my boomer car of choice, late '80s personal luxury car

I don't own a car like this, but I'd like to because it speaks to my middle aged sensibilities now.

What is a personal luxury car? A two-door luxury sport coupe that has some size to it. There's the traditional four-door luxury sedan, but the luxury sport coupe is the smaller version of that and usually has more power to it.

Does any carmaker sell a new personal luxury car? BMW and Audi still do, but they obviously don't have the feel of how personal luxury cars used to be. A true personal luxury car is supposed to be more comfort (as in more luxury) than sport, and that's not what the German carmakers are building.

In the late '80s, the best personal luxury cars were from General Motors and Ford. GM had the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Buick Riviera, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Cadillac Eldorado, and Ford had the Thunderbird and Lincoln Mark VII.

Cars like this can go fast-ish, but that's not the point of them. This is a type of car that cruises really easy anywhere it goes. It's especially good for long highway drives.

Some question why the personal luxury car even existed. I don't. I totally get it. It's a car that's luxury and comfort first, sport second, a big trunk for some utility, and wrapped in a package that's not some big ungainly sedan. This is a car for just you and not for sharing (hence personal). It can carry two adults comfortably. You and somebody you like. That's it. Yes, it technically has back seats, but those are never used for people, nor would you want anybody back there.

I do hope America builds these again, because I want one. Maybe Cadillac will be first to bring it back. If they do, I hope they also bring back the Eldorado nameplate and call it that.

Published 2025 Jan 23