At the 2023 Mecum Indy, a white Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency coupe with an indicated 6,100 miles sold for $20,000.
1984 would end up being the final year for the rear-wheel-drive Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight—1985 would move the Ninety-Eight to the front-wheel-drive C-body. There were few changes for 1984: the 4.1 liter V6 was dropped (making the 5.0 liter V8 standard), there was a new grille with a crosshatch pattern, and the vertical taillamps now had Oldsmobile emblems in their lenses. Changes in options included different body side mouldings and new wire wheel cover designs.
The Ninety-Eight Regency‘s standard powertrain was the LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor mated to a four-speed automatic. Optional everywhere but in California was the LF9 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel V8 ($700). The Ninety-Eight coupe was not quick—with the standard powertrain, 0-60 took about 13.5 seconds in a car with a 3,915-pound curb weight. The diesel was about six seconds slower to 60 mph. Mileage with the gas V8 wasn’t horrible: 17 city/29 highway by the day’s standards (14/21 by today’s measures). With a large 25.1-gallon fuel tank, a Ninety-Eight Regency coupe owner could expect a range of 400 to 465 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $13,974 Ninety-Eight Regency coupe (about $44,900 in 2025 dollars) included Soft-Ray tinted glass, rear fender skirts, sail panel opera lamps, power front disc brakes, power steering, and P215/75R15 steel-belted radial-ply white-stripe tires (a size still readily available) mounted on 15-inch wheels with Bright Deluxe wheel discs. Inside, all Regency coupes included power side windows, power door locks, Four-Season air conditioning, an electric rear window defroster, a digital quartz clock, front and rear centre armrests, and an AM-FM stereo radio with two rear speakers.
Options & Production Numbers
Exterior and mechanical options included an electric sliding glass Astroroof ($1,195), an automatic leveling system, an engine block heater, and puncture-sealing tires. Inside, Custom leather trims in seating surfaces, electronic cruise control with resume and acceleration features ($175), Tempmatic air conditioning ($55), and automatic power door locks were all available. Options that date this car included a front seat litter container and an ETR AM/FM Stereo with seek and scan, digital display clock, cassette tape player, and a 40-channel CB.
Oldsmobile sold 7,855 Ninety-Eight Regency coupes in the 1984 model year, marking the fewest coupes sold in the 10th generation. Though large American coupes in general were fading away, 1985’s all-new front-wheel-drive Ninety-Eight would still offer coupe versions. Despite being all-new, the coupes wouldn’t sell much better in 1985 and would be gone after the end of the 1987 model year.
The View From 2025
There is some collector interest in these cars, though Hagerty does not track their values. Ninety-Eights of this era are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer that cater to the eighties car market.
Make mine Autumn Maple Firemist, please.
Stunningly, this is the first rear-wheel-drive C-body I have written about, though I have written about the re-designated D-body 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham sedan. I probably should write about the Electra and the de Ville at some point.
Last updated October 2025.
Eighties Cars 
I personally love these B- and C-bodies, though I can’t recall ever even riding in one. I just really love the styling and the presence of these cars. I’ve seen a few Delta 88 and 98 coupes available locally, and even a couple of Coupes DeVille. Much harder to see any Electra or Fleetwood coupes.