1983 Pontiac Parisienne sedan

“It’s clean, uncluttered and handsome.”

In 1983, Pontiac’s Parisienne nameplate, a Canadian presence since 1958, became available in the United States. The story, of course, was not that simple. For the 1982 model year, Pontiac had moved the Bonneville nameplate from the full-size B-platform to the mid-size G-platform and discontinued the slightly less expensive Catalina altogether. Dealers were unhappy with losing the full-size car, and the sales numbers told the reason why.

19811982
Catalina coupe (B-platform)1,073
Catalina sedan (B-platform)6,456
Catalina Safari wagon (B-platform)2,912
Bonneville coupe (B-platform)14,317
Bonneville/Bonneville Brougham sedan (B-platform)55,451
Bonneville Safari wagon (B-platform)6,855
Bonneville G/Bonneville G Brougham sedan (G-platform)64,413
Bonneville G wagon (G-platform)16,100
LeMans/Grand LeMans coupe (G-platform)4,397
Le Mans/LeMans LJ/Grand LeMans sedan (G-platform)47,427
LeMans Safari/Grand LeMans Safari wagon (G-platform)30,041
Totals168,92980,513

By condensing the two platforms into one and dropping the admittedly low-selling coupes, Pontiac cut sales by more than half. Yes, the front-wheel-drive mid-size 6000 was introduced for 1982, but its 57,534 sales didn’t come close to making up for the rear-wheel-drive losses. So, halfway through the 1983 model year, Parisienne’s started to be sold in the United States.

The Parisienne’s base engine was the LD5 110 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor. The LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and the LF9 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel V8 were optional. A three-speed automatic was standard with the V6 and the diesel. A four-speed automatic was required with the gas V8 and optional for the diesel. Mileage with the gas V8 was 18 city/29 highway by the day’s standards (15/21 by today’s measures); with a 25.1-gallon fuel tank, a Parisienne owner could expect a range of about 405 to 530 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Page from the 1983 Pontiac Parisienne brochure
Page from the 1983 Pontiac Parisienne brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,609 base Parisienne sedan included two-tone paint, power steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and 205/75R15 blackwall steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch wheels with Deluxe wheel covers. Inside, a 50/50 split front seat, an instrument panel with simulated woodgrain trim, a glove compartment with lock and light, and an electric clock were included.

Moving up to the $9,879 Brougham added a 60/40 Luxury cloth front seat with a fold-down center armrest and a passenger recliner, along with Deluxe acoustical insulation.

Options & Production Numbers

Options were many (Pontiac only consented to list “major options” in the brochure), and included tungsten halogen headlamps, air conditioning, cruise control with resume speed feature, power windows, power door locks, an electric rear window defogger, a power antenna, and a choice of three radios ranging up to a Delco-GM stereo with a cassette player and a four-speaker system.

The Parisienne was not nearly as sporty (“We Build Excitement”) as most other products in Pontiac’s 1983 model line, but you could add a limited-slip differential axle, body color Sport mirrors, a gage package, and the Rally handling package, which required slightly wider P225/70R15 whitewall steel-belted radial tires.

Pontiac did feel that they needed to state the obvious about the Parisienne’s badge engineering. In fine print at the bottom of the last page of the brochure was this quote:

“Pontiac Parisienne models are equivalent to models offered by Chevrolet under the nameplate Caprice.”

With little differentiation and a short sales period, Parisienne sales were not high in 1983. Pontiac sold 9,279 base sedans, 5,139 Brougham sedans, and 3,027 station wagons. Sales would climb notably in the full-length 1984 model year—18,713 base sedans, 25,212 Brougham sedans, and 16,599 station wagons.

The View From 2025

Parisienne’s occasionally appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Other B-platform cars I have written about include the 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic sedan, the 1985 Chevrolet Caprice Classic station wagon, the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe, and the 1982 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale coupe. I have yet to write about the rear-wheel-drive Buick LeSabre.

1981 Ford Mustang coupe

“Sleek with clean lines that slice through the wind.”

