This brings back memories. When I was young, my family had an 85 custom cruiser. It was pretty similar to this; power windows and locks, and a cassette deck. Even with power door locks, the lock thingy was still at the front of the rear door. Great car for a big family. My brother and I were usually relegated to the rear facing third row.
Have to ask...was your grandmother's Custom Cruiser gold like the car in the video, and did she live in Tulsa? ;) If so, I might know what happened to her car. ;)
We used to flip the air cleaner lids like that growing up on all our GM 350-V8s. It added so much psychological horsepower ( 0) and sounded so great. (horrible sad sound) Plus it worked like a hot air intake adding even more air to the engine. (negative, it did not.) The good old late 1970s and 1980s.
As a kid in the early 80s, we'd pile in the back and play in the rear facing seats! No seat belt laws either, so it wasn't that safe, but my cousins and I would hang out back there on trips!
That's a pretty sweet Olds you test drove! Glad people are saving these beasts!I have an 84 Olds Custom Cruiser. Awesome car. Drives like a couch. Something like 70000 miles on it. Beautiful car! Love the clock. I've put a washer and dryer sideways in the car as well as gone camping in it. Thanks for showcasing the car my friend! These cars deserve some spotlight!
When my dad ordered our first one in the mid 80's, the dealer called him to say that it arrived but needed to speak with him first. Back then you could order it in a variety of interior and exterior color combinations. We were expecting the metallic brown (almost purplish) exterior with the patterned brown velour interior. Instead the inside was green - all interior plastic surfaces and upholstery! Needless to say apologies were given and we had to wait for a replacement to be built. We were never told if a discount was negotiated for the inconvenience. I am still surprised (not surprised?) that someone at the factory didn't stop the build to confirm if the spec sheet was correct before they committed to the visual monstrosity.
GREAT review Zac ! 😊 This Oldsmobile station wagon is based on the Oldsmobile 88 series of cars . The wagon is so similar to my Delta 88 in interior style layout except it's a wagon .
they dont make cars like this anymore, where you could load it up, hop on the interstate, set cruise control, and just let the miles roll on through. hour after hour, with little/no fatigue.
Hahaha ha! Dude. My dad's Olds DELTA 88 Brougham is still one of my favorite cars EVERRRRRRR!!! The grille had the thin lines, that might be the first year of the thicker ones....
Those old enough remember ALLLL American cars from like 70 to like 87 were velour and "Corinthian Leather" couches on wheels when even the 2 door models were huge. I remember the sounds, the smells and the one finger ability to steer while feeling NO road bumps😊
I had a 1987 Olds Custom Cruiser. I gave it up with 270,000 mi in perfect condition. For my 1978 Delta 88 Royal with only 33,000 mi. Either way you just can beat them.Safe to say the Delta is now my pleasure weekend car.
I also have an olds of the exact same year to be restored. the car was brought here to Finland sometime in the early 90s, but the body and frame have been preserved in reasonably good condition. I started restoring the car because here in Finland the cars in question are getting really expensive.
These were very 'throwback' the mid 80's. A product of the '70s, GM never originally intended on keeping these alive into the late '80s. This platform was originally planned to be out of production by '84 or '85 - maybe fleet only by '86. They hung on to them due to fuel prices dropping, popularity and GM CAFE numbers being bolstered by numerous J, X, A and T cars being sold during this time.
I was furious when my mom traded our wood panel Custom Cruiser in for a brand new 1990 Ford Escort wagon!!! (It looked like white dog turd, and didn’t even have a cassette player, let alone power… anything!)
Ford introduced the dual opening tailgate in 1966 and called it the " Magic Doorgate :. After that all the other manufacturers added the feature to their wagons.
I own and drive a 1985 Oldsmobile Custorm Cruiser much like the one in the video.. except mine has the classic station wagon vinyl woodgrain and still has the rear facing 3rd row back seat! I've had my Custom Cruiser since 2012 .. I only paid $500 for it. And in the past 12 years; I've replaced the worn-out 307 V8 with a low mileage (previously rebuilt) junkyard 307 V8 from a 1990 Custom Cruiser and I had the transmission rebuilt and most of the parts on the car have been rebuilt or replaced with new parts. I only replaced mechanical parts to keep the old wagon running strong... but kept the old car patina look.
