Category: 1985

1985 Pontiac Grand Am coupe

“Introducing a brilliant new driver’s coupe”

The Grand Am name returned for the 1985 model year. Instead of the rear-wheel-drive coupe and sedan that it had been in its previous two lives from 1973 to 1980 (with none in 1976 or 1977), it was now a front-wheel-drive coupe, part of GM’s N-body offerings. As such, its first relatives were the Buick Somerset Regal and the Oldsmobile Calais.

The standard powertrain on the Grand Am was GM’s Tech IV 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with throttle-body fuel injection connected to a five-speed manual. For $560, optional power was the LN7 125 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection, which required the $425 automatic transmission (also available with the base engine). 0-60 times for early N-body cars are hard to come by, but were likely about 10.5 seconds for the standard powertrain and about 9.0 seconds for the V6/automatic combination—the 2,419-pound shipping weight helped. Mileage with the standard powertrain was rated at 24 city/34 highway by the day’s standards (21/31 by today’s measures). With the 13.6-gallon tank, Grand Am buyers could expect a range of 310 to 350 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $7,995 base coupe (about $24,400 in 2025 dollars) included power rack and pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P185/80R13 tires (now a trailer size) on 13-inch Rally wheels. Inside, reclining bucket seats and an integral floor console were included.

The LE (starting at $8,495 or about $25,900 in today’s dollars) included “substantial body side moldings,” upgraded front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, deluxe door trim, and a fold-down rear seat armrest.

Options included the Rally Tuned suspension ($50) and cruise control ($175). A Driver’s Package was also available, which included 215/60R14 Goodyear Eagle GT radials (a size available thanks to BFGoodrich and Riken) on 14-inch turbo cast aluminum wheels, “sport-tuned” front and rear stabilizers, and a Driver Information Center.

The View From 2025

I think these were handsome cars, especially with those turbo cast aluminum wheels—Pontiac had great wheel designs in the eighties. Like many American cars of the era that aren’t considered to be collectible, they have essentially vanished despite over 82,000 sold in 1985 alone. They’re invisible in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors and are hard to find anywhere—Bring a Trailer has sold two 1990 models, but none from the eighties.

Make mine Red, please.

Last updated June 2025.

1985 Alfa Romeo GTV-6 hatchback coupe

On this Easter Sunday, I filled up our modern sedan at one of the local Sunocos. Across from me: an Alfa Romeo GTV-6. So, here you go.

“… an extremely exciting machine”

For 1985, Alfa Romeo’s GTV-6 stood mostly pat. The shift linkage was modified to address some complaints of stiffness and some standard equipment was removed to reach a more approachable price.

The engine continued to be the star: a 154 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci V6 with aluminum block and heads and Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection paired with a five-speed manual. Performance was respectable—Road & Track recorded an 8.5 second 0-60 time in the 2,955-pound car. Fuel mileage was 19 city/26 highway by the standards of the day—17/24 by today’s standards.

Standard equipment in the $16,500 car (about $39,000 in today’s dollars or almost exactly what a 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia goes for) included an independent front suspension, a deDion rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and 195/60HR15 tires (a size still easily available) on 15-inch wheels. Inside, there was an adjustable steering column and cloth seats. Power windows were standard, but with a back-up mechanical crank.

Optional equipment included rear spoiler ($395), sunroof ($500), leather seats ($750), and an AM/FM stereo with a cassette player ($395). A very uncommon option was the Callaway Twin Turbo package ($2,095), which include a 230 bhp engine, along with upgraded BBS 16 x 7 wheels and Goodyear Eagle 205/55VR-16 tires.

Potential collectors of a GTV-6 are warned that they are highly susceptible to rust—even in states where that isn’t usually a problem. These cars have a following, and make appearances in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and eBay. Values are sliding up: according to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1985 GTV-6 in #1/Concours condition is $24,700, with a far more typical #3/Good car going for $12,900.

Make mine red, of course.