For 1981, Ford’s Mustang gained a “rakish” new optional T-Roof and the availability of power windows. The base seats were now reclining. Otherwise, things generally stood pat.

The 1981 Mustang’s standard powertrain was the Lima 88 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline-four paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Optional engines included the Thriftpower 94 bhp 3.3 liter/200 ci inline six ($213) and a 120 bhp 4.2 liter/255 ci V8 ($263). A five-speed manual ($152 and only available with the inline-four) and a Select-Shift automatic ($349 and required with the V8) were offered. Despite being relatively light, no 1981 Mustang was fast—Car and Driver recorded an 11.2 second 0-60 time with the V8.

EPA fuel economy ratings ranged from 23 mpg with the inline-four engine and either of the two manual transmissions to 19 mpg with either the inline six/four-speed or the V8/automatic transmission combinations. With a small 12.4-gallon gas tank, a Mustang V8 owner could expect a mere 190 to 210 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard Equipment, Sub-Models, & Packages

Standard equipment on all Mustangs included dual rectangular halogen headlamps, front disc/rear drum brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 13-inch P-metric steel-belted radial-ply tires on 13-inch wheels. Inside, fully reclining vinyl high-back front bucket seats, color-keyed cut-pile carpeting, and an AM radio were included.

The notchback and hatchback (Ford insisted on calling them 2-Door and 3-Door) had slightly different standard equipment. The notchback/2-Door went for $6,171 and included color keyed rear pillar louvers, full wheel covers, and a Deluxe steering wheel. The hatchback/3-door went for $6,408 (about $24,100 in today’s dollars) and included black rear pillar louvers, Sport wheels, a fold-down rear seat, and a Sports steering wheel.

The Ghia—available as a $6,645 notchback or a $6,729 hatchback—added Ghia insignia, bright rocker panel moldings, pinstripes, dual black remote control mirrors, and 14-inch P-metric steel-belted radial-ply tires on 14-inch wheels with turbine wheel covers. Inside, Ghia buyers got the Ghia sound insulation package, Luxury color-keyed cut-pile carpeting, and a Luxury 4-spoke steering wheel.

Cobra pages from the 1981 Mustang brochure
Cobra pages from the 1981 Mustang brochure

Mechanically, the $1,588 Cobra package added a Sport-tuned exhaust with bright tailpipe extension, a Handling Suspension System, and 195/65R 390 Michelin TRX black sidewall tires on 15.3-inch forged metric aluminum wheels. Exterior Cobra features included a Black lower Tu-Tone paint treatment, a front end integral spoiler, dual fog lamps, a non-functional rear-opening hood scoop, and a rear end spoiler. Internal Cobra features included an 8,000 RPM tachometer, black engine-turned design appliques, and a Cobra medallion on the instrument panel. A 2.3 liter turbocharged engine was initially supposed to be part of the Cobra package (and showed up in some brochures), but Ford tabled it in the United States because of reliability issues in the 1980 model year. A base Cobra was $7,966—about $30,000 in today’s dollars, which is almost what a base 2025 Mustang EcoBoost fastback goes for.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options for all Mustangs included tinted glass ($76), metallic glow paint ($48), Tu-Tone paint, a flip-up open air roof, a T-Roof ($874), power front disc brakes ($76), variable ratio power steering ($163), and a Traction-Lok differential ($64). Inside, Recaro high-back bucket seats ($732), a console ($168), the SelectAire Conditioner ($560), a tilt steering wheel, two different leather-wrapped steering wheels (Sport or Luxury), fingertip speed control ($132), and power side windows ($140) were available. A choice of stereos ranging up to an AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette tape player ($174) could be ordered.

Options that look weird to our 2025 eyes included a carriage roof ($644) or a full vinyl roof ($115), both for the notchback only. Notchback purchasers could also specify an Interior Accent Group, which included a Deluxe sound package, fully relining low-back front bucket seats in a higher level of vinyl, and a passenger visor vanity mirror. Black liftgate louvers ($145) and a rear window wiper/washer ($85) could be ordered for the hatchback.

