Oldsmobile Touring Sedan

The Oldsmobile Touring Sedan is a full-size car that was produced by Oldsmobile. Marketed from 1987 to 1993, two generations of the Touring Sedan were produced. Introduced to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Oldsmobile, the model also was an attempt by General Motors to differentiate Oldsmobile from Buick by marketing it to younger, upscale buyers.

Oldsmobile Touring Sedan
1989 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Oldsmobile (General Motors)
Also called	Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan
Production	1987–1990 (model) 1991–1993 (trim level)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan
Chronology
Successor	Oldsmobile Aurora Oldsmobile LSS

A variant of the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, both generations were based on the front-wheel drive GM C-platform. All examples were produced exclusively as a four-door sedan.

The Touring Sedan was discontinued after 1993; the model line was functionally replaced by the GM H-platform Oldsmobile LSS and the GM G-platform Oldsmobile Aurora.

Model history

1987–1990

Oldsmobile introduced the Touring Sedan late in the 1987 model year, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the nameplate. Officially designated the W12 option package for the Ninety-Eight sedan, the Oldsmobile Touring sedan carried a base price of just over $24,000 USD (approximately $54,011 in current dollars).

As with Oldsmobile Troféo and the later Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan (STS) and Eldorado Touring Coupe (ETC), the Touring Sedan was a performance-oriented derivative of an existing GM model line marketed towards buyers of European luxury sports sedans, including the Audi 5000, BMW 735i, and Mercedes-Benz 300E.[1]

While sharing the 165 hp 3.8L V6 (and 4-speed automatic transmission) of the Ninety-Eight (and Toronado),Even though Oldsmobile Built at least one Turbo Quad 4 Turbo prototype producing between 200-230 HP[2] Oldsmobile upgraded the handling of the Touring Sedan with the use of a stiffer FE3 touring suspension (shared with the Troféo), which added larger stabilizer bars; Teves four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) was included.[1][3]

Externally, the Touring Sedan was not badged or advertised as a Ninety-Eight, with Oldsmobile using special badges for the model.[1][3] The lower body was distinguished by dark gray body cladding and revised bumper covers; fog lamps were standard.[1][3] The interior underwent several revisions; to become the first five-passenger version of the Ninety-Eight, the Touring Sedan was fitted with custom 6-way Lear Siegler leather bucket seats, a floor-mounted transmission shifter with a floor console, real burled walnut wood trim, and a full set of instruments (tachometer, 120-mph speedometer, oil, volts, coolant temp, and fuel gauges).[1] The rear seat was redesigned to include individually-reclining seatbacks and head restraints.[3]

For 1988, the Touring Sedan saw few major changes. For 1989, the model line underwent an exterior revision, with all chrome exterior trim painted black; 16-inch wheels (shared with the Troféo) became standard.[1] A redesigned steering wheel was introduced (including controls for climate and stereo systems). Alongside the Delco-Bose cassette player, a CD player became an option.[3]

1991–1993

For 1991, the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight received a complete redesign of its exterior and interior. In place of a stand-alone model line, the Touring Sedan was reintroduced as a performance-oriented trim level, becoming the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Touring; the Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight received a similar variant, designated the LSS (Luxury Sports Sedan). Slotted alongside the Regency as the top-trim Ninety-Eight, the Touring was offered with five-passenger seating and alloy wheels (shared with the LSS).[1] The two-tone body of the previous generation was replaced with a monochromatic exterior (including a body-color grille); all chrome trim was deleted (with the exception of badging).

For 1992, a 205 hp supercharged version of the 3.8L V6 became an option (in line with the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Pontiac Bonneville SSEi, and Oldsmobile LSS); the naturally-aspirated 3.8L V6 produced 170 hp[1]

After the 1993 model year, Oldsmobile removed the Touring trim from the Ninety-Eight model line. While developed as the direct successor of the two-door Toronado, the four-door Aurora also closely matched the Ninety-Eight in size; leading Oldsmobile to consolidate the model line with the 88 after 1996. The similar LSS remained in production from 1991 to 1999, itself replaced by the 2001 Aurora.

Production

Model year	Production[1][4]
1987	3,985
1988	8,531
1989	7,193
1990	5,566
1991	4,280
1992	2,795
1993	1,885

See also

• Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight

References

1. Klockau, Tom. "Curbside Classic: 1992 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan – A Regency With An Attitude". Retrieved 2019-11-26.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cublVH6LtVg
3. "Auto Brochure". www.lov2xlr8.no. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
4. Helen Jones Early and James R. Walkinshaw, Setting the Place: Oldsmobile's First 100 Years (Oldsmobile: Lansing, MI: 1997), 484-487.

• Setting the Pace: Oldsmobie's First 100 Years, pg 484-487.