“A specialty car should be extra special.”

For 1983, Oldsmobile decided to add some glamor to the Cutlass Supreme line by bringing back the Hurst/Olds for the eighth time. Cars & Concepts took black Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Calais coupes and modified them to create a Hurst/Olds, adding silver lower paint accented by red and silver pinstripes. By far the most distinctive interior feature of the 15th Anniversary Hurst/Olds was the Hurst Lightning Rods automatic shifter with three separate gear levers—a transmission that required a page of instructions in the owner’s welcome brochure.

The powertrain was the LV2 180 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester 4MV four-barrel carburetor, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Special features for the Hurst/Olds engine included a long-duration camshaft, high-rate valve springs, and a specific ignition distributor—all of which made for a 29% horsepower gain over the “normal” 307. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 8.8 seconds in a car with a curb weight of 3,525 pounds. Fuel economy ratings were 17 city/27 highway by the day’s standards. With an 18.1-gallon gas tank, a 15th Anniversary‘s proud new owner could expect a range of 295 to 320 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The 1983 15th Anniversary Hurst/Olds coupe retailed for $11,844.60—about $39,200 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included a front air dam, tungsten halogen headlamps, a hood power bulge, dual Sport mirrors, a rear decklid wing, a quick ratio steering box for the power assisted recirculating ball steering, power front vented disc/rear drum brakes, and P215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GT raised white letter steel belted radial tires on chrome plated 15 x 7 Super Stock wheels. Inside, reclining front bucket seats, a Sport steering wheel, a full length center console, Rallye cluster gages with a tachometer, a quartz clock, and a 15th Anniversary dash plaque were included.

1983 Hurst/Olds buyers could choose between a Maple Red or a Sand Gray interior, but the gray is fairly rare. Mandatory options included the Four-Season air conditioner ($725).

Options & Production Numbers

Individual exterior and mechanical options included Soft-Ray tinted windows ($105), removable roof panels ($825), and a limited slip differential. Inside, a driver side 6-way power seat adjuster ($210), power door locks ($120), power side windows ($180), a tilt-away steering wheel ($105), and cruise control ($170) could be ordered. A range of stereos was available, along with a power front fender antenna ($60). All of these options meant things could get pricey—many 15th Anniversary coupes stickered for over $15,000 (about $49,600 in 2025 dollars).

Oldsmobile planned to produce 2,500 of the 15th Anniversary Hurst/Olds coupes, but eventually sold 3,001 units during the 1983 model year due to strong demand.

The View From 2025

There is definite collector interest in the 1983 Hurst/Olds, with forum support. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1983 15th Anniversary Hurst/Olds in #1/Concours condition is $48,100, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $22,800. Eighties Hurst/Olds coupes are often available 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. As I write this blog entry in October 2025, there’s a 1983 15th Anniversary Hurst/Olds coupe with 40,000 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $40,000.

Other rear-wheel-drive Cutlass-based Oldsmobiles I have written about include the 1980 Cutlass coupe, the 1981 Cutlass Supreme coupe, and the 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe. Another 1983 performance-oriented coupe from GM was the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.

One of my regular readers and commenters mentioned that he once owned a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera sedan. Longtime followers of this blog know that’s a great way to inspire an article—especially with the knowledge that I had already written about the Buick, Chevrolet, and Pontiac versions of the A-car.

“You always win with a mid-size leader in high style.”

For 1985, Oldsmobile’s Cutlass Ciera received its first facelift, with updates to the front fascia that included a new grille and sleeker headlights. The taillamps were revised, and a high-center mount stop lamp was optional one year before it would be required.

The Ciera’s standard powertrain remained the Iron Duke 92 bhp 2.5-liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The LK9 110 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor added $260, while the LG3 125 bhp 3.8 liter/231 V6 with multi-port fuel injection cost $520. The LT7 85 bhp 4.3 liter/263 ci diesel V6 was $260. A four-speed automatic was $175.

The best case 0-60 time was about 11 seconds with the 3.8 liter V6 and the four-speed automatic. Fuel economy ratings for the same combination were 18 city/25 highway by the day’s standards (16/23 by today’s measures). With a 15.6-gallon gas tank, the owner of the quickest Ciera could expect a range of 275 to 300 miles.

The owner of a Ciera with the base Iron Duke/three-speed automatic powertrain might as well have been driving a different car. Their 0-60 time was more like 16 seconds. Fuel economy ratings were an impressive 23 city/32 highway by 1985 standards (21/29 by 2025 measures). With the same 15.6-gallon gas tank, the owner of that Ciera could expect a range of 355 to 385 miles.

The 1985 Cutlass Ciera LS sedan was $9,497—about $28,900 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included a front-end panel stand-up ornament, power rack and pinion steering, low drag power front disc brakes, P185/75R14 steel-belted radial-ply all season blackwall tires, and Deluxe wheel discs. Inside, a Custom bench seat with a center armrest in either cloth or vinyl and an AM push-button radio with dual front speakers and a fixed mast fender antenna were included.

Moving up to the $9,998 Brougham added bright rocker panel and wheel opening moldings, a Convenience Group (lamps, visor vanity mirror, and chime tones), knit velour trims, and a divided front seat with individual controls and a center armrest.

