By Jim Brennan
Continuing on with our Hooniverse Weekend Edition, and here are a couple of mid 80’s personal luxury cars that I spotted over at the Brougham Society Facebook Page (Yes, again…). This was at the crossroads of the 80’s design paradigm between traditional (Cutlass) and New Wave (Cougar) that appealed to the exact same audience. So which one seemed to hold up best when viewed 30 odd years later… 
Let’s start with the traditional 1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham. This is very old school, and was the winning formula for Oldsmobile for quite some time, becoming the best selling car line (Cutlass Supreme) for a number of years from 1975 on. According to the listing:
I have a all original cutlass supreme for sale. Well kept by older lady. 30xxx original miles and it shows in the car. Cold A/C, and heater works. V6 great on gas or easily throw in a faster motor. Runs smooth text email preferred. No rush to sell. Obo interior is in excellent condition no tears blue pillow seats.
This car only shows 30,000 miles, and is really a head turner, and the asking price is only $3,700! There were 60,025 Cutlass Supreme Broughams produced for 1983. So, where are you going to get a car in this condition, with that mileage, for so little? Yes, there is all the low mileage bug-a-boos that can go wrong with a car like this, but it has a tried and true 231 V-6, and parts are available anywhere for a car like this, so take a look at the listing here. 
Now let’s move onto the New Wave Personal Luxury Car in the form of this 1986 Mercury Cougar LS. This was the kissing cousin to the wildly successful Aero Thunderbird of the same period, with one distinct difference… The roof line is more formal and upright, distinguishing the Cougar from the Thunderbird stablemate. It was also a Mercury best seller during this time period. According to the listing:
1986 Mercury Cougar LS!!! VERY CLEAN!! ONLY ONE LITTLE OLD LADY OWNER!!! She Was A NONSMOKER!! Car Has ONLY 85,660 Miles. Garage Kept, No Rust! Beautiful Body. Immaculate Interior- No Stains!!!. Has No Mechanical Problems. Good Tires! Would Love To Keep But Must Sell!!! Need Gone!! No REASONABLE OFFER Refused!!
Yes this car has a few more miles on it than the Cutlass, but that should not be a bad thing. The price is a little higher than the Cutlass as well, as $5,000. I think the seller can be talked down a couple of quid, don’t you think? Anyway, Lincoln Mercury dealers sold 135,904 Cougars for 1986, which wasn’t too shabby. See the listing here. 
Robby DeGraff 
Ross Ballot