1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe

For many years, I made a retro CD for the holidays that goes to friends and family. Whatever expertise in popular music that I have is from the eighties, so that I would go forward one year in that decade—that means that in 2017, I was doing 1988. There’s a story behind every year’s CD, and this one involved a 1985 Trans Am. So, I decided to draw a 1985 Trans Am dashboard and thus this blog post.

1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am dashboard

“The most serious piece of machinery we put on the road.”

Updates for the 1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am included a restyled nose with integrated fog lamps, new taillights, fake hood louvers replacing the traditional power bulge, and full rocker and quarter panel extensions. A new WS6 suspension package was made available for the Trans Am, which included gas-pressurized shocks, four-wheel disc brakes, and 16-inch wheels with P245/50VR16 Goodyear “Gatorback” tires for a $664 price tag. Inside, all gages now had graph-patterned backgrounds, and a new UT4 “Touch-Control” optional stereo was available.

For 1985, the standard Trans Am powertrain was the LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The top-of-the-line engine was the $695 LB9 fuel-injected 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, with 205 bhp—but that was only available with a $425 four-speed automatic transmission, yielding a zero to sixty time of about 7.5 seconds. If you wanted the five-speed manual transmission, the best engine choice available on the Trans Am was the 190 bhp L69 H.O. 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor.

Mileage with the standard powertrain was 15 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (14/22 by 2025 measures). With a 15.9-gallon gas tank, a Trans Am owner could expect a range of between 255 and 280 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $11,569 Trans Am (about $35,700 in today’s dollars) included power brakes (front disc/rear drum), hidden electronically-controlled halogen headlamps, dual sport mirrors, an all-glass rear hatch, a rear deck lid spoiler, and P215/65R15 steel-belted radial tires (still a readily available size) on “deep-dish” 15 x 7 wheels. Inside, reclining front bucket seats, a Formula steering wheel, full gages, and side window defoggers were included.

Options & Production Numbers

Options included T-tops ($875), a louvered rear sunshield ($210), four wheel disc brakes ($179), electric rear window defogger ($145), air conditioning ($750), Luxury Trim Group ($359), tilt steering wheel ($115), cruise control ($175), and a series of five stereos. In something you rarely see in the current day, Pontiac offered two completely different optional front seats—Lear Siegler Custom adjustable bucket seats and Recaro bucket seats (which were not available with the six-way power driver’s seat).

The 1985 Trans Am sold reasonably well, with 44,028 sold—about 46% of total Firebird sales. In Pontiac showrooms, only the Sunbird and the 6000 outsold the Firebird in the 1985 model year.

The View From 2025

Third-generation Firebirds have a strong following, and 1985 Trans Ams make regular appearances in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer that cater to the eighties car market. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a loaded 1985 Trans Am with the LB9 in #1/Concours condition is $47,400, while a far more typical #3/Good car goes for $14,900. As I update this post in November 2025, there’s a Canary Yellow 1985 Trans Am with the LB9 engine, an automatic, and 12,000 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $23,500.

Make mine Black, please—I think.

Other eighties Firebirds I have written about include the 1981 Trans Am coupe, the 1982 Trans Am hatchback coupe, the 1986 SE hatchback coupe, the 1987 Formula hatchback coupe, and the 1989 Turbo Trans Am hatchback coupe.

Last updated November 2025.

Auction Favorite: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible

The Mercedes-Benz 380SL is a common vehicle at the auctions I follow—since starting this blog in late 2013, I’ve seen almost 40 of these convertibles go across the block, mostly at the Barrett-Jackson and Mecum events. I chose to go with 1985 as the model year to write about because it and 1982 have been the two most common years I have seen.

“What do you get when you blend a Mercedes-Benz with a sports car? The incomparable 380SL.”

1985 was the final year for the 380SL—from 1986 on, the heavier and more powerful 560SL would be the only option in North America. There wasn’t much change for 1985; all cars got anti-lock brakes, and later production SLs got a drivers-side airbag. About 11,100 buyers took home this last of the line example, which benefited from having very little real competition.

Motive power was provided by a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. As with all R107 models, mileage for the 3,600-pound car wasn’t very good—the ratings of the day were 16 city/18 highway (14/17 by today’s standards). With the 22.5-gallon fuel tank, a 380SL driver could expect a range of between 310 and 350 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. 0-60 came in about 10.5 seconds; despite the claims of Mercedes-Benz, the 380SL was closer to a grand touring car than to a sports car.

