1981 Ford Granada, Coupes of 1981
1981 Ford Granada

My dad was a coupe man, though I cannot say he owned coupes on purpose. He was a bargain hunter, and a car’s door count was less important than its price. Nonetheless, my sister, mother and I never complained about having to squeeze into the back seat. For the most part, my dad’s Chevrolet Nova 2-door, and multiple Oldsmobile Cutlass and Pontiac Ventura coupes, offered sufficient rear-seat space, provided you didn’t mind negotiating the path past the folded front seat—and for the most part, we didn’t mind.

Americans are whinier these days, and expect their family vehicles to be equipped not only with roomy second-row accommodations, but easy access to the area via a dedicated set of doors. What I’m saying is, the coupe is all but gone. I challenge you to name a sub-$50,000 coupe that isn’t a sports car that is still available. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Plenty of coupes were available back in 1981, however, and I have collected a few print ads from the era to prove it. If you remember spending time with any of these vintage 2-door rides, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

More classic car ads

Coupes of 1981

Buick Electra

1981 Buick Electra
1981 Buick Electra

The Big “V” Engine of Desperate Times: Remembering the Buick 4.1-liter V6

 

Buick Regal

1981 Buick Regal
1981 Buick Regal

Cheap Wheels: 1992-1996 Buick Regal GS Sport Coupe

 

Cadillac Coupe Deville

1981 Cadillac Coupe Deville
1981 Cadillac Coupe Deville

What Was the Cadillac V8-6-4?

 

Cadillac Eldorado Evolution by Pierre Cardin

1981 Cadillac Evolution I by Pierre Cardin
1981 Cadillac Eldorado Evolution by Pierre Cardin

What Was The Cadillac Eldorado Evolution?

 

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Headlamp Hat Dance: 6 Years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo

 

Dodge 400

1981 Dodge 400
1981 Dodge 400

First Car: 1986 Dodge Aries

 

Ford Granada

1981 Ford Granada (Canada)
1981 Ford Granada (Canada)

Downsized Like Crazy: The Fox-Platform Fords of 1981

 

Mercury Zephyr

1981 Mercury Zephyr
1981 Mercury Zephyr

Segment in Transition: The American Compact Sedans of 1979

 

Plymouth Reliant

1981 Plymouth Reliant
1981 Plymouth Reliant

Engine of a Lesser God: Remembering the Mitsubishi 2.6-liter “Hemi”

 

Pontiac Grand Prix

1981 Pontiac Grand Prix
1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Bank Run: My Boss’s Grand Prix and $15,000 in Cash

Listen to the very entertaining Car Stuff Podcast

Coupes of 1981 Gallery

Click below for enlarged images

Cheap Wheels: 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE Turbo

Car Stuff Podcast

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