Here’s how the Oldsmobile Cutlass became America’s best selling car

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  • Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
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    In this episode I provide the history of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, from its start in 1961 as a trim on the F-85 model, followed by muscle car versions in the 60's and 70's, and then splitting up in the 80's into three different cars: the Supreme, the Ciera, and the Calais, before becoming just the Cutlass again in its final 3 years, not long before the entire Oldsmobile brand ended.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 852

  • @bretc9644
    @bretc9644 3 роки тому +257

    The GM G-body OF THE 80’s was, to me, the pinnacle of GM design. The Regals, Monte Carlos, Grand Prix, & Cutlass of this era were great looking cars.

    • @mattcat231
      @mattcat231 2 роки тому +9

      even the 4-doors look dang good, i absolutely LOVE my 1981 Pontiac Lemans, and my 1984 Pontiac Bonneville.

    • @jonpaulschafer1871
      @jonpaulschafer1871 2 роки тому +1

      I absolutely love my 1980 Malibu classic 4 door with a 267 V8 and a 5-speed so the feeling is mutual with your Pontiacs since we both share a lot of the same Sheet Metal design also.

    • @mattcat231
      @mattcat231 2 роки тому +1

      @@jonpaulschafer1871 Yep, the whole body shell is the same between the Malibus and the LeMans/Bonneville. only difference is the front clip and rear bumper and taillights.

    • @jonpaulschafer1871
      @jonpaulschafer1871 2 роки тому

      Thank you for your response what engines are in the LeMans and the Bonneville

    • @mattcat231
      @mattcat231 2 роки тому +2

      @@jonpaulschafer1871 My LeMans came with the Buick 3.8/231 V6 and TH350 transmission, the original engine wiped out the thrust bearing and wiped out the crank and block, so it now has a 4.1/252 from an 82 Bonneville. The 4.1 came with a 4 barrel carburetor from factory. My 84 Bonneville has 41k miles on it, with the 3.8. The original TH200 boat anchor transmission died at 35k miles, and now has a TH250 in it.

  • @catjudo1
    @catjudo1 3 роки тому +147

    I remember when the "not your father's Oldsmobile" campaigns were running when I was in my teens. I always thought to myself that I wish they were my father's Oldsmobiles as those were far more interesting. He owned a '66 Toronado and a '71 Cutlass V8.

    • @Chris_Troxler
      @Chris_Troxler 3 роки тому +9

      You read my mind. My first car was a 75 Toronado, followed by a 85 Cutlass. Olds had some awesome cars.

    • @corvetcoyote443
      @corvetcoyote443 3 роки тому +4

      Oh yeah,a 66 Tornado is one of my ultimate dream cars..

    • @ludovicoc7046
      @ludovicoc7046 3 роки тому +13

      Worst auto ad campaign ever, made by people who didn't know Olds' history of high performance--4-4-2, Hurst, Rocket V8. My father's Olds were sporty convertibles--a '67 and '70 Cutlass.

    • @75aces97
      @75aces97 3 роки тому +13

      I thought that too. The ad campaign was "this is not your father's Oldsmobile," and I thought, no you're right. Dad's Olds was a 1967 442, not one of these rickety, watered down FWD Delta 88's and Cutlasses with the 2.8 v-6.

    • @jpb1231000
      @jpb1231000 3 роки тому +4

      Toronada and Cutlass Supreme's ROCKED!!!
      I've had 4 '77's and 1 '73 Supreme's!!! Loved'em all!!!

  • @1984xlx
    @1984xlx 3 роки тому +111

    I worked at Olds dealers back in the 80's and 90's. I've owned many 50's 60's and 70's Oldsmobiles as well. It's a crying shame GM dropped the line (as well as Pontiac). They were better than the Chevy's of the time.

    • @weskirkland5850
      @weskirkland5850 2 роки тому +17

      They werent as cheap. thats why they lost out. cheap that sells always wins with big corps. I feel your pain tho.

    • @wendyokoopa7048
      @wendyokoopa7048 2 роки тому +2

      I miss a big car

    • @nnjjee1
      @nnjjee1 2 роки тому +6

      Loved the Aurora and would still like to own one. So modern looking still

    • @oldsrocket8456
      @oldsrocket8456 Рік тому +1

      Never the gps in the 80s majority were v6s with only the option of a 305 but almost every cutlass or Monte Carlo came with a v8

  • @stevencook3074
    @stevencook3074 Рік тому +2

    I owned a 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme when I was in high school in 1993 best car I ever owned I take one today loved that car

  • @jmc6000
    @jmc6000 3 роки тому +51

    The mid 80s G-body Cutlass Supreme are my favorite! Those body lines on the G-body the overall look never gets old!

    • @mattcat231
      @mattcat231 2 роки тому +2

      I liked the Regals and the 1981 LeMans the best, then the 82-86 Bonnevilles

    • @matthewbowen5841
      @matthewbowen5841 2 роки тому +2

      Best looking formal roofline, ever.

  • @christopherestrella6265
    @christopherestrella6265 3 роки тому +45

    I’d love an episode on the Dustbuster vans of the 90’s like the previa from Toyota or silhouette.

    • @clothestravel
      @clothestravel 3 роки тому +4

      Yeah, the Olds Sillouette minivan. My parents bought one new when they first came out in 1990. And I remember a commercial for them back in the early 90’s - it featured Josh Saviano, who played Paul on the Wonder Years, with Fred Savage. One of my favorite TV shows.

    • @jmc6000
      @jmc6000 3 роки тому +3

      Yes the famous GM plastic space vsns!

    • @sloick
      @sloick 3 роки тому +1

      I bought my wife a 95 Lumina APV. It was a nice blue with the same wheels from the Beretta Z26s. We loved that van! It had a tuned port 3.8 with plenty of power and decent MPG. It had a built in baby seat for our young sons. We have some good memories from that van.

