Growing up, my grandmother used to cart us around in her white Chevy Celebrity wagon. Eventually, that poor woman had to experience the trauma of the engine catching fire and the nose of the car burning up. No wonder she switched to Volvo 240s after that! This particular Celebrity wagon is far nicer than hers was even new, as it’s equipped with the Eurosport package and has under 50,000 original miles. Find this Celebrity survivor here on craigslist for $2,500, or go here if the ad disappears.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for this interesting artifact of the malaise 80s. The Celebrity was available in a few flavors, with the Eurosport being top billing for a wagon. You could, of course, get the sedan in the Eurosport VR variety which is an extremely rare specimen today. Ironically, despite all of the name alterations and special badges, the Eurosport was no more than a trim package designed to convey some sort of inspired European performance like only a Celebrity could convey.
Something was lost in the translation as there was nothing sporting about these cars. However, I will say the proportions were ideal as the Celebrity wagon in particular straddled the line between grandma car and practical hauler. This one shows nicely with excellent sheetmetal and paint, along with a seemingly clean interior in the few shots provided. The seller notes that he inherited the car four years ago with 26,400 original miles and the Celebrity now has 39,800 original miles – plenty of life left in that 3.1L V6.
As far as Celebrities go, this final year model is loaded up with some desirable features, including the four-speed automatic, roof rack, aluminum wheels and a 60/40 split front seat. The blue cloth won’t be to everyone’s liking, but the outside – with its Eurosport-only red and black trim in the bumpers and up and down the sides – is what gives this Celebrity its extra dose of style. These front-wheel drive GM products aren’t to everyone’s liking, but a survivor like his could provide plenty of useful miles before retirement. The price seems fair, too.
This is an antique/interesting/collector car? Might be a good work beater, but still.
Perhaps not yet, Grant – ref Rube’s and my comments about Ramblers on another thread.
My ’64 Wildcat coupe was considered a work beater when I bought it in 1976. Old vehicles go through a life cycle, and perhaps this is where the Celebrity is, today.
A mundane FWD wagon from an undesirable era with only 28,000 miles on it? I wonder what the back story is, as most of these were driven into the ground a decade ago, at least. Hopefully it’s not tragic.
Not all of them i have one that was running excellent with between 212000 & 213000 miles on it when a spark hole with stripped threads made it not worth fixing. Compared to a guy from Pennsylvania who recently had a 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera version of this wagon listed for $5500 this guys price($2500) is more realistic for the age of the vehicle although i would probably offer him $2000 for it.
As far as wagon are concerned, I think it’s a pretty good looking car.
Had 4 of these as daily drivers with the 2.8 v-6 in them over a span of about 12 years. Bought them cheap put about 100k on just about everyone of them except one & they basically were trouble free cars except for rotted out high pressure fuel lines & brake lines had to fix many of those. Great in the snow with that front wheel drive but the bodies rotted to heck with the heavy salt use on New England highways. They made great haulers of whatever you needed to throw in the back with that rear seat folded down. Still like the looks of them today though haven’t owned in years.
Wagons are coming on strong it seems, and this is an amazing value. The nostalgic appeal is strong, and that’s a driving aspect of our hobby. Anytime an entry level car or truck can get someone into the hobby, it’s a good thing.
Not my first pick for a collector car, but as someone with a large family and two dogs, I’d buy this as a cruiser and know that I wouldn’t see another one at the show and shine.
Most people tend to bash GM cars from the 80s and early 90s but I had one of these and a 2 Lumina Eurosports and had great luck with them. I think this is a great buy and I would love to own it. I would much rather have a nice clean wagon like this than a stupid SUV that most drive.
We should implement a drinking game for every wagon posted as a barn find 🙀🍺🍸🍻🍹🍷🍾🥃
I like wagons of all sorts but I’ll skip the games. Wife and kids claim I’m goofy enough already with out adding alcohol.
Just a used car, meh
Where’s the “Thumbs down” button when you need it?
I think we’re in the early days of looking at cars like this as collectible for sure, but it will happen. It’s about nostalgia, and for people like Jeff and me—my dad had an ’86 Eurosport wagon, gold inside and out—this is what we grew up with. Pity us for not being alive in the ’50s or ’60s or whenever if you like, but with a little perspective, every era of automotive history has its significance and its highlights. Not that I’m necessarily saying that a Celebrity wagon is the most significant or coolest car of the ’80s, mind you! But, it does have a neat novelty factor as one of those cars that used to be EVERYWHERE but stops you in your tracks when you see one as nice as this because they’ve gradually disappeared over the last 15-20 years.
