The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a series of cars produced from 1961 to 1999. It started as the sporty version of the compact F-85, became the division’s best-selling intermediate, and ended up as a sub-brand covering several quite different models before the Alero replaced it.
Oldsmobile Cutlass at a glance
| Maker | Oldsmobile Division, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1961–1999 |
| Class | compact, then intermediate |
| Name | after the Vought F7U Cutlass and the sword |
| 1961 car | Y-body, 112 in wheelbase, unibody |
| 1961 engine | 215 cu in (3.5 L) aluminium V8, 155 hp |
| Power pack option | four-barrel V8, 185 hp |
| 1961 length | 188.2 in (4,780 mm) |
| 1961 weight | about 2,800 lb |
| Later names | Cutlass Supreme, Ciera, Calais, Cruiser |
| Replaced by | the Alero in 1999 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Oldsmobile Cutlass.
History of the Oldsmobile Cutlass
1961: the F-85 Cutlass
General Motors began planning its compact cars in 1956. Oldsmobile, Buick and Pontiac shared the new Y-body, and the Oldsmobile version, the F-85, went on sale in 1960 as a 1961 model with a 112 in wheelbase and unibody construction. The standard engine was the new Rockette 215 cu in all-aluminium V8, rated at 155 hp and 210 lb·ft. The first-year F-85 came as a four-door sedan or station wagon in base or De Luxe trim; a few months later a power pack option added a four-barrel, high-compression V8 with dual exhausts and 185 hp. In May 1961 two pillared coupes arrived, the low-priced Club Coupe and the sporty F-85 Cutlass, and the Cutlass name was on its way.
From trim level to model family
The Cutlass grew from a trim level into a series of its own and spawned variants: the 4-4-2 muscle car in 1964, the upscale Cutlass Supreme in 1966, the Hurst/Olds in 1968 and the Vista Cruiser station wagon. In the 1980s Oldsmobile used Cutlass almost as a sub-marque, selling the compact Cutlass Calais, the mid-size Cutlass Ciera, the Cutlass Cruiser wagon and the flagship Cutlass Supreme at the same time. The name was taken from the Vought F7U Cutlass fighter and from the sword of the same name.
1999: replaced by the Alero
In the 1990s Oldsmobile moved away from its traditional lines: the 98 and 88 were dropped in 1996 and 1999. The Cutlass was retired in 1999 in favour of the new Alero after nearly forty years of continuous production.
Design and features
- Aluminium V8: the 215 cu in engine later sold to Rover and used for decades.
- Unibody compact: the 1961 F-85 was Oldsmobile’s smallest and cheapest model.
- A whole family: 4-4-2, Supreme, Hurst/Olds, Vista Cruiser, Ciera and Calais all carried the name.
- Long production: almost forty years without a break, from 1961 to 1999.
Oldsmobile Cutlass versions
- F-85 Cutlass (1961): the sporty two-door that started the line.
- Cutlass 4-4-2 (1964): the muscle car version.
- Cutlass Supreme (1966): the upscale model.
- Cutlass Ciera (1982–1996): the front-wheel-drive mid-size car.
- Cutlass Calais (1985–1991): the compact N-platform model.
- Cutlass Cruiser: the station wagon version.
The Cutlass name covered the 4-4-2, the Cutlass Ciera and the Cutlass Calais. More models are in the Oldsmobile collection.
Video: Oldsmobile Cutlass V8 sound
Video by Car Acceleration TV on YouTube.
Sources
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, English Wikipedia: origins, models, engines, end of production
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