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STEAL OR NO DEAL. 83 G Body.

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Old May 10, 2023 | 08:21 PM
  #1  
jefferyc2000@gmail.com's Avatar
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Youngcuttycruising
 
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STEAL OR NO DEAL. 83 G Body.

So worked some long shifts and have some funds available. Is there a catch to this vehicle, is it worth what he’s asking. Oldsmobile heads what’s your thoughts.
















Old May 10, 2023 | 08:51 PM
  #2  
rocketraider's Avatar
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From: Southside Vajenya
It's probably worth the money but two things stand out.

90,000 in-town miles are equivalent to twice that many highway miles.

The door rust is not unusual depending on where the car lived its life but its still concerning. The only sure way to get rid of it is replace the door.

You also want to be 100% sure this car will pass California emissions testing.

In other words there are probably better cars available for same money.
Old May 10, 2023 | 08:53 PM
  #3  
jefferyc2000@gmail.com's Avatar
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Youngcuttycruising
 
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Originally Posted by rocketraider
It's probably worth the money but two things stand out.

90,000 in-town miles are equivalent to twice that many highway miles.

The door rust is not unusual depending on where the car lived its life but its still concerning. The only sure way to get rid of it is replace the door.

You also want to be 100% sure this car will pass California emissions testing.

In other words there are probably better cars available for same money.

wasn’t entirely sure what it was worth. Definitely don’t know the value of these but anything Oldsmobile sounds good on paper am I right
Old May 10, 2023 | 10:13 PM
  #4  
VI Cutty's Avatar
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Is your goal to keep it, or flip it for some extra cash?

Take a good look at that rust around the quarter windows and take a real good look for rot in the frame.
Old May 11, 2023 | 04:34 AM
  #5  
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Concur with the door fixing. It would appear new door shells are in your future.

Especially look at the rear frame rails and the foot wells underneath. Body seam sealing wasn't tops on the list for quality back in the 80s. These are typical rust prone areas that's not easy to see on these G-bodies. Also the passenger front fender bottom looks like it's starting to bubble as well. This car looks the part of all original. The plus is a V8, but still a 3 speed 200C transmission. Another plus is it's a hardtop without vinyl, which really helps minimize roof rust issues. It very well may be some surface rust around the quarter window, hard to tell because the pictures suck defining the problem areas. Leather wrapped sport steering wheel should fix that stocker that's brittle and broken. Interior looks pretty good otherwise. May want to refinish the bottom plastic section of the doors. Plastic looks kind of chalky there.

90K means if the timing chain hasn't been replaced, that's job #1, save for a total rebuild or engine swap. And down the rabbit hole you go.

It seems solid. What do you want your new car to do? Just drive it around until the wheels fall off? Or do you want it to be reliable and road-worthy to anywhere? It's a project, and there's no way the car isn't going to get a repaint to look good later down the road. So there's that. You'll invest 10K in this car before you know it to get it looking and running good, even on a shoestring.

$2900 cash tops if frame and footwell rot hasn't set in. JMO.
Old May 11, 2023 | 04:37 AM
  #6  
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I always get a kick out of it when a seller says easy fix! If it's so easy then why didn't he do it ? as stated above the rot around the car is a concern it can be twice what your looking at. its not a bad price if the frame is in good shape. It really does come down to what you want from the car.
Old May 11, 2023 | 05:06 AM
  #7  
BlueCalais79's Avatar
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From: McCormick, SC
Agreed with all above and more. The probable reason for that rot in the door is there's a weep hole in the front & back bottom of the door that often gets clogged and will hold water, dirt, debris etc and if not cleared out the whole bottom of the door rots out. Also, rust under and on the side of the sail panel window - no good, this is an expensive, labor intensive repair. I had one of mine fixed 20 years ago and it was $1800 (Connecticut prices)

IMHO this is a walk away, maybe even a run-away. As 69HO43 advised, watch out for those frame rails, if rotted, deal killer. $2000 tops and that's due to the interior looking fairly nice.
Old May 11, 2023 | 05:14 AM
  #8  
oldcutlass's Avatar
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If you don't have the skills and funds to repair this yourself, walk away.
Old May 11, 2023 | 06:37 AM
  #9  
Olds64's Avatar
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^^^THIS^^^

There are other Oldsmobiles out there that are better deals.
Old May 11, 2023 | 06:58 AM
  #10  
redoldsman's Avatar
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Rust repairs will require a repaint. After that you will be upside down. Interesting I noted it has manual windows. Pretty unusual.
Old May 11, 2023 | 09:58 AM
  #11  
GN1220's Avatar
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Doesn't seem terrible but after you put doors on it you will never get the paint to match. And what happened to the paint on the top? Looks like it was rolled on over sand.
Old May 11, 2023 | 10:02 AM
  #12  
70W-32's Avatar
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Originally Posted by GN1220
Doesn't seem terrible but after you put doors on it you will never get the paint to match. And what happened to the paint on the top? Looks like it was rolled on over sand.
Looks like bedliner, which makes me think the roof is rusted
Old May 13, 2023 | 07:52 AM
  #13  
olds 307 and 403's Avatar
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From: Melville, Saskatchewan
G bodies have recently gone up in value but $3100 is a lot for a car with that much rot. If that was a H/O or 442, absolutely. A Grampa Cutlass, too much.
Old Sep 22, 2025 | 06:46 AM
  #14  
442Harv's Avatar
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From: Tracy Ca
It says fits Chevelle and GTOs, if the measurements are correct, and the openings are in the right place, I think it would fit?
Old Sep 22, 2025 | 09:17 AM
  #15  
dc2x4drvr's Avatar
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From: St Augustine
I hope the OP has fixed it by now, been over 2 years.
Old Sep 23, 2025 | 05:22 AM
  #16  
chopolds's Avatar
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From: Howell, NJ
Yeah, that roof looks very suspicious! Probably serious rust under that lumpy paint!
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