Oldsmobile Cutlass The Oldsmobile Cutlass was an automobile made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Cutlass was introduced in 1961 as a unibody compact car competing with the Dodge Lancer and Mercury Comet.
Over the years, the Cutlass name was used by Oldsmobile as almost a sub-marque, with a number of different vehicles bearing the name simultaneously. This was probably shrewd, because the Cutlass name had great equity and became one of the most popular nameplates in the industry in the 1970s. However, the proliferation of Oldsmobile Cutlass models caused confusion in the market-place in the 1980s, when four different vehicles (the Cutlass Calais, Cutlass Ciera, Cutlass Cruiser, and Cutlass Supreme) all shared the name.
Origins of the Cutlass
The first Oldsmobile Cutlass was an experimental sports coupe designed in 1954. It rode a 110 in (2794 mm) wheelbase, and had a dramatic fastback roofline, with a stock Oldsmobile V8 engine. Its platform was quite similar to the later compact Olds F-85, which was not introduced for seven more years.
First-Generation Compact
General Motors began developing its first compact cars in 1956, beginning with the Chevrolet Corvair. The following year a second series of somewhat larger cars was planned for Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac, what would be termed "senior compacts." They would share the same body shell and lightweight engine. Oldsmobile designer Irving Rybicki began work on the Olds model in 1957. It finally went on sale in 1960 as a 1961 model.
The Oldsmobile, dubbed F-85, shared a new A-body platform, using a 112-inch (2845 mm) wheelbase and still-novel unibody construction, with the Buick Special and Pontiac Tempest. It was Oldsmobile's smallest, cheapest model -- some two feet (60 cm) shorter and $451 cheaper than the next-smallest Olds. The F-85 had double wishbone front suspension and a four-link live axle in the rear, suspended with coil springs all around. Standard engine was the new small V8, all aluminum, displacing 215 cu. in. (3.5 L). With a two-barrel carburetor, it was rated 155 hp (115.6 kW) and 210 lb-ft (284 N-m). Transmission options were initially three-speed manual or the newly introduced three-speed Roto Hydramatic. The F-85 had drum brakes of 9.5 in (241 mm) diameter. Overall length was initially 188.2 in (4780 mm), and curb weight was around 2,800 lb (1,270 kg).
1961
The first-year F-85 was offered as a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan in base or Deluxe trim, or a four-door station wagon with either two or four seats, in base or Deluxe form. Initial sales were somewhat disappointing, but were soon picked up by the May introduction of the Cutlass sports coupe (a pillarless two-door hardtop), sporting unique trim, an interior with bucket seats and center console, and a four-barrel version of the V8 engine, rated at 185 hp (138 kW). This engine was optional on other F-85s, as was a four-speed manual transmission. 80,347 F-85s were built in total.
Car Life magazine tested a F-85 with the standard engine and automatic transmission, and recorded a 0-60 (0-96 km/h) time of 14.5 seconds, with a top speed just over 100 mph (160 km/h). They praised its construction, but found its steering too slow and its suspension too soft for enthusiastic driving.
1962
The existing F-85 models returned, and a convertible was added to the line-up in September, available in both standard and Cutlass versions. Overall F-85 sales rose to 97,382, with the Cutlass displacing the four-door Deluxe sedan as the top-selling model.
Bigger news was the arrival of the Jetfire model, a Cutlass hardtop with a turbocharged version of the 215 V8 rated at 215 hp (160.4 kW) and 301 lb-ft (407 N-m), bucket seats and console, unique trim, and a vacuum gauge mounted in the console (where it was almost invisible). Although much faster than a standard F-85, the Jetfire was criticized for having the same soft suspension as its less-powerful brothers, for its lack of a tachometer and other instruments, and for the poor shift quality of both the automatic transmission and the optional four-speed. Car and Driver tested an automatic Jetfire and obtained a 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds, with a top speed of 110 mph (176 km/h). The Jetfire's high cost (nearly $300 over a standard Cutlass coupe) and reliability problems with its turbocharged engines limited sales to 3,765.
1963
A modest restyle for the 1963 model year added four inches (101.6 mm) to the F-85's overall length, increasing it to 192.2 inches (4882 mm). Three-seat station wagons were dropped. The Jetfire and its turbocharged V8 returned, for what would be its final year. Overall sales climbed again to 121,639, of which 53,492 were Cutlasses.
Second-Generation Intermediate
Disappointing sales of the compact F-85, along with the introduction of Ford Motor Company's intermediate Fairlane, prompted GM to enlarge the senior compacts for the 1964 model year.
The new intermediate F-85 now rode a conventional body-on-frame chassis with a perimeter frame. Wheelbase grew to 115 inches (2921 mm), overall length to 203 in (5156 mm), and weight by more than 300 lb (135.7 kg). Both the aluminum V8 and the Roto Hydramatic were discontinued in favor of a new cast-iron small-block V8 of 330 cu. in. (5.4L) displacement and an optional two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission with variable-pitch stator. Buick's 225 cu. in. (3.7 L) V6 was the standard engine.
