Vehicle styles have changed dramatically since the 1950s, with different trends appearing, disappearing, and re-emerging. The exception is the tailfin, which disappeared forever at the end of the 1950s. While it may not appeal to everyone, the squarer body lines that were a hallmark of the 1980s appeal to me. Most cars from this era look bold and purposeful, and this 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham is no exception. Its stunning overall condition and presentation help its cause, while most enthusiasts will warmly welcome the V8 under the hood. The seller has elected to part with this classic, so they have listed it for sale here on Craigslist. The Olds is located in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and it can be yours for $15,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for demonstrating the ability to spot another fantastic classic for us.
I’m going to take this opportunity to call on our loyal readers for some help. I usually have no trouble identifying the paint color when reviewing classics from this era. This Cutlass has me stumped! The seller describes it as “silver,” which is no help. However, I can’t improve on that because all that pops into my mind is “stunning.” It could be a shade called Medium Sapphire Blue Firemist, but I’m unwilling to stake my reputation on that. Therefore, it is over to you for an answer. The paint has an incredible depth of color and shine and is the type that you feel you could walk into. The seller indicates a small mark on the front bumper and some fading that doesn’t show in the supplied photos. Otherwise, it appears close to perfect. The panels are laser straight, and the Olds is rust-free. There are no problems visible in the supplied photos, and the underside shots reveal floors that are as spotless as the rest of the vehicle. The glass and trim look excellent, while the chrome Super Stock III wheels add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
The seller doesn’t supply any engine photos, but we know that this Olds features a 307ci V8, a four-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Since we are talking about a V8 that emerged during the 1980s, its power output of 140hp should provide no surprises. It is enough to propel the Cutlass through the ¼ mile in 17.6 seconds, and while that figure is hardly startling by current standards, it was about all that buyers came to expect during that period. The car is in excellent mechanical health, with no immediate needs. The seller says that they recently fitted new tires and that the vehicle runs and drives perfectly. They claim that it has a genuine 53,000 miles on the clock, although they fail to mention verifying evidence. Given this Brougham’s overall condition, the claim seems plausible.
One of the more interesting interior characteristics of GM luxury offerings from the 1980s was “pillow” upholstery. This Cutlass features that type of upholstery in an attractive shade of blue velour. It presents as impressively as the rest of the car, with no wear, stains, or other problems. The remaining upholstered surfaces and trim are excellent, with the same true of the dash, pad, and carpet. There may be a slight stain on the carpet near the driver’s left foot, but that’s all I can spot in the supplied photos. It goes without saying that a luxury car comes with plenty of comfort and convenience features. The new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, a tilt wheel, a remote driver’s mirror, and a premium stereo with a cassette player.
While it may not have quite the cachet of a 442, this 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham is a stunning survivor suited to an enthusiast seeking a “plug-and-play” ownership experience. It isn’t perfect, but its overall condition should see it act like a magnet at a Cars & Coffee. It is mechanically healthy, rust-free, and its low odometer reading should ensure it has years of faithful and enjoyable motoring to offer its next owner. The seller’s price isn’t cheap, but it isn’t unprecedented for a Brougham in this condition. It has only been on the market for a few days, and I think interested parties may need to act quickly if they want it parked in their driveway.
Way sweet Olds. Yeah, I remember when everyone offered seats like that. They are comfortable. The Olds is too. Very competent ride for the time. This one is very nice.
Very nice car!!! I’m with the author with regards to styling. I dont mind the aero fords of the 80s like the Thunderbird and taurus, but not too long after that the melted bar of soap came into vogue and that’s where I part company. Nowadays it’s just swoops and angled lines and anything that can make the car look angry, with few exceptions.
I sure hope someone gets this Oldsmobile and preserves it. Super sharp vehicle
I believe I see fiber optic lamp monitors. on the front fenders. I’ve been fascinated by that technology since I first experienced it in my uncle’s 1969 Chevelle Concours Estate. I remember the front turn signal monitor glowing softly at night when the lights were on, then pulsing between bright and soft light when the turn signal was on. The system worked by transmitting light from the back side of the various bulbs through fiber optic cables to the lamp monitors. It still fascinates me that the system takes no energy to operate.
Had the fiberoptic light monitors in my 1968 Corvette. It let you know your marker lights worked properly. Impressive engineering then and now.
Yeah, I noticed the lamp monitors right away! They’re hard to find on these cars. Back in 1990, I was looking for a 2 door Cutlass Brougham. I would have settled for anything from 1983 to 1988. I wanted the Brougham, after putting my 74 Cutlass Salon into storage in my grandma’s garage, because it had the 60/40 velour interior as opposed to the vinyl bucket seats and console the 74 had, and I wanted a change. I swore that I wouldn’t settle for anything less than one that was fully loaded, meaning the V8, power drivers seat, full instrumentation, moon roof, stereo with the equalizer – well, you get the idea. I searched for MONTHS with no success. Some had a smattering of the things I wanted, but virtually NONE had the lamp monitors. But I kept on searching. Finally, I realized that if I wasn’t willing to compromise, I’d end up with nothing. So that November, while driving to the doctor for a strep throat infection, I spied an 87 Brougham parked in a prominent spot in front of Hustedt Chevrolet in Centereach NY. It was dark gold in color, with a tan landau top and interior. On the way back, I HAD to stop to look at it, sick or not! It didn’t have the moon roof, the full instrumentation, the equalizer stereo, or the lamp monitors, but it did have the power seat, the V8, power everything else, tilt and cruise, and the chrome Superstock wheels. Very attractive. Just over 18,000 miles on the odometer, and the price was within reason. So I bought it. No regrets. I kept it for four years, and ran it up to 64,000 miles with no major problems to speak of, then traded it in for a brand new 94 2 door Buick Regal, because, sadly, the Cutlass wasn’t very good in the snow, and the front wheel drive Regal would be better. But those pillow stuffed seats were the most comfortable ones I’d had in any car before and after that one.