The 380SL’s base price for 1985 was $43,820 (about $102,200 in today’s dollars—neatly spaced between what an SL 450 and an SL 550 cost in 2017). For the money, exterior and mechanical standard features included the aforementioned ABS controlling power disk brakes, power steering, a steel hardtop, and 205/70VR14 tires (now a rare size) on 14-inch forged light-alloy wheels. Inside, power windows, power door locks via a vacuum locking system, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo with cassette player were standard. Air conditioning was also included in the electronic automatic climate control system, though most say it wasn’t that effective. Heated leather seats were optional.

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1985 380SL in #1/Concours condition is $28,200, with a more typical #3/Good car going for $13,600. There is decent club support for the 380SL, as there is for almost all Mercedes-Benz’s. 380SLs maintain a substantial presence in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors. As I write this in September 2017, there are 66 advertised on Hemmings, including 14 of the 1985 models.

Make mine Astral Silver Metallic, please. Dealer advertising image courtesy of Alden Jewell.

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1985 Dodge 600 Club Coupe

The crazed folks at The Truth About Cars posted in 2017 about a 1984 Dodge 600 Landau Coupe as part of their Junkyard Find series.

There’s a strong feeling of fulfillment behind the wheel of this striking coupe.

The Dodge 600 was an extended (E-platform) version of the original K-platform cars, with three more inches of wheelbase added to the sedans (coupes and wagons kept the same wheelbase as the first K cars). It debuted in the 1983 model year, two years after the original K cars reached the market. Other E-platform cars were the Chrysler New Yorker, Chrysler E-Class, and (later) the Plymouth Caravelle.

There were three engines available for the Dodge 600. The base engine was Chrysler’s K 99 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with fuel injection. The high-performance option was the Turbo I 146 bhp version of the same engine with a Garrett T3 turbocharger and fuel injection. The other option was Mitsubishi’s Astron series 4G54 101 bhp 2.6 liter/153 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor.

Fuel economy for the Turbo I and three-speed automatic transmission combination (the five-speed manual was no longer available) was 19 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (it would be 17/22 today). With a 14-gallon gas tank, the new owner of a club coupe could expect a range of between 245 and 270 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Club Coupe page from the 1985 Dodge 600 brochure
Club Coupe page from the 1985 Dodge 600 brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,060 Club Coupe (about $27,900 in today’s dollars) included halogen headlamps, a Landau padded vinyl roof, power front disc/rear drum brakes, power rack-and-pinion steering, and P185/70R14 steel-belted radial white sidewall tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch wheels with Luxury wheel covers. Inside, cloth high-back front bucket seats with integral headrests, a full-length console, a Luxury color-keyed two-spoke steering wheel, and an electronically-tuned AM radio were standard. Features listed in the brochure that wouldn’t be considered worth mentioning now included a tethered fuel filler cap and an inside hood release.

Exterior and mechanical options included tinted glass ($115), a sport/handling suspension ($79), and cast aluminum wheels. Inside, air conditioning ($757), automatic speed control ($179), a leather-wrapped steering wheel ($50), and a tilt steering wheel ($110) were available. Three optional radios were available.

The View From 2025

The original K cars and their many variants were once so common on the roads, but have essentially vanished. I haven’t seen a 600 of any type in years, even though Dodge produced over 300,000 of them between 1983 and 1988. You’ll sometimes see the original Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant cars at AACA shows along with the top of the line Chrysler LeBaron convertibles. You do occasionally see Dodge 600s for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but there are no coupes out there as I update this blog post in October 2025.

Make mine Garnet Red Pearl Coat, please.

Other K cars I have written about include the 1981 Plymouth Reliant coupe, the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, the 1986 Chrysler Town & Country convertible, and the 1987 Dodge Aries LE sedan.

Last updated October 2025.

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1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE hatchback coupe

This post was one of my first twenty in this blog, which I’ve updated to reflect both changes in my posting style and substantial improvements in available data. At this point, it’s changed enough to be considered a new post.

