Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Fifth Generation 1988–1997

Cutlass Supreme Fifth Generation 1988–1997 Featured Image
Fifth generation
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible -- 06-03-2011 1.jpg
Overview
Production 1988–1997
Assembly Doraville, Georgia
Kansas City, Kansas
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door convertible
2-door notchback coupe
4-door notchback sedan
Layout Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform W-body
Related Buick Regal
Chevrolet Lumina
Pontiac Grand Prix
Powertrain
Engine 2.3 L Quad-4 I4
2.8 L LB6 V6
3.1 L LH0, L82 V6
3.4 L LQ1 V6
Transmission 4-speed 4T60 automatic
5-speed Getrag manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 107.5 in (2,730 mm)
Length 1988–89: 192.1 in (4,879 mm)
1990–91 2dr: 192.3 in (4,884 mm)
1990–91 4dr: 192.2 in (4,882 mm)
1992–95 2dr: 193.9 in (4,925 mm)
1992–95 4dr: 193.7 in (4,920 mm)
1996–97: 193.8 in (4,923 mm)
Width 1988–95: 71 in (1,803.4 mm)
1996–97 2dr: 71.5 in (1,816 mm)
1996–97 Sedan: 71.9 in (1,826 mm)
Height 1988–89: 52.8 in (1,341 mm)
1990–95 Coupe: 53.3 in (1,354 mm)
1990–95 4dr: 54.8 in (1,392 mm)
1990–91 Convertible: 54.3 in (1,379 mm)
1992–95 Convertible: 54.7 in (1,389 mm)
1996–97 2-dr: 53 in (1,346 mm)
1996–97 4dr: 53.7 in (1,364 mm)

A front-wheel-drive Cutlass Supreme based on the GM10 platform (W-body) was introduced as a coupe mid-year during the 1988 production run, while the final year of Cutlass Supreme RWD coupes were still being produced.

This new FWD model shared its 107.5 in (2,730 mm) wheelbase with the Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, and Chevrolet Lumina. As part of introducing the all-new FWD Cutlass Supreme, Oldsmobile secured their place to be the car that introduced the head-up display. 250 pace car replicas were produced, including 50 custom-made convertibles; some or most were used as festival or parade cars before and during the race. These 50 were turned into convertibles by Cars and Concepts of Brighton, Michigan. These custom convertibles were the first 50 cars released to the public with a head-up display, and then subsequently recalled for reasons that remain unclear. The 1988 and 1989 models were 2-door coupes. This Cutlass body style proved to be a winner for NASCAR competition and it visited the victory circle 13 times between 1989 and 1992, when Oldsmobile ended its racing program.[citation needed] A sedan and a production convertible were added in 1990. Models included base (later called S), SL, and the sporty International Series. Throughout its run, the convertible was considered a separate trim level.

Further Narrative on Indy Pace Cars: In 1988 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway chose Oldsmobile to pace “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, with retired United States Air Force General Chuck Yeager behind the wheel[citation needed]. Traditionally a manufacturer builds many pace car replicas, often thousands[citation needed]. But in 1988 Oldsmobile chose to build only 50 Cutlass Convertible Indy Pace Car editions. All 50 (used on track on race day and in 500 Festival activities) were essentially hand built. General Motors/Oldsmobile contracted Cars and Concepts of Brighton, Michigan to build each of these 50 unique cars. Following the race 50 very select Oldsmobile dealers were given the opportunity to purchase one of these cars. The price was set at full invoice price for a standard International Series coupe (~$14,000) plus the cost of the convertible conversion (an additional $13,997)[citation needed]. Each was highly optioned including the first ever application of Heads Up Display in an American production vehicle developed by Hughes Electronics. After the 50 were claimed, paid for and delivered to the lucky Olds dealers who said yes, the story of these cars gets more interesting. After the 50 were in the dealers’ hands across the country General Motors discovered some issue with the certification of these one-off models. Each dealer was asked to return them to GM (where they were to be destroyed) and receive full credit of their purchase price. Most of the 50 were returned for credit, but a few dealers objected and kept their cars leaving (by all accounts) less than 10 in the general population. Mr. Thomas Knobloch, a second-generation Oldsmobile dealer in Erie, Pennsylvania was one of those dealers who refused to relinquish his car[citation needed]. He instead held on to it as a collectible. Realizing its incredible rarity and place in both GM/Oldsmobile and Indy 500 history he drove less than 800 miles (1,300 km) over his many years of ownership. The Knobloch family sold the car after his death[citation needed].

International Series models could be equipped with unique features such as quad bucket seats with dual center consoles, the driver information system and a heads-up display. A very rare Muncie 5-speed manual transmission option was paired first with the 2.8 l (170 cu in) 60° V6 in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, a revised Getrag 5-speed manual transmission option was available for the high-output Quad-4 I4 and the DOHC 3.4 l (210 cu in) 60° V6 in 1991 and 1992. The entire line was restyled for 1992, with coupes and convertibles gaining distinctive "mini-quad" headlamps shared with the Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe. A driver's side airbag became standard in 1994, and a new ergonomically curved dashboard with dual airbags debuted in 1995.

The lineup was gradually pared down over time. The Quad-4 was last produced during the 1991 model year; the manual transmission option during 1992; the International Series during 1993; the S Series during 1994; the convertible during 1995; and the 3.4 L V6 engine option during 1996. The Cutlass Supreme ceased production at the end of the 1997 model year. That same year, an N-body Cutlass (actually a badge-engineered Malibu) was introduced to replace the Ciera, but this model lasted just three years. The Cutlass Supreme's place in the Oldsmobile line was taken by the 1998 Intrigue, built on the next version of the W platform. The Cutlass Supreme ended production on April 24, 1997.

The W-body Cutlass Supreme was built in Doraville, Georgia from 1988 to 1995, and at the Fairfax Plant in Kansas City, Kansas from 1996 to 1997. The first 1988 Cutlass Supreme rolled off the assembly line on January 13, 1988.[citation needed] The last Cutlass Supreme convertible was completed on February 15, 1995.[citation needed] The reason for this is that the last 34,743 cars built in Doraville were sedans, the coupe production was sent to Fairfax, Kansas around March 1, 1995 and Cars and Concepts did not have a facility near Fairfax.[citation needed]

Engines

Engine Years Power Torque
2.8 L (173 cu in) LB6 V6 1988–1989 130 hp (97 kW) 170 lb·ft (230 N·m)
3.1 L (191 cu in) LH0 V6 1989–1993 140 hp (104 kW) 185 lb·ft (251 N·m)
2.3 L (138 cu in) Quad-4 (LD2) I4 1990–1991 160 hp (119 kW) 152 lb·ft (206 N·m)
2.3 L (138 cu in) Quad-4 (LG0) I4 1990 180 hp (134 kW) 160 lb·ft (217 N·m)
3.1 L (191 cu in) L82 V6 1992–1997 160 hp (119 kW) 185 lb·ft (251 N·m)
3.4 L (204 cu in) LQ1 V6 1991–1995 210 hp (157 kW) 215 lb·ft (292 N·m)
3.4 L (204 cu in) LQ1 V6 1996 215 hp (160 kW) 220 lb·ft (298 N·m)

Gallery