| Oldsmobile Firenza (Series 3J)[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Oldsmobile (General Motors) |
| Production | 1982–1988 |
| Model years | 1982–1988 |
| Assembly | Leeds, Missouri (Leeds Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact car |
| Body style | 2-doorcoupé 2-doorhatchback 4-doorsedan 4-doorstation wagon |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | J-body |
| Related | Cadillac Cimarron Buick Skyhawk Pontiac Sunbird Chevrolet Cavalier |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,841 cc (112.3 cu in)OHVL46I4 1,796 cc (109.6 cu in)SOHCLH8I4 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in)OHVLQ5I4 1,991 cc (121.5 cu in)OHVLL8I4 1,998 cc (121.9 cu in)SOHCLT2I4 2,837 cc (173.1 cu in)LB6V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speedMuncie M17manual 5-speedGetrag 282 manual 3-speedTurbo-Hydramatic 125 Cautomatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in (2,570 mm) |
| Length | 169.9 in (4,315 mm) (hatchback) 171.9 in (4,366 mm) (sedan) 179 in (4,547 mm) (wagon) |
| Width | 65.0 in (1,651 mm) |
| Height | 52.3 in (1,328 mm) (hatchback) 53.8 in (1,367 mm) (sedan) 54.4 in (1,382 mm) (wagon) |
| Curb weight | 2343-2604lb (1063-1181kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Oldsmobile Starfire |
TheOldsmobile Firenza was acompact car which was produced byOldsmobile from 1982 to 1988. It was based on thefront-wheel driveGM J platform, which was shared with theBuick Skyhawk,Cadillac Cimarron,Chevrolet Cavalier andPontiac Sunbird. It was not based on theEuropean marketVauxhall Firenza, but on the same platform as theVauxhall Cavalier Mk 2 /Opel Ascona C. The Firenza name was previously used as a performance package on the previous generationOldsmobile Starfire hatchback.
The all-new Firenza was introduced in March 1982, as a replacement for the departedrear-wheel driveStarfire. Initially available as a two-doorhatchback and four-doorsedan, the lineup was expanded to include a 4-door "Cruiser" wagon in 1983, and a two-doornotchbackcoupe in 1986.[1][2] The name "Cruiser" was applied to all Oldsmobilestation wagons at the time; this included themid-sizedCutlass Cruiser andfull-sizeCustom Cruiser. The Firenza was positioned as Oldsmobile's entry-level compact car, priced below the slightly largerOmega and laterCalais/Cutlass Calais. Despite this, the Firenza could be equipped with premium options such as power windows, power locks, and 14-inch alloy wheels.[3] The 1982 Firenza LX sedan was listed for $8,080 ($26,327 in 2024 dollars[4]).[1] It is named for the Italian translation of the city ofFlorence.
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As abadge engineered, variant of theGM J-car platform, the Firenza received its own front and rear-end styling. The upper portion of the Firenza front end featured quad rectangularheadlights separated by signal lights in recessed housings, with a sloped body-color panel between the headlights.Grille inserts with vertical slats were located below the headlights in the front bumperfascia. The rear fascia of all but the wagon featured nearly squaretaillights with a slight wraparound at the outboard ends of the upper rear panel, while the wagon featured vertically-oriented rectangular taillights (as did the other J-body wagons). The Firenza dashboard assembly was shared only with the Buick Skyhawk, while the Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, and Cadillac Cimarron shared a markedly different dashboard assembly. The suspension was shared with the front-wheel-drive Omega and Cutlass Ciera, which consisted of MacPherson struts, lower control arms, coil springs and a stabilizer bar for the front, and atorsion-beam rear axle, along with coil springs and rear stabilizer bars.[1]
The Firenza was launched with a 2.0-liter OHVinline four-cylinder engine as the sole powerplant, but an Brazilian-built overhead-cam 1.8-liter engine was added during the model year. Oldsmobile did not utilize aturbocharger on these engines, while Buick and Pontiac offered a turbocharger on the overhead-cam engine.Wraparound amber turn signal lights were added immediately outboard of the headlights for 1984, while the grille insert was changed to a full-width unit with horizontal slats. In 1985, the 2.8 LLB6 V6 was added as an option with the GT package. The displacement of the overhead-cam engine increased to 2 liters in 1987.[1]
For the Firenza's last model year in 1988, it received a chromed horizontal bar grille between new aerodynamic composite headlamps and new tail lights, styled similar to theCutlass Ciera.[3] Also for the Firenza's final year, the hatchback was dropped along with the V6 and the overhead-cam engine, leaving just the four-cylinder OHV engine and notchback coupe, sedan, and wagon models. Also for 1988, all previous trim-level designations were dropped. All Firenza body styles came in a single unnamed base model that could be equipped with six various option packages.