The body styles of the previous model returned, and a new Vista Cruiser, a stretched-wheelbase (120"/3048mm) version of the standard station wagon featuring a raised rear roof and tinted skylights, debuted on February 4, 1964. The 442 model, derived from the BO-9 police package, was also introduced in April 1964.
Sales increased to 167,002 for 1964, not counting Vista Cruisers.
For 1965 a modest facelift increased overall length to 204.3 in (5189 mm). A bigger 400 cu. in. (6.6L) engine became optional, based on the newly introduced 425 cu. in. (6.9L) engine from the full-sized Oldsmobiles. Sales increased again to 187,097.
The 1966 models were slightly restyled again. The Buick V6 was replaced on base models by an Oldsmobile-badged "Action-Line 6" version of Chevrolet's 250 in³ "Turbo-Thrift" straight-6 engine.
Major news for 1967 was the availability of optional disc brakes and the three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic to supplement the two-speed Jetaway. An unusual new model was the Turnpike Cruiser, which used a two-barrel carburetor and mild camshaft with the 400 cu. in. (6.6L) engine and a (numerically) low axle ratio for efficient and relatively economical freeway cruising. The Turnpike Cruiser used the heavy-duty suspension of the 442, and was available only with Turbo Hydramatic.
Third Generation
1968
The F-85/Cutlass underwent a major body restyle in 1968, as did all other GM A-body cars. Oldsmobile's was penned by the styling studio headed by Stan Wilen. Two-door and four-door models now rode different wheelbases: 112 inches (2845 mm) for two-doors and 116 inches (2946 mm) for four-doors. Ostensibly, this change was to allow more individual styling, although several engineers were quoted off the record as saying the 115-inch wheelbase had created problems with uncomfortable "freeway hop" owing to its resonant frequency. Overall length shrunk about 2.6 inches (66 mm), but curb weight rose approximately 75 lb (34 kg). Two-door F-85 and Cutlass models adopted a semi-fastback roofline with a massive rear end.
Base model remained the F-85, with mid-level Cutlass S, and upscale Cutlass Supreme, as well as the 442. A limited-production model was the Hurst/Olds, a special 442 marketed by Oldsmobile and Hurst Performance. The H/O combined the 442 suspension package with the big 455 cu. in. (7.4 L) V8, not ordinarily offered in Cutlasses because of a GM policy limiting intermediates to engines of 400 cu. in. (6.6 L) or less.
Engine options were similar to the previous year, although the Cutlass's V8 option was expanded to 350 cu. in. (5.7 L). The variable-pitch stator feature of both optional automatic transmissions was discontinued.
1970
The 1970 Cutlass came in seven body styles: the base F-85 two door sedan, as well as the two door hardtop offered in both notchback Cutlass Supreme and fastback Cutlass S and 442 body styles. Also available were a four door hardtop, four door sedan, a convertible and a flat top station wagon called the Custom Cruiser, as well as the fancier Vista Cruiser station wagon.
1971
The 1971 model shared much of the same exterior sheetmetal as the 1970, but with a new hood, grille, and headlight assemblies, as well as new bumpers and taillights. Four new exterior body colors were offered, Viking Blue, Lime Green, Bittersweet, and Saturn Gold.
The famous "Rocket" V8 continued in several different sizes and horsepower options, with both the large 455 and 'small block' 350 available with either 2 or 4 barrel carburetor. This was the last year for the 250 c.i.d. six cylinder engine. In 1971, all came from the factory with hardened valve seats, preparing for the upcoming end of leaded gasoline.
1972
For 1972, there were minor style changes to the Cutlass, and the 442 reverted back to being a trim line (W-29 option) on the Cutlass instead of an individual model, as it was in 1971.
The primary changes to the 1972 Cutlass were the front grilles and the tail lights.
The new 1972 Hurst/Olds used the Cutlass Supreme notchback hardtop and convertible body. The straight-6 engine was retired forever.
Fourth Generation
The F-85/Cutlass was redesigned for 1973 using GM's new "Colonnade" A-body platform. The model lineup consisted of the Cutlass "S", Cutlass Supreme, Cutlass Salon, Vista Cruiser station wagon, and the 442 appearance package on the Cutlass "S" colonnade coupe.
The Cutlass Salon was added in 1973 as an upscale model, first as a 4-door, then a 2-door in 1974. Also, this was the first Oldsmobile with the 'international' flags emblem, later carried on the Cutlass Ciera.
For 1975, Cutlass featured the Oldsmobile 260 V8 with a 5-speed manual transmission (T-50 - available 1976 and 1977) or optional (TH-200 or TH-350)automatic transmission .
In 1976, the Oldsmobile Cutlass became America's best selling car. A radically restyled front-end that year was carried over into 1977 and, with continuous refinements, lasted into the late 1980s.
Optional engines were the Olds 350 or Olds 455, but only with automatic transmissions. The Buick 231in³ V6 was added for 1977. The Olds 403 replaced the 455 that same year, and a restyle was done.
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