    • @excellenceinrecycling4093
      @excellenceinrecycling4093 3 роки тому

      @@sloick those 3.8 vortec’s are great engines.

    • @p.c.windhamparanormalroman4339
      @p.c.windhamparanormalroman4339 3 роки тому

      Had a Silhouette a few years ago. Not bad until I had to run it on that damn donut spare for a while and destroyed the transaxle because of the different heights in tires.

  • @corvetcoyote443
    @corvetcoyote443 3 роки тому +51

    I remember growing up in the 80s and seeing these fine cars everywhere,they were indeed a great selling car, in the 90s I had 3 Cutlasses,a 68,77,and a diesel 81,all three were great cars.

    • @TheAllMightyGodofCod
      @TheAllMightyGodofCod 3 роки тому +3

      Even the diesel? Always heard those were pretty bad.

    • @corvetcoyote443
      @corvetcoyote443 3 роки тому +2

      @@TheAllMightyGodofCod I was lucky on that one🤔

    • @ak5659
      @ak5659 2 роки тому

      The 68 & 77 I can see... but the 81 ?????

    • @dgrn101
      @dgrn101 2 роки тому +1

      I too had a '68 sedan with a 350 rocket a '77 coupe originally came with a stock 350 throttle body and TH350 transmission then I transplanted a 455 rocket, rock crusher 400 transmission and a 9" rear end from a Ford galaxy 500 and that has been one of my all time favorite cars. Had several other cutlass models between '83 to '88 but man alive I miss my '77

  • @tonypearsonferreira265
    @tonypearsonferreira265 3 роки тому +12

    We had a 1981 Cutlass Supreme Brougham sedan, Silver with Maroon interior. When my dad brought it home from the dealer, we thought the rear windows were broken because they wouldnt go down, only the wind wings would open. Loved the car growing up, but hated riding in the backseat and not being able to get air flowing through the windows. You are so right, unthinkable today that a company would do that lol

    • @tracyseymour7553
      @tracyseymour7553 3 роки тому

      My friend's parents had a 1981 Cutlass Supreme. Those damn rear windows were horrible. It was so hot riding in that car in the heat. I wonder what idiot designed that terrible feature!

    • @mcmcolm
      @mcmcolm 2 роки тому

      The only modern example I can think of (of a car with rear doors that don’t open) is the Citroen DS4

  • @toddgreco6868
    @toddgreco6868 Рік тому +1

    In the fall of 84 I bought a cutlass supreme SX with a 2 barrel 455. 2.56 over 1 rear end., Bucket seats,air . Best car I've owned ever!!! Miss driving my big block rocket!!!

  • @andrewc.1903
    @andrewc.1903 3 роки тому +84

    I'd love to see an episode made about the 1980's to 2010's GM W-body that underpinned so many models.

    • @jacobyo99
      @jacobyo99 3 роки тому +2

      Excellent cars

    • @damilolaakanni
      @damilolaakanni 3 роки тому +4

      1980's to 2010's? That's a long time for a car platform to exist.

    • @stephenjohns4646
      @stephenjohns4646 3 роки тому +2

      Same! I had a 96 Regal and loved that the Haynes manual covered seemingly half the cars GM made over a 15+ year span!

    • @jacobyo99
      @jacobyo99 3 роки тому +3

      @@damilolaakanni yep… 1988 to 2016

    • @chrisglenn2096
      @chrisglenn2096 2 роки тому

      The last gen Impala was built from model year 2007-2016! That’s ten generations! Sold concurrently with the new body Impala from 14,15, and 16 as the Impala Limited. Great platform

  • @The_R-n-I_Guy
    @The_R-n-I_Guy 3 роки тому +53

    I'm still waiting for an episode on the caprice/impala, delta 88, Electra, and others. I have had many of them and they are all great cars

    • @beezlebub7847
      @beezlebub7847 3 роки тому +3

      I loved the Caprice, the box and the bubble

    • @EvilishDem0nic8732WhatItDo
      @EvilishDem0nic8732WhatItDo 3 роки тому +1

      64 Buick Wildcat
      Nobody knows it exsists
      Basically an luxury impala

    • @EvilishDem0nic8732WhatItDo
      @EvilishDem0nic8732WhatItDo 3 роки тому

      64 Buick Wildcat
      Nobody knows it exsists
      Basically an luxury impala

    • @mattbartolovich8228
      @mattbartolovich8228 3 роки тому +4

      @@beezlebub7847 there was nothing better than a caprice classic brougham!

    • @raverboyloki
      @raverboyloki 2 роки тому +1

      One of my grandmother's favorite cars, and one of the ones that lasted the longest was a 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Estate wagon, beige & champagne two tone. God that thing took us everywhere and did everything. Vacation (check), grocery shopping (check), lumber moving (check) bringing nuns out shopping (check). When it had rolled it's last mile, it was traded in for a 1990 Ford Tempo (used). That thing had a long loved life.

  • @WC_Beer_Reviews
    @WC_Beer_Reviews 3 роки тому +25

    The 80s rear wheel drive Cutlass would be a perfect sleeper car! So many directions you could go, drivetrain wise. All while keeping it unassuming. Great video!

    • @laz7354
      @laz7354 3 роки тому +4

      And they are gorgeous!

    • @banemafia4629
      @banemafia4629 3 роки тому

      If you can find one thats not over a thousand dollars

    • @DavidR-ub2dp
      @DavidR-ub2dp 3 роки тому +1

      I remember seeing a 1983 before the black buick grand national was released cutlass FX high performance version of the cutlass Supreme with a high output 307 and it had a manual transmission and stiffer springs and body bracing and it had a 5 point harness racing type seat belt and it was all black exterior i saw it here on UA-cam it was a concept car

    • @Koexistence13
      @Koexistence13 3 роки тому +1

      Quiet spaciousness comfortable rides with smooth delivery of its albeit limited power. A buddy had one. I liked driving it cuz it had enough room and felt like more of a car to me than the newer models

    • @eddieschwab864
      @eddieschwab864 3 роки тому +1

      Oh yeah definitely. Mine came from the factory with a 3.8 V6, but it now has the 73 455 Rocket under the hood, the biggest block alive..... she was made for the straightaways, grew up hatin Chevrolets....

