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Fifth generation
1979 Cutlass Salon fastback
Overview
Also called	Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1978–1988) Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais (1978–1984) Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon (1985–1987) Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser (1978–1983) Oldsmobile 4-4-2 (1978–1980)
Production	1978–1988
Assembly	Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door fastback sedan 5-door station wagon 2-door coupe 2-door fastback coupe
Layout	FR layout
Platform	A-body (1978–81) G-body (1982–88)
Related	Buick Century Chevrolet El Camino Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac Le Mans
Powertrain
Engine	231 cu in (3.79 L) Buick V6 260 cu in (4.3 L) Oldsmobile V8 301 cu in (4.93 L) Pontiac V8 305 cu in (5.00 L) Chevrolet V8 260 cu in (4.3 L) LF7 diesel V8 350.1 cu in (5.7 L) LF9 diesel V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108 in (2,700 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

1978

The 1978 Cutlass was downsized to the new version of GM's A-body with a shorter, 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase.

This Cutlass was lighter than earlier versions at around 3,300 pounds (1,500 kg), and it could be ordered with any of several engines built by GM's different divisions; a Buick 231 V6, Oldsmobile 260 V8, Pontiac 301 V8 or Chevrolet 305 V8s with either two- or four-barrel carburetors.

The '78 Cutlass lineup included the Salon and Salon Brougham fastback coupes and sedans and the formal roof Supreme, Supreme Brougham and Calais coupes. The Salons were styled more like imported hatchbacks than racy fastbacks (although they had a separate trunk), and they quickly proved to be far less popular than the notchback Supreme and Calais coupes, which was a revival of an appearance from the late 1940s on the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 coupe, and again in the 1960s with the third generation. There were also "two-seat" (6 passengers in two rows) Cutlass Cruiser and Cutlass Cruiser Brougham station wagons; both being smaller, more conventional replacements of the three-seat (8 passenger) Vista Cruiser.

Broughams featured softer, quieter rides, and fancier trim and upholstery. A factory T-top was optional on notchback coupes only. The 4-4-2 appearance and handling package, available on Salon coupes, featured large lower body stripes and 4-4-2 decals outside but not always shown with decals, unique 4-4-2 seats and badges inside, and a taut performance suspension featuring quicker-ratio steering, heavier springs, stiffer shocks, a stiffer front stabilizer bar, a rear stabilizer bar, and bigger tires. The Cutlass Calais used essentially the same suspension as the 4-4-2, but it also came standard with several other performance and touring options, including full instrumentation, an aluminum spoked sport steering wheel, reclining front bucket seats and a center console with floor shifter.

Cosmetically, the 1978 line continued through 1979 with only slight changes front and rear. A bewildering array of grilles were used on the different equipment levels for 1978 and 1979, including two sets each of slotted (Salon), waterfall (Supreme incl. Brougham), and eggcrate (Calais) style designs.

1979

The same model lineup continued, with a revision of both the front grille and taillight lenses. A diesel version of the Oldsmobile 260 (based on the Olds 350 diesel) was optional; diesel Cutlasses had the "Oldsmobile Diesel" badges on the decklids, where gasoline-powered Cutlasses had the "Rocket" logo.

Only 2499 Cutlass Calais coupes were equipped with the Hurst/Olds W-30 package, featuring unique aluminum wheels trimmed with gold paint, an exclusive console-mounted Hurst Dual Gate floor shifter, special gold over black or white two-tone paint and an otherwise unavailable Oldsmobile 350 V8 with a four-barrel carb and dual outlet exhausts. It is estimated that only 537 cars with the H/O package had T-Tops.

1980

Cutlass Supreme and Calais coupes received new header panels incorporating four headlights, mimicking the 1977 model. The four-door Salon was dropped due to poor sales. Taking its place was a conventional notchback sedan known simply as "Cutlass," with base, LS, and Brougham trim levels available. Sister division Buick did the same with their Buick Century sedan (the 1978 to 1980 Centuries shared the bodyshell with the Cutlass Salon). The 4-4-2 package was moved to the Cutlass Calais, and while it lacked the Dual Gate shifter, it was essentially a carryover of the 1979 Hurst/Olds, even having the Oldsmobile 350 V8 886 80 442's were produced for 1980. The 260 diesel engine was dropped, as it was considerably slower yet no more economic than the 5.7-litre diesel.

1981

The fastback Salon coupe was dropped, and the Supreme and Calais got a restyle that included a more aerodynamic nose and smoother body lines. Sedans got quad headlamps and a new grille. The 4-4-2 was dropped. Most of this range continued to be marketed as the Cutlass Supreme until 1986, although the Cutlass Cruiser was replaced for 1984.

Cutlass family 1982–1997

In 1982, Oldsmobile began using the Cutlass nameplate as a sub-marque, with numerous vehicle lines bearing the name simultaneously.

Cutlass Ciera (1982–1996)

The more space-efficient Cutlass Ciera was introduced on GM's new front-wheel drive mid-sized A platform in 1982. The Cutlass Cruiser station wagon nameplate followed the Ciera to its new platform in 1984. Coupes were produced until 1992, sedans and wagons until 1996. For the final year in production, this model was renamed simply Oldsmobile Ciera.

During its run, the Cutlass Ciera was consistently Oldsmobile's best-selling model.

Cutlass Supreme (1982–1997)

1980–1988

Meanwhile, the previous-generation Cutlass Supreme continued on the (now renamed) rear-wheel-drive G platform for six more years. The Hurst/Olds edition reappeared for two years in 1983 and 1984. From 1985 through 1987 the 442 replaced the Hurst/Olds as the high performance model.

Until 1984, the deluxe Cutlass Supreme model was known as the Cutlass Calais. When the Calais nameplate moved to its own platform in 1985, the top Supreme was renamed to Cutlass Salon. As the new front-wheel drive Cutlass Supreme model was being launched in 1988, the rear-drive G-special coupe remained in production for one final model year as the Cutlass Supreme Classic.

1988–1997

The premium Cutlass Supreme nameplate was moved to the new front-wheel-drive mid-sized GM W platform in 1988. Originally a coupe, a 4-door sedan model was added in 1990. Convertibles were also produced from 1990 to 1995.

In 1998, the Cutlass Supreme was replaced by the Oldsmobile Intrigue.

Cutlass Calais (1985–1991)

The third Cutlass nameplate introduced was the compact Cutlass Calais (originally just Oldsmobile Calais) on the front-wheel-drive N-body in 1985. The famed 4-4-2 nameplate was revived for the Cutlass Calais in 1990 and 1991.

The Cutlass Calais was replaced by the Oldsmobile Achieva in 1992.