Mustang sales were lower in 1981 model year than in 1980, but automotive sales were generally down due to the concurrent recession. The base car continued to be by far the most popular—with the notchback (77,458 sold) and the hatchback (77,399) split almost exactly. Ghia‘s were also divided evenly—13,422 notchbacks and 14,273 hatchbacks. Only 1,821 hatchbacks were ordered with the Cobra package, which would be gone when the 1982 model year came around—more than replaced by the GT.

The View From 2025

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1981 Cobra V8 fastback in #1/Concours condition is $37,300, with a more normal #3/Good base Mustang inline four notchback going for $12,900. 1981 Mustangs sometimes appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but the absence of an impressive stock engine does seem to hold them back compared to the 1982 and later models.

Make mine Dark Cordovan Metallic, please.

Other Mustangs I have written about include the 1980 Cobra hatchback coupe, the 1982 GT hatchback coupe, the 1983 GT convertible, and the 1984 SVO hatchback coupe. I guess I’ll have to get to the second half of the Mustang’s decade at some point.

1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Mk 1 sedan

“Inheriting All The Traditions Of The Best Car In The World”

The introduction of the Silver Spirit in the United States waited one year after the model’s debut in England. The Silver Spirit and the slightly lengthened Silver Spur followed the long-running Silver Shadow and Silver Wraith II models.

The powertrain for Rolls-Royce sedans remained a 6.75 liter/413 ci V8 mated with a three-speed automatic. In 1981 guise with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, the venerable V8 (development had begun in 1952) was rated at 175 bhp. Despite the Silver Spirit’s 4,900-pound curb weight, Car and Driver recorded a respectable 10.8-second 0-60 time. Fuel mileage was distinctly unrespectable—rated at 10 city/13 highway and triggering a $650 gas guzzler tax. With a large 28.6-gallon gas tank, a Silver Spirit owner could expect a range of 265 to 295 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The Silver Spirit retailed for an astounding $109,000—about $410,100 in 2025 dollars. This price was at a time when a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL went for $44,300, and the comparable BMW 733i was $32,000. Cadillac’s range-topping Seville was a “mere” $23,400.

Page from the 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit brochure
Page from the 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the Silver Spirit included power-assisted rack and pinion steering, power four-wheel disc brakes, and 235/70HR-15 Michelin XVX tires (a size and type still readily available) on 15-inch wheels. Inside, wood burl trim, leather upholstery, adjustable front bucket seats, automatic speed control, automatic temperature control, and a Blaupunkt Bucharest stereo radio with a cassette player and four speakers were included. There were no formal options, though the factory would satisfy almost any color, upholstery, or trim request for an additional charge.

The View From 2025

Like all Rolls-Royces, the Silver Spirit attracts collector interest, and there is support from the Rolls-Royce forums. Like many late-model Rolls-Royces, Silver Spirits face extreme depreciation because of the costs of deferred maintenance.

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in #1/Concours condition is $16,300, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $8,200. Silver Spirits sometimes appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Tudor Red, please.

The Silver Spirit is the first Rolls-Royce I have written about, though I did write about the closely related 1989 Bentley Turbo R sedan. Thus, I have not yet written about the Camargue coupe or the Corniche convertible.

1984 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sports Coupe

“Reborn for 1984”

Toyota’s Corolla was all new for 1984, marking its fifth generation. Confusingly, Corollas were both front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive. If you wanted the notchback coupe, the only way to get it was as a rear-wheel-drive SR5 Sport Coupe, which had an AE86 internal development code.

The SR5 name originally stood for Sport Rally 5-speed. The designation was originally SR-5 and first appeared in 1973 on the second-generation Corolla notchback coupe and the Hilux pickup truck. The SR5 name remains as a trim even in today’s Toyotas, though the five-speed manuals are long gone.

