Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser First generation 1971–1976
| Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Oldsmobile (General Motors) |
| Production | 1971–1992 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Oldsmobile 88 Fiesta |
The Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is a large rear-wheel drive luxury station wagon that was manufactured and marketed by Oldsmobile from 1971 to 1992 across three generations, sharing platforms with the Buick, Pontiac, and Chevrolet full-size wagons.
The Custom Cruiser was the first full-size Oldsmobile station wagon since the 1964 Oldsmobile 88 Fiesta station wagonOldsmobile had previously used the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser name on the Custom Cruiser 90, 96 & 98 models of 1940–1947.
First generation (1971–1976)
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Model years | 1971–1976 |
| Assembly | Lansing, Michigan, United States |
| Designer | Bill Mitchell |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | C-body-B-body |
| Related | Buick Estate Pontiac Grand Safari Pontiac Safari Chevrolet Brookwood Chevrolet Kingswood Chevrolet Townsman |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 400 cu in (6.6 L) Pontiac V8 455 cu in (7.5 L) Rocket V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed TH-400, automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 127.0 in (3,226 mm) |
| Length | 1971: 225.3 in (5,723 mm) 1972: 227.0 in (5,766 mm) 1973: 228.3 in (5,799 mm) 1974–75: 231.2 in (5,872 mm) 1976: 231.0 in (5,867 mm) |
| Width | 1971–75: 79.5 in (2,019 mm) 1976: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) |
| Height | 1971–75: 57.2 in (1,453 mm) 1976: 57.1 in (1,450 mm) |
| Curb weight | 5,100–5,400 lb (2,300–2,400 kg) |
The first generation Custom Cruiser first appeared in 1971 based on the C platform-B platform. With a wheelbase of 127.0 in (3,226 mm) these were the first Oldsmobile station wagons ever to be built on Oldsmobile's largest chassis. The 1971-76 GM full-size bodies, at 64.3" front shoulder room and 63.4" rear shoulder room set a record for interior width that would not be matched by any car until the full-size GM rear-wheel drive models of the early to mid 1990s. The station wagon could seat up to 8 forward-facing people. The Custom Cruiser shared Oldsmobile 98's exterior styling, in particular the 98's distinctive front fascia and rear quarter panels complete with fender skirts. Approximately 80% came with exterior vinyl woodgrained applique. Interior styling took elements from both the Delta 88 and the 98.
The Custom Cruiser wagons, as did other GM full-sized wagons during these years, used a unique rear suspension with multi-leaf springs instead of the coil springs used on other full-sized Oldsmobiles, and other full-sized GM cars. The Custom Cruiser wagons also featured a new clamshell tailgate design where the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof as the tailgate (manually or with power assist), slid into a recess under the cargo floor. The power tailgate, the first in station wagon history, ultimately supplanted the manual tailgate, which required marked effort to lift from storage. It was operated by switches on the instrument panel or a key switch on the rear quarter panel. The Clamshell system, heavy and complex, made it easier to load and unload the extremely long wagons in tight spaces. But it remained un-adopted by any other manufacturer, and would be eliminated when GM reduced the length of their wagons by about a foot in 1977, and the overriding concern became increased fuel economy.
At 5,161 lb (2,341 kg) shipping weight (5,186 lb (2,352 kg) with woodgrain), or about 5,400 lb (2,400 kg) curb weight, the three-seat 1974 Custom Cruiser wagons are easily the heaviest Oldsmobiles ever built.
Oldsmobile's 455 in³ (7.4 L) V8 engine was standard, although Pontiac's 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 was also offered in 1975.
Production figures
| Year | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 13,981 | Two-row: 4,049
Three-row: 9,932 |
| 1972 | 24,994 | Two-row: 6,907
Three-row: 18,087 |
| 1973 | 38,921 | Two-row, painted: 5,275
Two-row, woodgrain: 7,142 Three-row, painted: 7, 341 Three-row, woodgrain: 19,163 |
| 1974 | 15,916 | Two-row, painted: 1,481
Two-row, woodgrain: 2,960 Three-row, painted: 2,528 Three-row, woodgrain: 8,947 |
| 1975 | 16,068 | Two-row, painted: 1,458
Two-row, woodgrain: 2,837 Three-row, painted: 2,315 Three-row, woodgrain: 9,458 |
| 1976 | 22,316 | Two-row, painted: 2,572
Two-row, woodgrain: 3,849 Three-row, painted: 3,626 Three-row, woodgrain: 12,269 |
| 1977 | 32,827 | Oldsmobile stopped providing breakdowns of two-seat and three-seat Custom Cruiser production figures beyond 1976 |
| 1978 | 34,491 | |
| 1979 | 36,648 | |
| 1980 | 17,067 | |
| 1981 | 18,956 | |
| 1982 | 19,367 | |
| 1983 | 25,243 | |
| 1984 | 34,061 | |
| 1985 | 22,889 | |
| 1986 | 21,073 | |
| 1987 | 17,742 | |
| 1988 | 11,114 | |
| 1989 | 8,929 | |
| 1990 | 3,890 | |
| 1991 | 7,663 | |
| 1992 | 4,347 |
Engines for United States models
| Generation | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | Induction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1971 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 185 hp (138 kW) | 355 lb·ft (481 N·m) | 2bbl carburetor |
| 1971–1973 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 225 hp (168 kW) | 360 lb·ft (488 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1972 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 250 hp (186 kW) | 370 lb·ft (502 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1974 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 210 hp (157 kW) | 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1974 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 275 hp (205 kW) | 395 lb·ft (536 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1975 | 400 in³ Pontiac V8 | 190 hp (142 kW) | 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1975–1976 | 455 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 190 hp (142 kW) | 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| II | 1977–1978 | 350 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 170 hp (127 kW) | 275 lb·ft (373 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor |
| 1977–1978 | 403 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 185 hp (138 kW) | 320 lb·ft (434 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1978–1979 | 350 in³ Oldsmobile Diesel V8 | 120 hp (89 kW) | 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) | Indirect Injection | |
| 1979–1980 | 350 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 160 hp (119 kW) | 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1979 | 403 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 175 hp (130 kW) | 310 lb·ft (420 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1980 | 307 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 150 hp (112 kW) | 245 lb·ft (332 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1980–1985 | 350 in³ Oldsmobile Diesel V8 | 105 hp (78 kW) | 205 lb·ft (278 N·m) | Indirect Injection | |
| 1981–1984 | 307 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| 1985–1990 | 307 in³ Oldsmobile V8 | 140 hp (104 kW) | 255 lb·ft (346 N·m) | 4bbl carburetor | |
| III | 1991–1992 | 5.0 L/305 in³ Chevrolet Small-Block V8 | 170 hp (127 kW) | 255 lb·ft (346 N·m) | Throttle-body FI |
| 1992 | 5.7 L/350 in³ Chevrolet Small-Block V8 | 180 hp (134 kW) | 300 lb·ft (410 N·m) | Throttle-body FI |
NOTE All engines, including 1971 are listed in SAE net brake horsepower.