Oldsmobile · 1982–1988

Oldsmobile Firenza

The Oldsmobile Firenza was a compact car which was produced by Oldsmobile from 1982 to 1988. It was based on the front-wheel drive GM J platform, which was shared with the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunbird. It was not based on the European market Vauxhall Firenza, but on the same platform as the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk 2 / Opel Ascona C. The Firenza name was previously used as a performance package on the previous generation Oldsmobile Starfire hatchback.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Oldsmobile Starfire

All Oldsmobile Firenza data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Overview

The all-new Firenza was introduced in March 1982, as a replacement for the departed rear-wheel drive Starfire. Initially available as a two-door hatchback and four-door sedan, the lineup was expanded to include a 4-door "Cruiser" wagon in 1983, and a two-door notchback coupe in 1986. The name "Cruiser" was applied to all Oldsmobile station wagons at the time; this included the mid-sized Cutlass Cruiser and full-size Custom Cruiser. The Firenza was positioned as Oldsmobile's entry-level compact car, priced below the slightly larger Omega and later Calais/Cutlass Calais. Despite this, the Firenza could be equipped with premium options such as power windows, power locks, and 14-inch alloy wheels. The 1982 Firenza LX sedan was listed for $8,080 ($26,957 in 2025 dollars ). It is named for the Italian translation of the city of Florence. As a badge engineered, variant of the GM J-car platform, the Firenza received its own front and rear-end styling. The upper portion of the Firenza front end featured quad rectangular headlights 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 bumper fascia. The rear fascia of all but the wagon featured nearly square taillights 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 contr

GT

The Firenza GT was only available on the S Coupe hatchback, 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). 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 o

Sales

== Engines == 1982: 1.8 L L46 carbureted OHV I4 1982–1986: 1.8 L LH8 TBI SOHC I4 1983-1986: 2.0 L LQ5 TBI OHV I4 1987–1988: 2.0 L LT2 TBI SOHC I4 1987–1988: 2.0 L LL8 TBI OHV I4 1985–1987: 2.8 L LB6 MPFI OHV V6

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Oldsmobile Firenza (Series 3J)
Manufacturer: Oldsmobile (General Motors)
Production: 1982–1988
Model years: 1982–1988
Class: Compact car
Body style: 2-door coupé, 2-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 4-door station wagon
Assembly: Leeds, Missouri (Leeds Assembly)
Predecessor: Oldsmobile Starfire
Wheelbase: 101.2 in
Length: 169.9 in (hatchback), 171.9 in (sedan), 179 in (wagon)
Width: 65.0 in
Layout: Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform: J-body
Height: 52.3 in (hatchback), 53.8 in (sedan), 54.4 in (wagon)
Engine: 1841 cc OHV L46 I4, 1796 cc SOHC LH8 I4, 1991 cc OHV LQ5 I4, 1991 cc OHV LL8 I4, 1998 cc SOHC LT2 I4, 2837 cc LB6 V6
Transmission: 4-speed Muncie M17 manual, 5-speed Getrag 282 manual, 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 125 C automatic
Related: Cadillac Cimarron, Buick Skyhawk, Pontiac Sunbird, Chevrolet Cavalier
Kerb weight: 2343-2604lb (1063-1181kg)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1471140CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_FirenzaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1351255383 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oldsmobile_Firenza_coupe_2.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.