This 1985 Buick LeSabre is about as nice as it gets for a GM sedan from the middle 80s, and the seller describes it as a “cream puff” with just 35,000 original miles. This is peak grandma car territory, as many of these were used by the retiree set for short laps to the church or grocery story. The bodywork looks absolutely mint and the seller has fitted new Coker tires, which is a pricey set of rubber to buy new but a must-have if you want to have a period-correct look. The Buick resides in Litchfield, Connecticut, which is one of the swankier zip codes in the Constitution State. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Dennis House for the find. This LeSabre looks stunning inside and out, with tons of fake wood trim that looks to be in surprisingly nice shape. I had almost forgotten how opulent this interior must have been when new – if you were the first owner, it had to have felt like it was as good as anything Mercedes or Cadillac could come up with. Of course, that wasn’t the case, even if you just take into consideration the fact that the Germans used actual wood in their interiors. One thing they couldn’t touch? Those ridiculously puffy seats covered in acres of leather. Looks like it came with full power controls as well.
1985 was the last year for many things, including rear wheel drive and body-on-frame construction. Engine options were limited to the 231 V6 and the optional 307 V8, but you could also spec a diesel mill if fuel efficiency was on your mind. The engine bay on this clean LeSabre looks quite tidy, and I would assume most of the hoses and clamps remain original to the car given the low mileage. The seller doesn’t report much in the way of mechanical upkeep or any running issues, but based on the outside appearance, it seems reasonable to assume there’s nothing stopping you from driving this survivor cross country tomorrow.
While some enthusiasts may find the estate wagons more desirable (and I get why – they offer tremendous utility), there’s something to be said for a clean sedan like this that you just don’t see in this sort of condition anymore. Many of these B-body cars have been scrapped or sent to the auction lot when an elderly relative passed away, and I’m guessing relatively few of them go on to new homes once that happens. This mint condition example has escaped that fate, but the question remains whether anyone wants one badly enough to pay $7K for the privilege of ownership. Would you?
What a beauty. The tires are a waste, as I would go with a set of Torque Thrust wheels and maybe some 60 series black walls. Then time for some fun upgrades. Always liked these…
To each his own but I would leave it alone to what it is, a time capsule. I love whitewalls.
That would ruin the historic value of a very rare car. Not everything should be someone’s “personal vision.”
`85 LeSabre Limited was the Collector Edition, note the hood ornament.
These came with a Leatherette booklet with collector key blanks, fob and prints of previous year LeSabres.
You’re absolutely correct about the “Collector’s Edition” hood ornament!
One of my neighbors had one of these when I was a kid. Light blue with dark blue interior & dark blue vinyl top. I was unimpressed with the car at the time, far more impressed with his cute daughter. Now I would like the car. I am probably now older than he was at the time lol.
But how is the daughter holding up?
I haven’t seen her in 32 years lol. No idea!
25 years ago I had a 86 Pontiac parisenne mine had a 305 with the 700r4, loved that car. It got almost 25mpg. only problem was if it was in OD you really had to throttle up on it to get it to downshift, if not it bogged down. Letting my dad drive it to Arkansas killed it by getting it hot from bogging down
A former girlfriend of mine had an 85 Olds 88, and I’m sure it had the same powertrain. Yes, it also bogged down in overdrive. That 140 horsepower 307 four barrel was a turd.
Sorry, yours had the 305, I’m sure it was a little better.
What a fantastic car, just beautiful. I’m sure it rides and drives like a dream. I love it.
Bought an 80 Park Ave in 88 for 1750 CAD loaded except leather dk met blue, w light blue roof, wires, 350 4bbl, body was destroyed from sitting in damp underground garage with ventilation fans off. Drive for 2 years sold it for 2600. Loved it except for loose and overboosted PS.
A set of Buick’s chrome wheels, liven up that Olds engine a little and I’ve love it.
I’d love it even more had it the Buick V8, but they were gone by then.
Third Grandma car I have seen here this morning, going back to bed.
Lousy transmission. Good engine if you had the 305 Chevy. Cheap fake wood. Otherwise a great comfy car. I hate SUVs so I would buy this in a minute. But $7,000 is to much.
Love it. I have a 84 Buick and working on it now. I,ve owned it about 20 years. It has the 307 Oldsmobile motor in it and runs really good. It has the OD and doesn,t bogg down. My neighbors did. I remember going up this hill to his dad,s. Every little bit it kept kicking down in a lower gear.Finally I asked him why and he told me all the OD transmisons did it. I told him I change it out and put a regular transmision in it.He said a co worker bought a new Chevy truck and it did the same thing and he changed it . Mine is the same color except it had the dark brown vinlyn roof. Which I am taking off because it caused rust under it.I caught it in time.These are really comfortable cars. I paid I think $400 for it. I like it alot
These were the TUNA BOAT of the ’80’s! They were relatively HUGE in the day but compared the original TUNA BOATS of ’50, ’60 ’70s then this is a ‘BABY TUNA BOAT”. it’s a nice boulevard cruiser in fine shape but for $7K? No thank you.
These are super nice. Beautiful styling. Nice interior. I like the white walls and wire wheels but it’s clear a lot of people here do not. The one drawback would be not a lot of power from the 307 – but that’s what the time period was, and for obvious reasons. I’d keep it as is. To be honest I’d prefer the velour interior. Leather is rare, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. The 1986 LeSabre was not a bad restyle, but the older body was nicer in my opinion. Kind of like the Chrysler 5th Avenue was at the time. Elegant luxury. I remember a lot of people we knew had these, and the Delta 88 Royale back in the day. I always thought they were very nice and were tastefully done inside. Posh without being ostentatious the way a Cadillac or a Mercedes could be.
Bought a 81 Olds Delta 88 Off A Classmate of mine that had a diesel engine that was swapped out for a 78 Olds cutlass Engine with a 350 engine and she was told the engine was bad in it so I had Her start it up and used an old trick my Dad told me to do I used A Long Handle screw driver placed one end on the engine and the other to my ear and moved it around till I found the noise problem and it was where the engine and tranny met so I had her shut it off Paid Her $300 that she was asking for it had it towed Home on a flat bed, I figured it was a flywheel so I got it up on the ramps and got under the car and looked up and saw two bell housing bolts were missing and the others were loose so I went to the auto shop in a nearby town got two bolts come back put Loctite on each bolt and tighten them down and then started it up and problem was solved and it was only a .75 cent fix
One of the non emergency ambulance operators that takes my wife to and from dialysis and Doctor appointments has a 85 Park Avenue he’s owned for about 20 years. Very nice cars, but have very little value.
God bless America
I had a grey one 20 years ago that I bought off an older couple for $2000. The interior was the same as this one with the grey leather, plush seats. Ended up giving it to my mom after about six months, so I could buy my first Firebird. Tell you what…my friends and I piled in this car for a trip up to Great America (about 50 miles), and it rode like we were on clouds!
is this car still for sale