Minivans started taking over in the 80s, the caravan, Astro, and Aerostar are what killed the wagon and then suvs in the late 90s killed minivans and now we are stuck with awful crossovers that just do almost everything bad.
Had one of these with posi-traction. How solid? Both motor mounts were broke. The only symptom was a little vibration on some turns. Had to upgrade the ac due to a seal leak. Had to replace the tranny since the previous owner was a maniac. My wife pretty much sickened the engine after about 20 miles with no coolant. It still ran but was not happy about hills any more. I got a raise and replaced it. Shoulda paid to fix it. Not just a car - a life partner.
It really sucks that for the most part modern manufacturers have abandoned ride quality for "sport". I, like most folks, spend my time either crawling in traffic or traversing crappy side roads. It's quite telling that my '99 Corvette z51 both rides better and handles better than my 2019 Accord sport. I wish manufacturers would stop responding to car mags and start responding to real world use. 99.9% of consumers don't care about ultimate handling, but they do appreciate a quiet, comfortable ride. I suspect that consumers gravitating towards SUV's has something to do with the ride quality and comfort that sedans and wagons provided in the past.
You should find a Gbody wagon.. I had a 78 malibu wagon, and it was PERFECT.. A family car, but not suoer big like this & the Caprice wagon.. I believe the early ones came with a 350 or 305..if not, Throw a 350 in it & they were sleepers
Hey. I've got an '81 and guess what? It's got it's rear facing seats still. Starter broke and probably needs a new battery so it's my project car. Where are you based out of?
I had an 87 Buick LeSabre wagon with the same 307 Oldsmobile engine and overdrive transmission. The lockup torque converter would often stick and want to stall the engine at stop signs. I would notice the engine starting to lug and the low oil pressure light would come on so I would throw it into neutral at the stop sign.
You can unplug the torque converter clutch. It’s obvious and looks like what it is. The car will not stall or lug the engine. Also it will actually perform better but will get slightly lower gas mileage which you won’t notice..
My friends dad had one of these wagons. One night he piled all the kids from our street in the car, and took us to an Astros game. Then on the drive home a certain sir-mix-alot song came on. You know the one. My friends dad cranked it up then rapped every word, while all us kids laughed hysterically. Great times. I cannot remember any of the game, but I remember the car and the moment we shared.
6:30 I guess for more storage and hiding items. Also I've never had a wagon like this but I grew up in minivans and we almost never used the third row so I could see some people just removing it. Still, it's a shame that was removed.
I love how Zack reviews any car in any shape . Always exciting and direct to the point. True professional...
GM fullsize. That's my jam
Same here, got a 57 Oldsmobile 98 2door 371cid V-8!
This brings back memories. When I was young, my family had an 85 custom cruiser. It was pretty similar to this; power windows and locks, and a cassette deck. Even with power door locks, the lock thingy was still at the front of the rear door. Great car for a big family. My brother and I were usually relegated to the rear facing third row.
My grandma had a 1979 Custom cruiser until 2002. We rode in the back my entire childhood.
I have a 79 with a 403/6.6 ltr parked out front. Most people would have a hard time distinguishing it from the car in the video.
Have to ask...was your grandmother's Custom Cruiser gold like the car in the video, and did she live in Tulsa? ;) If so, I might know what happened to her car. ;)
We used to flip the air cleaner lids like that growing up on all our GM 350-V8s. It added so much psychological horsepower ( 0) and sounded so great. (horrible sad sound) Plus it worked like a hot air intake adding even more air to the engine. (negative, it did not.) The good old late 1970s and 1980s.
As a kid in the early 80s, we'd pile in the back and play in the rear facing seats! No seat belt laws either, so it wasn't that safe, but my cousins and I would hang out back there on trips!
