This 1983 Oldsmobile Regency 98 is a former GM flagship that appears to wear very low mileage. The seller notes that due to the vehicle’s age, it is exempt from odometer disclosures, but it sure looks as nice as its 35,474o odometer reading suggests. Plus, given how many of these were used by older drivers, there’s a high likelihood it was used sparingly before being parked for an extended period. While we don’t cherish them as collectibles, this generation of the full-bodied Oldsmobile is actually a fairly handsome car when in nice shape like this one is, what with its wire wheel covers and fender skirts. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $6,050 and no reserve.
The seller is a familiar one to us, known as Rawhide Sales. They get a wide assortment of donation vehicles, heavy equipment, and boats each month, all typically offered for no reserve. The listing description isn’t super detailed, but there’s always a report that covers basics like cooling system health, body rot, tire condition, and other basics that tell you how big of a project this Oldsmobile will be. Fortunately, the health report looks fairly solid, with no major flaws reported. The only thing you don’t get in a description like this is what the car’s on-the-road manners are like, so you’ll have to be open to the possibility that the suspension is tired and that the 5.0L Oldsmobile V8 could need fine-tuning. Note the typically troublesome bumper trim is cracked on the left rear.
This Oldsmobile doesn’t have leather, but the velour upholstery still looks plenty luxurious. The seats appear to be powered as well, and details like whether every adjustment is still working is not covered in the description. Still, there’s lot of evidence here that the 98 was looked after, as the dashboard and seating surfaces still present quite well, so I wouldn’t blame an interested buyer for making the assumption that this car won’t likely need a ton of reconditioning. The carpets look clean as well, and the door lighting still shines brightly. The tires are said to be well within spec of being safe for road-going use, which is another positive indication of having been cared for.
Now, even if this Oldsmobile was owned by an older adult who kept it dealer-serviced since day 1, there’s a good chance it did get used less and less over the years, so I’d count on a few leaks and some deferred maintenance to address. The good news is the maintenance budget should be fairly nominal over time, and parts supply is still generous. For a car like this, ensuring the bodywork is solid and there’s no rot underneath is key, and the auction listing photos appear to confirm that this survivor 98 wasn’t driven through winter conditions every day before being parked with potentially low mileage. At any rate, it seems worthy of a roll of the auction dice at the current bid price.
Rawhide is a good organization worthy of your donation if you are so inclined. Grew up in the ’60s & ’70s just a few miles from Lambeau Field. I well remember Bart and Cherry Starr being very involved with what was then known as Rawhide Boys Ranch. https://www.rawhide.org/about/our-story/
Mr. Exotherm, thank you for mentioning Bart and Cherry. I can recall crying in my grandfathers’ floor one year when his Packers lost to the Baltimore Colts. He was an inspiration to us all throughout his life and is truly missed.
Bamapoppy, you’ve brought back a memory for me as well. Crying myself to sleep when Bart Starr announced his retirement in 1972. I was all about the Packers up to that point. Completely lost interest when I got a bit older and through my teens. Don’t recall if it was Bart’s retirement or the fact the Packers played so poorly through the ’70s & ’80s that caused my lack of interest.
Mr. Exotherm, you were a lucky one growing up so close to Lambeau. I’m sure you have a lot of memories, such as the bicycle event each year. I never got to meet him but I did mail my cards of Bart, Paul, Jim, Willie, Boyd, and Forrest to Green Bay and got them autographed back in the 60’s. Bart and Cherry lived here in Birmingham and I drive by his and his son’s grave when I go visit a friend’s grave in a local cemetery less than 20 miles from where I live. He will always be revered here in Alabama.
I grew up watching these beautiful cars rolling down the street in my neighborhood. Classy, Luxurious and HUGE!
This car sold for $7,911 and change with 46 bids. I have driven both the gas and diesel version of these. Both cars were very comfortable and roomy. The diesel belonged to a friends mother, and knowing I was (still am) the “car guy”, let me drive the 98. I took it out on the interstate, doing upwards of 80mph, with tons of black smoke blowing out the back. When the car was returned later, my
friends Mom exclaimed: “I don’t know what you fellers did to my car, but it sure runs better!”
I’m pretty sure you had ‘er topped out if you reached 80 mph…that’s faster than I would’ve imagined it would go.
I Bought A 1981 Olds Delta 88 From An Old Classmate Of Mine For $300.00, And She Was Told The Engine Was Bad In It. They Had Swapped Out The Diesel Engine It Originally Had In It For A 78 Cutlass Engine I Thought Perhaps It Was A Bad Fly Wheel, But Come To Find Out It Was Just 4 Bell Housing Bolts Were Loose and Two Were Missing So I Got Some Loc-Tite and Two Bolts To Replace The Missing Bolts and It Ran Fine It Was White With A Blue Vinyl Top and Blue Interior It Was A Beautiful Car and My Friends Always Asked Me Why I Would Always Buy 4 Doors and I Would Tell Them Cause They Were Cheaper and No One Wanted Them Cause They Weren’t Cool Well I Looked At It This Way It Got Me From Point A To Point B That’s All I Cared About At The Time I Didn’t Have Mommy and Daddy Buying My Cars For Me Every Car I Have Ever Had I Worked For.
Alex, I’d like ‘Where’s the Punctuation,’ for $200, please.
When I had my used car lots, I bought a lot of cars from Rawhide. They ran cars through both auctions I went to every week, probably more auctions than those two.
What I know of Rawhide is that it is pretty much a scam. Mr Starr used to go on TV for Rawhide commercials, talking about how the boys would learn how to work on the cars & so on. They didn’t. Rawhide would take the donated cars straight to the auction block to cash out. General public wasn’t allowed to buy from Rawhide at that time. I’m not sure what the deal is with this car.