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Clean 1981 Chevy Citation Coupe Up For Sale

The Chevy Citation was produced for a single generation between the 1980 and 1985 model years, arriving as Chevy’s very first production front-wheel-drive car. Although the Citation was well-received when it launched, it was later heavily criticized for its poor build quality and overall reliability. Nevertheless, some folks still harbor fond memories of the Citation, and now, this surprisingly clean example is up for sale in Connecticut.

The exterior of a 1981 Chevy Citation.

As spotted by the folks at Barn Finds, this 1981 Chevy Citation presents a three-door hatchback body that looks to be in particularly good condition. Even though Chevy produced over 1.6 million units of the Citation between the 1980 and 1985 model years, finding one in such pristine condition is pretty rare. The current owner states that they bought the vehicle “several years ago from the estate of the original owner,” and it now shows 57,600 miles on the odometer.

The exterior is finished in two-tone with beige on top of yellow, with some minor fading in spots. The beige continues into the cabin, where we find a vertically mounted radio and HVAC controls, a large two-spoke steering wheel, and hand-crank windows. The seats include light tan upholstery that’s in very condition.

As for the powertrain spec, this Chevy Citation is powered by the Iron Duke 2.5L four-cylinder gasoline engine, mated to the TH-125 three-speed automatic transmission. Again, the condition is surprisingly good considering this thing is well over 40 years old.

All in all, it would be hard to find a Citation as nice as this one, which might make it a nice addition for a collection, if one were so inclined.

Now, this surprisingly clean 1981 Chevy Citation Coupe is up for grabs on craigslist in New Milford, Connecticut. The current owner is has a listed asking price of $7,800.

Do you think that’s a fair price? What do you think this Citation is worth? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and remember to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Citation news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Its not worth it for this model , if it offer the 2.8L V6 or the X11 variant Maybe.
    I almost bough a new X11 in 84 but opted for a 4WD S10 with the 2.8 V6 and 5 speed manual , It was a great truck !!

    Reply
    1. The Electric and Gas utility I worked for bought a number of these over the years. All cars were always kept for 100k and then wholesaled out. Many workers bought them as the company always maintained all in best condition.

      Reply
  2. A vehicle is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it. Personally, I’d love to have a really clean Citation myself, but even this one seems too high priced to me. Five grand? Yes. But like Kirk said above, if it was an X1 in a nice color, then certainly worth the 7800.

    But no matter, it’s a cool old car that will sell.

    Reply
  3. 1 dollar, Bob.

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  4. After going through a divorce with my 2 year old daughter involved in ‘85 – ‘86, I had to get new transportation for myself as I was left with a ‘70 Chevelle SS396 almost restored. Bought a brown on brown ‘83 Olds Cutlass coupe, v6. Quickly grew tired on payments on that & sold it back to local used car dealer. Sold the Chevelle ( stupid & still regret) & bought a ‘79 L48 auto Corvette with only 20 k miles ( sold 2 years ago, much fun & enjoyment). Widowed Aunt hated to see ‘Vette as my daily driver & offered me my choice of a Citation or a Plymouth “Reliant “ K car coupe she had. I took the Reliant as my best friend had bought a Citation new its initial year & took it back to the dealer about 20 times! Drove the Reliant several years & friend carried it to local wholesale sale for me. Got $100 for it & gave him $20. Those were the days.

    Reply
    1. Coworker had an ’81 Reliant that alwayys died on the highway. He traded it for a Malibu. Westinghouse had a fleet of ’81 Citations at the time and we never had problems of that magnitude with them.

      Reply
  5. Ah yes, the famous vertical radio.

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    1. Quite a few cars had vertical radios over the years. Back in the ’40s Chrysler did on several of their different brands and that carried over into the early 1950s. The only problem the people had with the vertical radios is the music came outsideways.

      Reply
  6. That would be a resounding no IMO. These early run X cars were more troublesome and suffered a slew of recalls so I have to wonder how this car will hold up with more miles. Morning sickness in the steering was common, the Varajet carburetors were a pain in the but and the rear brakes were prone to early lock up. Ad to that a gruff noisy underpowered carbed Iron Duke and it’s just a non starter. Now as mentioned if this were an X11 or even a 2.8 car then maybe.

    Reply
  7. “It’s the first Chevy of the ‘80s….Chevy Citaaaaation”

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  8. We serviced a fleet of Citations. To be honest they took a beating as cars for a local paper carrying loads papers.

    They all were F41 suspensions and V6. Only the early cars has CV boot issues and power rack issues.

    Over the years they must have used 100 of them and only one had an engine or transmission issue. It blew a week out of the dealer.

    On the other hand we had tons of Ford Tempos with oil leaks and K cars that smoked.

    The company later went to V6 Cavalier wagons. They were cool as it really was a Z24 but in a plain wagon.

    Reply
  9. What a fun article. I had an 1980 Olds Omega (X Car) with Z51 suspension, manual transmission and the V6. It was a horrible handling car but as a guy in his early 20’s had a great time with it. Would never want to how an X-Car again even for nostalgia’s sake.

    Reply
  10. Learned how to drive a manual transmission and took my learner’s permit driving test in my mother’s blue ’81 Citation. She never had one problem with that car.

    Reply
  11. The exceptional condition is more than offset by the anemic 84 HP “Iron Duke” and the fugly color combo.

    Reply
  12. I had a Citation for ten years, 250000 miles. One of the best cars I owned. Only needed minor adjustments in the first year, but run flawless after that for 9 more years. Excellent and underrated model.

    Reply
  13. Had one and was a decent car until the ‘electric fan went out as I was crossing the Houston ship channel in the summer

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  14. Known tranny pump shaft failure.

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  15. Why would anyone buy this for more than $2,000, I would sell my 2005 Mercury grand Marquis with 69,000 miles for $7,000 and it’s ten times the car that piece of junk is.

    Reply
  16. Had a 1980 Skylark Limited back in the day with the 2.8 and fully loaded; a baby Electra in a way. I would pay 7800 for that. This citation is a hatchback (ugly), Iron Due 2.5 (sounds like a lawn mower with powe to match). If it was a rare club coupe XIi it ould be worth it.

    Reply
    1. I had an 81 Skylark! what a Lemon! I went through 2 engines, the 2.8 to me was the worst engine I’ve ever owned and went through 2 transmissions also. The car was fast as snot but it could not take the beating I gave it! LOL

      Reply
  17. Hell No!

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  18. Had a white 1981 4-door automatic. Hood rusted early and the rear wanted to become the front when braking on wet or snowy roads. Anemic Iron Duke which didn’t like to start in winter.

    Reply

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