984 and was offered a two-door coupe and as a four-door sedan.
Reportedly owned by the same family since 1988, this Ninety-Eight is a largely original, garage-kept time capsule of the Malaise era, when wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, wood-grain trim and a multitude of ash trays were the defining characteristics of high-end automotive status.
One Oldsmobile advertisement said, “Luxury carried to its most logical conclusion.” It went on to say: “A luxury car, happy to report, can still be a most logical purchase. That’s the Olds point of view behind the new Ninety-Eight Regency. Most logical of all is that you needn’t be extravagant to get the elegance you want. And with Regency, the niceties – from air conditioning and power accessories to its richly appointed interior – are all standard.”
Power comes from a 5.0-liter carbureted V8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Oldsmobile rated the car at 140 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque when new. The car has accrued 140,000 miles (although its five-digit odometer has rolled over, so it only shows 40,000). The CARFAX report starts in 1992 in Florida and shows ownership in Michigan beginning in 2009.
If you’re ready to treat yourself to the 1980s version of executive travel, your opportunity is ready for the taking.
The auction for this 1983 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Sedan will end Friday, December 27, 2024, at 11:50 a.m. (MST)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
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