The folks at RoverClassic.com saw the post and left this comment: "Toyota? How about a Buick Century Diesel?" I knew that GM built some diesels in the 1980s, but didn't think any were still around. It turns out that there is at least 1 still left in the world, and the guys at RoverClassic have it.
This post is also for amusement purposes only. (It's amusing to us now, but it wasn't all that amusing when these cars were new...)
GM offered 3 passenger car diesel engines. 2 V8s and a V6. They were developed Oldsmobile, but used shared with the other GM divisions.Based on GMs gas powered engines, but not developed or tested enough, the diesel V8s were complete disasters. Head gasket and cylinder head failures were extremely common. Fuel delivery was a problem. Bent rods and broken crankshafts were problems, too. The list goes on and on... It was so bad the a class action lawsuit resulted in GM replacing the engines at little or no cost to the owner. Many V8 diesels were converted to gasoline engines.
The 4.3 liter V6 diesel, like the one in this car, was marginally better. A different head bolt design meant that head gaskets didn't blow as early or as often on these engines as they did on the V8.
Like the Corolla diesel, I can't think of a good reason to recommend this car to anyone. Unlike the Corolla, this car is in very, very nice shape. The chances of you ever again seeing a car like this - in this condition - are very slim.
Located in Staten Island, NY, click here to see the dealer's ad.** This car sold on eBay a few days ago for $4400.00 (!!).**
