Introduced in 1971, the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser was the big brother to the Cutlass Vista Cruiser (sorry, no skylights like in the 1960s). It was a full-size wagon on par with what Buick, Chevrolet, and Pontiac were offering. It would go on to be the last large, rear-wheel-drive vehicle built by the GM division. Located in Buffalo, New York, this 1984 edition comes equipped with loads of patina and would probably be okay as a daily driver. It’s listed here on eBay where $4,900 is the Buy It Now Price, but reasonable offers would be considered.
The Custom Cruiser was included in the downsizing of GM full-size cars that began in 1977. In total, three generations were built over a 20+ year span that concluded in 1992. The Custom Cruiser sported a level of trim that was worthy of the Delta 88 and 98 product lines. These wagons were a common sight back in the day as more than 451,000 of them left the assembly line, including 34,000 in the 1984 model year when the seller’s land yacht was produced.
Even with its reduced physical size from the 1970s, the ’84 Custom Cruiser was still a big car. Yet all you could get in it was a 307 cubic inch V8 that produced 140 hp (excluding the somewhat ill-fated diesel). The seller’s wagon came from Texas where it no doubt obtained its patina from sitting in the Southwestern Sun. The body seems okay otherwise (few photos) and there don’t seem to be any faults with the interior (6-passenger?).
Lots of recent work has been done, including new tires (2), brakes, rebuilt carburetor, fluids change, and a new windshield (we assume the original was cracked). We also assume nothing else is needed to at least use the wagon to haul the kids around or lug some stuff. The seller has other projects that need attending to, so this Oldsmobile is the one that must go.
I remember this color combination for the exterior and cloth interior very well. It was very popular, especially on Oldsmobiles for some reason. That color did fade rather quickly from what I remember, kind of like the silver and certain shades of blue paint would do too of that time frame as well. The interior looks like its held up better than the exterior for some reason. It might now take too much to get this cleaned up and painted, and a proper set of whitewalls to go with the wire wheel covers that was a very popular option back then as well. To go along with Russ, the very highly utilized Olds 307 that found its way into other gM full size cars as well got the job done, but again, you’re not drag racing any Camaros at red lights for pink slips in this thing. But once on the highway you’d be able to get low to mid 20s all day long under the right conditions. I hope this one gets rescued. I think if it runs good, its got good bones.
Nice. I had an 85 with ‘wood’ siding and maroon leather interior. Loved it. It was like driving on your sofa even with a stack of sheetrock in the back, with the tailgate shut. At only 60k mileage and 3 hours away and what’s one more car… LOL
My uncle had the Buick version of this and it had the Oldsmobile 403 V8, same size engine as many of the late 70’s Trans Ams with Automatic came with.
Too far away for me and the price seems a bit high but for dreaming, it would get a simple single stage urethane paint job along with a Trans Am 403 and a Turbo 200-4R overdrive. This would give it reasonable fuel economy while being able to tow a boat or trailer with it’s full perimeter frame and 4 link coil suspension. Nice durable, comfortable ride.
I had 2 of these, only they were sedans. Bought one from a friend and inherited the other from my m-i-l, an 84 and 85. Both had the 350 engines and were the most comfortable and reliable cars I’ve ever owned. One had bad paint. I think it was the ’84.
Dad had that car. Same color, 307 olds. A slug, but rode nice.
The diesel version was HORRIBLE
I had the 1980 Diesel version as my first car. Engine aside, it was one of GM’s best cars. Solid, comfortable, everything worked, and the Olds was really handsome. Great cruiser. If this was closer, I’d consider it.
Even with the diesel, we did once get 30 mpg on the highway. So it did get mileage.
That being said, it was painfully and dangerously slow. Merging was a problem. The rear of the car by the exhaust was about 1 ft square covered with soot. And in the winter, you had to pop the hood, and plug it in. Not fun when it’s cold out, and you don’t get the garage.
The car bit the dust when my friend and I were driving back from his parent’s cottage; we hear a huge “BANG”, and I lost all power. Barely able to keep the car up to speed, and these girls pull up next to us. We were about 17, so we were trying to be cool, when the driver holds her nose, and points to the rear of the car, and then takes off. Turns out we were billowing smoke out the tailpipe, over and above typical diesel exhaust…
Engine aside LOL!
Plenty of photos of the front close-up, but not one of the back.