  • @glnnchrstphr9717
    @glnnchrstphr9717 2 роки тому +4

    My favorite GM car that I owned was a 1984 Cutlass Supreme. It had the 3.8 v-6 and the brown velour interior. It was a super comfortable car to drive and was extremely reliable. Never had any serious mechanical issues with it. Only normal maintenance items. That car also saved my life. As I was traveling through a green light intersection another car came barreling through from the right angled direction. They were in a sedan Deville from the 70s. The police said he was traveling at 50 miles an hour. Luckily he hit me in the passenger side and I was alone in the car. Hit my directly between the wheels into the door. Obviously my car was totaled but I walked away. I do miss that car. It was actually decent on gas mileage and had good acceleration for a 3.8. That car also attracted the girls for some reason. Being a 2 door coupe with Ansen slotted mags on it, it looked pretty cool. I had 10 inch wide wheels on the back and had air shocks. I had retrofitted a set of the one piece headlights from the last year model of that body and had pirated a rear wing from a 90 something Ford Probe. It looked the part of a muscle car anyway.

  • @TheLowerman
    @TheLowerman 3 роки тому +11

    I really like how you add the vintage video clips. Really brings back memories

  • @MrCtsSteve
    @MrCtsSteve 2 роки тому +1

    I had a 74 cutlass
    My mom had a 72 , 75 and 80 cutlass supreme. You're right. Back in the day not that long ago these things were everywhere. Nice cars

  • @HEYBERT1984
    @HEYBERT1984 3 роки тому +2

    I love my 84 cutlass supreme coupe still all original and runs like a champ still.

  • @landyachtfan79
    @landyachtfan79 3 роки тому +2

    I could sit down right down to write a novel, & it STILL would not come even remotely close to describing my love for the Cutlass Supreme!!!! Yes, there WERE cars that were in production at that time that were more modern in their designs & more reliable, but the CS/CSB has a certain charm that I believe can only be matched by 2 other cars, the Golf & the Mustang. That charm of which I speak is the quintessential everyman's charm. The Cutlass was truly one of those cars that could be all things to all people. A stylish grocery getter, a luxurious touring car, a down-to-earth luxury car, a fire breathing muscle car.........the Cutlass did it all.

  • @Will-ym9jn
    @Will-ym9jn 2 роки тому +1

    I owned an '83 Cutlas Supreme and it was my favorite car. I bought it after driving my grandfather's '82 Buick Regal turbo.

  • @bundy26
    @bundy26 3 роки тому +7

    I still remember living in Brooklyn in the 80s and seeing the W platform cutlass. It looked so modern in my eyes back then.

  • @kedst2000
    @kedst2000 3 роки тому +15

    Thanks for the review! I loved the Cutlass Supreme as a kid. I think it started with the '75 model year. My dad surprised me for my first prom by promising to get me a rental car for the night. I met him at his office downtown and we walked from there to the Avis rental office a few blocks from there. Well, when my dad and I walked down into the garage to get the car I almost freaked out when I saw this beautiful white 1983 Cutlass Supreme sitting there! I screamed like a girl when my dad gave me the wheel as he walked back into his office building! I immediately drove the car to school and parked it in the teachers parking lot where everyone could see me getting out of the car just as the lunch bell rang!!! The prom almost became secondary to cruising around in the Cutlass!

  • @boksugoks9312
    @boksugoks9312 3 роки тому +15

    "There's a lot of News in Olds today"
    "There's a special feel in Oldsmobile"
    Damn, those car commercial punchlines couldn't have been better

    • @tmo2798
      @tmo2798 3 роки тому +1

      They're corny. Cheesy at best.

  • @brianhuggins7951
    @brianhuggins7951 3 роки тому +1

    Part of my childhood was spent in my mom's 1977 Olds Cutlass Vista Cruiser wagon. I miss those good old days. Thanks for the memories.

  • @Mark-zu6oz
    @Mark-zu6oz 2 роки тому +4

    My mother had a '73 Old Cutlass which I loved to drive. In '86 I finally bought one of my own. It had a V-8 and I think that model year was the best looking. I had it for 11 years. I wanted to keep it but I really needed a newer car and couldn't keep both.

  • @Glenn_123
    @Glenn_123 3 роки тому +7

    Miss these cars so much! Loved the 70s and 80s (G-Body) Cutlass!

  • @STho205
    @STho205 2 роки тому +2

    1968 to 1972 was THE CUTLASS that people really wanted and were seldom disappointed by. I had a 71 in mint green, fastback with the 350 . Absolutely best car i owned till 1997. By far THE OVERALL BEST two door car of the 1970s. The whole platform was great, but the Olds was solid.

  • @michaelsimko7694
    @michaelsimko7694 3 роки тому +1

    My grandfather had a Cutlass Ciera, followed by a Cutlass Cruiser.
    When I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, I'd see Cutlass Cieras and G-body Cutlass Supremes all over the place.
    I'm a big fan of the G-body design. They make excellent cars to tune and make into a street car or sleeper.
    To this day, I still occasionally see those Cutlass models.
    A guy on the street I live on bought a used 1977 Cutlass Salon last year and has been working on it. So far, he's tuned the chassis, painted the stock wheels, put Cooper Radials on it, and replaced the rear exhausts with classic rumblers.

