My new car!!

"Schaefft" (Schaefft)
09/03/2015 at 16:27 • Filed to: None

Well, looks like I am now the proud owner of the UK’s only Oldsmobile Aurora!! A first generation Purple Pearl Metallic, Canadian-spec 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora to be exact!

I am still stunned by the fact of having found this particular car on Ebay. The Aurora wasn’t the most common car in the first place, especially outside of North American where they were never sold. Also, most of them probably are in car heaven by now due to their low value and common Northstar headgasket issues. I’ve been looking for an Aurora for quite a while now, and after doing a bit of research I actually did manage to find one single photo of a first gen Olds Aurora, taken right here in the UK in 2012. This was just 3 weeks ago:

I even posted a comment under that image writing that I would buy this car the moment I would find its current owner. I never got a reply (the guy who posted the photo was a car spotter from London). However, no 2 weeks later and this exact car popped up on Ebay! I mean seriously what the fuck.

As you can probably tell, it will need tons of work to bring it back to its former glory, and it will likely be an even bigger task than getting the Lincoln back on the road (I haven’t even written all my posts yet...). It will definitely be a surprise considering the only info I got was from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and a quick call to the buyer (Mr. Muddyfeet was in the area but couldn’t get a proper time to see the car out of the seller). But I cannot wait for it to arrive here in Newcastle when I can finally have the very first look at my new (old) Aurora, which also happens to be the first Aurora I will have seen irl.

DISCUSSION (87)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:31

o dear.

Schaefft > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/03/2015 at 16:31

Haha, this seems to be the common reply from most people.

Übel > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:32

For whatever reason, these things are absolutely everywhere here in Michigan. Congrats on the purchase though, and best of luck!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:32

I can’t wait.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:32

yeah... enjoy it, I guess.

Schaefft > Übel
09/03/2015 at 16:33

People in Michigan just know what an excellent car the Aurora is. Or just want a cheap beater/hooptie with V8 and leather for rock bottom money.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:34

Dang.. I really badly want one. There was a 2nd gen for sale on mobile.de a couple of years ago. Probably the only one in Europe.

El Rivinado > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:35

You already have one mid 90s luxo barge in the U.K with limited parts availability and a thirst for fuel, so you buy another one?

Okay, I ain’t going to say nothing more man. Trust me, I’ve thought about replacing my already old, 25 MPG on a good day, Eldorado with something older should something bad happen to it. You and I, we’re like brothers.

Only Closer.

Svend > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:37

What’s the emission tax going to hit you?

Parts are easy to ship from the U.S. or Europe if not likely at all available here only issue would be lead time on delivery.

Schaefft > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
09/03/2015 at 16:37

There was a pearl white V6 one for sale in the Netherlands just recently. I actually a member on here if he could check it out for me!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:39

Well if you need help with parts I work at a US GM dealer. Why did you get this? So many mid-block reseals.....

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:39

I guess let us Michigan people know if u need help with parts hahaha

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:40

That purple is dope.

I’m a bit more partial to the second gen Aurora, but its a great looking car nonetheless.

Ssfancyfresh > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:40

I love these. The styling was pretty wild for its time. So much so, that Oldsmobile branded it as its own entity. If I’m not mistaken, the only place where the word Oldsmobile appears on the whole car is a small print label on the head unit. Cool car. Great color.

Schaefft > El Rivinado
09/03/2015 at 16:40

I know its insane. Books will be written about this one day!

Mercedes Streeter > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:40

I LOVE the look of the OG Aurora. Even cooler that you have one of the rarest recent-ish American cars in the UK.

JR1 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:41

I find it so funny you get so much excitement out of cars we see here stateside every day. Great car though. It looks to be in good shape

EL_ULY > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:41

WOW!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:43

You getting an Olds Aurora is like someone in the states getting a Euro spec 1995 Ford Escort and just peeing our pants over it, except the Aurora is more awesome.

Schaefft > Svend
09/03/2015 at 16:44

Parts are no problem as long as its not a complete engine, transmission or subframe. Road tax should be a bit over 200GBP per year since its so old.