One Package, Options, & Production Numbers

Oldsmobile continued to offer a sporty ES package for the Ciera. Built on the LS sedan and adding $895, the ES included a firm ride and handling package, P195/75R14 steel-belted radial-ply blackwall tires on 14-inch wheels with styled wheel discs, reclining bucket seats, and a console with shifter.

Individual options included Soft-Ray tinted glass, a glass panel sunroof ($310), styled aluminum wheels, a four-season air conditioner, and cruise control ($175). Custom leather trim was only available with the Brougham. Three optional radios were offered, with the top-of-the-line being an ETR AM/FM stereo cassette with auto reverse, seek and scan, noise reduction, extended range speakers, and a clock.

Oldsmobile sold 118,575 LS sedans and 112,441 Brougham sedans, making Ciera sedans 21% of total Oldsmobile production. Cieras overall were two out of every seven sales at an average Oldsmobile dealer. Cieras were also relatively reliable and had few, if any, recalls—a significant improvement over the X-cars.

Of course, the Ciera was one of the four poster children for Fortune magazine’s brutal but accurate August 22nd, 1983 cover. Many believe that cover alone changed the future direction of GM styling, but perhaps that course-correction came too late.

The View From 2025

I see these A-body cars as basic and honest, and believe they deserved their sales numbers. Cutlass Cieras sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors, though this is increasingly unusual. Bring a Trailer has sold four Cieras.

Make mine Light Chestnut Metallic, please.

Other A-bodies I have written about include the 1983 Pontiac 6000 STE sedan, the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport coupe, the 1986 Buick Century sedan, and the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity sedan. Blog entries on Oldsmobiles with the Cutlass name include the 1980 Cutlass coupe, the 1981 Cutlass Supreme coupe, and the 1985 Cutlass Supreme 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.

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.

It was Thanksgiving Day in the United States a few years ago. I dropped off my parents in the late morning and temporarily headed home. On the way, I spotted a mid-1980s Cutlass Supreme coupe driving in the other direction. It looked unmodified in its original Light Chestnut Metallic.

“When a champion performs, it has a style all its own.”

For 1985, Oldsmobile’s Cutlass Supreme coupe gained a new grille. Little else changed, though the sporty 4-4-2 package replaced the Hurst/Olds package that had been available in the 1983 and 1984 model years.

The Cutlass Supreme’s standard engine remained the LD5 110 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a Rochester M2ME two-barrel carburetor. The optional engines were the LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester M4ME four-barrel carburetor ($490) and the LF9 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel V8 ($490). A three-speed automatic transmission was standard, while a four-speed automatic was available with the gasoline V8. Mid-eighties Cutlass Supremes were stylish but relatively slow—the best-case V8 and the four-speed automatic yielded a 0-60 time of about 13 seconds. Mileage with the V8 was 17 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by today’s standards); with an 18.1-gallon fuel tank, a Cutlass Supreme owner could expect a range of about 300 to 330 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The base Cutlass Supreme coupe was $9,797—about $29,700 in 2025 dollars. Standard equipment included power steering, power front disc brakes, and P195/70R14 blackwall tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch wheels with Deluxe bright wheel discs. Interior equipment included a Custom front bench seat in either cloth or vinyl, Deluxe seat belts, a Deluxe steering wheel, and an AM pushbutton radio with dual front speakers and a fixed mast antenna.

At $10,486, the Cutlass Supreme Brougham added a velour divided front bench seat with individual controls, Convenience Group, and (of course) specific Brougham ornamentation.

Options & Production Numbers

Options included a power Astroroof with sliding glass roof panel ($925), a full padded vinyl roof ($245), Four-Season air conditioning ($750), power windows ($195), and cruise control ($175).

The Cutlass Supreme coupe remained one of Oldsmobile’s sales stars, though numbers did not match the halcyon days back in the seventies and early eighties. Lansing sold 75,045 of the base coupes, along with another 58,868 of the Brougham coupes.

The View From 2025

A few folks are collecting these cars, but they aren’t common at shows. You do see eighties Cutlass Supremes for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer that cater to the eighties car market, though non-Hurst/Olds or 4-4-2 versions are relatively rare. As I was updating this blog entry in March 2025, there was a Light Teal Blue Metallic 1985 Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe with blue cloth seats, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and 75,000 miles listed on Hemming‘s for $19,500.

Make mine Dark Teal Blue Metallic, please.

As of early 2025, the most viewed post overall on Eighties Cars is one on the 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe that I wrote back in 2015. Other rear-wheel-drive G-platform (designated A-platform before 1982) cars I have written about include the 1984 Buick Regal Grand National coupe, the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu sedan, the 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Sport Coupe, the 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Sport Coupe, the 1980 Pontiac Grand Am coupe, and the 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe. I’m shocked I haven’t yet written about Oldsmobile’s Hurst/Olds or 4-4-2 variants.

Last updated March 2025.

This entry is yet another post inspired by a car one of my frequent readers owned.

“It’s a good feeling, having this Olds around you.”

