Production began with the 1961 model year. The original Cutlass was built on a unibody platform. Rather small and low to the ground compared to the 1964 and later models.
The F-85 was the base-model in the Cutlass lineup (thus F-85 Cutlass), available in two and four-door versions. The Cutlass "S" was what most people bought, and came in a fastback version, as did the 442.
The Cutlass Supreme came in the unique notchback body style, and only in hardtop ("Holiday Coupe") form in the 2-door. While I believe a 4-door version was available, it shared the regular Cutlass shell. This shell was the one used for the 1972 Hurst/Olds. All convertibles, whether Cutlass, Cutlass Supreme or 442 used the same shell.
An inline 6, 250 CID engine was available in the Cutlass from 1966 thru 1971. It was a replacement for the 225 CID (Buick?) V-6 available for 1965 and 1966. The 250 had a 3.88" bore and a 3.53" stroke and was rated at 155hp. These are the same specs for Chevrolet's 250 straight 6. Is this a coincidence, or did Olds use the 'ol Blue Flame, paint it Gold and call it an "Action-Line 6"?
the F-85/Cutlass cars got the Jetaway "2.5 speed" transmission (marketed that way due to the switch-pitch converter), even in the 442 line, up through 1966, and it was the base automatic transmission on those cars with the regular 350 even through 1969.
Cutlass was built on the A body platform through 1981. They changed to G bodies in 1982, and the Cutlass Ciera became the A body. Many parts suppliers consider anything after 1978 to be a G body.
1961:
Information that I have from "The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1954-1975", says:
F-85 - For the first time Oldsmobile broke with their three series format in 1961. On the bottom of the Oldsmobile lineup was the all new F-85 compact series. Smaller than any other postwar Oldsmobile, the F-85 was powered by a unique aluminum 215 cubic inch V-8. The F-85 joined small car offerings from Buick and Pontiac. Standard equipment on the series included foam cushioned front seat; front arm rests; dual sunvisors; turn signals; stabilizer bar and self energizing brakes. Cloth or vinyl trimmed interiors were offered. Standard tire size was 6.50 x 13 inches.
F-85 ID Numbers: Engine numbers began with S-00-001. Serial Numbers on cars that were built in Lansing contained an M. Serial Numbers on cars that were built in South Gate, California contained a C. F-85 Series:
Model Body/Style Body Type Factory Shipping Production Number Number & Seating Price Weight Total 85 61-3011 2 dr Cpe-5P 2502 2712 12,515 85 61-3019 4 dr Sed 5P 2384 2666 28,192 85 61-3035 4 dr Sta Wag 5P 2654 2742 8,123 Deluxe 85 61-3119 4 dr Sta Wag 5P 2519 2798 10,087 85 61-3135 4 dr Sta Wag 7P 2789 2815 757
F-85 Engines: Aluminum block,Overhead valves, Liquid cooled V-8 engine. Bore & stroke: 3.5 x 2.8 inches. Displacement: 215 cubic inches. Hydraulic valve lifters. Compression ratio: 8.75 to 1. Torque: 210 pound feet at 3200 RPM. Horsepower: 155 at 3200 RPM. Carburetor: two-barrel, Rochester 2GC.
Chassis Features: Wheelbase: 112 inches. Overall length: 188.2 inches. Front tread: 56 inches. Rear tread: 56 inches.
Drive Train Options: All F-85's were powered by the aluminum block Rockette V-8 engine. A power pack option consisted of high compression heads, four barrel carburetor, and dual exhausts. It boosted the horsepower rating 30 to 185. Other engine options were heavy-duty air cleaner, full flow oil filter, and positive crankcase ventilation system. All F-85's came standard with a three-speed manual transmission, with the Hydra-Matic a popular $189 option. There were no '61 4-speed's produced.
Convenience Options: Heater/defroster ($74). Power steering ($86). DeLuxe radio ($65). Backup lights ($7). Windshield washer ($11). Padded dash ($12). Electric clock ($16). Air conditioning ($378). Outside mirror ($4).
The early Cutlass, Special, Tempest, and Corvair all shared the same body shell, but used very different drivetrains. The Corvair obviously used the rear engine and transaxle. The Tempest used a front engine, but an adaptation of the Corvair transaxle. The Buick and Olds versions both used conventional front engine/trans and live axle designs. The Olds automatic was usually a 3-speed, while the Buick's was a Powerglide type. Olds also got a floor shift automatic which Buick did not.