Never knew about rear door lock placement story even though I grew up in the 80"s. Goes to prove that u can learn something new every day...
That's a pretty sweet Olds you test drove! Glad people are saving these beasts!I have an 84 Olds Custom Cruiser. Awesome car. Drives like a couch. Something like 70000 miles on it. Beautiful car! Love the clock. I've put a washer and dryer sideways in the car as well as gone camping in it. Thanks for showcasing the car my friend! These cars deserve some spotlight!
When my dad ordered our first one in the mid 80's, the dealer called him to say that it arrived but needed to speak with him first. Back then you could order it in a variety of interior and exterior color combinations. We were expecting the metallic brown (almost purplish) exterior with the patterned brown velour interior. Instead the inside was green - all interior plastic surfaces and upholstery! Needless to say apologies were given and we had to wait for a replacement to be built. We were never told if a discount was negotiated for the inconvenience. I am still surprised (not surprised?) that someone at the factory didn't stop the build to confirm if the spec sheet was correct before they committed to the visual monstrosity.
I love the Olds custom cruiser! Would like to own the last gen ‘91/92 models.
GREAT review Zac ! 😊
This Oldsmobile station wagon is based on the Oldsmobile 88 series of cars . The wagon is so similar to my Delta 88 in interior style layout except it's a wagon .
There is that special feel in an oldsmobile. (Oldsmobile theme song)
they dont make cars like this anymore, where you could load it up, hop on the interstate, set cruise control, and just let the miles roll on through. hour after hour, with little/no fatigue.
I never thought about the placement of the rear door locks. Good Looks!
Interesting trivia: all wagons (regardless of branding) use the 307 from 1986-1990.
Hahaha ha! Dude. My dad's Olds DELTA 88 Brougham is still one of my favorite cars EVERRRRRRR!!! The grille had the thin lines, that might be the first year of the thicker ones....
Another field saved wagon! I love it!
Those old enough remember ALLLL American cars from like 70 to like 87 were velour and "Corinthian Leather" couches on wheels when even the 2 door models were huge. I remember the sounds, the smells and the one finger ability to steer while feeling NO road bumps😊
Truly poetic the way you talk about 80’s GM cars. I tend to feel the same way about my Buicks
Oldsmobile always gonna be my second favorite car maker of all time.
I had a 1987 Olds Custom Cruiser. I gave it up with 270,000 mi in perfect condition. For my 1978 Delta 88 Royal with only 33,000 mi. Either way you just can beat them.Safe to say the Delta is now my pleasure weekend car.
I can just smell that 80's GM interior smell
Before you hook up the air conditioner, have it checked for leaks and get it converted to R-134a.
3:37 Eighty Eight was the designation for Oldsmobile's Full Size models (Aka Delta 88), Custom Cruiser was the Station Wagon
LOVE these older cars! Thanks!
I picked one up this year. Its so COOl to ride in, and being the same age as my dad was when he had his is just cereal.
I also have an olds of the exact same year to be restored. the car was brought here to Finland sometime in the early 90s, but the body and frame have been preserved in reasonably good condition. I started restoring the car because here in Finland the cars in question are getting really expensive.
These were very 'throwback' the mid 80's. A product of the '70s, GM never originally intended on keeping these alive into the late '80s. This platform was originally planned to be out of production by '84 or '85 - maybe fleet only by '86. They hung on to them due to fuel prices dropping, popularity and GM CAFE numbers being bolstered by numerous J, X, A and T cars being sold during this time.
I was furious when my mom traded our wood panel Custom Cruiser in for a brand new 1990 Ford Escort wagon!!!
(It looked like white dog turd, and didn’t even have a cassette player, let alone power… anything!)
Ford introduced the dual opening tailgate in 1966 and called it the " Magic Doorgate :. After that all the other manufacturers added the feature to their wagons.