1987 was the second model year for the ninth generation of Oldsmobile’s Delta 88. New features were relatively few but included composite headlamps, a new grille, new “aero” side-view mirrors, and a revised taillamp design. For coupes, front automatic safety belts were standard throughout the year—they were a mid-year introduction for sedans. Finally, Oldsmobile bailed on even offering the 125 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 that had been the base engine for 1986.

The only powertrain available for any Delta 88 Royale in the 1987 model year was the LG3 150 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection mated to a four-speed automatic. 0-60 mph came in a little over 10 seconds in the 3,203-pound car. EPA fuel economy ratings were 18 city/27 highway by the standards of the day (16/25 by today’s standards). With an 18-gallon fuel tank, a Delta 88 owner could expect a range of between 330 and 365 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $13,639 Delta 88 Royale coupe (about $39,900 in today’s dollars) included Soft-Ray tinted glass, power rack-and-pinion steering, power brakes, and P205/75R14 tires (a size still somewhat available) on 14-inch wheels with Deluxe wheel discs. Inside, all cars included Lucerne knit velour seats, Four Seasons air conditioning, side window defoggers, and an AM radio with dual front speakers.

Options & Production Numbers

Among the many exterior and mechanical options were a tinted glass sunroof, a full vinyl roof ($200), and a Level III (FE3) suspension. Inside, power door locks, power windows, power seats, a tilt steering wheel, leather seats, an electronic instrument panel, an electronic day/night mirror, and a Delco/Bose Music System were all available.

The Delta 88 Royale coupe sold acceptably for a big coupe in 1987—of the 12,943 made, approximately 65% were the Broughams. Oldsmobile would build the coupes through the end of the 1991 model year, by which point sales had declined to a mere 692 examples. The final Delta 88 of any kind came off the production line on January 6, 1999.

The View From 2025

Hagerty’s valuation tools do not track any Delta 88 after 1975 convertible, and Delta 88s of this generation rarely show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold more stock cars of this generation of Delta 88 than production cars.

Make mine Dark Garnet Red Metallic, please.

One other H-platform car I have written about is the 1987 Buick LeSabre T Type coupe. Other Oldsmobiles include the 1981 Cutlass Supreme coupe, the 1982 Toronado Brougham coupe, the 1984 Omega sedan, the 1985 Firenza ES sedan, and the 1985 Ninety-Eight Regency sedan.

Last updated July 2025.

Barrett-Jackson’s second Northeast auction at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut in late June 2017 included a 1982 black Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham coupe with a tan interior, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8, an automatic, and 12,000 miles. It sold for $10,000. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen an eighties Toronado up for auction, though the “sister” Buick Riviera and Cadillac Eldorado are often present. Time to write a blog entry, methinks.

“Nothing ordinary”

For 1982, Oldsmobile gave up on the (slightly) sportier XSC variant that they had offered for two years and made the Brougham the only available version of the Toronado. Changes included a new chrome/argent grille with more horizontal bars, a new memory seat option with two memory positions, a revised instrument panel, and a new optional radio.

The standard engine was the LC4 125 bhp 4.1 liter/252 ci V6 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor. Optional power included the LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor at no additional charge and the (don’t do it!) LF9 105 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci diesel V8 ($825). A four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive was standard with all three engines. The Toronado was not light—curb weight was 3,705 pounds—so even with the more powerful V8, 0-60 mph took about 13 seconds. With the gasoline V8, mileage was rated at 16 city/27 highway by the standards of the day; with the 21.1-gallon fuel tank, Toronado owners could expect to travel about 400 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included in the $14,462 base price (about $49,400 in today’s dollars) included Soft-Ray tinted glass, tungsten high beam halogen headlamps, power front disc/rear drum brakes, power steering, and P205/75R15 steel-belted radial-ply white-stripe tires (still readily available) on 15 by 6-inch steel wheels. Inside, Four-Season air conditioning, power door locks, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, divided cloth seats, an electric digital clock, and an AM-FM stereo radio were standard.

Options & Production Numbers

Options included Twilight Sentinel ($57), Tempmatic air conditioning ($50), power Astro Roof with sliding glass panel, and leather seats.

Oldsmobile sold 33,928 1982 Toronado Broughams, down from over 42,000 the previous year. In 1982, Buick sold 42,823 Riviera coupes along with another 1,246 convertibles, while Cadillac sold 52,018 Eldorado coupes, so the Toronado was not holding up its end of the E-body platform bargain.

The View From 2025

Third-generation Toronados from 1979 to 1985 have a following, though (a little strangely) models after 1980 are not rated in Hagerty’s valuation tools. These Toronados sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this blog entry in March 2025, Hemmings is listing a 1983 Toronado with an Autumn Red Firemist exterior, a white vinyl top, red leather seats, and 26,000 miles for $17,500.

I like these big front-wheel-drive coupes, though I think the Toronado may have too closely resembled the Eldorado for its own good—something that had not been true in the 1960s. Make mine Medium Slate Firemist, please.

Other big Oldsmobiles I have written about include the 1982 88 Royale coupe and the 1984 Ninety-Eight Regency coupe.

Last updated March 2025.

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