The standard powertrain for 1984 was carried over from the previous generation. It was the 4A-C 70 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor paired with (of course) a five-speed manual. A four-speed automatic was optional. Motor Trend clocked a 0-60 time of 12.9 seconds with the manual. Fuel mileage was rated at 32 city/43 highway by the day’s standards (25/31 by today’s measures). With a 13.2-gallon fuel tank, an SR5 driver could expect a range of 335 to 445 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Corolla page from the 1984 Toyota brochure
Corolla page from the 1984 Toyota brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,381 SR5 Sport Coupe (about $29,800 in today’s dollars or almost exactly what a 2025 Corolla XSE sedan goes for) included tinted glass, retractable halogen headlamps, rack and pinion steering, vented power front disc brakes, and 185/70SR13 steel-belted radial-ply tires (a size still available) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, all SR5s included reclining lo-back front bucket seats, a split-back fold-down rear seat, a center console with storage compartment, dual power remote mirrors, an electric rear window defogger, tilt steering, a tachometer, a digital quartz clock, and an AM/FM/MPX radio.

Options & Period Reviews

Options included a power sunroof, variable assist power steering ($190), dual-stage air conditioning ($1,000!), and a cassette player with Dolby ($173). A Sport Package—yes, you could get a Sport Package on the Sport Coupe—included Sport Seats, special interior trim, and aluminum alloy wheels.

Motor Trend generally liked the SR5, but did gently hint that it was truly all show and no go, mentioning that the front-wheel-drive “civilian” versions were actually slightly faster. They finished by calling the SR5 “affordable, handsome, and pleasant to drive.”

The View From 2025

Fifth-generation Corollas are being saved—especially the sporty ones. You see Corolla SR5s for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Silver Metallic on Black, please—just like in the brochure.

Other Toyotas I have written about include the 1980 Corolla Tercel Liftback, the 1981 Celica Sport Coupe, the 1982 Celica Supra hatchback coupe, the 1983 Camry sedan, and the 1985 MR2 coupe.

Last updated June 2025.

1982 BMW 733i sedan

Writing about the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL sedan recently got me looking at what writers of the day thought were its competitors. I posted about the Jaguar XJ6 a couple of years ago—perhaps it’s time to finally finish this post about the 733i.

“Engineered for drivers, not onlookers.”

For 1982, BMW’s top-of-the-line 733i sedan received a slight horsepower bump. Otherwise, things changed little from 1981, when the significant upgrade had been the introduction of a five-speed overdrive manual. The general look and marketing of the 7-series remained about the same as it had been when BMW launched it in 1977.

The 733i’s standard powertrain was the M30B32 181 bhp 3.3 liter inline six coupled to the aforementioned five-speed manual. More than forty years later, the manuals are popular with collectors, but the smart money is that most 733i’s were ordered new with the three-speed automatic ($775). With the manual, 0-60 came in about eight seconds—crazy fast for a sedan in 1982, let alone one with a curb weight of almost 3,600 pounds. Fuel economy was rated at 19 city/29 highway mpg—with a 22.5-gallon gas tank, a 733i driver could expect a range of 395 to 435 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1982 BMW 733i advertisement
1982 BMW 733i advertisement

The $33,315 733i (about $114,700 in today’s dollars or almost what a 2025 760i xDrive sedan goes for) came well-equipped. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, halogen high beam lights, an electric dual position sunroof, power assisted steering, power assisted four wheel disc brakes, and P205/70R14 steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch light alloy wheels. Inside, leather upholstery, fully adjustable front bucket seats, an adjustable telescopic steering column, electric windows, an electric central locking system, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with an electric antenna were included. The famous deluxe toolkit was integrated into the trunk.

The View From 2025

Like many BMWs, the 733i does attract collector interest, and there is support from BMW car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1982 BMW 733i in #1/Concours condition is $32,200, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $8,400. 733i’s frequently appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring A Trailer.

Make mine New Polaris Metallic, please. I know silver is a BMW and other German car cliché, but sometimes a cliché is correct.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan. I should write about the 5-series at some point.

Last updated June 2025.

1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass coupe

In the early 1980s, the Oldsmobile Cutlass in its various forms was often the best-selling car model of any type in the United States. Within the Cutlass line, the coupes were the most prevalent.

“Any wonder why it’s America’s best-selling mid-size?”

