Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme First generation 1965–1967

Cutlass Supreme First generation 1965–1967 Featured Image
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile-Cutlass-Supreme-front.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Oldsmobile (General Motors)
Production 1965–1997
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size
Chronology
Successor Oldsmobile Intrigue

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a mid-size car produced by Oldsmobile between 1966 and 1997.

It was positioned as a premium offering at the top of the Cutlass range It began as a trim package, developed its own roofline, and rose during the mid-1970s to become not only the most popular Oldsmobile but the highest selling model in its class

It was produced as a rear-wheel drive two-door hardtop, sedan, and station wagon into the 1980s, and a convertible through 1972. In 1988 Oldsmobile sought to capitalize on the brand equity of the Cutlass Supreme marque by replacing it with a downsized front-wheel drive model based on the GM10 platform W-platform.

When production ended there was no direct replacement for the Cutlass Supreme, although the Intrigue introduced for 1998 was designed in size and price to replace all the Cutlass models.

First generation (1966–1967)

First generation
1968 and 1969 Oldsmobile 442.jpg
Overview
Production 1965–1967
Model years 1966–1967
Body and chassis
Body style 2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
2-door notchback sedan
4-door hardtop
4-door notchback sedan
Layout FR layout
Platform A-body
Related Chevrolet Chevelle
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Buick Skylark
Pontiac LeMans
Powertrain
Engine 330 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Transmission 4-speed manual
2-speed automatic
3-speed manual
 
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme rear

The Cutlass Supreme name first appeared for the 1966 model year, the first year of GM's new intermediate four-door hardtop sedan—also known as the Holiday Sedan. In addition to the new body style (also available on the midline F-85 Deluxe series), the Supreme featured a plusher interior that included a bench seat with armrest, full wheel covers and deluxe door panels among other items including "CS" emblems on the rear C-pillars and trunk lid. Although smaller than the traditional domestic cars, "its deluxe interior makes it comparable with LTD, VIP, DPL, and Caprice."

For the 1967 model year, the Cutlass Supreme line was expanded into a full series that also included a two-door hardtop coupe (Holiday Coupe), two-door pillared coupe (Sport Coupe), four-door pillared sedan (Town Sedan) and a convertible. Generally, interior appointments in Supreme models were more luxurious than lesser F-85 and Cutlass series cars and included a cloth or vinyl bench seat with armrest in sedan models and all-vinyl Strato bucket seats in coupes and convertibles.

For both years, the standard Supreme engine was Oldsmobile's 330 cu in (5.4 L) "Ultra High Compression" Jetfire Rocket V8 rated at 320 hp (239 kW) with a four-barrel carburetor. Transmission offerings included a standard three-speed manual with column shift, floor-mounted four-speed manual with Hurst shifter or a two-speed Jetaway automatic.

In 1967, the high-performance 442 package with the 400 cu in (6.6 L) 350 horsepower (260 kW) V8 was available on three Cutlass Supreme models including the sport coupe, Holiday coupe and convertible. Also available on each of those three Supreme two-door models was "Turnpike Cruiser" option that included a 400 cubic-inch V8 with two-barrel carburetor and 300 hp (220 kW) rating along with a numerically lower rear axle and Turbo Hydramatic transmission.