Junkyard Find: 1982 Chevrolet Citation

[cawimmer430]

Even though this car was by most accounts a total POS, it does look kinda cool... *HIDES FROM THE SHAME OF ADMITTING THIS ON CARSPIN*

Junkyard Find: 1982 Chevrolet Citation

The Chevy Citation (and X-body Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick siblings) was built in large quantities during its 1980-1985 run, but disappeared from American streets fairly quickly; by the middle 1990s, an X-body in running condition was a rare sight. Still, I run across them in junkyards now and then. In this series, we've seen this '80 Skylark, this '81 Citation, this '82 Citation, and this '83 Citation, and I've declined to photograph many more. I spotted today's find in a Northern California wrecking yard back in March, and it's a loaded hatchback with V6, automatic, and refrigerator-white paint.






The Citation's real and perceived quality issues did plenty of damage to GM's reputation, helping to push ever more car shoppers into the nearest Toyota or Datsun showroom.




The replacement for the Nova had to be a light front-wheel-drive car, due to CAFE standards coupled with the need to compete with the spacious-inside Accord, and at first the Citation seemed to get the job done.




This one has the created-for-the-X-body 60-degree V6 engine instead of the base Iron Duke. The descendents of this engine family are still with us today, now making over 300 horsepower.




The Citation's interior was roomier than the rear-wheel-drive Nova, and the car got much better fuel economy. Unfortunately, it held together more like a Fiat than like the kind of car Chevy shoppers had come to expect.


HOLY SHIT! The advertising! 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C67s6xysEj8




Link: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/05/junkyard-find-1982-chevrolet-citation-2/

[CJ]

The looks were never an issue.

[cawimmer430]

The looks were never an issue.

Do you also find that it looks "nice"?

[Madman]

The looks were never an issue.

Do you also find that it looks "nice"?

The X-11's painted bumpers, blacked-out trim and alloy wheels looked pretty snazzy by early-1980s standards.  The Citation's main problem was the standard engine, which produced less power than food mixer and a body that had all the structural integrity of a cardboard box in a thunderstorm.

[cawimmer430]

The X-11's painted bumpers, blacked-out trim and alloy wheels looked pretty snazzy by early-1980s standards.  The Citation's main problem was the standard engine, which produced less power than food mixer and a body that had all the structural integrity of a cardboard box in a thunderstorm.

The standard engine was that famous "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder. Right?

Did that engine ever do anything right? All I hear are complaints about it! Especially in terms of refinement.

[Soup DeVille]

The standard engine was that famous "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder. Right?

Did that engine ever do anything right? All I hear are complaints about it! Especially in terms of refinement.

At one time it was a popular engine for using in VW-chassis based dune buggies, but saying that it was a step up from a 1.6 liter aircooled VW mill designed in the 30s is a backhanded compliment at best.

[cawimmer430]

At one time it was a popular engine for using in VW-chassis based dune buggies, but saying that it was a step up from a 1.6 liter aircooled VW mill designed in the 30s is a backhanded compliment at best.

I just love the name of that thing: "Iron Duke".

It sounds so badass. 

[3.0L V6]

I just love the name of that thing: "Iron Duke".

It sounds so badass. 

It sounds like a rock grinder. Shakes like one too.

It's hard to believe GM kept the thing until 1993. Actually, considering GM, it is not that hard to believe.

But still, in the age of smooth Honda and Toyota overhead-cam four-cylinders, it was a reminder that mediocrity was one of the enduring traits of GM (see: Chevrolet Cavalier).

[cawimmer430]

It sounds like a rock grinder. Shakes like one too.

It's hard to believe GM kept the thing until 1993. Actually, considering GM, it is not that hard to believe.

But still, in the age of smooth Honda and Toyota overhead-cam four-cylinders, it was a reminder that mediocrity was one of the enduring traits of GM (see: Chevrolet Cavalier).

I get it. It was a crappy engine.

But at least it had a cool name.

Was the 2.8 V6 in the Citation any better in terms of reliability or smoothness? I heard that those tended to overheat like crazy.

[2o6]

I get it. It was a crappy engine.

But at least it had a cool name.

Was the 2.8 V6 in the Citation any better in terms of reliability or smoothness? I heard that those tended to overheat like crazy.

The Iron Duke has all the refinement of a Home Depot paint shaker.

[cawimmer430]

The Iron Duke has all the refinement of a Home Depot paint shaker.

Hook that engine up to a vibrator and women would love it!

[Soup DeVille]

I just love the name of that thing: "Iron Duke".

It sounds so badass. 

Well, I guess when it comes to naming things after the Duke of Wellington, it's a step above rubber boots.

[MX793]

The Iron Duke has all the refinement of a Home Depot paint shaker.

And in early Fieros, was prone to spontaneously bursting into flames.

[Soup DeVille]

And in early Fieros, was prone to spontaneously bursting into flames.

Only after the con rod snapped off and broke through the side of the block, allowing oil to spray onto the catalytic converter.

Other iron duke engines did this too, but the oil didn't spray directly onto anything really hot, so it wasn't a safety concern and wasn't recalled.

[cawimmer430]

Well, I guess when it comes to naming things after the Duke of Wellington, it's a step above rubber boots.

Why is an American engine named after a historical British figure? 

[hotrodalex]

Why would you want to soil a good American name with such garbage?

[Soup DeVille]

Why is an American engine named after a historical British figure? 

Ummm, well...

Despite our habit of shooting at them, we generally hold the British in relatively high regard.

[Madman]

Well, I guess when it comes to naming things after the Duke of Wellington, it's a step above rubber boots.

And to think all this time I've associated the Iron Duke with John Wayne.  Well, you learn something new everyday!

Why is an American engine named after a historical British figure? 

It's that whole "Special Relationship" thing which came about due to a shared ancestry.

[Soup DeVille]

To be honest, I've never heard it from any definitive source. I suppose there may be several "Iron Dukes" throughout history, but The first Duke Of Wellington was the only one I thought of. There's an Iron Count too, who I can't remember anything about other than he's the first person in history to have been known to use the phrase "He can lick my arse."

But, John Wayne was simply the Duke, I've never heard him called the "Iron Duke."

[cawimmer430]