For 1980, Oldsmobile’s Cutlass coupe was little changed other than the return of quad headlamps. The significant Cutlass change was with the sedans, where most of the unpopular slantback models transitioned to notchbacks that resembled baby first-generation Cadillac Sevilles.

The standard engine remained the LD5 110 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a Rochester M2ME two-barrel carburetor. There were three optional engines: a $180 105 bhp 4.3 liter/261 ci V8 with a Rochester M2MC two-barrel carburetor, a $295 155 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester M4MC four-barrel carburetor, and a $960 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel V8. A three-speed automatic transmission was the only transmission available with any engine. Most early eighties Cutlasses were stylish but slow—0-60 came in a little under 15 seconds with the base V6. Mileage with the V6 was 21 city/30 highway by the day’s standards—with an 18.1-gallon gas tank, a Cutlass owner could expect a range of about 315 to 415 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard equipment on the $6,252 Cutlass Supreme (about $26,900 in today’s dollars) included power steering, power front disc brakes, and P195/75R14 steel-belted radial-ply blackwall tires (a size still available thanks to Hankook and Kumho) on 14-inch wheels. Inside, a Deluxe steering wheel and a Custom Sport bench seat with a center armrest and a choice of vinyl or cloth were included.

Moving up to the Cutlass Supreme Brougham ($6,691) added snazzier exterior moldings, full wheel discs, and a divided cloth velour bench seat with individual controls.

Calais page from the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass brochure
Calais page from the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass brochure

Described as “the grand touring Cutlass,” the $6,716 Cutlass Calais added special painted wheel discs, tungsten halogen high beam headlamps, a Rallye suspension, reclining front bucket seats in cloth or vinyl, a Rallye gage instrument cluster, and a Custom Sport steering wheel.

Available only on the Calais, the $1,425 4-4-2 package added the L34 170 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 not available on any other Cutlass. Other 4-4-2 equipment included Sport mirrors, a Sport console, an electric digital clock, and P205/70R14 raised white-letter steel-belted radial-ply tires on aluminum Sport wheels. A choice of 4-4-2 only gold trim over black paint or gold trim over white paint color schemes along with W-30 insignia meant that everyone would know you had the sportiest and by far the fastest Cutlass for 1980.

Options & Production Numbers

Optional exterior and mechanical equipment included cast-aluminum wheels, tungsten halogen high beam headlamps, an engine block heater, a limited-slip differential, a power antenna, dual Sport mirrors, an electric rear window defogger, a sunroof, and a T-roof with lift-out panels. Inside, you could add either Four-Season ($601) or Tempmatic air conditioning, a Tilt-Away steering wheel, automatic cruise control, power windows, power door locks, bucket seats, a digital or regular electric clock, and a series of radios. Oldsmobile also offered value packages that combined various popular options at a discount.

The Cutlass coupe sure was popular—Oldsmobile sold 169,597 Cutlass Supreme coupes in the 1980 model year, along with another 77,875 Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupes and 26,269 Cutlass Calais coupes for a total of well over a quarter of a million. Olds made it well known that the Cutlass brand overall continued to be the most popular car in the United States.

A mere 866 Cutlasses were ordered with the 4-4-2 option—a hint to Olds that they should further emphasize luxury over sport. Lansing would bring back the 4-4-2 in 1985 as a replacement for the 1983-1984 Hurst/Olds.

The View From 2025

A few folks are collecting these cars, but they aren’t that common at shows. You do see Cutlasses for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Dark Claret Metallic, please.

Other Cutlasses I have written about include the 1981 Cutlass Supreme coupe and the 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe. I have written about many other Oldsmobiles—highlights include the 1982 Toronado Brougham coupe and the 1985 Ninety-Eight Regency sedan.

Last updated September 2025.

1985 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport coupe

“Celebrity precision.”

1985 was the second year for the Eurosport version of Chevrolet’s Celebrity. Designated as RPO ZV8, the Eurosport followed one year after the introduction of Pontiac’s STE version of the 6000. Among the notable changes for 1985 was the addition of multi-port fuel injection for the H.O. V6, along with hydraulic motor mounts for all engines.