Pontiac used a trans-axle on their cars whether a V-8 or 4 speed. The V-8 was identical to the Buicks & is much more rare than the 4 speed. I believe that all V-8's were either 3-speeds or a 2 speed automatic.
In my info Cutlass didn't seem to be until 1961 ½. A F-85 was offered with a 155 HP alum. V-8 in 1961. The Cutlass was introduced with a 185 hp. alum. V-8 (Rockette) in 1961 ½. Mid 1962 was the year for the turbo charged V-8.
[ Thanks to Bill Culp, Scott Kozhill, Joe Padavano for this information ]
1967:
Convertible production:
| Cutlass Supreme | 10,897 |
| Cutlass (non Supreme) V-8 | 3,777 |
| Cutlass (non Supreme) L-6 | 567 |
| Total | 15,241 |
|---|
[ Thanks to Dave Isho, Paul for this information ]
1970:
The Cutlass S stands for Sport. In 1970 there were two forms of Cutlass. There was a Supreme which had a "notch back" and the S had a sloped back. The "plain jane" model would be called an F-85, which would come standard with a ch*vy 6. Look for rust behind wheel wells and at the bottom of the trunk lid as well as around the back glass, especially the passenger side.
[ Thanks to Danny for this information ]
1976:
In 1976, the standard engine was the Olds 260 V-8, available with either an automatic transmission (TH-200 or TH-350) or a 5 speed manual transmission (T-50). The Olds 350 and Olds 455 were available as options, with automatic transmission only.
[ Thanks to Tom Stoner for this information ]
1977:
I believe that you could get a Cutlass with the 260 V-8 and a 5 speed manual transmission in 1977. In 1977, the standard engine was the Buick 231 V-6 which was only available with an automatic transmission. The Olds 260 was again available with either an automatic or 5 speed manual, but the automatic transmission selection may have been limited to the TH-200. The Olds 350 was again available, as was the new Olds 403. Again, both only with automatic transmissions (TH-350).
[ Thanks to Tom Stoner for this information ]
1986:
1987:
1988:
There were 15,568 standard Cutlass Supreme Classics and 12,110 Broughams built in '88. 2500 were exported.
[ Thanks to Paul Hartlieb for this information ]
Miscellaneous
The 70 back bumper is unique to that year (just as in 68 and 69). The 71-72 back bumpers are identical, as are the taillight housings. The only difference is in the plastic lenses. I suspect this is due to the strike GM experienced in 71. The new 73-77 style A-body cars were actually due out as 72s, but the strike delayed the introduction and forced GM to spruce up the 71s to look new as 72s. As a result, you will notice many parts which are interchangeable between the 71 and 72 Cutlass/442 (this is before Detroit got away from annual styling changes) which were model-year unique in prior years. Front and rear bumpers, hood, and grilles are just some of the similarities. Take the grilles as an example. The 71 and 72 442 grilles are the same - the 71s are painted black and the 72s are silver, er, argent.
As for the parking lights, the 1968 has the parking lights between the headlights, 1969 and 1970 have the rectangular park lights in the front bumper (bumpers are similar but not identical), and the 1971 to 1972 cars have the round park lights in the front bumper, and the bumpers are identical.
The 1968 and 1969 lights could be described as mounted in the rear fenders and recessed into the top of the rear bumpers, but the 1970 to 1972 designs are mounted completely in the rear bumper, surrounded by the chrome, and not in the rear sheetmetal at all.
