1987 Olds Regency FE3 Touring Sedan

[pjc123]

I just joined this forum today because I may be lucking into a 1987 Olds Regency FE3 Touring Sedan. It's a great little car.Apparently it's a sport version of the Ninety Eight. It has leather bucket seats and a floor shift. I don't remember it from the 80's but suppose I was too busy with other things at the time.

What's got me puzzled is I can't seem to find but one mention of it when I tried searching. Also the FE3 designation seems to have started in later models, not the 1987.

Anyway, I was planning to sell it but am now wondering if I should keep it as a collector item. It has only 79,000 miles on it and it was pretty well maintained. The body is in good shape with the exception of some scratching on a rear quarter panel.

Can anyone suggest what it's value may be and what other resouces I can try for more history.

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. FE3 is just hd struts, rear level ride and quicker steering, worth maybe 1500. Condition and market dictate price here. This is not a classic car, in the future post in the olds Ninety Eight forum.

[pjc123]

Thanks for the reply,

I will post in the Ninety Eight section

Thanks for replying, even though I may have posted incorrectly. I'm a newbie, so assume I have at least one more chance. I will repost this in the 98 section. I'll also look for a way to disable this post in the general Classic Car category.

I'm curious to your response though; to my understanding there were only about 3,000 of this model made through 87-90. It seems somewhat unusual, in that it is a sport package on a Ninety Eight and seemingly, from searching Google, somewhat rare.

What makes a car a classic? Is it simply age, or is it something less easily defined or maybe voted on as in "hall of fame?"

Do you know what model and year the FE3 package was first introduced?

[maxwedge]

Age, value desireabilty. Many factors fit into the formula. I was a Cad/Olds SM in those days, there were plenty of FE3 cars sold back then, maybe not so many 98"s because of the stiffer suspension.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by pjc123

Thanks for the reply,

I will post in the Ninety Eight section

Thanks for replying, even though I may have posted incorrectly. I'm a newbie, so assume I have at least one more chance. I will repost this in the 98 section. I'll also look for a way to disable this post in the general Classic Car category.

I'm curious to your response though; to my understanding there were only about 3,000 of this model made through 87-90. It seems somewhat unusual, in that it is a sport package on a Ninety Eight and seemingly, from searching Google, somewhat rare.

What makes a car a classic? Is it simply age, or is it something less easily defined or maybe voted on as in "hall of fame?"

Do you know what model and year the FE3 package was first introduced?

Last question first. Since the 1960's through the '90's. Oldsmobile offered a suspension and steering package designed to improve handling. Base model Olds suspensions were usually Cadillac-soft as this is what the core buyers wanted at the time. Handling packages were optional and usually no indication was made on a car that the package had been installed.

By the '80's Olds started marketing cars with a bit more 'European' style, hoping to divert the odd BMW-type buyer into the Olds brand. Olds started to make big deal about the fact that the handling package was present. Your car is a result of this marketing ploy.

It was not too successful; most GM buyers who wanted a more 'European' type car bought the Pontiac Bonneville. Back in 1987, my Dad and I shopped around for just such a car. We looked at the Olds model just like yours and the Buick T-type. We chose the Bonneville SE because the dashboard was better, it did not have door-mounted seat belts and it had all the same features, handling and performance for $2500 less.

I would say your car is pretty rare and quite interesting. However, it's value really is not much different than regular late-80's Olds. But if it's a good one, then hang on to it. IMHO they were excellent, roomy, reliable cars. I would love to have another but around here the few remaining ones are all rust buckets.

As for it being a classic.......... it's like beauty..... it's in the eye of the beholder. Generally, classic cars have to be a minimum of 25 years old......... lots of people consider '80's cars to be classic these days..........
IMO there is no need to repost this in the 98 forum and I do not think you posted 'incorrectly'. But you will likely get a better response there for future questions in that forum, especially technical ones.