Powertrains, Performance, & Standard Equipment

Despite its sporting pretensions, the Eurosport came standard with the same LR8 Iron Duke 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with throttle-body fuel injection and four-speed manual that was the base powertrain on “civilian” Celebrities. Many Eurosport buyers upgraded to the LB6 H.O. 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 cu V6 ($435), which was paired with a choice of a three-speed automatic ($425) or a four-speed automatic ($600).

With the H.O. engine and the four-speed automatic, 0-60 times were a little over 10 seconds in the 2,700 pound Eurosport. Fuel economy was decent with the same powertrain—19 city/28 highway by the day’s standards (17/26 by 2025 standards). With a 16.4-gallon gas tank, a Eurosport owner could expect a range of 320 to 345 miles with a 10% reserve.

Eurosport coupe pages from the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity brochure
Eurosport coupe pages from the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $8,301 Eurosport coupe (about $25,000 in today’s dollars) included blackout exterior trim, a red accent stripe, fast-ratio power steering, a “special” version of the F41 sport suspension with gas-charged struts and shocks, and P195/75R-14 blackwall all-season steel-belted radial tires on 14 x 5.5 inch Rally wheels. Inside, blackout instrument panel trim and a Sport steering wheel were included—otherwise, a low-optioned Eurosport looked plain inside.

Standard equipment on all Celebrity coupes included “front-drive” (still worth noting in 1985 advertisements), rack and pinion steering, and power front disc/rear drum brakes. Inside, coupe buyers got a two-passenger cloth front bench seat with a center armrest, side window defoggers, and an AM push-button radio with dual front speakers.

Options & Production Numbers

With standard equipment relatively spare, many options were available for the 1985 Celebrity Eurosport coupe. Exterior and mechanical options included Custom Two-Tone paint ($148), tinted glass ($110), dual remote sport mirrors ($91), P195/70R-14 Goodyear Eagle GT blackwall tires ($60), and aluminum wheels ($306).

Inside, cloth reclining front bucket seats ($147), a console ($105), a Gage Package with trip odometer ($64), electronic speed control ($175), power door locks ($125), power windows ($185), air conditioning ($730), and a Comfortilt steering wheel ($110) were all available. Five different optional radios were available, with the top-of-the-line being the UX1 ETR AM stereo/FM stereo radio with seek and scan, cassette player with search and repeat, clock, graphic equalizer, and extended range sound system ($504).

A loaded Eurosport coupe could frequently near $12,000—real money in those days and about $36,400 now.

Production numbers for the 1985 Eurosport coupe are hard to come by, but we do know that Chevrolet sold a total of 29,010 Celebrity coupes in that year. The sedan (239,763 sold) and the wagon (86,149) did far better.

The View From 2025

Eurosports of any type rarely appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors, and one has yet to be seen on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Dark Blue Metallic, please.

Other A-bodies I’ve written about in this blog include the 1983 Pontiac 6000 STE sedan, the 1986 Buick Century sedan, and the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity sedan—I guess I owe the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera some attention.

1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL sedan

“Most capable cars in 95 years”

For 1981, Mercedes-Benz’s big W126 S-Class sedan made its way into the North American market after a year of sales in Europe. There were two offerings—a 300 SD diesel sedan and a 380 SEL with an extended wheelbase. The BMW 733i and the Jaguar XJ6 Series III were putative competitors, though the new Mercedes was considerably more expensive.

The 380 SEL’s only available powertrain was the M116 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. Road & Track clocked a 0-60 time of 10.1 seconds in a car with a 3,800-pound curb weight while mileage was 17 mpg by the day’s standards. With a relatively large 23.8-gallon fuel tank, range was between 330 and 365 miles with a 10% reserve.

