Driveway Finds: 1980s Ford Thunderbird and Oldsmobile 98 – Aero Vs. Sheer

Here’s a somewhat unusual pairing posted by Slant Six at the Cohort; a sheer-look era Oldsmobile 98 and an Aero-era Ford Thunderbird. Both, sitting quietly in a driveway, and both suffering from the odd paint ailments of Detroit’s mid-80s finishes. Still, the two vehicles speak of two styling languages that each marked an era; though living side by side in the early ’80s.

The brown Olds, which is an ’82-’84, was a styling holdover, carrying the sheer-look that took over all of GM’s offerings by the late ’70s. They were clean-looking Broughams and looked fit and taut for their time. Still, as a previous post told, this was truly “your father’s last Oldsmobile.”

The Thunderbird appeared in ’83 with a new Aero design language that marked the decade, carrying a sense of luxury that embraced the 1980s Sharper Image lifestyle. Maybe in its current state is a bit hard to tell, but when it came out, this ‘Bird spoke money in a so 1980s way.

I won’t deny I find it slightly odd to see these two sharing the same driveway, but they make a welcomed sight nonetheless. Two opposing sides of the 1980s, that together seem to tell about the styling upheavals of the period.

 

Related CC reading:

Vintage R&T Road Test: 1983 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe – (My) Eco Boost Pioneer

Auto-Biography: 1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe – EcoBoosted EgoBooster

Curbside Classic: 1984 Oldsmobile 98 – Your Father’s Last Oldsmobile?