“… artfully appointed to raise the aesthetic pleasures of driving …”

The 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE was the last of the first generation SA (1978-1980/FB (1981-1985) RX-7s, which had debuted in 1978, timing the market perfectly for a relatively low-priced and good-looking sports car. At $7,195 when released, it hit an attractive price point and entered a market with few natural competitors for such a pure sports car.

Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and more power had come in 1984 with the 13B Wankel 1.3 liter/80 ci two-rotor engine. Power increased from 101 bhp to 135 bhp—respectable for a relatively lightweight (2,447 pounds) sports car and dropping 0-60 times more than a second to slightly under 8 seconds. Even with the five-speed manual transmission, mileage remained somewhat of the traditional rotary bugaboo that would eventually drive Mazda out of the rotary business. At 16 city/23 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by today’s measures), it was not as good as the Nissan/Datsun 300ZX (19/25) or the Toyota Celica Supra (20/24)—both of which had more power. Owners of a new RX-7 could expect to get about 275 to 290 miles of range from the 16.6-gallon fuel tank before starting to look for more gasoline.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on every 1985 RX-7 ($10,945 or approximately $33,800 in today’s dollars) included retractable headlamps, tinted glass, side window demisters, electric rear window defroster, and 185/70HR13 radial tires on 5 x 13-inch wheels. Inside, full gauges, reclining bucket seats with adjustable headrests, a full console with armrest, a digital quartz clock, and an AM/FM stereo radio with power antenna were standard.

1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE print advertisement
1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE print advertisement

By 1985, the fancier RX-7s had slid well up-market—the GSL-SE‘s package’s price was $16,125 (about $49,700 in 2025 dollars; well more than a loaded 2025 Miata MX-5 RF Grand Touring). Exterior and mechanical equipment on the GSL-SE included retractable halogen headlamps, a raisable/removable steel sunroof, ventilated four-wheel power disc brakes, and “low profile” P205/60VR14 Pirelli P6 tires (a size now tough to find) on 5.5 x 14-inch Performance alloy wheels. Inside, every GSL-SE included striped velour seats with solid velour bolsters, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, dual black remote control sideview mirrors, and an AM/FM ETR stereo radio with a separate auto-reverse cassette player sitting below—with a nine-band graphic equalizer below that.

Optional equipment for the loaded GSL-SE was limited to a leather package ($700), which included leather seats, leather door trim, and a leather steering wheel.

The View From 2025

I followed a first-generation RX-7 for a while in my eighties sports car about a decade ago, and I was struck by how small it looked—smaller than I remembered these cars as being. They were small, of course: 170 inches long and less than 50 inches tall.

RX-7 aficionados call these “5-letter cars.” According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1985 RX-7 GSL-SE in #1/Concours condition is $53,400, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $11,900. RX-7s have fairly solid club support and maintain a reasonable presence in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Sunbeam Silver Metallic, please—I think light silver works best on these cars.

The only other Mazda I have completed a blog entry for is the 1983 626 coupe. Other 1985 sports cars I have written about include the Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole coupe, the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, and the Toyota MR2 coupe.

Last updated December 2025.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300CD Turbo coupe

A 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Coupe in Radnor, PA
An (I think) Champagne Metallic Mercedes-Benz 300CD Turbo in Radnor, PA

For some strange reason, one—but only one—of the supermarkets in my area often features interesting eighties cars in its parking lot. Back in mid-2016, there was a Mercedes-Benz 300CD Turbo coupe casually parked among the crossovers—a good enough reason for this blog entry.

“A singular new achievement”

1985 was the last model year for Mercedes-Benz’s mid-size W123 models—the substantially revised and very different-looking W124 models would follow for 1986.

For 1985, the 300CD Turbo powertrain continued to be the fuel-injected 125 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci inline five turbodiesel connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. At about 3,360 pounds, these were not fast cars—Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 12 seconds. Fuel economy was 22 city/25 highway by the day’s standards—19/23 by today’s measures. With the 21.1-gallon fuel tank, the driver of a 300CD could expect 400 to 445 miles of range with a 10% reserve.