  • @davidstraub7218
    @davidstraub7218 2 роки тому +1

    I've had friends that owned many of the models up until the late 70's designs. In '83 or '84 I was going to buy another friends parents 71 Vista Cruiser, but her father sold it out from under her.
    Then in 1990 I bought a '78 Supreme Brougham coupe - 305v8, 4bbl, T350 car & I pretty much drove the wheels off of it.
    Then in '99 I spotted an 80 T-top across from the school my daughters were going to. I went to talk to the guy (wasn't even being offered for sale) & talked him into selling it (I was still driving my '78). It "was" an '80 Supreme Brougham 260v8, T200, pillow top seats, Yellow w/Tan landau top & interior. While he owned it - it was repainted White, he replaced the motor with all of the proper parts to effectively call it "a '69 350 Rocket motor". All of the part numbers were correct for a " 69 Rocket 350". After driving the car for around 2 months, I determined that the flywheel was cracked (common on the T200) & got to talking to the transmission shop... he sourced & built me a T350 with a really nice shift kit in it - all for $350!!
    Around '02 I finally parted ways with my '78 & my '80 was now my only "personal use" vehicle (I had a company van). Then in '04 while at a car show I happened upon a Regal sedan with a V6 & a five speed from the factory (I had always wanted a stick car), right across from this was an '87 Supreme that had been pretty much cloned to a 442 - I ended up buying that shortly thereafter. By now, the '80 was pretty worn out (body/suspension/etc... no real rust, just tired), the plan was to park it & rebuild/restore it. I drove the '87 on Hot Rod Power Tour that year & was a "Long Hauler" as well. In '07 I "reunited" with my H.S. girlfriend & shortly thereafter we were pregnant... I had lent my now 19 y.o. Daughter my '87 while I was replacing the motor on her '90 Mustang LX. I had told her (she was a car girl) to make sure that she checked the oil when ever she got gas.... yeah, about a month later she started knocking. With a baby on the way, 2 houses & I personally owned 6 cars at this point - it was time to liquidate. I sold both the '80 T-top & the '87 442 clone as a package deal through eBay - "the '87 was a solid car just needing an engine & the '80 has a bullet proof drive train in a worn out body - put the drive train in the '87 & you're all set."
    I miss them quite a bit, but haven't been able to get another one (time/$$$). I would still love to get a Vista, now it's more of a time thing.

  • @TxnBBQ75
    @TxnBBQ75 2 роки тому +1

    My first car was an 1986 Cutless Supreme, I miss it. I was 16 yrs old in 1991 and got that beast from 1986!

  • @altima119487
    @altima119487 Рік тому +1

    I knew many people that owned Cutlasses, they were very nice and loaded with lots of options. My next door neighbor had an 1984 Cutlass Ciera which was stylish for its time, I remember riding home in it with her and it rode just like the Cadillac cars.

  • @jockbeems4798
    @jockbeems4798 3 роки тому +16

    At the time I really didn't like how Oldsmobile used the Cutlass name on 3 different platforms.

  • @jamiemartinello6436
    @jamiemartinello6436 2 роки тому

    Off topic, but this has easily becomes one of my favourite UA-cam channels. I kept doing "one more episode" until 3AM last night... Keep them coming!!!!

  • @justdave7529
    @justdave7529 3 роки тому +4

    I learned how to drive starting at 14 years of age, I live in Canada, in my moms ‘84 Cutlass Supreme. I was a good driver so she would let me take it out on my own until I turned 16 and bought my first car.
    What she doesn’t know is that I drove that V8 pretty hard when I was “driving around responsibly” with my friends 😆😆🤫

  • @kingkatradio
    @kingkatradio 3 роки тому +19

    I'd love to see an episode dedicated to The Olds Cutless Ciera, Buick Century, Pontiac 6000, and Chevy Celebrity.

    • @nathanramstorf1033
      @nathanramstorf1033 3 роки тому

      Had a 6000 ste. 2.8 "spider" was a nightmare to work on. Too tight all over.

    • @georgekostician3229
      @georgekostician3229 3 роки тому

      I Second this I would love that my brother owns a 1983 Pontiac 6000 STE and a 1991 Buick century but I love the 6000 more because it’s a special car because you don’t see them anymore especially the 6000 STE

    • @kingkatradio
      @kingkatradio 3 роки тому

      @@georgekostician3229 I had a 1990 Century and later on a 1994. Both were cheap cash cars but I love the way they drove and rode. The 1990 had the 3,3 V6 and the 94 had a 3.1 V6.

    • @antonym24
      @antonym24 2 роки тому +1

      I have a corvette making 600 at the wheels. Im horrified of 6000s, they always gap me. theyre just so fast, yall have no idea.

    • @mattcat231
      @mattcat231 2 роки тому +1

      @@kingkatradio Them 3300's were fairly bulletproof, plenty of power, and got decent gas mileage

  • @xavierjames9270
    @xavierjames9270 3 роки тому +1

    Had an 88 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, absolutely badass

  • @rushnerd
    @rushnerd 3 роки тому +10

    This channel is constantly fantastic. Thank you for you effort!

  • @kellyherald1390
    @kellyherald1390 3 роки тому +1

    My first car was a '73 Olds Cutlass 2 door. Loved that car.

  • @danmorley8116
    @danmorley8116 2 роки тому +2

    Enjoyed this. The Cutlass was my father's Oldsmobile-we had a '75 sedan and an '83 Supreme coupe with plush seats. The reason he didn't buy a sedan the second time was because, as you mentioned, the back windows didn't roll down.

  • @iwanttobetankman4260
    @iwanttobetankman4260 2 роки тому +2

    I'm m so excited because I'm getting a cutlass wagon soon and I just saw this video.

