The GM A-bodies have certainly received their fair share of attention here. Nevertheless, there’s something about these boxy workhorses that always grabs my attention. In particular, the rarely seen coupe models are of great fascination because, well, they’re so rare.
I still see a great deal of these later-model Cutlass Cieras and Centuries. However, nearly all of them I see are 4-door sedans. Wagons are an occasional sight, but the coupes are virtually nonexistent anymore. It must have been the CC-Effect though, because yesterday I passed a similar blue Cutlass Ciera coupe, going the opposite direction on Route 106.
A (full CC) has already been done on the Century coupe, but Dave 7 found this excellent condition ’88 Cutlass Ciera coupe that I simply could not ignore. This one is an ’88, as noted (in English and French) by the commemorative 1988 Calgary Winter Olympiad decal. 1988 was also the last year for this rear-end treatment. ‘89s would get a more squared-off rear.
It should be noted that this coupe’s roofline was introduced midway through the 1986 model year. Prior to that, 2-door Cieras shared the sedan’s much sharper notchback roofline.
Another possible reason that I’m drawn to these cars is that a 1989 blue Cutlass Ciera coupe was a member of my family. I know what you’re thinking, but you may be surprised – it was not one of my grandfather’s Oldsmobiles. This one above (the Cutlass Supreme behind it is my grandfather’s) was owned by his daughter, my favorite aunt Kathy. If I haven’t said this before, Oldsmobile runs deep in my family’s veins.
That thing is in nice shape for a New England car…or should I say, it is amazing it still exists since itis a New England car.
It is just one FE3 badge (or possibly International Series badge) from being a fun weekend cruiser.
The CC was actually photographed by Dave 7 in Alberta, Canada. If your talking about my aunt’s Ciera in the last photo I’m sad to say i have no idea what happened to that car. The photo was taken sometime in the 1989-1992 timeframe.
I was talking about the navy blue one at the top. I thought I saw a mass plate on it.
Oh yeah I think it’s an Alberta plate. I’m not exactly sure of the climate there compared to New England but either way it’s in excellent condition for a 25 year old car.
We definitely get winter in Alberta but it is usually too cold for salt to be effective. Gravel is used instead which is tough on windshields but easier on bodies. Generally rust isn’t too bad at all. Certainly nothing like out east.
I was living in Calgary for the ’88 and GM was a major sponsor. A ton a 1988 fleet vehicles were sold off in the city after the games. I’d expect with this being a coupe it wasn’t part of the games but it seemed like all 1988 GMs got these stickers.
Yeah, there were a lot of GMs for the 88 games. Pretty sharp too. IIRC, fully loaded, mostly white with gold trim. But mostly Celebritys, 6000s and Centurys. I don’t recall any Oldsmobiles actually doing duty for the games. I think that sticker was marketing only.
Here’s a Youtube
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=1988+winter+olympics+vehicles&view=detail&mid=4EAA09DAFC184071D5824EAA09DAFC184071D582&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR
………..waiting for the shrieking sound of the door clanking shut.
From wheelwell to wheelwell, the A bodies have always been a handsome, even borderline graceful design. Nice balance, nice proportions, honest details, and a well executed greenhouse in both 4-door and coupe configurations. Rather European IMO. But no GM division ever put a front or year end on them that properly finished the job.
When this coupe came out I couldn’t believe it, it was so clean and good looking. Not as good looking as GM coupes of yore maybe, but definitely not the oddball the previous Ciera coupe had been. I still think these are attractive coupes.
Sweet Jerry Lundergaard, is that the nicest Cutlass Ciera coupe ever?
Oh geez!
Obviously they got the TruCoat……
I like the Ciera GT coupes better then the plain regular run of the mill Ciera coupes. It seems the GT’s used the right touch of cladding and colors to make it look good
From the photos it look similar to a Honda/Acura Legend coupe of the same era, would this be right? (not suggesting any relationship!)
It is a very good looking design.
Handsome.
Quite an Oldsmobile.
Man those are rare…and good-looking too. That particular model would be my #1 pick: it has the more flowing roofline but has the old-style taillamp setup. The optional tach clusters in these are very nice.
The Century coupes are even harder to find.
As luck would have it, yesterday I stumbled upon what might be the rarest A-body I’ve ever encountered. It was (or purported to be) a 2-door Cutlass Ciera International. Black paint, dark gray leather, and adorned with the same round “globe” badges they used on Supremes. I was unable to determine the year, as it was on a forklift with the driver’s door pinned to the inside (wasn’t ambitious/crazy enough to crawl through and pop the hood).
Since it was just minutes away from meeting the crusher, I gave it a quick once-over to see if there was any unique piece of it that would make a worthy souvenir… but alas, none revealed itself.
This one had clearly lived a long and eventful life – it had more rust than metal, and a recent front-end collision appeared to have been the final straw.
(It was an Oldsmobile twofer that day, as another nearby yard had just taken in a Touring Sedan in similar shape with 240-some thousand miles on the clock… only the second one of those I’ve seen in the tin. Gotta sync the digital camera soon and get those pics on the interwebs!)
Anyone else seen one of these?
OCT 2019 – here it is just over 6 years after this article. I purchasing this 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL coupe this morning with 44K original miles.
This is my 88 ciera coupe 3800. Just rolled over 100000 miles still running like a top!