Tail Lights
| In 1968, thin width (1-2"), and long strips. |
_________ _________ |_________| 68 |_________| |
| In 1969, each tail light was a single vertical rectangular light in the bumper. |
_ _ | | | | | | 69 | | |_| |_| |
| In 1970, they were two separate vertical taillights in the bumper (same as 1969, but now two instead of one). |
_ _ _ _ | | | | | | | | | | | | 70 | | | | |_| |_| |_| |_| |
| In 1971, they were two separate horizontal taillights in the bumper (looks like a 1970 in the horitontal plane, instead of vertical). |
_____ _____ |_____| |_____| _____ 71 _____ |_____| |_____| |
| In 1972, they were like the 1971's, but each rectangular lens now had three "egg-crate" sections to it. They were still horizontal, and at a far distance, you'd have a very hard time telling a 1971 from a 1972. |
_____ _____ |_|_|_| |_|_|_| _____ 72 _____ |_|_|_| |_|_|_| |
1973
1974
1975
1976
| In 1977, they consist of a series of concentric rectangles the outside rectangle is a chrom strip. The second is black in color. The third and last on the inside is the actual red tail light. |
------ ------ | ---- | | ---- | || -- || || -- || ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| 77 ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| || -- || || -- || | ---- | | ---- | ------ ------ |
| For 1978 to 1980. For 1978, "X" is a chrome rocket symbol. For 1979, "X" is just a bezel. 1978 marked the year that Oldsmobile went to a smaller wheelbase for the Cutlass. |
----- ----- ----- ----- | | | | | | | | | | | | | |X| | 78-80 | |X| | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----- ----- ----- ----- |
| 1981 - 1983 For 1981 to 1983, the center line is a chrome strip running the length of the tail light. |
--- --- --- --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 81-83 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- --- --- --- |
| For 1983 to 1987, and the 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic, a chrome "rocket" symbol was placed in the center of the tail light. |
------- ------- | | | | | | | | | - | | - | | |X| | 83-87 | |X| | | - | | - | | | | | | | | | ------- ------- |
Grills
| 1977 Supreme (except 442). This year, the grill folded up over the top of the header panel. Waterfall grill. The vertical chrome strips in the two grills were much more closely spaced that this drawing depicts. |
------------------- ------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 77 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | exc | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 442 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------- ------------------- |
| On the 1977 442, the header panel was made slightly "sleeker" and bent at the middle. The horizontal chrome strips in the four grills were much more closely spaced that this drawing depicts. |
-------- -------- -------- -------- |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| 77 |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| 442 |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| |--------| -------- -------- -------- -------- |
| 1978 Supreme and Brougham. Where "|" is a vertical chrome strip, and "||" is a thicker chrome strip. Thus, the grill was divided into 3 distinct sections by the thicker chrome strips. This grill folded over the top of the header panel. Waterfall grill. |
---------------------- ---------------------- | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | | | || | | || | | || | | ---------------------- ---------------------- |
| 1978 Salon. The 2 criss-cross sections of the grill are inset into the grills by an inch or two. |
------------------------------ | ----------- ----------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------| |-----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------| |-----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-----------| |-----------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------- ----------- | ------------------------------ |
| 1979 |
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||| ------------------------------ ------------------------------ |
1980
| 1981 Brougham (and Calais?). Widely spaced rectangular criss-cross pattern the chrome strips were thick. |
------------------- |---|---|---|---|---| |---|---|---|---|---| |---|---|---|---|---| |---|---|---|---|---| |---|---|---|---|---| |---|---|---|---|---| ------------------- |
| 1981, all except Brougham. |
------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------- |
| 1982 Brougham (and Calais?). |
???
|
| All except Brougham. Very similar, but with 2 distinct sections per grille. |
------------------- |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| |||||||||| ------------------- |
| 1983 Brougham (and Calais?). ¾" squares across entire grille. Once again, uncertain of non-Brougham variance. |
------------------- |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| ------------------- |
| All except Brougham. Fairly thick horizontal chrome strips. |
------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------- |
| 1984 Brougham (and Calais?). Fairly thick and wide spaced vertical chrome strips. Sort of reverse of 1983. |
-------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- |
| All except Brougham. Fairly thick and wide spaced vertical chrome strips. Sort of reverse of 1983. |
-------------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------- |
| The 1985's were seperated into three distinct sections (per grille). They are really easy to spot, and are seperated similarly to the 1982. |
------------------ |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ------------------ |
| 1986 (Brougham uncertain). Long, thin vertical strips. Identical to 1981, except for taillights. |
------------------- ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ------------------- |
| 1987 and 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic only. Narrow and closely spaced vertical chrome strips. IMHO this is the nicest looking of the 1980's Cutlass grills. The header panel was also changed to a more streamlined design this year. |
------------------- ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||| ------------------- |
[ Thanks to Drew Senko, Joe Padavano, Greg Beaulieu, Clayton Pierce, Charley Buehner, Tim Customs for this information ]
Table of Contents •
Index •
Acknowledgements
History •
Engines •
Blocks •
Heads •
Cranks •
Intakes •
Exhaust •
Pistons
Transmissions •
Diffs •
Brakes •
Suspension •
Steering •
Cams •
Carbs •
Interchange
Best BB •
Best SB •
260 •
303 •
307 •
324 •
330 •
350 •
371 •
394 •
400 •
403 •
425 •
455 •
Diesel
Rebuilding •
Buildup •
Swap •
Restore •
Option Codes •
Wheels •
Ignition •
Comp Ratio
The W's •
The H/O's •
The 442's •
Toronado •
88 / 98 / Starfire •
Cutlass •
Jetfire •
Wagons
Basic Tech •
How To •
Miscell •
All Vehicles •
Additional Information
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