1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL and 300 SD advertisement
1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL and 300 SD advertisement

The 380 SEL listed for an eye-watering $44,298—about $165,900 in today’s dollars (a modern S 580 4MATIC sedan starts at $128,600). Standard exterior and mechanical included tinted glass, halogen head lamps, an automatic power antenna, power assisted four-wheel disc brakes, power steering, and Michelin XVS 205/70HR-14 tires (a size still available) on 14-inch light alloy wheels. Interior equipment included 8-way electrically adjusted front seats, an electrically adjustable rear seat, a choice of leather or velour upholstery, cruise control, climate control, electric windows, a central locking system, and an electronic AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player.

Options, Production Numbers, & Period Reviews

Since the 380 SEL came loaded, there were not a lot of options beyond the exterior and interior colors. An electrically operated sliding roof ($795) and heated seats ($360) were available.

Production numbers are hard to come by, but an estimated 20,000 380 SELs were imported into the United States for the 1981 model year. Period reviews were extremely positive—Road & Track concluded theirs with “quite simply, Mercedes’ new S-class is a class unto itself.”

The View From 2025

There is excellent club support for the 380 SEL, as there is for almost all Mercedes-Benz’s. That same club support warns potential buyers against the M116 engine’s notorious timing chain issues, though I believe nearly all of the original single chains have been replaced with double chains by now. There’s also frequent mention that the 380 SEL’s climate control did not meet the standards of domestic luxury car manufacturers in the early eighties.

That said, the W126 is frequently cited as the best S-class ever made—substantially improving over the already impressive W116.

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL in #1 condition is $42,600, with a more normal #3 condition car going for $13,400. 380 SELs frequently appear for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring A Trailer.

Make mine Astral Silver Metallic, please.

Other Mercedes-Benz models I have written about included the 1980 450SL convertible, the 1985 380SL convertible, the 1985 300SD coupe, the 1986 560SEC coupe, and the 1989 560SL convertible.

1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 15th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe

I clearly remember a 15th Anniversary Edition Trans Am being displayed inside Marsh Pontiac’s small showroom on the Lincoln Highway in Ardmore, PA.

Published back in late 2020, the initial version of this post got more facts wrong than usual. I pulled it and believe I have fixed most of the issues.

“… leaves the also-rans even further behind …”

For 1984, Pontiac announced a special edition Trans Am to commemorate the Firebird sub-model’s 15th year.

1984 Goodyear Eagle VR print advertisement
1984 Goodyear Eagle VR print advertisement

The 15th Anniversary Edition was $14,188—$10,689 for a base Trans Am plus $3,499 for the package (about $45,500 in today’s dollars). It featured white paint with blue graphics that hearkened back to the original 1969 Trans Am. Other exterior components included the Aero Package and T-tops—both optional on “normal” Trans Ams. Mechanical features included the L69 H.O. 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a special handling package, four-wheel power disc brakes, and P245/50R16 Goodyear Eagle VR tires (a size still readily available) on 16 x 8 inch white hi-tech turbo aluminum wheels.

As had been true in many previous Trans Am special editions, the 15th Anniversary Edition Trans Am featured Recaro front bucket seats—these had leather bolsters with cloth inserts. Other interior features specific to the special edition included a leather-wrapped formula steering wheel and leather shift knob. Standard equipment on all 1984 Trans Ams included sport mirrors, a rear deck spoiler, concealed tungsten halogen headlamps, rally gauges, a console, and power steering.

Only the top-of-the-line engine for 1984 was available with the 15th Anniversary Edition, but there was a choice of transmissions. A five-speed manual came standard, with an automatic being a $295 option. 0-60 times from various car magazines came in at around seven seconds—two to three seconds better than it had been just two years prior in 1982. Fuel economy ratings were 16 city/27 highway by 1984 standards (13/20 by today’s measures). With a smallish 13.3-gallon gas tank, a Trans Am owner could expect a range of 200 to 255 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Options, Period Reviews, & Production Numbers

Trans Ams (even special editions) did not come loaded in 1984—by the time the 20th Anniversary Edition came around in 1989, that would no longer be so. Exterior and mechanical options included Soft-Ray tinted glass ($110), an electric rear window defogger ($140), and a limited slip differential ($95).