  • @HAL-dm1eh
    @HAL-dm1eh Рік тому +1

    Olds really hit it in the 80s. The Cutless Supreme was the best G Body and will go down in history as such. The smaller Cutless Calais was also up there, and was the nicest most luxurious compact car I've ever owned, despite 80s GM electronics and the 2.5L Iron Duke.
    I almost made it to 200K 100% well maintained, trouble free miles in that car until the piston slapping, rod knocking engine finally experienced an oil pressure drop issue which I said "screw it" and drove all the way home that way, killing the engine forever.

  • @KanawhaCountyWX
    @KanawhaCountyWX 3 роки тому +8

    I'm from 2004 but my family used to own a 1988 Cutlass ciera. It had been through hell and back and was in horrible condition, but it got us from point A to point b for several years, which is all you can really ask for in a $800 car

    • @UKnowMeIMURDaddy
      @UKnowMeIMURDaddy 3 роки тому +1

      My Dad had a 1988 Cutlass Ciera and we owned a 1984 Cutlass Custom Cruiser wagon.

    • @KanawhaCountyWX
      @KanawhaCountyWX 3 роки тому

      @@UKnowMeIMURDaddy huh.

    • @digitalfootballer9032
      @digitalfootballer9032 Рік тому

      Did you travel to the future in a time machine? You said you are "from 2004".

    • @KanawhaCountyWX
      @KanawhaCountyWX Рік тому

      @@digitalfootballer9032 Born in 2004 XD

  • @BennyT_3434
    @BennyT_3434 3 роки тому +2

    The late 80s/early 90s Cutlass Supreme coupes (@10:55) are still really good looking cars!

    • @chada75
      @chada75 3 роки тому +1

      Even better looking race cars.

  • @johndornoff
    @johndornoff 3 роки тому +20

    The car rental company I worked for in the early '90s was owned by Chrysler at the time but our franchise would get a shipment of Oldsmobile Ciera's every summer. We loved the Ciera's since although they were kind of spartan as far as features go, they were bullet-proof cars and we never had trouble with them (except when an idiot tried to take one off-road and punctured the oil tank). Meanwhile, the Chryslers models were junk with airbags going off for no reason, motors seizing on their first rentals (yes the oil was checked before it was rented and it was full), and how much they would rattle even though they were brand new.

  • @donhigdon3356
    @donhigdon3356 2 роки тому +1

    great video! I was a teen in the 80's and remember all those models well. my mother had a new 1974 Cutlass Supreme and my first car was 1984 Cutlass Supreme Brougham... I loved that car.

  • @jiggsh54
    @jiggsh54 2 роки тому +1

    My dad owned a body shop and rebuilt late model wrecks. The Cutlass was one of the most profitable.

  • @nlpnt
    @nlpnt 3 роки тому +1

    Those '68-72 A-bodies had THREE wheelbases - 121" for the Vista Cruiser (and related Buick Sportwagon), 116" for the regular wagons, sedans, 4-door hardtops and Chevy El Camino, and 112" for the coupes and convertibles.

  • @eddylauterback1312
    @eddylauterback1312 3 роки тому +6

    I worked for the Arlington plant in 1976. We made the Malibu and Cutlass. I believe it was the best selling sedan then. Also made a few El Caminos. That work.caused me to get serious about my schooling at UTA and I went on to another occupation
    One car a minute traveled by me. I had 2 air guns and only so much line. Still have my first paycheck stub

  • @JuanGarcia-vb3du
    @JuanGarcia-vb3du 3 роки тому +13

    The Cutlass Cierra (and Buick Century) ran for years after production ceased. They were ubiquitous until around 2015. It was not difficult to spot them. Many were in rough condition by that time.

  • @robertfleming5829
    @robertfleming5829 3 роки тому +3

    Never thought Ide miss a car I never wanted !

  • @OGK_Show
    @OGK_Show 2 роки тому +2

    Born and raised in Oldsmobile's home city I grew up with so much love for the Cutlass. Always thought of it as a very quality vehicle and was saddened by the way it went out.

  • @clintonlyle7922
    @clintonlyle7922 2 роки тому

    I had an 87 Olds 442 T-top around 2001-2004. I bought it for $2500. Repainted it, I put Flownaster 60 series mufflers on it. That car sounded awesome at red lights, accelerating onto the interstate. I drove it to campus in college and folks would put notes under my windshield wipers asking me to sell. Got a lotta looks and thumbs-ups in that throaty G-Body.

  • @BELCAN57
    @BELCAN57 3 роки тому +10

    In the mid seventies the Cutlass was known as "The Chromed Brick" due to it's angular appearance.

  • @gregvarner9562
    @gregvarner9562 3 роки тому +11

    I drove a 1979 Cutlass Supreme while in college in the 80's. It must have been a rare car because it had a small block Cadillac V8. I actually still have this car in an old barn on a distant property. Haven't seen it in years but its still in the family. Hasn't ran since 1989 though.

    • @wildrosegarage4208
      @wildrosegarage4208 3 роки тому +2

      I would guess it has a 260 olds 307 olds or 350 olds, Caddy used the olds small blocks in there cars not the other way around. The Caddy motor of that time is a 368 which is based on the 500 caddy block.

  • @Greybush46322
    @Greybush46322 3 роки тому +1

    Great episode. My first car was a brown 78 Supreme. My third car was a 88 Calais. Good times.

    • @DieselPurge
      @DieselPurge 3 роки тому

      I drove a brand new 1978 cutlass supreme brougham 2 door for drivers education in August 1978, loved that 🚗

  • @ejd1984
    @ejd1984 3 роки тому +1

    I had a 1988 Olds Cutlass Ciera International Coupe, with the 3.8L V8. One of the best cars I've ever owned. Both reliability and performance.

  • @cm1133
    @cm1133 2 роки тому +1

    My mom an early 1980s Cutlass. Damn, I loved driving that thing.

  • @charlesduboise5198
    @charlesduboise5198 3 роки тому +2

    My family had a 83 2 door it was burgundy and chrome wheels it was a nice car I bought it from my dad in 92 and drove it another 2 years and sold it and got a Mercury Capri XR 2 convertible

  • @RFP15
    @RFP15 2 роки тому

    My dad had a few of these when I was a kid. The 70s’ cutlasses were awesome.

