The Oldsmobile Cutlass first came out on 1961. But even first-generation models get their inspiration from somewhere and this is certainly the case with cutlass. The first Oldsmobile Cutlass had an equally inspiring grandfather - the Oldsmobile Sports Coupe which was an experimental concept that first came out in 1954. The name “Cutlass” was from a Navy fighter jet called the Chance-Vought Cutlass. This aviation theme was maintained by the Cutlass design team on many of the car’s generations. The first official Cutlass released in 1961, was designed to be a sportier version of the original coupe and since then on the name Cutlass became synonymous with iconic American design and style. Let’s take a look at the evolution of the Cutlass and why it became such a hit.
It featured a Y-body frame on a unibody construction with a 112-inch wheelbase and rocking a V8 engine that produced 155 horsepower. The new Cutlass was a compact car and Oldsmobile marketed it as the company’s upscale model. This model had a similar design to the F-85 deluxe. The main difference lay under the hood with the deluxe being available with a 155hp 2bbl engine or a 185hp 4bbl engine. On the inside, it came with a two-tone vinyl-trim and front bucket seats. 1962 saw the release of the F-85 Cutlass convertible and featured a turbo-charged V8.
The second-generation Cutlass got a size upgrade and an entirely new design. It now had a longer wheelbase of 115 inches. Wagons were even longer at 130 inches. It was an instant hit which translated in a steep rise in unit sales. This generation Cutlass models included a two-door coupe, convertible, two-door hardtop and the Vista Cruiser wagon. The engine was now a cast iron V-8. There was yet another facelift in the 1965 model which could now be purchased with either a manual or automatic transmission. But it wasn’t until 1966 where Oldsmobile started marketing the Cutlass as an independent model and no longer as a sub-model of the F-85. It was also during this year that Oldsmobile released the Supreme.
This new generation also featured a completely new design with more options when it came to the wheelbase. The 2-door Supreme style came with a 112-inch wheel base while the 4-door had 116 inches. The wagon had a wheel base of 121 inches. In 1969, the Cutlass got a frontal makeover which would vary throughout subsequent models including the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass yet maintain its signature Cutlass look. Designers also added new rooflines as well as body panels to the Oldsmobile Cutlass. From 1968 to 1971 the company turned their attention to engine options which included the 310 HP Raylle 350, the 455 hp V-8 SX. The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass was available in any V8 engine option.
The 1973 Cutlass featured the 180 hp Rocket V8 350-cid. Buyers also had the option of the bigger 250-hp 455-cid. The fourth generation came with either a 3-speed manual or 4-speed manual. The most preferred by buyers being of course the three-speed manual. Like all models, some packages were more popular than others and this was certainly the case with the 1973 Hurst. The W-46 was also a favorite among buyers mainly due to the torque converter and the 400-auto transmission. Not forgetting the superior springs and sway bar. The 1974 model featured an auto-transmission as standard. However, the three-speed manual would re-appear in 1975. This was also the year when the 250-cid, sourced from Chevrolet, was made standard. And when buyers wanted an upgrade, they had the option of the 260-cid engine. The Cutlass model in the fourth generation also went with the name “Colonnade” owing to the fixed side windows. This generation only came as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan. However, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was also available as a 2-door coupe with standard rear side windows.
The previous generation Cutlass had done pretty well in terms of sales. However, during this era, there was a lot of pressure on creating more fuel-efficient vehicles which caused the fifth generation to feature a much smaller A-level body similar to that on the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Chevy Malibu. This new model had gone back to the 112-inch wheel base. You could also get the Cutlass station wagon and the 4-door sedan with a 116-inch wheel base. And sure, the fifth generation Cutlass was a foot shorter than the previous generation but the interior was just as roomy thanks to a cleaver packaging design. For instance, there was more elbow room thanks to the fixed rear door glass. There was also a makeover under the hood to only allow for a V-6 or V8 engine. The size of the Cutlass had gone back to the compact design of the first generation. The standard engine for the 1978 model was the V6 which was supplied by Buick. Because of this, there was more shedding of weight, better fuel efficiency all while maintaining the great performance that Cutlass was known for. You could get either a 350-cid or 260-cid diesel V8 with the 1979 Cutlass model. The following year, Cutlass replaced the 4-door “aeroback” Cutlass with the more conventional design of the 4-4-2. However, both the aeroback and the 4-4-2 would be dropped in 1942. Still, the fifth generation Cutlass was renowned for its smooth handling and steering and overall great driving experience.
There was a new redesign of the previous Cutlass which now featured two different and distinct lines. The Cutlass Supreme still had the old intermediate size with rear-wheel drive and the new Cutlass Ciera was even smaller and more compact. As for the engine options, buyers could choose between the 260-cid V8 or the base model 231-cid V6. Then there was the 140hp 5.0-liter gasoline engine. There were also a couple of diesel options which included the 4.3-liter V6 with 85hp and the 105hp 5.7-liter V8.mMultiple options were available when it came to the transmission also. Buyers could opt for the 3-speed, and 4-speed autos. For those who wanted the diesel models, they could also get a the 5-speed manual. Oldsmobile re-introduced the Hurst which came with extra features such as a tachometer dual exhaust and even a sticker package. The Hurst package would later be dropped in 1985 for the 4-4-2 package. This generation also saw Oldsmobile drop the rear-wheel models.
As we saw, there was a drop of the rear-wheel Cutlass models and this latest generation also saw a revamp in design. There was the introduction of the front-wheel line with a W-body design. Simply put, the design was entirely new. The motivation now had shifted to creating fuel-efficient cars much more easily and efficiently. The seventh generation now featured a 107.5-inch wheel base. The front wheel design of the new Cutlass also came with new features such as the heads-up display making the Cutlass the first in the car industry to do this. But there was a downside. This latest model had some issues such as oil leaks, not enough bracing and cowl shake which forced Oldsmobile to issue a recall. The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme of 1988 to 1989 came as only 2-door coupes. It wasn’t until 1990 where Oldsmobile introduced the 4-door sedan version as well as the convertible. This was also the year that Oldsmobile released the Cutlass convertible. There was a revival of the Supreme name in 1997 which looked almost identical as the Chevy Malibu. But there were some notable differences. The front fascia featured a slit grille like the old models, and the rear tail lamps were all red. The only engine available for the 1997 Supreme was the 3100 V6. This engine type was one of the most popular engines produced by General Motors. The car also came with chrome wheels and leather seats.
The Oldsmobile is one of the most iconic American made cars and there are still plenty of individuals who love to own a classic Oldsmobile. Depending on the year of manufacture, the Oldsmobile can be a great purchase. A 1997 Oldsmobile for instance, will lose about 2% of its value in 5 years. Some sources even claim that owners can expect their Oldsmobile to rise in value over the years. If you are thinking of getting yourself one of these classic cars, then you probably want to know how much an Oldsmobile will set you back. The price ranges from between $24,000 to as high as $35,000. In some sites you could get the price as high as $90,000 So, you are probably now thinking, should I spend your money on an 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass? There is no doubt that the Oldsmobile has a rich history spanning more than half a century. It is an American icon that was highly popular in its day and for good reason. If this is something you would resonate with then a Oldsmobile can be the one for you.
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