33k Documented Miles: 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera
It can be easy to dismiss cars from the 1980s and question their worth as genuine classics. However, any vehicle capable of surviving for nearly four decades deserves a closer look. This is especially true if that car presents superbly and has an ultra-low odometer reading. This 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera fulfills those criteria and is searching for a new home. It is listed here on Craigslist in Coal Valley, Illinois. The seller set their price at $6,900, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for consistently spotting great classics.
Oldsmobile released the Cutlass Ciera in 1982 as its premium mid-sized model, and it rewarded the company’s faith by selling in impressive numbers. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1984, making a stunning visual statement in Code 19 Black. The paint holds a remarkable depth of color and shine and perfectly contrasts with sparkling chrome and the optional luggage rack. I question the worth of that last item in a vehicle of this type, but since it’s there, I’d probably leave it untouched. Black paint is excellent for revealing panel imperfections, but this car is as straight as an arrow. There are no visible dents or bruises, and the gaps are as tight and consistent as you could hope to find. The seller claims the Ciera is rust-free, which I find plausible. The original owner ordered the car with the company’s optional sunroof, and the lack of visible water damage inside this Olds suggests the seals are in good order. The steel wheels wear wire hubcaps and narrow whitewall tires, while the glass appears flawless.
If you ever doubted the luxury credentials of this Ciera, you only need to consider its equipment to confirm it was something special when it was new. While many of the items are commonplace today, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a six-way power driver’s seat, remote trunk release, remote mirrors, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio and cassette player made this car stand out in a crowd. The original owner ordered it trimmed in rich Red leather that looks excellent. There are the usual wrinkles that form part of this material’s character, but there is no evidence of wear or abuse. The carpet is marked below the driver’s left foot, but I’d treat it to a deep clean to improve its appearance. I would typically raise the possibility of replacement, but that isn’t easy to justify in a vehicle of this value. The rest of the trim and plastic looks excellent, and the only aftermarket addition I can spot is an under-dash CB radio.
The seller supplies no engine photos, but we know lifting the hood would reveal the 2.5-liter Tech IV four-cylinder powerplant. This motor is essentially a fuel-injected version of the venerable Iron Duke engine and should send 92hp to the front wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. In keeping with its luxury leanings, this Ciera scores power assistance for its steering and brakes. I’m not about to make outrageous performance claims because any car tipping the scales at 2,753lbs with a modest power output is unlikely to threaten muscle cars. The journey down the ¼-mile would take 20.2 seconds, with the Ciera eventually hitting 104mph. However, outright performance was not the company’s aim. Their focus was on delivering a vehicle capable of returning good fuel consumption figures, and this car doesn’t disappoint. It will easily average 22mpg, although figures of 30mpg are attainable at highway speeds. The seller indicates this Ciera is in excellent mechanical health and is a turnkey vehicle for its new owner. The best news is that it has a genuine 33,000 miles showing on its odometer, and that reading is fully documented.
This 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera won’t appeal to every reader, but it is safe to say that no classic can achieve that feat. However, this car comes up trumps for potential buyers seeking a vehicle that combines practicality, luxury, fuel efficiency, and the ability to function as an effective daily driver. Its odometer reading places it in elite company, and its overall condition means it should still draw attention wherever it goes. The asking price is well above the market average, which is worth considering if potential buyers view it as an investment opportunity. It is unlikely to appreciate anywhere near the market average, but it could be an excellent option for an enthusiast with a young family. Do you think it will find a new home, or will the seller need to compromise on their price?
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Comments
I drove one of these for several years as a hand me down. Good mileage, road decent, very dependable.
I had an ’84 Cutlass Ciera Cruiser wagon, a car I liked quite a bit. It was silver with a red interior and loaded with just about every option available back then. It was a low mileage used car when I acquired it, and it was my first wagon. It had a V6, a Buick unit if I recall and was a fairly peppy performer. I like this sedan except for the puny Iron Duke 4 cylinder. That’s a deal breaker for me.
GM made some beautiful cars back then. Still a good looking car. These were so damn dependable. Still pissed at GM for killing off the Olds brand.
I had a white 86, with the V6, it was passed down through three family members before it was finally wrecked at around 160k. Great daily drivers.
RB 4 & LB 6, or which engine was it?
An odd mixture with the Q4 the silly luggage rack leather seats
and a sliding roof. They sold a lot of them but this seats are a
rare option. According to curbesideclassic the uninspriring Q4,
which lives a bit longer as the noisy V6 where the only options.
With this engine you feel when the a/c clutch snaps in the gas
pedal goes a little bit upward, but GM replaced the old V-4
compressors in 86 with the better V5 known from the Corvette.
A A-body with a Q4 was also a rare sight here. I know them only
from the L-body Beretta GTZ and Olds N-body GrandAM
So many built and so many crushed keep this one clean and
enjoy it.
As noted in the writeup, this has the “Tech IV” (throttle-body fuel injected) evolution of the Pontiac “Iron Duke” 2.5L inline-4. Not sure what you mean by “RB 4”, as that doesn’t seem to be a designation for any GM engine.
The LB6 2.8L V6 was only available in this model for ’87-88, plus ’86 (and ’85 in Canada) for the LE2 version. Other model years offered the Buick V6 in 3.0L LK9 (’82-85) and 3.8L LG2 (’84-88) versions.
