1988 Oldsmobile Firenza LS sedan from North America - Comments

The starter had to be replaced, but the dealer replaced it for a low price.

The exhaust system had to be replaced, but it was real cheap. Got a lot of needed parts from old Buick Skyhawks and Pontiac J2000s.

The steering wheel is starting to crack.

This is a limited luxury version of the Firenza. It is a LS version! Power windows, power door locks, remote trunk release, power steering, a deluxe steering wheel, soft upholstery on feather soft seats, and the car handles like an eagle. It has all the nice features of my mother's Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham, without the 'fat.'

I can't say enough good things about the Firenza.

I love its it's good looks, and I just love that blue rag-top. You see the dealer installed a Blue simulated convertible top and it has held up to the elements.

I also like the fact that it is so rust proof, even in Maine!

The Firenza is the ideal mix of Oldsmobiles, the luxury of the Ninety-Eight, the good looks of the Cutlass, and the front wheel drive of the Tornado.

So YOU'RE the one who actually bought the fake convertible top Firenza!

Ya, that simulated convertible top fools a lot of people.

Especially when its on a four-door sedan.

And a glass sunroof in the middle of it, heh.

I thought that they only put those fake tops on cars like Buick Centuries, and sold them to people who lived in retirement homes.

I could never figure out what the point was of putting a cloth covering over a steel roof. Especially after the birds get through with it.

If you can't fold it down, why put it on?

Sort of like those "dummy teardrop spotlights" they sell. Why bother?

Many cars in the 1970s-80s had fake convertible tops; I think they called them "Landau" tops. They just glued vinyl fabric over the steel, sometimes with padding underneath for a bulged-out effect. Cars of that vintage had a soldered body seam between the roof and rear pillar; I think the auto manufacturer got to save the finishing labor on that seam when they glued the Landau top on it. Today most cars have a rubber seal in that joint area.

The above comment is only partially correct. The vinyl tops in the '70's to mid-80's were factory applied, and cars that were scheduled to get a vinyl top at the factory usually did not get a fully finished roof since it was going to be partially or full covered with vinyl. The popularity of factory vinyl tops died out by the end of the 1980's.

The "fake convertible tops", however, with a few exceptions, were generally done by aftermarket shops, and applied over the factory painted steel roof. The finished product was usually less than tasteful when new and got even worse as the car aged.

One of the worst was probably the "Elegante" package that was applied too many cars, including, believe it or not, the Chevette/T1000!