I’m glad I compromised and enjoyed the car for those 4 years.
If only it had had those lamp monitors though!
The bottom of those doors just don’t look right. This screams repaint amid other rust repairs. I would run.
I’ll call the paint color on this Olds Classic – Razor Blue. (You know when you weld certain metals it can get dark blue tinged)
I had a 84 Cutlass Supreme Brougham and I will say it wasn’t the fastest car out there but you’ll arrive in style. It was a wonderful driving car and if that was your intent, then it’s a body style you’ll enjoy.
If that’s your intent, then I’d say take a look at this one as it looks to be in excellent shape.
Dark Teal Blue Metallic
I don’t recall the name or the color code for that shade of blue after thirty-five years, but I can say with certainty that it’s not the Firemist shade that the author has mistaken it for. Firemist paints were only available, at extra cost, on Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac C and E-body cars.
That said, the GM blues of the late eighties were, in my opinion, very rich and attractive, and this dark blue looks terrific on this Cutlass Supreme Brougham.
Owned the identical car but a 1985 with a T top. Beautiful car in every way. It was a real show stopper!
Jim
Lololol 15,000 bucks??? For WHAT exactly?? A slow 35 year old car that wasn’t special in this trim when it was Brand New?? That weird ass velour upholstery is exactly what causes gas station fires when the built up static electricity sparks at the gas cap. Morons!
AND viewers need to open your eyes! That car has some major bad news waiting for anyone dumb enough to stump up 15K for whatever this is. The stance is all screwed up. It sits wrongly. The gaps in the wheel wells are too big. And it sits LEVEL and it’s not supposed too. All that and repaint?? This thing is NO survivor. It’s been wrecked and f**ked with. And you all know I love Oldsmobiles.
RUN AWAY!!!
Whoa dude…
Velour seats caused gas station fires ? That’s a new one on me , I’ve heard it was cell phones, though I’ve never actually seen a car destroyed by one. As for the 37 year old slow car for 15K ? Have you looked at what VW buses are selling for ? Not much is slower ,poor handling and unsafe as one of those, but they command high prices as do cars from the 20s and 30s .
And the Supreme Brougham was special, it was the top of the Cutlass line
My first car was a 1968 Olds Cutlass 4-door I bought when I was 16 years old in 1982 for fifty dollars. The “Brougham” edition didn’t exist back in 68 so I guess the car was a special order from the purchaser because the car had power windows, a front seat armrest and AC but of course the AC wasn’t charged plus the radio was gone and it had no heat. Ha Ha First car blues! I had a boom box that I put in place of the armrest for music enjoyment (fresh batteries $$$) After driving it around for a few hours the heat from the motor gave me a little warmth underneath the dash. Just imagine the temperatures in New York City February 1982. Five months later I hit a huge pothole one day and the drivers side back wheel popped off which I didn’t have the cash to fix it ultimately selling the car for forty five dollars..so a few months later I bought a 1970 Olds Delta 88 coupe for fifty dollars dollars (again)..but that’s another story…Me and the Oldsmobile brand do have a history.. In my opinion the Oldsmobile Cutlass (Supreme) is legendary.
Velour seats caused gas station fires ? That’s a new one on me , I’ve heard it was cell phones, though I’ve never actually seen a car destroyed by one. As for the 37 year old slow car for 15K ? Have you looked at what VW buses are selling for ? Not much is slower ,poor handling and unsafe as one of those, but they command high prices as do cars from the 20s and 30s .
And the Supreme Brougham was special, it was the top of the Cutlass line
I fell in love with these and bought a new 82 Supreme Brougham. Unfortunately the beauty was skin deep. It never ran right and the dealer couldn’t solve the problem. I sold it after 18 months.
These cars are SO comfortable. The interior alone is nice enough to buy one.
Yeah they are Extremely comfortable. I’ve never had this model Cutlass I’ve had the older models my first car a 68 Cutlass 4-door with the famous 350 Rocket and later on in the years a 77 Cutlass Brougham. My Uncle was once an Oldsmobile fanatic. When he came into our family he was driving a 66 Cutlass 4-door before marrying my Aunt. Later on he had a 78 Cutlass coupe and mind you he’s 6’1 but that Cutlass was good for him very comfortable for a guy his height I rode in it several times and it ran nice and smooth and was still roomy in the back seat even when he put the driver seat ALL the way back because of his long legs Ha! He then owned an 81 Cutlass coupe, also an 83 Cutlass coupe. He then “upgraded” in 1985 to the brand new ‘downsized” redesigned Ninety Eight Regency which I didn’t like at all, I found it be Ugly compared to the Big Boy Ninety Eights of the past. But I found the interior to be a very nice roomy area. It was strange how looking at the car standing on the outside I saw a smaller crappy version of the Ninety Eight, however sitting inside the vehicle I felt like I was almost sitting in an 84 Ninety Eight (Last year of the HUGE 98’s) instead of a totally different and new model. I’ve stated this in a few article presentations of the Oldsmobile brand in the past…Oldsmobile was the very first car I purchased when I was a teen in 1981 and I’ve had a few Oldsmobile’s thereafter. That Ninety Eight was my Uncle’s last Olds he had ever owned. Several years later Oldsmobile sadly folded and it was the end of an extremely popular, affordable, reliable, attractively designed automobile brand (before 1985) I wish I had experienced owning a 1978-1987 Cutlass. This car would really look sweet and original (in my opinion) with some 2 inch wide Coker white stripe tires, eliminating the dual exhaust of course and then you would have the last year of the true Cutlass Supreme (Brougham)