  • @cbw56
    @cbw56 2 роки тому

    I started watching this video and paused to watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles haha.. now I'm back to finish watching... great channel!

  • @jamesjohnson7666
    @jamesjohnson7666 2 роки тому

    I had an 82 Cutlass supreme back in the early 80's. Love that car.

  • @williambrown3458
    @williambrown3458 3 роки тому +6

    I love the look of the earlier generations of Cutlass. My sister had a 76 and 77 Cutlass supreme. My uncle had a handsome 80 Cutlass Supreme. Toward the end though, the Oldmobiles were rebadged versions of other GM cars.

    • @johnmaki3046
      @johnmaki3046 3 роки тому +1

      As with Pontiac (maybe Saturn) and ALL FORD AND CHRYSLER BRANDS, THEY BECAME GENERIC "KNOCK-OFFS"...NOBODY CARED ABOUT BRAND IDENTITY ANYMORE...A SHAME! This is "corporate America" (in ALL MANUFACTURING, NOW!)PROFIT IS THE ONLY DAMNED GOAL!

  • @jimmorris1002
    @jimmorris1002 2 роки тому

    I miss the Oldsmobile brand. I had a 1982, 1983, 1985 and a 1980 Cutlass. My Cutlass Salon in 1985 was my favorite cars of all my years.

  • @chrisbeaver6305
    @chrisbeaver6305 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks for the video!! My first car was a 1973 Cutlass. I was in the 11th grade and the only one out of my friends with a car, so we all pilled in that thing and rode for hours every weekend. A well built, solid car! Lots of memories. Later my dream car was the Buick Grand National or the Hurst Olds, but I couldn't afford either, so I opted for a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ (the one with t-tops). LOL It was an awesome ca as well. So sad that all we have out here now is overpriced junk.

  • @mrrdwileyjr
    @mrrdwileyjr 3 роки тому +8

    The general lack of Cutlass Cieras, as well as Buick Centuries, in the future, owes itself to the fact that these cars were absolutely perfect for handing down to your teenage student driver. Take a quick look for either model on facebook marketplace, and what few you see, will look obviously, like they were driven by teenagers.

    • @BigWheel.
      @BigWheel. 2 роки тому

      Same thing happened to the cavalier sunfire and saturns.

  • @padroooo
    @padroooo 3 роки тому +16

    I remember when the Cutlass was the best selling car in America, what happened? This one will get a lot of traffic Pat.

    • @maxforever26
      @maxforever26 3 роки тому

      Funnny, I was thinking the same thing. Also, what happened to ALLOT of American cars from back in the day. Many of them have been discontinued.

    • @johnmaki3046
      @johnmaki3046 3 роки тому

      Well, at GM, the other brands got a bit better...other manufacturers got worse, so things changed...for better or worse.

    • @toddcarroll2277
      @toddcarroll2277 2 роки тому

      We had a ‘77 cutlass salon, and the issue usually ended up being rust for us in Minnesota. The bumpers would fall off. I drove the heck out of it when I got my license and I really loved that car. If I could find a good one again, I would consider buying it. Amazing that over 600,000 were made that year but you never see them.

  • @jasonbrown6139
    @jasonbrown6139 2 роки тому

    I owned a 1990 cutlass ciera in 2002-2004 and I loved it. It was like driving a sofa and had so much power! I have dreams of finding one as a fun car one of these days

  • @bcuz2975
    @bcuz2975 2 роки тому +1

    Yes. I owed two new Cutlass new ! Great car.
    My 76 Supreme T top was a rare 6 speed V6 ..fun.

  • @DinsdalePiranha67
    @DinsdalePiranha67 3 роки тому +2

    This brings back a lot of memories! My parents had a '68 Vista Cruiser when my sister and I were little; my grandparents and my aunt both had early-80's Cutlass Supremes, and I had a '80 Cutlass Brougham for a couple years while I was in college. To date the Cutlass is the only V8-powered car I've owned - and it actually made less peak power than my current 1990 Miata (which has only half the cylinders and a third of the displacement).

  • @75OldsNinetyEight
    @75OldsNinetyEight 3 роки тому

    ‘87 Olds Cutlass Supreme in my yard that we will be working on putting back on the road for my son who will be 16 in a couple of years. It is a smooth ride, just been hibernating a few years…🚀

  • @whoami7721
    @whoami7721 3 роки тому

    An Army buddy of mine drove his 1983 Olds Cutlass from Ft. Carson, Colorado to Whittier, CA back in 1995. This was without air conditioning in August through the deserts oh southern Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It was one of my favorite road trips.

  • @dougholtz
    @dougholtz 2 роки тому +1

    My first new Cutlass was a 75 S with 350 4v. Great car. Got a 77 Supreme with 350 4v; another great car. Bought a 78 Cutlass Wagon with woodgrain and 260 2v engine. Drivetrain was fine but body assembly on the back half was disappointing. Sold it outright when I got a Custom Cruiser 9 passenger diesel. Whoops - the factory informed me I was a member of a class action suit and I never got any real service, just bills, on that action. Loved the car. Yanked the engine/trans and put in a gas 350/turbo 350. Not like the 75 or 77 350 for some reason. End of my GM ownership.

  • @laranaarana
    @laranaarana 3 роки тому +1

    My Dad owned two Olds Cutlass Supreme, a 1971 model and a 1977 Brougham 350 V8 (which was my favorite).

