A Dream Deferred?

"parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff" (parkave231001) 01/10/2014 at 23:45 • Filed to: None

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Everyone has a dream car. You know what I'm talking about — the one you've always lusted after. The one you had every brochure about. The one you dreamed about.

Mine, fellow Opponauts, is fairly unlikely. In late 1984, my grandfather decided it was time to buy himself a new car. While he lived four hours away, the upside of this was that I (a mere 6 years old at the time) received all of the brochures after he had selected a car. The car he ended up purchasing was a 1985 Buick Park Avenue, which ended up being my first car. But that's another story.

Of all the car brochures I own, of all the car pictures I've ever seen, one stands out in my mind:

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the 1984 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham. In burgundy. With opera lamps. And cornering lamps. And fender skirts. This has been my dream car since I was about 6 years old. (It used to be the 1984-1985 Delta 88, but I guess my tongue grew a little more silver.)

Starting at age 6, and continuing for the next 28 years, I have held this picture in my mind as the picture of where I wanted my life to be. The tops. Numero uno. Where I envisioned my life in my early-to-mid-30s. Me, apparently well-to-do, along with an attractive wife, heading for a night at the opera with a couple of friends in my top-of-the-line, fully-loaded, it-doesn't-get-any-better-than-this 1984 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham.

Let's check in quickly with myself at the ripe old age of 35. Owned Detroit luxobarges? Three. Wife? Not even close, much to my chagrin. Rich? I'm comfortable. Happy? Not hardly.

I've obtained a hankering lately for an older vehicle. I went through a mid-life (well, I really hope it's more of a one-third-life) crisis two years ago and bought me a 2012 Mustang. It's a fun car, and it's something I've wanted. But like any true Jalop, I always think about having a second, older vehicle. Something I can always have to tinker on. Something I might drive to work once a week just for fun. Usually I end up looking for a 70s-era Ford or International pickup. But occasionally I run into beauties like this:

1983 Olds 98 Regency Brougham

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Not the correct steering wheel, but...)

And then I tun into old fogey mode again. The current bid on the 1983 Olds is just over $1,500. And it's located in Decatur, Alabama, where half of my mother's family is from. How can I possibly lose with this?

It all goes back to that picture contained in the 1984 Olds brochure. I still hold hope that perhaps one day *I* will be the one in that picture. It hasn't happened yet, and I certainly know that owning a 1984 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham won't necessarily help, but damn it, how can I help myself?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/10/2014 at 23:56

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Yes. Those 2 are gorgeous. If I had money burning a hole in my pocket I would definitely like to pick one up. But I would go for the 2 door:

I love the picture in the ad too. I never realized how much the Olds Looked like the Caddy until I saw it dead on from the side.

desertdog5051 > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/10/2014 at 23:58

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I had an 84 98 Olds. That was a car. When I saw your post, I went, what a beauty.

Thanks for the trip back.

parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 01/11/2014 at 00:03

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I've found that I've gravitated more towards coupes. I have to admit, though, that the 1985-1990 GM C-body and H-body coupes didn't really pull the look off well — which I suppose is why they were dropped after only a few years.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/11/2014 at 00:15

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Think of them as bigger Grand Nationals. I love all of those big 2 doors.

Stef Schrader > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/11/2014 at 00:59

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I love your taste. Ninety-Eights PWN.

Stef Schrader > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/11/2014 at 01:12

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You know what? We need a Ninety-Eight theme day.



Chuck D, Saucy Minx , and my entire Puffalump collection would approve.

TexMex > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/11/2014 at 02:33

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+1 for the Langston Hughes reference. Also cool choice; all the style of the Caddy but way more Jalop cred.

RafelX > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 01/11/2014 at 13:22

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My weakness is for the '80-81 Bonneville Coupe. Snowflakes FTW!

1984 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham > parkave231 can't get enough of that funky stuff 02/02/2014 at 15:00

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In 1983 at the age of 13 I took notice of my Aunt's (father's sister) 1983 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Regency Brougham, dove gray with dove gray cloth interior, identical to the car you posted a link of here... the one that Mr. Bouny bought on E-bay from the Antique Automobile Museum in Hershey, Pa. In 1984 I encouraged my mother to buy a Ninety Eight and she bought the last new, full sized Ninety Eight from Coleman Oldsmobile in Baton Rouge, Louisiana... hers was the Light Briar Brown with the Brown vinyl roof. My father was one of 7, all of his siblings owned Oldsmobile Ninety Eights starting in the early 70's. To keep the tradition alive I found and bought an all original survivor 1984 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham last July. It is black on black with dove gray leather interior. It is a head turner, gets lots of attention and comments, and I'm proud to own it. The nostalgic value is priceless and it's great to see faces light up and sometimes tears of joy when people relate to a love one that has passed on that owned an Eighty Eight or Ninety Eight.

1984 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham > 1984 Ninety Eight Regency Brougham 02/02/2014 at 15:04

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