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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 Nameplate s in the industry in the 1970s . However, the proliferation of Oldsmobile Cutlass models caused confusion in the market-place in the 1980s , when three different vehicles (the Cutlass Calais , Cutlass Ciera , and Cutlass Supreme ) all shared the name. Some notable Cutlass models have their own pages:
1961 1961 was the first year for the "compact" F-85/Cutlass line, using GM's new A-body unibody Platform . The base model was the F-85, which came in two- and four-door Sedan styles and as a 4-door Station Wagon . The F-85 used the new Oldsmobile/Buick ''Rockette'' aluminum 215 in³ V8 . Bore was 3.5 in and stroke was 2.8 in, output was 155 hp and 210 ft·lbf with a Rochester 2-barrel Carburetor . An optional ''Power Pack'' used a 4-barrel carb for 185 hp. Wheelbase was 112 in for a 188.2 in overall length. The Cutlass was joined by sister cars, the similar Buick Special , Rear-engined Chevrolet Corvair , and Front-engined Pontiac Tempest . The Oldsmobile was the only A-body to use a floor-shift automatic transmission. Turbo Jetfire A Turbocharged version of the small V8 was introduced in 1962 in the Turbo Jetfire model. This would prove to be The First turbocharged vehicle ever offered for sale. 1964 The car grew larger for 1964 when it moved to GM's new body-on-frame A-body platform. The Vista Cruiser , a stretched-wheelbase version of the Cutlass/F-85 station wagon that also featured a raised rear roof and tinted skylights, debuted on February 4, 1964. The 4-4-2 model, derived from the BO-9 police package was also introduced this year. A 225 in³ V6 was used for 1965 and 1966 . It was replaced by an Oldsmobile-badged ''Action-Line 6'' version of Chevrolet's 250 in³ ''Turbo-Thrift'' Straight-6 engine in 1966 . Bore was 3.88 in and stroke was 3.53 in. 1968 The Cutlass underwent a major body restyle in 1968 as did all other GM A-body cars, and 2- and 4-door models adopted unique (112" and 116" respectively) wheelbases. This design was used (with a minor restyle in 1970) until 1972. 1970 The 1970 Cutlass came in two body styles: the Notchback Cutlass Supreme and Fastback '''Cutlass S'''. The base model on the platform remained the Straight-6 '''F-85'''. The new 1972 Hurst/Olds used the Cutlass body. The straight-6 was gone. 1973 The F-85/Cutlass was redesigned for 1973-1977 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 1974 brought the 2 door Salon. also- this was the first Oldsmobile with the 'international' flags emblem which was later carried into the Cutlass Ciera line. For 1975 , Cutlasses used the Oldsmobile 260 V8 with a 5 speed manual transmission (T-50 - optioned in 1976 and 1977) or optional automatic transmission (TH-200 or TH-350). Optional engines were the Olds 350 or Olds 455 , but only with automatic transmissions. The Buick 231 in³ V6 was added for 1977 . The Olds 403 replaced the 455 that same year, and a restyle was done. In 1976, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was America's best selling car. 1978 The 1978 Cutlass moved to a new version of the G-body with a shorter wheelbase. A mild restyle came in 1981. This Cutlass was lighter than earlier versions at around 3300 lb (1500 kg). The G-body version offers enough engine compartment room for larger engine swaps quite easily and this is the best way to gain back performance from this emission-choked year. 455s from earlier years will fit with minimal modifications and if the car was originally a 260, the engine mounts will line up when swapping a 455. Some G-body Cutlasses were powered with a Chevrolet 305 (5.0 L) to which the popular 350 Chevy and big block 454 Chevy also fit easily. The model lineup include the Cutlass Salon series (with the aero-styled bodies) as the base Cutlass replacing the "S", the formal Cutlass Supreme and Calais coupes, and the Cutlass Cruiser station wagon (formerly the Vista Cruiser). With the Supreme and Calais coupes - a factory T-top coupe was optioned which includes a floor shifter and rally gauges (for the Calais coupe). A 442 decal package was part of the Cutlass Salon aerocoupe. 1979 The same model lineup continued, with a revision of both the front grille and taillight lenses. A diesel-powered Oldsmobile 260 (based on the Olds 350 Diesel) was optional; diesel Cutlasses had the "Oldsmobile Diesel" badges on the decklids, where gas-powered Cutlasses had the Olds Rocket logo. About 3000 Cutlass Calais coupes were equipped with the Hurst/Olds W-30 package. 1980 Both the Cutlass Supreme and Calais coupes received new header panels incorporating four headlights, mimicking the 1977 model. Sales of the Cutlass Salon (the base Cutlass) were dismal to which the aero-styled sedan and coupe led to 1980 as the final year of the base Cutlass Salon (the nameplate would be revived again in 1985 when the Calais was moved to the GM "N" platform); a formal notchback 4-door sedan (the Cutlass and Cutlass LS sedan) was introduced to which sales picked up. Sister division Buick did the same with their Buick Century sedan (the 1978-80 Centuries shared the bodyshell with the Cutlass Salon). 1982 The smaller Cutlass Ciera line was introduced on GM's new Front-wheel Drive A Platform , while the ''' Cutlass Supreme ''' remained on the (now renamed) Rear-wheel Drive G Platform for six more years. Oldsmobile produced one last Rear-wheel Drive Cutlass for 1988 , ''' Cutlass Supreme Classic ''', alongside the new Front-wheel Drive Cutlass Supreme. Another new Cutlass vehicle, the N-body Cutlass Calais , was introduced in 1985 , bringing the number of Cutlass models to three. Each Cutlass model has a separate information page:
1997 The simple ''Oldsmobile Cutlass'' name was revived in 1997 for a version of the new Chevrolet Malibu , replacing the Cutlass Ciera , and was exclusively sold in the United States . Exclusively built at the Oklahoma City Assembly plant, this model used the 107 in wheelbase GM N Platform . This model was a bridge between Oldsmobile's Achieva and Alero models, making this a placeholder model. It was also later regarded as a stop-gap measure to give Oldsmobile a model to sell below the larger Intrigue until the new Alero (also on the N platform) arrived in 1999 . Panned by many as the 'Cutlibu,' it did differ in its Oldsmobile split-grille fascia, full-width rear taillamps, and unique optional chrome wheels. Production of the N-body Cutlass ended July 2 , 1999 , marking it as the last car to bear the Cutlass name. It was replaced by the Alero. Engine: EXTERNAL LINKS |
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