It’s been almost three decades since I watched the acclaimed Coen Brothers film Fargo, but that’s still the first thing that came to mind when I opened Barn Finder Lothar…of the Hill People’s tip for this 1988 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham. Even back then, I wondered how the producers of Fargo found all those nice decade-old Oldsmobiles to populate the scenes of a movie about a car dealer’s crime gone wrong, but now, three decades after the movie’s release, you can have a nice ’88 98 (which I’ll never get tired of saying). You can find it here on Marketplace in Black Creek, Wisconsin, one state over from the fictitious Gustafson Motors from Fargo. The price of this clean Oldsmobile? $7,995.
This 89,000-mile Oldsmobile is in that perilous situation where it could probably be used as a 38-year-old daily driver (a shame in salty Wisconsin). It has the award-winning, reliable, and torquey 3800 V6, which produced 165 horsepower (and 215 lb.-ft of torque) in 1988. One thing that always struck me about full-size, front-drive GM cars of the 1980s and ’90s was the room in the engine compartment. Everything was so clean and open, a far cry from their 307-powered predecessors of a mere three years before.
This “Auto Armor” sticker brings back plenty of memories of wandering dealerships when I was a kid; it’s been years, maybe decades since I’ve seen one of them. Apparently, Auto Armor is still a thing, a dealership-offered paint protection system.
Who doesn’t love the interior of a 1980s luxury car? The Ninety-Eight was offered as a Regency or this Regency Brougham, which has a list of additional standard equipment such as cruise control, tilt wheel, and electronic air conditioning. Chances are good that many of you spent many a mile riding in a General Motors product with its nigh-on-indestructible brown velour interior, and this example has power windows and locks, in addition to a cassette player. I can only guess how many cassette tapes I have sitting in my basement, just waiting for another chance, but it would have to be the right music: I don’t think my copy of Are You Experienced? by the Jimi Hendrix Experience will quite fit the theme of this Oldsmobile. Maybe you have something more appropriate in your collection.
The seller doesn’t say much about the running/driving condition of the Ninety-Eight, but based on the pictures, it’s quite possible that you’re buying a car that you’ll be able to use as an everyday driver. But whatever you do, keep it out of the salt, please.
Forget that AutoArmor, at Gustafson Motors you got the real deal, Tru-Coat, “factory” (so there was nothing the store could do about discounting it) applied! Seriously, though, this Olds would be one very satisfying ride and has at least another 100K left in it. Nice price.
The Brougham emblem is missing from the right front fender but other than that it’s a beautiful car with a gorgeous color in & out. Obviously well cared for, too.
I don’t know. If my year around driver got totaled, I’d buy this & probably drive it as my regular car even in winter. No pics of the underside, but I suspect if it was driven in salt, not very much. First year of the 3800 so that’s good news.
I’ll wait to catch hell from some of you! LOL!
We had the Buick versions of that same era – excellent cars. This would be a great score…
The Brougham emblem is missing from the right front fender but other than that it’s a beautiful car with a gorgeous color in & out. Obviously well cared for, too.
I don’t know. If my year around driver got totaled, I’d buy this & probably drive it as my regular car even in winter. No pics of the underside, but I suspect if it was driven in salt, not very much. First year of the 3800 so that’s good news.
I’ll wait to catch hell from some of you! LOL!
Cloudmobile.
Bought one of these for $1200 back in 2002.
Beat the snot out of it and sold it for $1500
Same condition .
Amazing they are commanding $8k for what was a throwaway car
I inherited my dad’s that was the same car and color other than having the wine leather interior. It had 60K on it and was a great driving car. Good power and great mileage. It was very comfortable. I’d still have it if a tree didn’t take it out. Very much miss it.
I never thought about when Fargo was made so how did they get a dealership of new Oldsmobiles? I owned an 85 and an 86 98s. Much of the magic of the older 98s was gone when it became an extended Cierra with more trim and options. The shrunken 98s were amazing in that acceleration seemed improved, they were quiet and smooth, great traction in winter and an amazing 30 mpg on the highway. I traded the 86 on a BMW and the dealer couldn’t wait to make fun of my car, calling it a Buick, and then a Cadillac and telling me they couldn’t tell the difference.
“Well, we’ve never done this before. But seeing as it’s special circumstances and all, he says I can knock a hundred dollars off that Trucoat.”
:) Fargo was a great film and William H. Macy was so good in it. I can’t picture anyone else doing that role.
For the right price, this car will be nice for somebody. Smooth!
Good write up, Aaron.
~Lothar
Thanks! Thanks for the link!
these were good cars capable of going north of 150k. the 3800 after this was a better motor due the refinements that were made. this is a nice 98 in 1 of the popular color combos of the time but not worth 8k. dealer markup 1/2 of that is a fair price pay.
Did they move Fargo to Minnesota? That would be one state over from Wisconsin.
The dealership in the movie was in Minnesota.
Well then, that answers that. Since I’ve never seen Fargo, I was only surmising that it was in North Dakota.
Our dealership sold a lot of new FWD 88s, 98s, LeSsbres, Electras and Park Avenues. Very few warranty claims. Clogged injectors until the fuel companies improved their deterrent additives was the most common.
When our first 98 arrived, Oldsmobile offered the dealership 15% off the invoice amount if we put it in demonstrator service for 3,000 miles. I lived 35 miles from the store so the owner gave it to me.
That weekend, I was invited to attend a Chevrolet service managers’ awards ceremony in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Friday, I set our gas pump on low and pulled it when it shut off. I drove home for my wife then to AC. We drove around there a little then home on Sunday. Monday, I parked it in the same position at the pump and again let the pump shut off on low. I averaged 31.6 MPG from a full-size luxury car with more interior room than its predecessor.
When I told that to our salespeople during their morning meeting, the negative comments about the new C-bodies stopped and they sold very well for us.
Worth every penny. I’m not gonna debate you Jerry. I’m not gonna sit here & debate!
A deacon had one of these in the church I pretty much grew up in, had the privilege of riding 700 miles as a back seat passenger when I was 16. Over 35 years later, I honestly don’t remember a quieter, more comfortable car to road trip in. I should buy this for my mom & “borrow” it all the time. They really are that good.
Now where’s the unguent???
I’ve owned most variants of the FWD 3800, and this “pre-Series1” is the one that got the best mileage for me. too. Running a Series III in my daily that struggles to get 26 mpg on the highway, although increased speed limits may account for most of that drop. Seems like 80 mph is the norm today.