If I had still been in high school in the 1980s and hadn’t been paying attention as I should have been (ha, as if), and were instead drawing cars rather than concentrating on my English or math classes (ha, as if), I would draw this 1984 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Coupe and put it towards the top of the pile of “1980s Elegance” car drawings in my pile of non-schoolwork papers that was always bigger than my schoolwork papers. The seller has this elegant beauty listed here on eBay in peaceful-sounding Olive Branch, Mississippi – a half-hour southeast of Memphis – there is no reserve, and the current bid is $14,000!
Whew, that first sentence was longer than this car. Speaking of long cars, just how long is this “smaller” 1980s version of Oldsmobile’s top luxury sedan of this era, SG? This equivalent of a red paisley silk smoking jacket with black velvet collars is 18.5 feet in length, so it isn’t that much smaller than in the pre-gas-crunch era when car makers laughed at MPG figures and weight savings. But, it was still about a foot shorter and a half-ton lighter than the previous generation 98.
The tenth-generation Oldsmobile 98, or Ninety-Eight, was made from 1977 through 1984 and it would be the last rear-wheel drive version made by what seemed to be GM’s always the bridesmaid, never the bride division. I can’t imagine a more crisp, elegant look for the 1980s, although the early ’80s Cadillacs were also elegant, and even the smaller front-drive Cadillacs that followed exhibited that feel. The next generation of the 98 wasn’t quite the same, it was rounder, smaller, and had front-wheel drive. This was the last gasp for this model, as far as I’m concerned.
It’s still 2.5 hours too early for a good Cabernet where I am right now, so this gorgeous wine-red velour interior will have to do. For now, anyway. Bright red might be too much for Olds 98 buyers who tend to be a bit understated. They could be middle management or billionaires who didn’t want to show off too much, and this car is more than enough luxury for almost anyone. I wonder if the Sultan of Brunei had one? Probably not. The back seat also exudes luxury, as you’d expect.
The engine is a 307-cu.in. OHV V8 with 140 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque and it’s backed by a GM Turbo-Hydramatic four-speed automatic. This one, as mentioned too many times, sends power to the rear wheels, a last for this model for Oldsmobile. The seller says it’s rust-free, is a one-owner car with 88,525 miles, and it’s highway-ready. Is there a better highway car? I can’t think of one at the moment. Have any of you owned one of the last rear-wheel drive Olds 98s?
I liked the 80 to 84 models. I like the fender skirts on them too. I always thought they “belonged” on the Ninety Eights. Black with that dark red interior to me is like a tuxedo in car form. The 307 with the high rear isn’t quick off the line ( I had an 82 Electra same setup). But man, once you get these on the highway, its just as nice as any Cadillac to me. This is just beautiful, great find and great write up too!!!
And another neat feature is what has to be the rare sunroof on this one as well. Very nice.
The power glass moonroof, and not many opted for those. A friend has an `83 coupe he bought new, with terribly low mileage and every option available on 98’s that year, including the moonroof. He bought it to stash away for the years ahead. I hope he still has it.
Thanks, Driveinstile! I agree about these cars being beautiful – and I’m a huge fender skirt guy; they look great on this car I think. I forgot to mention the sunroof, thanks for catching that!
Oh…. No..No….No…… Thank YOU Scotty!! Lol. I only ever saw one mid 80s Olds 88 Royale 2 door with that sunroof. It was neat. I wonder how they did with water. Between Buick Cadillac Olds and Pontiac, ( 80 to 84) Olds and Pontiac were the only ones that had skirts and I seriously liked them. Even when Cadillac put skirts on the later 80s downsized front drive Devilles I liked them. I just like Fender skirts. ( I guess all great minds think alike eh?) My older brother had a 78 Ninety Eight this exact color combination with the pillow velor seats. ( all it needed was fender skirts lol) He polished that thing a lot to keep the black like a mirror. When I saw this I thought of him right away. Thanks again Scotty for puting this Ninety Eight on.
Here’s the sunroof!
Thanks for posting that picture Scotty. I think they did a nice job designing that sunroof. Like I posted earlier, I think they’re rare, I only remember seing one of those on an 88 from the same era. Someone went all out in the order sheet on this Ninety Eight!!!
I have to wonder how those possibly crispy/crunchy forty year old rubber sunroof gaskets are holding up…
Never been a fan of sunroofs for this reason, particularly the ones of this vintage & the 70s. They had problems with the cable system operation. Story I like to tell is one of where I was behind a ’79-’85 Eldorado at the car wash in the winter here in Mpls. He was already locked in to go through when I noticed him tugging on his inside roof. I then realized his sunroof was open & he was trying to shut it! I think he not only had an exterior wash but got an interior shampoo thrown in! LMAO! It was then I said no sunroofs even though we have one in our ’15 Equinox but never use it.
