Chevrolet Caprice

The 1986 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sedan offered luxury style at a low price.

The 1986 Chevrolet Caprice was the model to finally unseat the Chevrolet Impala. First appearing in 1958, the Impala nameplate finally bit the dust in 1986. Once the top series in the full-size Chevy line, it had been overshadowed by the Caprice for the previous two decades and was finally retired.

Taking its place was a base Caprice sedan, topped by a Caprice Classic coupe, sedan, and wagon, which, in turn, were topped by a new Caprice Classic Brougham sedan. The last was a plushly equipped model added to appeal to fans of the old rear-drive Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Delta 88, which had switched to a smaller front-wheel-drive platform for '86.

Standard power for coupes and sedans came from the 4.3-liter V-6 introduced for '85, now rated at 140 horsepower, up 10 from before. Optional on those bodies and standard on wagons was the 165-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8 that had long been a Caprice mainstay.

The V-6 came only with a three-speed automatic transmission, while the V-8 came only with a four-speed automatic. Dropped for '86 was the unpopular -- and unreliable -- 5.7-liter diesel.

Even the base Caprice now topped $10,000, while the new Caprice Classic Brougham listed at $11,429. Still, sales continued to impress, holding fairly steady at just over 245,000.

Despite higher prices in 1986, the Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sedan still sold well.

1986 Chevrolet Caprice Facts

For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:

• Classic Cars: Learn about more than 400 of the world's finest classic and collectible automobiles.
• Muscle Cars: Look back at tire-smoking Chevys and scores of other machines from the golden age of American high performance.
• Sports Cars: Discover the pleasure of sports motoring at its purest in these captivating articles on the best sports cars from around the world.
• Consumer Guide Automotive: Here's your source for news, reviews, prices, fuel-economy and safety information on today's cars, minivans, SUVs, and pickups.
• Consumer Guide Used Car Search: In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and trouble spots.