The well-publicized reliability troubles of the GM X-body family caused General Motors plenty of image damage during the 1980s, but the Chevy version sold well (at first).
caused General Motors plenty of image damage during the 1980s, but the Chevy version sold well (at first). Now, of course, most are gone, but examples turn up in wrecking yards every once in a while these days. So far in this series, we’ve seen this ’80 Skylark, this ’81 Citation, this frighteningly rusty ’81 Citation, this ’82 Citation, this ’82 Citation, this ’83 Citation, and this ’84 Omega. Now I’ve found another ’81, with a very nice interior and no apparent rust, in a Denver yard.
Originally sold by Mike Perry Chevrolet & Oldsmobile in Wayne, Nebraska, this car still has the original owner’s manual and inspection certificate.
An ignition key in a junkyard car usually means that the yard bought it from an insurance-company auction. The car took a bad hit in the left rear corner, which reduced its value to whatever the per-ton price for shreddable cars was at the moment. Perhaps I’m a little harsh on the X-body, but my criticisms come from personal experience.
It has air-conditioning, but the original buyer didn’t want to splurge on the AM-FM radio.
The optional 2.8-liter V6 was a better choice than the base Iron Duke four.
Chrysler wheel covers!