I own and drive a 1985 Oldsmobile Custorm Cruiser much like the one in the video.. except mine has the classic station wagon vinyl woodgrain and still has the rear facing 3rd row back seat! I've had my Custom Cruiser since 2012 .. I only paid $500 for it. And in the past 12 years; I've replaced the worn-out 307 V8 with a low mileage (previously rebuilt) junkyard 307 V8 from a 1990 Custom Cruiser and I had the transmission rebuilt and most of the parts on the car have been rebuilt or replaced with new parts. I only replaced mechanical parts to keep the old wagon running strong... but kept the old car patina look.
I think its lack of faux wood paneling is made up for by its aggressive brownness. What a color!
Minivans started taking over in the 80s, the caravan, Astro, and Aerostar are what killed the wagon and then suvs in the late 90s killed minivans and now we are stuck with awful crossovers that just do almost everything bad.
I grew up in one of these back in the 80s 😀
Had one of these with posi-traction. How solid? Both motor mounts were broke. The only symptom was a little vibration on some turns.
Had to upgrade the ac due to a seal leak. Had to replace the tranny since the previous owner was a maniac.
My wife pretty much sickened the engine after about 20 miles with no coolant. It still ran but was not happy about hills any more.
I got a raise and replaced it. Shoulda paid to fix it.
Not just a car - a life partner.
Great to see a classic given new life.
I just really miss when seats in cars were still actually comfy
Excellent review! Love these wagons
Stunning vedeo, amazing olds, terrific Zack !
It really sucks that for the most part modern manufacturers have abandoned ride quality for "sport". I, like most folks, spend my time either crawling in traffic or traversing crappy side roads. It's quite telling that my '99 Corvette z51 both rides better and handles better than my 2019 Accord sport. I wish manufacturers would stop responding to car mags and start responding to real world use. 99.9% of consumers don't care about ultimate handling, but they do appreciate a quiet, comfortable ride. I suspect that consumers gravitating towards SUV's has something to do with the ride quality and comfort that sedans and wagons provided in the past.
What a sled!! I love it
i love old station wagon
my favorite wagon
You should find a Gbody wagon.. I had a 78 malibu wagon, and it was PERFECT.. A family car, but not suoer big like this & the Caprice wagon.. I believe the early ones came with a 350 or 305..if not, Throw a 350 in it & they were sleepers
I have the Ultimate 80's wagon. 88 Chrysler Town and Country Turbo woody K car station wagon.
I love that car, One of my ex girlfriends had a 1985 Buick, this reminds me of that car!
😎 ty as always brotha
Holy hell FIX those damn head lamps!
Does this 1985 Custom Cruiser come with a gentle chime or a scary buzzer?
Hey. I've got an '81 and guess what? It's got it's rear facing seats still. Starter broke and probably needs a new battery so it's my project car. Where are you based out of?
Chicago!
Very quite cool.
Awesome video. Great car.
Notice the driver's side headlights are not aligned correctly
It's to be expected, it was pretty much a junkyard car for many years. It can be corrected though.
It’s how I got it 😂
Cool 🥰
I had an 87 Buick LeSabre wagon with the same 307 Oldsmobile engine and overdrive transmission. The lockup torque converter would often stick and want to stall the engine at stop signs. I would notice the engine starting to lug and the low oil pressure light would come on so I would throw it into neutral at the stop sign.
You can unplug the torque converter clutch. It’s obvious and looks like what it is. The car will not stall or lug the engine. Also it will actually perform better but will get slightly lower gas mileage which you won’t notice..
@jw77019 I know that now, but I didn't when I had this car in 1994.
My friends dad had one of these wagons.
One night he piled all the kids from our street in the car, and took us to an Astros game. Then on the drive home a certain sir-mix-alot song came on. You know the one.
My friends dad cranked it up then rapped every word, while all us kids laughed hysterically. Great times.
I cannot remember any of the game, but I remember the car and the moment we shared.
A neighbor had one of these in 1982. They passed it down to one of their kids and he drove it until the wheels fell off.
Ford had those swing out tailgates in the 1960s
Very nice!
6:30 I guess for more storage and hiding items. Also I've never had a wagon like this but I grew up in minivans and we almost never used the third row so I could see some people just removing it.
Still, it's a shame that was removed.
So incredibly cool