Interior options included air conditioning ($730), power windows ($215), a power antenna ($60), and a Delco AM/FM stereo cassette with a five-band graphic equalizer ($590). Upholstery and trim options included six-way power seats ($215 each), a tilt steering wheel ($110), luggage compartment trim ($110), and cloth floor mats ($20 front/$15 rear). It wasn’t uncommon to see a 15th Anniversary Edition Trans Am with over $3,000 in additional options.

Reviews of the 15th Anniversary Edition were positive. Motor Trend stated that the updated Trans Am’s “5-speed’s shift linkage is merely the best we’ve seen from Detroit in years.”

Pontiac built a symbolic 1,500 15th Anniversary Editions—500 with the five-speed manual and 1,000 with the automatic. Those 1,500 were a small part of the 55,374 total Trans Ams made in the 1984 model year, with those sales less than half of 128,304 Firebirds sold (Pontiac sold a lot of base Firebirds). Both the Trans Am numbers and the overall Firebird sales marked an eighties peak for Pontiac, with only 1980 and 1982 coming close.

The View From 2025

15th Anniversary Edition Trans Ams do attract some collector interest. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 15th Anniversary Edition Trans Am in #1/Concours condition is $41,900, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $15,600. These Trans Ams are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring A Trailer, and they sometimes show up at auction.

Make mine White, please—it’s not like I have a choice.

I evidently can’t help myself with eighties Trans Ams; I’ve also written about the 1980 Turbo coupe, the 1981 coupe, the 1982 hatchback coupe, the 1985 hatchback coupe, and the 1989 Turbo hatchback coupe. I have also written about the 1986 SE hatchback coupe and the 1987 Formula hatchback coupe, but I probably should write about the base car at some point.

Last updated December 2025.

1981 Volkswagen Dasher station wagon

A 1981 Volkswagen Dasher station wagon sold for $7,600 on Bring a Trailer in February 2025. It was a brown diesel with a manual transmission—directly mapping to a certain internet cliché (except for being front-wheel-drive). I’m relatively spare on Volkswagen blog entries, so here we go.

“More luxury. More space.”

The Volkswagen Dasher station wagon was a small car, classified by the EPA as a subcompact. Its 97.2-inch wheelbase was half a foot shorter than the 2025 Golf GTI’s and its curb weight was slightly less than 2,200 pounds. Putative compact station wagon competition for the 1981 Dasher included the Ford Escort, the Honda Civic, the Plymouth Reliant, and the Renault 18i Sportwagon.

For its eighth and final year, the Dasher station wagon’s only powertrain was a 52 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci diesel four paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Fuel mileage was quite good—36 mpg by the day’s standards. Diesel Dashers were slow, slow, slow—even by 1981 standards. 0-60 came in 19.3 seconds and VW claimed a top speed of 85 mph.

1981 Volkswagen print advertisement

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,040 Dasher station wagon (about $34,400 in today’s dollars or about what a loaded 2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL compact SUV goes for) included front-wheel-drive, rack and pinion steering, power-assisted self-adjusting front disc/rear drum brakes, an electric rear window defogger/defroster, and 155/80R13 steel belted radial tires (a size still available from Kumho and Michelin) on 13-inch wheels with wheel covers. Inside, a padded steering wheel, a trip odometer, a quartz crystal chronometer, a wood-grained instrument panel, cut pile carpeting, and reclining front bucket seats in crushed velour were included.

Options

Options included tinted glass ($70), a manual sunroof ($260), 175/70R13 white sidewall tires ($130), air conditioning ($620), leatherette upholstery ($65), and an AM/FM stereo radio ($275).

The View From 2025

Dashers have largely vanished, which is what made so many take notice of that recent Bring a Trailer offering. There is limited collector interest in these cars, so it isn’t that surprising that Hagerty’s valuation tools do not track any 1981 Volkswagens. Dashers rarely appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer—BaT has sold a grand total of three Dashers in eleven years.

Make mine Helios Blue Metallic, please.

Other Volkswagens I have written about include the 1981 Scirocco S hatchback coupe, the 1983 Rabbit GTI hatchback coupe, and the 1985 Cabriolet.

Last updated July 2025.