Plus, this was the car I got to ride backwards in the third row seat of as a little kid. Can’t beat that memory….
I’m in my late 40’s. As a kid, my father took me to car shows like the Concours d’Elegence at Pebble Beach and others around the Bay Area. The “old” guys that were the serious collectors were all about pre-WW II cars. They thought the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s American cars were all mass produced JUNK ! Only first year Corvettes and certain European low production masterpieces built after 1950 were included in their realm of “truly” desirable collectible classics. Times change, younger people join the hobby, and a different generation of cars become appreciated. This Celebrity is 28 years old. By the rule of thumb, 25 years old and older makes them “classic” cars, and 50 years and over are “antique” cars. People appreciate them for fond memories as kids. Doesn’t mean they’re collector items. But for me, I appreciate low mileage blasts from the past.
When it comes to automobiles, the 80s is a decade better left forgotten. Nothing much good, let alone collectable.
I assign that designation to the 70s myself. Lots of good cars and trucks from the 80s, IMO.
Well, everyone has their own opinion, but trucks especially, were far better in the 70s, no comparison.
I generally prefer the 70s trucks too (particularly since I’m an early Bronco but). I do like the fuel injection from the later 80s rigs though.
You don’t really have to “collect” this wagon. Just use it for what it is, a good cheap daily driver.
I had a black ’87 Eurosport sedan with the 4 cylinder Iron Duke, best winter vehicle for in the snow that I have owned.
It’s the lipstick on a pig thing. GM had a boring lineup of cars and had to
get our parents anf grandparents to buy them. And while the ’80’s may
well have been as awful as we remember them to be, many advances were made when it came to cars. Electronic fuel injection, computrrized dashboards, 4-wheel disc brakes, and so much more made their appearance
on everyday family cars as the decade went on. By the time this car was
built, all the good stuff was alresdy on it. Too bsd that after all this time
this car is still boring.
Seems like a lot of bang for the buck to me. Low miles, clean in and out and it’s a wagon. Cheap daily driver. As to being a future collectible, only time will tell. Who knows? Maybe one day, years from now, you’ll be kicking yourself for not grabbing this one.
Since we didn’t have Celebrity’s in Mexico GM added the Eurosport package to the Cutlass Ciera’s, but it was about the same car.
Most of them sell for around $1000.00 to around $1500.00 USD for a really nice one.
We didn’t have wagons here though.
Oh, and a lot of these cars were stick shifts.
Don’t forget, there’s also the Lumina Z34…..IF you can ever find one.
There’s been one advertised off and on for about two years on Vermont Craigslist. I just checked and I don’t have the link anywhere. Who knows, maybe it will pop up again.
I recall these as decent sporty regular use family cars that drove nice, not bad on fuel either with the AOD. Good option load here. The 3.1 V6 had to be monitored for coolant leaks internally from head and manifold gaskets to catch it before grenading (prior fix cheaper). Up here in Canada I’d rustproof it ASAP. Looks a solid & Nice car- Wish it was closer!
I love old cars (50’s & 60’s), but I really love wagons. In 2003, I bought a 1993 Olds Cutlass Cruiser wagon with 33,490 miles. It was a one owner car traded in at the dealer where it was originally purchased. It still sits safely in my garage, I drive it only in the summer, when it is not raining. It now has 98,000 miles and it and is an all original survivor with no rust. It may be an early 90’s GM car, but it runs like a top and everyone loves the story at the car shows. A collector car? Maybe not for everyone, but for me, it is. My kids can sell it when I’m dead.
I had three of them….fabulous wagons…Great in snow too. I’d buy this right now of I didn’t have my volvo.
unfortunatly never the had the 3.8 but it wuz frnt WD, could have the getrag 5 sp, & there wuz a diesel.
Nice sz, not too big or small…
I’d DD it!
I had a black station wagon like that when I lived in Flordia.I loved that wagon. On my days off from truck driving, I would fold the seats down and throw my surf poles in and hit the beach to go fishing when it hit 100,000 miles I got scared about the mileage and sold it but bought 2 more sedans after that. They never gave me any trouble. Bruce.
At this price, you could afford to have a little fun with it (design-wise). I would make it into a surfer wagon
I had this exact car, never seen another one that has the 3.1. I went through every car imaginal growing up and this was the best by far. The only reason I don’t still have it is because someone took it on a high speed chase ending in a head on with police car. But man did that rock have power. I could fly up the 4th of July pass at 90 miles per hour with ease. Loved that car!