Standard Equipment & Options

The base price for the 300CD Turbo was a non-trivial $35,220—about $108,600 in today’s dollars or almost twice what a 2025 CLE 450 4MATIC coupe goes for. You did get a lot of standard equipment for a 1985 vehicle: power steering, power brakes, halogen headlamps, halogen fog lamps, and 195/70HR14 tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch light alloy wheels were all included. Inside, power windows, power door locks, cruise control, intermittent windshield wipers, eight-way power front bucket seats, electronic climate control, and an AM/FM stereo with cassette player and power antenna were standard.

There were few options on the 300CD Turbo: leather upholstery, an anti-theft alarm system ($335), and a power sunroof (optional at no extra cost) were available.

The View From 2025

W123 models definitely have a following, especially the relatively rare coupes and the 300TD wagons. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1985 300CD in #1/Concours condition is $67,000, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $25,700. 300CDs sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, often with mileage well over 200,000.

I like these coupes, with their smooth hardtop lines and their reasonable size. Make mine Astral Silver Metallic, I think.

Other Mercedes-Benz models I have written about include the 1980 450SL convertible, the 1981 380 SEL sedan, the 1985 380SL convertible, the 1986 560SEC coupe, the 1986 560SL convertible, and the 1989 560SL convertible.

Last updated December 2025.

1985 Ford LTD LX sedan

“Because Mr. Bondurant shouldn’t have all the fun.”

Late in the 1984 model year, Ford added a performance-oriented model to the Fairmont-based LTD line. The LX was loosely based on a few sedans that Bob Bondurant had cobbled together for use at his high-performance driving school. For 1985, the LX wore the updated nose and tail that came along with all 1985 LTDs.

The engine was Ford’s 165 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci Windsor V8 with electronic fuel injection. The only transmission available was a four-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 came in a respectable 9 seconds—faster than the Dodge 600ES and competitive with the Pontiac 6000 STE. Mileage was 19 city/23 highway by the day’s standards (17/22 by today’s measures). With a 16-gallon gas tank, the range was 280 to 300 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

LX pages from the 1985 Ford LTD brochure
LX pages from the 1985 Ford LTD brochure

The 1985 LX had a base price of $11,421—about $35,200 in 2025 dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included quad rectangular halogen headlamps, power brakes, a Traction-Lok rear axle, a rear stabilizer bar, and P205/70HR Goodyear Eagle tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch styled road wheels. Inside, dual power mirrors, lumbar-support bucket seats, a center console with a floor shifter for the transmission, brushed aluminum trim on the dash bezels, an upgraded instrument cluster with tachometer, a Tripminder computer, and an AM radio with dual front speakers (ah, the glamor!) were included.

Options included cast aluminum wheels ($224), air conditioning ($743), power windows ($272), power locks ($213), and an electronic AM/FM stereo radio with cassette ($409).

Like some other interesting Ford performance cars from the 1980s (I’m thinking of you, Mustang SVO), LTD LXs did not sell well, with only 3,260 sold over the 1984 and 1985 model years (there would be no 1986 LX).

The View From 2025

Likely because of the limited production numbers, you rarely see LTD LXs in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold a few eighties LTDs, but none of the LX variety. There is some enthusiast support.

Make mine Medium Charcoal Metallic, please.

The only other 1985 Ford product I’ve written about is the Ford Eddie Bauer Bronco SUV.

SaveLast updated October 2025.

1985 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Station Wagon

Originally posted on Independence Day 2015, here’s an all-American eighties wagon from forty years ago.

“Big wagon convenience that drives like a Caprice.”

1985 was a year of refinement for Chevrolet’s full-size wagon. The standard engine was Chevrolet’s LG4 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, newly uprated to 165 bhp but still struggling to haul around about two tons and eighteen feet of metal. Paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy was 15 city/22 highway by the day’s standards (14/20 by today’s measures). With the 22-gallon gas tank (smaller in the wagon than in the coupe or sedan), the range was from 335 to 365 miles with a 10% reserve.