Doug DeMuro > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:44

This is so cool.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:44

Kinja'd!!!

Step 1: remove ugly bracket

Step 2: Enjoy!

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:45

That’s cool. But anyways, congrats. I love that purple.

Alex from Toronto > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:48

Kinja'd!!!

Looking forward to this project.

Schaefft > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/03/2015 at 16:48

Well, at least the Aurora has a V8 and looks awesome! :)

Svend > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:48

That’s not bad at all really. Certain vehicle exemptions based on age of the vehicle.

Schaefft > JR1
09/03/2015 at 16:49

Its been standing for a few years. The closer the look, the more you will notice its blemishes.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:49

Not sure that “I’m proud of you” is really the appropriate response, but yeah, well, I’m proud of you.

Schaefft > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
09/03/2015 at 16:50

I learned to like the second gen as well (so does Doug apparently). I just had to have a first gen though. Especially on this purple, which might be my favorite color you could order them in.

Your boy, BJR > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:50

I’ve owned both gens. The ‘95 was definatley the better car.

Schaefft > Mercedes Streeter
09/03/2015 at 16:51

It definitely was an underdog. And might be a future classic now that Olds has been gone for a decade. It definitely is a true exotic over here. Hard to beat 1 out of 1!

RWS Motorsport > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:51

I love the bravery of buying a car via ebay sight unseen. Brave.

Look forward to the updates

Your boy, BJR > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
09/03/2015 at 16:52

The gen 2 is total shit.

Twism > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:52

Sweet!

My mother had one like that, with the beige leather interior and the Northstar (though ours was dark blue.

I can tell you first hand that these things are wicked fast for their size and do amazing FWD burnouts (I was young and dumb).

And if you wonder, the battery is under the rear seat.

Enjoy it, and keep us posted on its state!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:53

Awesome. Love these. My friend let me drive his around NYC once and it was the perfect vehicle for the job!

Schaefft > CaptDale - is secretly British
09/03/2015 at 16:56

I just love the Auroras distinctive look. Considering Im a huge fan of american mid-90s metal for some odd reason, I just couldn’t resist. I will definitely keep your offer in mind!

Schaefft > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
09/03/2015 at 16:57

Unfortunately front license plates are required in the UK. I might get rid of it if I don’t get a us-style plate for the front.

Hoccy > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 16:57

Yeah, you would need to get this kind of Escort to be better than an Aurora.

Kinja'd!!!

Schaefft > Doug DeMuro
09/03/2015 at 16:58

Notice me senpai!

Also stay tuned for more!

JR1 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:01

Beggars can’t be choosers I guess. How is the Lincoln doing?

Schaefft > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/03/2015 at 17:06

haha, will do. Its not like I will be able to find even something simple as an oil filter for an Aurora in the parts store around the corner over here. Even though, they officially sold the STS in the UK for at least one year, it might not be so bad after all.

Schaefft > JR1
09/03/2015 at 17:10

Its currently getting overhauled by a good friend in Krakow who probably is the only person I would trust working on the car, he’s very passionate about Lincolns in general, currently owns a collectors edition Mark VIII. I will continue writing about mine as soon as I get it back, things have been slow before he got the car, so there wasn’t much to report.

LongbowMkII > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:10

be sure to scoff at Aston owners.

commoners.

Schaefft > LongbowMkII
09/03/2015 at 17:13

I’d still like to own a DB9 one day though. Until then: Plebs.

duurtlang > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:15

Can I ask why you didn’t spare yourself the hassle and have one shipped over from the US? You could’ve gotten every color or edition you preferred.

RallyWrench > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:17

Job 1: straight pipes. Show them Redcoats what these uppity colonies hath wrought.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:21

If you have a Vin and mileage I can do a VIS (Vehicle History) report on it

Schaefft > duurtlang
09/03/2015 at 17:22

Well, should it turn out that this Aurora has the autobahn package, it would be more or less exactly the Aurora I want. Granted, having a later model year car might get rid of some of its initial model specific problems. But it would be hard ( and much, much more expensive) to find a better Aurora than this.