I owned a 1978 Oldsmobile 98 Regency. It was a 2 door hardtop. 403 motor. It looked nice and was luxurious inside. I would own this in a minute if my health was different.
I had a 77 regency in the 80s,it was one of the best cars I ever had!
That 307 should go to the moon and back with no problems as well! Gorgeous car.
403 swap
Yes, my Dad owned one. My dad had a 1983 98 Regency blue with blue velour four-door. We loved the downsized 77’s and they were tweaked beautifully for 1980. I am even more smitten with the coupe. Not to mention the last of the really true Oldsmobiles.I grew up with a lot of them. And I shed a tear when they decided to close the doors. Rest in peace Oldsmobile, this is a beautiful example. I grew up with a lot of them. And they shed a tear when they decided to close the doors. Rest in peace Oldsmobile this is a beautiful example.
Whats that thing doing with a Chrysler air cleaner
Well boys, it sold. Figures. Probably to a neighbor that really knew the car. Sez it sold for $14k.
eBay shill bidding strikes again. That site has become such a scam. The “winning” bidder jumped in with a $5K bid when the high bid was at $510–and then bid himself up to $14K?! (At least according to eBay’s bid history, with automatic bids showing). And the seller is crazy, thinking it is worth that money. Yes, it’s in great shape, but it is an 88k-mile car, not an 8k-mile car. Worth $7500 max. Watch for this car to be relisted.
I suspect some shill bidding going on. See my longer comment below.
Had one, minus the moon roof, in all dark blue including the interior. It sas an awesome highway car
Beautifully elegant and elegantly beautiful. I have a 1985 Delta 88 that I really appreciate. It also has the 307 (definitely not a “rocket” but certainly durable). Being the brougham series, it too has the pillowed seats, and the dash is the same as on this 98. 85 was the last year Olds made the traditional Delta, and I always wondered why they downsized the 98 first, then the 88 a year later. I grew up with so many of these wonderful “big boats” from GM, and I just can’t feel the same enthusiasm for the cars that followed them. This beauty certainly deserves a home where it will continue to be given TLC
eBay shill bidding strikes again. That site has become such a scam. The “winning” bidder jumped in with a $5K bid when the high bid was at $510–and then bid himself up to $14K?! (At least according to eBay’s bid history, with automatic bids showing). And the seller is crazy, thinking it is worth that money. Yes, it’s in great shape, but it is an 88k-mile car, not an 8k-mile car. Worth $7500 max. Watch for this car to be relisted.
I started my Real Estate career in 1984. I would have killed to own one of these!
Sliding glass roof “Moon roof”/”Astro roof” sliding steel roof “Sunroof”.
My mom and dad owned a 1983 Oldsmobile 98 Recency 4 door. It was silver body, maroon vinyl top and the exact same interior. They were the 2nd owner. The original owner bought or ordered it with a 350ci V-8 diesel. It was not fast in the city but would cruise like a dream on the Interstate. I don’t remember the mpg. I believe it had a 25 gallon tank, you could go a long way on the highway. Mom had 2 accidents in 2 days. The tank had minor damage but did major damage to a Camaro and a Cavalier. She gave up driving and sold it to my youngest brother. He swapped out the diesel for a 350ci gas V-8.
I had an ’81 Regency 4-door. Bought it from my mechanic who’d swapped the diesel for a 455 from a ’73 Toronado. I added power mirrors & power seat recliners both side. Replaced the seat side chrome trim with Cadillac so I could have the vinyl inserts and the power recliner slots.
Then replaced the wire wheel covers with those ribbed aluminum rims found mostly on Olds & Buick wagons. Scored a nice set in a salvage yard off a Buick wagon & ordered the Olds center caps; could still get those in the late 80s early 90s.
I had an ’84 Brougham, same colors with two extra doors. Drove it from Mass to Kansas when we relocated to the new office. Nicest 3 day drive I ever had, those 1500 miles just came too quick.
love it. put a 403 in it
This 98 says, “I play golf at a public course, not at THE country club.”
My dad law had an 84 that I figured got 26 MPG running 70+ on Interstate. I did pass math (barely).
I love it, my experience was with an Olds 98 from 1972 with the 455. I loved that car and owned it for 11 years. It was dark blue with a black vinyl top.
Never owned one; I prefer vehicles that are shorter and easier to park. My friend from high school and college later did well and bought a 1974 Olds 98 Regency Brougham. Light blue. Dark blue vinyl roof. 307 V8 and every option but the sunroof (provably due to stories about leaking). I rode it some and it was plusher than a Cadillac to sit on and was smooth over all bumps. 10 years later, he told me rebuilt the engine and kept the car.
Typo. He had the 1984 model. Did not like the styling, size and lack of V8 power on the 1985.
I was in high school in the tail end of the ’80s/early ’90s and it wasn’t until years later that I came to appreciate these.