The full-size Chevrolet interior was also modernized for 1985, with an updated satin finish dash design that allowed for the use of more capable DIN style radios instead of the previous two-knob style.

Station wagon page from the 1985 Caprice Classic brochure
Station wagon page from the 1985 Caprice Classic brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $10,714 wagon (about $32,500 in today’s dollars) included power steering, power brakes (disk front/drum rear), a three-way tailgate with power window, heavy-duty front and rear suspension, a Delco Freedom II battery, full wheel covers, and white-striped P225/75R-15 all-season radial tires. Inside, Quiet Sound Group, a quartz electric clock, a headlamp-on reminder chime, a lockable glove box with light, a full-width front bench seat with center armrest, a third row seat, and an AM push-button radio with dual front speakers were all part of a base Caprice Classic wagon.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options included Estate Equipment ($307), a roof carrier ($110), a rear air deflector ($40), a power tailgate lock ($50), a heavy duty battery ($26), heavy duty cooling ($40), an engine block heater ($20), cornering lamps ($55), and high and low beam halogen headlamps ($22).

Inside, buyers could add air conditioning ($730), electronic speed control ($175), a Comfortilt steering wheel ($110), power windows ($185), power door locks ($125), deluxe rear compartment decor ($59), and a GM-Delco ETR AM/FM stereo radio with seek and scan, cassette tape, clock, graphic equalizer and extended range sound system ($394).

Chevrolet sold almost 56,000 Caprice Classic wagons in the 1985 model year, marking about 21% of total full-size Impala/Caprice production.

The View From 2025

I sense that there actually are a few folks preserving these cars, but they certainly aren’t common at shows. You do sometimes see Caprice wagons for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and Bring a Trailer. As I update this blog post in August 2025, a Dark Blue Metallic 1989 wagon with dark blue cloth seats is listed for $16,000 on Hemmings.

Make mine that same Dark Blue Metallic, please.

Other B-platform cars I have written about include the 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic sedan, the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe, the 1982 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale coupe, and the 1983 Pontiac Parisienne sedan.

Last updated August 2025.

1985 Dodge Omni GLH

“… never, never, take it home to meet Mom.”

Though 1984 was the debut year for the Dodge Omni GLH, 1985 was the first year that Chrysler’s Turbo I 2.2 liter/135 ci turbocharged inline four was available with it (for an additional $872). Packing 146 bhp and 170 lb-ft of torque, the turbo delivered 0-60 times in about 7.5 seconds. Standard power on the GLH was the High Output 110 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four, and both engines came with a five-speed manual transmission.

Mileage for the turbo was 21 city/30 highway (18/27 by today’s standards) on premium gasoline. Giving up the turbo took you to 25/34 and let you run on regular fuel. Range with the 13-gallon gas tank was almost 300 miles with a 10% reserve.

Omni GLH pages from the 1985 Dodge Performance brochure
Omni GLH pages from the 1985 Dodge Performance brochure

The base price for an Omni GLH was $7,620 (about $23,100 in 2025 dollars). For that money, purchasers got a front air dam and side skirts, both finished in black, as was the grille. Distinctive aluminum 16-hole “pizza” wheels rolled on low-profile 195/50R15 tires—now considered a tiny size, but still available. Power steering, power brakes, and a sport suspension were standard and fog lamps completed the “sporty for a 4-door compact” look.

Inside, a GLH was pretty basic. You did get cloth high-backed bucket seats, a Rallye instrument cluster, dual remote mirrors, intermittent windshield wipers, and an AM/FM stereo radio.

Options & Production Numbers

The GLH had few exterior add-ons available. Inside, buyers could add options such as air conditioning ($643), a rear window defroster ($132), automatic speed control ($179), and an AM/FM stereo radio with cassette.

Dodge sold 6,513 Omni GLH models in 1985, including 3,004 normally-aspirated models and 3,509 with the turbo, making the GLH about 9% of total Omni/Horizon production for that model year.

The View From 2025

GLH‘s rarely appear in either the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors; I don’t think many of these cars lasted even a decade. You do occasionally see them on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Black, please—so the ground effects match.

Last updated April 2025.