The Quad 4 (which I infer you mean by Q4) was never offered in this model, nor in any of its A-body platform mates from other GM divisions.
The N-body Grand Am was Pontiac’s version, whereas the Olds version was the [Cutlass] Calais.
Yes, yes, the error devil has crept in. The a/c compressor
is an R4 which likes to take some more horsepower away
from the engine. And it’s Pontiac not Olds, of course – those
square cars which were also offered with the Q4. In Europe,
they disappeared as quickly as they appeared, but GM,
I think, did a good business with them. The build and botcher
ing in the ole days from GM as we know.
You forgot the 4.3 V6 diesel. That’s what my 1984 Ciera Brougham had in it…With heavy duty suspension option, it didn’t feel too nose heavy, and it was the perfect college car in the late 80s with diesel still cheaper than gasoline. I recall it being about 88 cents a gallon.
The only other “missing” option I can see other than the V6 is the gauge package. For that matter the fake wire-wheel covers were a step up from standard equipment but not the top option, those would’ve been (real) alloy wheels.
Never seen a Ciera with leather in real life, only velour (and the 3rd-row seat in wagons was always vinyl). Never seen the sunroof and vinyl top on the same car, I’d have thought those options were mutually exclusive.
Black was a rare enough color on these that until I saw the red gut I thought I was looking at dark blue photographed in a certain light.
Someone who knew exactly what they wanted, and didn’t, has to have ordered this car.
My iron duke needed a head gasket. 🙄
The wife had an ‘86 with the 2.8 V-6. The only problem ever encountered was the lock up torque converter module. Most people just ended up unplugging them to solve the problem.
My father bought my mother a used 1985 when it was a couple years old. She drove it till 1995 when dad bought her a brand new one. The only new car they ever owned.
The 1995 is currently sitting in her garage with about 70K on the clock. She’s 91 years old and still uses it for grocery runs and to go to Bingo at the church on Wednesday afternoons. The 4 cylinder it came with still sounds like a sewing machine when I do the routine maintenance on it.
Hi guys out there. My love for Oldsmobile is second to none. My question is always what’s the underneath look like. My brother had a similar car same year beautiful paint and interior until u peaked underneath. Total rot at 57,000 miles. We would love to buy one why doesn’t the sellers ever show the underneath?
I owned an 83 Cutlass Ciera Brougham 4dr, bought new…silver with velour buckets and console.. also pretty rare gauge package for a 4dr…Great Car! great handling -especially in crosswinds..The 3.0L Buick V6 felt sluggish compared to my Chev Celebrity company car with 2.8L Chev V6. A new steering rack was the only repair we put on the Ciera in just under 200,000 miles… this looks like a nice one!
The Cutlass’s of the mid 1970’s had some style going for them. Which made them the Number 1 selling mid-size car in 1976. and 1977
These 80’s Cutlass’s while selling very well….are kind of nondescript.
Maybe going from a 2 door to a 4 door….was the problemo.
I had an 87 with the tech 4 engine and while it was very noisy, it was a bulletproof engine matched with a great tranny with overdrive, and I always got 30 mpg with it, and that car had balls! It was better than my wife’s Taurus with the 3.0 V6, beat the crap out of my 84 Chrysler e-class, and 87 Dodge aries. A great car that I had til 2004 when I wanted a bigger car and bought an 01 Buick LeSabre. Gave the 87 Cutlass Sierra to a friend’s son who drove it for another 2-3 years.
I had an 85 Ciera with the Iron Duke. Had an engine knock from the factory. Nobody cod figure it out. Went 100k before it threw a rod. Replaced the motor with one from the same year with only 46k on it. Donor car had the back end packed into the front seat by a truck. Ran great for another week until I got Tboned.
Gms a bodies are one of my favorites. I’d really like a pontiac but olds would be my 2nd choice. Right up my alley here but the leather is a deal breaker for me. 80s gm velour was warm, comfortable, soft, and inviting.
I’ve got an iron Duke in my buick skylark and my 84 Indy Fiero. Adequate performance, acceptable economy but absolutely agricultural in sound and vibration. If you can overlook the coarseness and vibration they are relatively reliable.
Hope it goes to a good home.
I purchased a 96 Olds Ciera for my Mom after her Taurus burned up the church parking lot. Mom passed away in 2016. I have her car now. It only has 46K miles on it. It is white with blue suede interior. It has all the bells and whistles at the time. It has the V6 engine in it and will fly down the interstate while getting 29mpg. I’m not a GM fan but these are very nice vehicles. Good luck to the lucky winning bidder. He/she will enjoy this vehicle.
Looking at the photos of this one I’d love to buy it at the asking price as it is in great shape, and decent low mileage too. My only problem is I ‘m upside down in a 2015 Malibu until next year. Ahh the joy of car ownership!!!!
I truly love these cars. In our neighborhood, there are 3 of them ; a white 1994 sedan, a silver 1989 sedan, and a blue 1984 sedan that I’ve been eyeing for a while. Great dependable cars.
Florida?
I had a junkyard (erm, “used auto parts emporium”) when this was new. If the head didnt crack, the transmission went out. Then the A/C compressor would die. It was about normal for a GM mid-size of the time.