1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass

For 1979, there were nine models of the Oldsmobile Cutlass with body styles including a coupe, sedan and station wagon. Models included the salon Brougham, Supreme, Supreme Brougham, Calais, and Cruiser. Additionally, appearance and handling packages could be purchased, including the popular 442, which was reserved for the Salon and Salon Brougham coupes. The 442 package included paint striping and lettering on the lower bodyside and decklid, plus bucket seats, sports console, blacked-out grille and Rallye suspension. Another popular option was the Hurst/Olds option (RPO code W30) which was available on the Cutlass Calais. This included a 350 cubic-inch four-barrel V8 and automatic transmission. The bodies were painted in special black and gold or white and gold paint. There were gold aluminum sport wheels and gold sport mirrors, a sport console with Hurst shifter, power steering and brakes, raised-white-letter tires, and ride and handling package. Also, they included a digital clock, sport steering wheel, full instrumentation and contour reclining buck seats in the front. In total, there were 2,499 examples built to this specification.

The standard engine found in the Cutlass was the 231 cubic-inch V6. Coupes and sedans could be purchased with a 260 cubic-inch diesel V8. Cutlass Cruisers (station wagons) could be purchased with a 350 cubic-inch V8 diesel.

Cutlass Salons were distinguished with a six-segment grille. The salon Brougham had 12 segments.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013