For unclear reasons, for several years this was my most popular post on this blog. Because of this, I recently updated it to reflect both changes in my posting style and substantial improvements in available data.
“… the personal flair of a distinctive coupe.”
1987 was the final model year for Chevrolet’s Caprice Classic coupe, with only 3,110 made. Beginning in 1988, the Caprice would soldier on with just the sedan and wagon, as the once very popular big American coupes continued to lose favor.
The standard power team on the coupe (and sedan) was the LB4 140 bhp 4.3 liter/262 ci V6 with throttle-body fuel injection paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Mileage was rated at 18 city/23 highway by the standards of the day (16/22 by modern standards).
Optional power was the LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed automatic transmission (I see what you did there, Chevrolet). In 1987, this combination was rated at 18 city/25 highway (16/23 by 2014 standards). With a large 25-gallon fuel tank, you could reasonably expect a comfortable range of about 440 to 480 miles with a 10% fuel reserve—impressive for a 3,600-pound full-size car back then. Even with the V8, these cars were not fast—0-60 came in about 10.5 seconds.
Standard equipment for the $11,392 coupe (about $26,600 in today’s dollars—just a few thousand dollars less than a 2020 Impala LT sedan goes for) included power steering, power brakes, halogen headlights, and P205/75R15 all-season radial tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch wheels. Inside, a full-width cloth bench seat, Quiet Sound Group, and an AM radio were standard.
Optional equipment included air conditioning ($775), cruise control ($175), power door locks ($145), power windows ($210), power seats ($240 each), power trunk opener ($50), a 50/50 split-front seat ($195), and AM/FM stereo cassette with graphic equalizer ($435).
I have fun sometimes (often?) building a “unicorn” configuration for these old cars. When I was working at the local Chevrolet dealership in the mid-eighties, I dreamed up a Caprice S. Here’s what optional equipment it would have required, all still available in 1987:
- F41 Sport Suspension (includes a rear stabilizer bar, 15-inch by 7-inch wheels, and sportier shock absorbers)
- LG4 5.0 liter/305 ci V8
- P225/70R-15 tires
- Sport wheel covers
- Limited slip differential
- Performance axle ratio
- Heavy-duty cooling
- Dual power Sport mirrors
- Special instrumentation/gauge package
So, a “John-configured” coupe would have listed for at least $15,096—real money in 1987 and about $34,500 in 2019 dollars. A desperate product planner might have tried to get the leather seats from the Brougham available in the Coupe and maybe scored some black wall tires, but that’s another story …
These big and (I think) handsome coupes show up occasionally in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, though Hagerty’s valuation tools do not track Caprice Classic values between 1972 and 1991. When I last updated this blog entry in December 2019, there was a Dark Gray Metallic 1984 coupe with sand gray cloth seats and 150,000 miles for sale on Hemmings for $12,000. Make mine Silver Metallic, please, though I’m tempted by the Black/Medium Gray Metallic two-tone.
Another Caprice that I’ve written about is the 1985 Caprice Classic station wagon.
Updated December 2019.
Eighties Cars 
Looking for OG 87 2 door landau ! !
Thanks for the comment and best of luck with your search, Ren—these coupes seem rare at this point.