JR1 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:24

Good luck with it!

Schaefft > RallyWrench
09/03/2015 at 17:30

Ha. I think the first job will be making a list of the dozens of things that will need immediate attention. I think I want to keep the cars “original character”. When it comes to scaring unknowing brits, I think the Lincoln does a good enough job for now haha.

punkgoose17 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:31

The Aurora is a beautiful are and a future classic based on looks alone.

RallyWrench > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:35

That’s as may be, but people expect Lincolns to be ridiculous, whereas nobody suspects... the Oldsmobile. This is why straight pipes, or at least cutouts, are imperative. These things sound glorious when uncorked.

Schaefft > punkgoose17
09/03/2015 at 17:35

I think there is the possibility. Maybe not this car (its got about 100k miles on), but if you have a factory fresh first gen Aurora parked in a garage somewhere, it might make sense holding onto it. And yes, they are beautiful cars. Its a shame Oldsmobile died eventually, I would have loved to see a true successor to the first gen Aurora. The car that was sold as 2nd gen originally was not supposed to be an Aurora after all.

T5Killer > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:38

I love that body style of Aurora. Great cars. I used to seem them around but they slowly vanished.

Schaefft > T5Killer
09/03/2015 at 17:43

They weren’t the most reliable cars to begin with. Its still a shame to see them in junkyards though.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 17:54

Northstar head gasket?

Are you telling me this sucker is nuclear V8?

Kinja'd!!!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I honestly never knew these came with a V8.

Schaefft > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/03/2015 at 18:28

The 4.0l V8 was the only option in the first gen Aurora. You could get a 3.5l V6 as base engine in the second gen (they basically just chopped of 2 cylinders). The Aurora V8 was based on Cadillac’s 4.6l V8, called the Northstar. Quite a nice engine (Clarkson was quite impressed by the fact that you could drive for several miles without any coolant or oil at all), but they often had issues with failing head gaskets. IIRC, the head studs were the problem there.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 18:31

Hell. YES.

Dusty Ventures > RWS Motorsport
09/03/2015 at 18:38

I did that for both my Outback and my desert truck...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 18:45

I’ve always like the Aurora, Oldsmobile really steeped out of the mold on that one.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Hoccy
09/03/2015 at 18:47

It’s going to be 2016 when we get a Focus RS? F-U FORD. Also how long was there a Suabaru STI unitl it got to the colonies?

jkm7680 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 18:51

IIiiiinteresting choice. Pretty common in the states, but the overwhelming majority of them are dead.

May I ask, why an Aurora? As somebody else said, that would be the equivalent of importing a 1995 Mondeo to the United States.

Schaefft > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/03/2015 at 18:56

They did, if you consider that they sold cars like the last gen Ninety-Eight next to it (which I happen to like as well). Such a contrast. You can clearly tell that GM wanted Oldsmobile to start pretty much from scratch.

Schaefft > jkm7680
09/03/2015 at 19:07

Its the Aurora’s unusual design and my love for cars from the 90s. Just imagine someone like me in 2040, it might not look as odd anymore by then once these are seen as classics.

I wouldn’t compare it to a Mondeo either. An Alfa 156 might be a better comparison. Both are domestic market exclusive, fwd “near luxury” sedans with distinctive looks and sporting pretensions (believe it or not, the Aurora was marketed as sports sedan and was seen as very capable handling wise by most) that were sold in somewhat high numbers. While being more or less worthless and seen as just another old car by most today, lots of people would be happy to jump at the chance of buying one in the states, if they were able to register it legally anyway.

Vracktal > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 19:09

WHY

Schaefft > Vracktal
09/03/2015 at 19:47

Copy/Paste:

Its the Aurora’s unusual design and my love for cars from the 90s. Just imagine someone like me in 2040, it might not look as odd anymore by then once these are seen as classics.

jkm7680 > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 21:12

That’s a pretty good comparison. I can’t imagine that Olds handling well though.