    • @WaywardBoyz
      @WaywardBoyz 2 роки тому

      Another great video. I hadn’t realized that the Cutlass name was used on so many different model platforms over the years.
      I did spot one small error, though. When you were talking about the Cutlass’ other GM stablemates from 1968-71, the car you identified as a Chevy Monte Carlo is actually a Malibu. The Monte Carlo had the more upright front end with headlights separate from the grill and was more of a notchback. The Malibu used the regular Chevelle body with more understated trim and was, IMHO, one of the most beautiful Chevrolet coupes ever.

  • @AdamBomb-kd4fe
    @AdamBomb-kd4fe 2 роки тому +2

    A former co-worker of mine (we're both since retired) bought new an '87 Cutlass Diesel. Those cars had some bad reputation. It was such a lemon, a few years in we looked into getting a diesel-to-gas conversion. (A local shop advertised those conversions; the cost in the mid -90's was about $2500). He didn't do the conversion, and last I heard, got a (gasoline powered) Camry. I lost touch with him, and the fate of the Cutlass Diesel is unknown to me. I once asked him why he bought the diesel; he said he wanted to try something different. Well, he sure got that.

  • @itsnotme07
    @itsnotme07 3 роки тому +1

    Loved that 71 Olds Vista Cruiser we had for 2 years....until Dad decided he needed a newer ride, moving to a 73 Buick Estate Wagon. Was cool on long trips to be able to see out the roof from the back cargo area and back seat. Drove many of them in the 80's as I worked at an airport parking lot in Boston and then for Avis Rent-A-Car, also in Boston. My sister had a 1990 Olds Cutlass Calais 442 for a while in the mid 1990's...that car was faster than it looked, but nothing like the 70's/80's 442 offerings.

  • @nickshaw2516
    @nickshaw2516 2 роки тому

    My first car was a 1978 cutlass supreme. Black with black leather interior. I loved that car so much

  • @Heavy_Distortion
    @Heavy_Distortion Рік тому +1

    I once broke wind in a 1981 Cutlass Supreme. Good times.

  • @johnlondon1242
    @johnlondon1242 3 роки тому +1

    I had a 73 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme It was beautiful

  • @Dogbone384
    @Dogbone384 3 роки тому

    I grew up riding around in a ‘70 Vista Cruiser… the coolest wagon ever made. I, myself, owned a ‘72 Cutlass Supreme in High School.

  • @northfloridatrans
    @northfloridatrans 3 роки тому +2

    The 5th generation Oldsmobile Cutlass; One of the most beautiful cars ever made!

  • @DavidR-ub2dp
    @DavidR-ub2dp 3 роки тому +1

    I remember my dad own a 1986 cutlass Supreme brougham 2dr coupe rear wheel drive it had lots of options pillow top seats and it had indicators on the hood for high beams regular headlamp and turn signals power seats and cassette with equalizer and it had t tops I drove it several times it was a nice highway cruiser

  • @howebrad4601
    @howebrad4601 2 роки тому

    I agree with your comments at the end. The more common cars that were once everywhere and are now mostly gone will be what collectors seek in the future

  • @sombra6153
    @sombra6153 Місяць тому

    The 78-87s were great cars. An aunt had an 85 or 86, bought new with a V6. It was a nice driver and not necessarily underpowered for normal driving. She wrecked it a couple of years later. Supposedly totaled. May still be in her garage. A stepson got a 78 from a relative on his side. I had to help him get it running cause the “mechanics” who passed the car to him couldn’t. They claimed it had a swapped motor. Was a Chevy small block with a factory four barrel. The shop I took it to for figuring out the correct throttle linkage said the VIN or door tag said it came from the factory with a Chevy motor but couldn’t tell me whether it was a 305 or 350. Anyway, he ended up selling the car when the motor gave up the ghost a little while later. Driving the 78 briefly did bring back memories of how most of the 70s midsized cars drove and I miss that.

  • @Jack_Stafford
    @Jack_Stafford 2 роки тому +2

    8:50 a Supreme, a Ciera, and a Delta. Right before the cut, the car swerving sideways starts as a Ciera, then there's a cut, and it magically changes into a Delta (you can tell by the Delta's lack of small "opera window", like the 6 window Ciera sedan has).

    • @averyparticularsetofskills
      @averyparticularsetofskills 2 роки тому +1

      Good eye!
      I was looking for this comment when I saw he said "two Cieras" but your mistaken its a Delta 88 from the very 1st time we see the 3rd car, it never switched from a Ciera to the Delta. Still a better eye than most.👍

    • @Jack_Stafford
      @Jack_Stafford 2 роки тому +1

      @@averyparticularsetofskillsGood eye as well!
      I went back and forth on this one a few times. Frame by frame in one take when the second one appears, it is blurry and it did appear like it had that thitd little window behind the rear doors and more upright back window at one point, but looking at it again the deciding factor is the license plate holder between the tail lights and not below in the bumper like in the Ciera so agreed, it is a Delta the whole time!

  • @christopherconard2831
    @christopherconard2831 3 роки тому +5

    The Coke bottle design of the late 60's and early 70's was my favorite style.

  • @brassteeth3355
    @brassteeth3355 2 роки тому

    I had a super nice 87 Brougham. Hauled a lot of tail around in that car. At least one person a day tried to buy that car from me. Still a favorite car for me.

  • @trbstang
    @trbstang 3 роки тому

    My first car was an 81 Cutlass that my grandparents financed for me. It was a pretty good car, but needed a timing chain at only 105k miles in that anemic 260 V8. But it was what made me start working on cars! Thanks for the memories!

  • @elliottbutts153
    @elliottbutts153 2 роки тому

    I loved my 77 Cutlass. Had 295x50’s in the back with a sloped rack stance. Rode and drive great. Took many many 1,000 trips from St. Louis down to Florida and back in that car. Had it from the age of 17-24. 7 years of my life and it’s a huge part of my past and memories. Everyone thought it was a good looking car and it really was from a era wasn’t known for good looking cars. I had mine from 1991-1997.