Sales of the Cavalier and Sunbird annually dwarfed the Firenza.[2] Due to this, the Firenza was not replaced in Oldsmobile's lineup, leaving theCutlass Calais as the division's smallest car. TheCimarron was discontinued that year as well.Leeds Assembly, which built the Firenza, was closed. TheSkyhawk lasted another year, whileGM kept the first-generation Sunbird and Cavalier in production until 1994.
TheFirenza GT was only available on the S Coupe hatchback,[5] unlike the Chevy Cavalier Z24, Buick Skyhawk T-Type, and Pontiac Sunbird GT, which could be had as either two-door hatchbacks, two-door and four-door sedans. Four door hatchbacks of the J-platform were offered in Europe.
GTs first were introduced in 1983, 65 were built; red with silver lower panel accent color, sold as "Brass Hat" promotional cars for dealerships, most were equipped with the "new" 1.8-liter overhead cam motor, with either a three-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. FE3 suspension was included in the package with a rear-stabilizer bar, heavier struts all the way around, and a wider 205/60 tire offering on the 14" polycast wheels as standard for the GT package. 1984; red/silver carried over plus white with silver lower body color was added. 2312 GTs were produced, less than 20% were white. Engines either were the 2.0-liter (four-speed manual or three-speed auto) or the 1.8-liter (five-speed manual or three-speed auto).[1]
For 1985, 498 GTs were built, body colors were changed to either black or gray with silver trim (not as pronounced as with the 1983-84s.) A fiberglass hood with a pronounced center bulge was included, the 2.8-liter V6 was offered with only the four-speed manual or the three-speed auto, the wheels were changed to aluminum from the previous polycast wheel, this was to be the same for 1986 GT. 1986 was the only year the GT as its own separate trim level (with 1032 built), and the body color red became available again with silver accent. For 1987, the GT model (of 783 built), went back to an option on the hatchback and was the last year offered, essentially same as 1986, but added the availability of the heavier five-speed manual transmission that was on the 1.8-liter offering three years previous, along with the three-speed auto. The LB6 2.8-liter V6, 5-speed Getrag manual equipped 1987 Firenza GT performed 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds (0-100 km/h 9.1 seconds), with a top speed of 124mph (200km/h), doing the 1/4 mile (402m) drag in 16.6 seconds. The 3-speed automatic equipped GT did 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds (0-100 km/h 10.2 seconds), with a top speed of 109mph (175 km/h), doing the 1/4 mile (402m) in 17.3 seconds. Interesting note; The "GT" was used on the Calais and Ciera in 1987, replacing the "ES" (EuroSport) designation the previous two years, 1984-1985.[1]
The Firenza ES (EuroSport) sedan was introduced in Canada for 1984, and the U.S. in 1985. Not much is known of this offering, it had blacked out headlight bezels and blacked out trim on the tail lights, the interior upholstery used the same two color gray combo and red piping as with all the GTs. This was offered as a four-door GT trim, with the same polycast wheels, heavier suspension, used on the 1983 and 1984 GT hatchbacks. They were only offered in a dark-silver body color.
| Year[6][1] | Coupe | Hatchback | Sedan | Wagon | Yearly Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | - | 14,911 | 15,197 | - | 30,108 |
| 1983 | - | 11,975 | 16,345 | 12,432 | 40,752 |
| 1984 | - | 17,990 | 46,325 | 18,160 | 82,475 |
| 1985 | - | 7,684 | 27,929 | 8,727 | 44,340 |
| 1986 | 14,870 | 3,563 | 22,852 | 5,416 | 46,701 |
| 1987 | 6,209 | 1,774 | 14,985 | 2,860 | 25,828 |
| 1988 | 2,724 | - | 8,612 | 920 | 12,256 |
| Total | 23,803 | 57,897 | 152,245 | 48,515 | 282,460 |
A division ofGeneral Motors, 1908–2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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