Good luck with it! If you ever need finding parts, feel free to ask me and I’ll take a look for you.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/03/2015 at 21:24

A Euro spec 1995 Ford Escort... with the diesel... LOL

boxrocket > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 22:18

My new car lawn ornament!!

FIFY.

Congrats on the new car. Hope you have a friend who works at a gm dealership here in the States.

shop-teacher > Schaefft
09/03/2015 at 23:43

That is amazing to see in the UK! My mom had an emerald green ‘95 Aurora with the Autobahn package. It was quicker and handled better than any giant FWD vehicle had a right to be. Ours was, shall we say, less than reliable. I wish you well with yours! I LOVE the purple!

Schaefft > boxrocket
09/04/2015 at 05:27

Ehh, Rockauto and the Cadillac/Aurora community should be all I need. :)

Schaefft > shop-teacher
09/04/2015 at 05:37

Thank you! I still don’t know what options this one comes with apart from the sunroof, it would be awesome to have one with the Autobahn package. Just imagine one actually driving on the Autobahn!

shop-teacher > Schaefft
09/04/2015 at 07:04

It could be the first Autobahn package Aurora to ever drive on the Autobahn!

Schaefft > shop-teacher
09/04/2015 at 08:10

It could very well be!

shop-teacher > jkm7680
09/04/2015 at 08:53

My mom had a ‘95 Aurora with the Autobahn package. It was quicker and handled better than any giant FWD car had a right to.

It was also unreliable enough that mom got fed up and traded it in while we were on vacation in Florida one year.

jkm7680 > shop-teacher
09/04/2015 at 09:07

I knew somebody with a Riv of the same era. Supercharged also, it was an alright car but still a massive unreliable POS.

shop-teacher > jkm7680
09/04/2015 at 09:18

Haha! A buddy of mine had one of those Riv’s ... yep! I was riding in it when it decided to spit the pulley shaft out of its power steering pump.

jkm7680 > shop-teacher
09/04/2015 at 09:23

They were well equipped cars, but still complete and utter shit. With 25,000 original miles, almost nothing worked properly, including the engine.

shop-teacher > jkm7680
09/04/2015 at 09:30

Ours wasn’t that bad, but still not good.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Schaefft
09/11/2015 at 09:09

I’ve always had mad love for the Aurora... A friend of mine in college bought a ‘97 with the Autobahn package (slightly stiffer suspension, stiffer sway bars, better tires and no speed limiter) on my advice, and drove it to just under 300,000 miles before replacing it with a Volvo. That car was absolutely rock solid, except for the alternator that we replaced in the dorm parking lot, at 150k... Shop time, according to the factory service manual is five and a half hours, we did it in six using nothing but hand tools and swearing.

Between the Aurora, and another friend of mine who drove an Oldsmobile LSS, those cars cemented my Olds love. Fast-forward seven years, and I have a ‘65 Ninety-Eight in the garage. :D

KatzManDu > Schaefft
09/11/2015 at 09:12

Well done. Wasn’t there an Opel/Vauxhall variant, though?

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Your boy, BJR
09/11/2015 at 09:12

Agreed. The first-gen is the best one.

Schaefft > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
09/11/2015 at 09:20

Great story, nice to see your friend enjoyed his Aurora so much! My first impression of the car is positive, the interior feels solid, I love the door “thumb” when closing them, sounds much more substantial than on my E39. Its different from what people usually say about american interiors. I’ll have to spend a bit more time in it to see how it compares to my Mark VIII.

I’ll try to figure out what options my car came with today. I made a photo of the build sticker yesterday, it would be awesome to have an Autobahn as well!

Schaefft > KatzManDu
09/11/2015 at 09:24

Nope, the 1st gen Aurora only shares its platform with the Riviera, the 2nd gen with a few others like the Bonneville and Lucerne.

KatzManDu > Schaefft
09/11/2015 at 09:26

Ah. Is it FWD or RWD?

Schaefft > KatzManDu
09/11/2015 at 09:32

All of them are fwd. V8 powered torque steer ftw!

KatzManDu > Schaefft
09/11/2015 at 10:39

<3 — I miss my '92 El Dorado.