  • @polska207
    @polska207 2 роки тому

    I love the cutlass Ciera my first car was a 88 Cutlass Ciera such great cars and I’m even restoring it. Great video

  • @matthewbowen5841
    @matthewbowen5841 2 роки тому

    Fun fact about the Ciera. As Olds sales dwindled during the late 1980s, and with the distribution network overstuffed with unsold Cutlass Cieras, rental fleet owners were offered a completely new way of acquiring cars: the first ever rental fleet program/turn back/guaranteed depreciation lease. This became the future model for fleet sales, and still is, where the manufacturer dumps excess production into fleets with the promise to fleet owners of a specified residual at lease term end. Thus begetting the reliance on fleet sales and subsequent destruction of market residual values and brand equity we all know and love from the former D3 automakers over the last 30 years.

  • @baghermotamed1132
    @baghermotamed1132 2 роки тому

    I had a 1970 cutlass back in 1982.
    The car was a real power house with an excellent performance and zero maintanance expense.
    It had a 350 engine and a roomy car that was not too long.
    We sold it for 300 Dollars in a perfect shape.
    One of the best cars that I have ever seen.

  • @dvdosterloh
    @dvdosterloh 2 роки тому

    As a high schooler (class of 77)I owned a 74 cutlass, found it to be doggy with a 350. But then that was pollution rules. still a nice driver over all
    And when you consider my previous car was a 66 Toronado sport version with a hot cam ( a damn screamer in comparison) it felt slow. and while I'm at it my dad bought me a VEGA for a first car. You need to do a short merciful video on that soup can on a skate someday .
    However in 1983 I became the proud owner of a Hurst Olds. It helped me find my wife and we honey mooned in it. That car was the definition a personal car. For a 305 the thing screamed, could smoke tires with out power braking and just plain flew. I informally dragged raced it, blew off several super coups and fords. Would still have if my wife hadn't rolled it in a snow storm. Still haven't forgiven her for it.
    I know it's slightly out of you era but how about a vid on the toronado, Hope to find another 66 before I croak. I always wondered what the 425 could do with modern fuel injection

  • @golfboy83
    @golfboy83 3 роки тому

    My second car was a 1991 Cutlass Supreme coup that I got in 2000 as a junior in high school. It was such a fun car at the time. Mine had the 3.1L V6

  • @RabeHighPerformance
    @RabeHighPerformance 3 роки тому

    My mom use to own a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutless Supreme with 307 Oldsmobile v8 3 speed automatic transmission. That car reason I love 80's era GM G bodys. When I was 16 back 2004 I bought a 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix LE with 305 Chevrolet v8 from the factory still have it to this day. Now I'm process rebuilding the car and doing a LS swap.

  • @cadengrace5466
    @cadengrace5466 2 роки тому

    I had a 1977 model in emerald green, she was a legend to me and I still miss her.

  • @genericsomething
    @genericsomething 3 роки тому

    My family had a brown Cutlass wagon that we got new in '76. About half of my childhood memories were made in, or around, that car. We lived in a semi-rural, suburban area, and my mom made the 30 minute drive into the big city 2 or 3 times a week (I would come with her if there was no school). Half of our friends and family lived in the city, my mom liked the upscale shopping, and my dad's job was still there. My mom's family was scattered around the region, and we would also visit them from time to time. We put a lot of highway miles on that Cutlass in the 7 years we had it, and it managed to tow a 22' boat on the weekends for two summers before my dad traded it for a pick-up truck.

  • @chriskrueger8225
    @chriskrueger8225 3 роки тому

    My first car was a 1985 Cutlass Supreme. I.bought it in 1989. It was black with red pin stripes, vinyl top and the factory mags. It had the 307 v8. It was horribly slow. I bought it with 61,000 miles. It went through 2 water pumps, and a transmission. One day the wheel and tire came off while driving. Luckily it was in a parking lot. Traded it in with over 160,000 miles. I loved that car!

  • @carexpertandy
    @carexpertandy 2 роки тому

    I drove my grandmother's old 2001 Alero for some of high school and throughout college. It had its quirks, but still got me where I needed to be all the time.

  • @kickinvideo333
    @kickinvideo333 2 роки тому +1

    The Monte Carlo was introduced in 1970 to capture the luxury sport market of the Ford T-bird. It was built on the G-body but with an extended frame forward of the firewall to facilitate the trademark long-hooded Monte Carlo. The photo in your video of a 1968 G-body Monte Carlo is of a base Chevelle.

  • @keelay1977
    @keelay1977 3 роки тому +5

    The pillar on the rear doors of the ‘78+ A bodies is there because the vent windows opened instead of the window rolling down. After suffering many childhood rides in the back of a non air-conditioned Malibu wagon with red vinyl seats, I can tell you that it was not a very good compromise.

    • @philiptrocchia396
      @philiptrocchia396 3 роки тому

      I remember GM claimed those rear vents produced more air circulation than rolling down the windows half way, but I’m not convinced.

  • @michaeltaylor1603
    @michaeltaylor1603 2 роки тому

    In Houston, TX, we had Bill McDavid Olds. The marque was a giant neon sign with an "animated rocket" Inside the show room to a 11-12 year old boy in the late 70's seemed that there were 50 cars in there! It was probably more like 24-36. None the less, that was the biggest show rooms I'd ever seen @ that time. Olds had sooo many trim levels & packages. I got in every car I could. Sometimes in the rear part of showroom, you'd see cars being "swapped" out. A guy would clean the floor where water dripped from the Rocket 88 exhaust! LOL!

  • @Chitwn81
    @Chitwn81 3 роки тому

    My grandfather had a 84 Olds Cutlass Supreme then he got a 87 Olds Ninety Eight Regency which he kept forever until finally getting a Mercury Sable. I too end up getting a 94 Olds Cutlass Supreme with the luggage rack on the trunk moonroof HUD display and moonroof with the 3.4 dohc