Who Makes Cutlass? A Look at Third Generation Models

The short and sweet answer is Oldsmobile. This company was founded in 1897 by a man with the unlikely name of Ransom E. Olds. Born in Ohio, he was raised in Michigan and he loved to tinker. By 1901, Olds had accomplished something pretty amazing. He’d built 11 different vehicle prototypes, using a variety of ways to power them: electricity, gasoline, and steam. And, although Henry Ford deserves plenty of credit for his assembly lines, it was Ransom Olds who may have first mass-produced an automobile, and that was the Oldsmobile Curved Dash, starting in 1901.

Why was that model produced first? Well, in March of 1901, his factory burned to the ground, and Olds said that only the Curved Dash prototyped was saved. Has this story been debated? Sure! Some say he’d planned to produce this car first before the fire happened. In any case, this vehicle appeared at the second annual New York Automobile Show, but the test driver was so spattered in mud when he arrived at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that he was sent to the servant’s entrance. In 1901, 425 cars were produced. By 1902, nearly 2,000 of them were.

From that point on, Oldsmobile manufactured more than 35 million vehicles before going out of business in 2004. Those vehicles were largely manufactured through the parent company of General Motors.

The Cutlass name was first used in 1954 on a sports coupe with a V8 engine and an eye-catching appearance.

The Cutlass was named after a specific type of sword, this model was manufactured from 1961 through 1999, with the most popular years being the third generation of the vehicle, which was from 1968 through 1972. Here’s a look at those key years.

1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass

This is the year that the F-85 Cutlass debuted with a brand-new look, with changes said to permit more individual styling. This included different wheelbases for two- and four-door models. The first came with 112 inches, while the latter came with 116 inches. Besides the standard F-85, other models that year included the Cutlass S, a mid-level option; the Cutlass Supreme—which, as the name implies, was a premier version—and the limited-edition Hurst/Olds.

1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass

This version of the F-85 wasn’t remarkably different from the 1968 model, although these cars did feature vertical taillights and a split grille with vertical bars. Slightly ahead of the government mandate game, the 1969 Cutlass’s ignition switch was now part of the steering column, which meant that the steering wheel locked when it wasn’t being used. The following year, that became a requirement for safety reasons. Something new: a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic 350 transmission.

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass

This year, Cutlass aficionados could choose from seven different body styles, including three coupes. There was also a convertible; a four-door Town Sedan; a four-door hardtop Holiday Sedan; and a station wagon. When considering all of the available options, there really were 15 different choices that year. Plus, there was something special in 1970: the Oldsmobile Rallye 350. This was a high-performance vehicle that came at a good price, targeted for younger buyers with less money in their pockets.

1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Fans of eye-catching colors had something new and exciting to appreciate in 1971. Four additional exterior colors were available: Bittersweet, Lime Green, Saturn Gold, and Viking Blue. If a buyer wanted the Cutlass’s Rocket V8 engine, it was available in multiple sizes and power options. If someone appreciated the 250 cubic-inch 6-cylinder engine, though, they needed to buy a 1971 model because it would be discontinued after that because of lack of demand.

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass

During the last year of the third generation of Cutlass models, styling changes were minor. The main changes were in the taillights and front grilles. A Hurst-Olds was used to pace the Indianapolis 500, meaning that it led the way when race cars took a certain number of warm up laps that weren’t scored, among other duties. Oldsmobile then manufactured approximately 630 replicas of this vehicle, about one-fourth of them being convertibles.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Parts for Sale

When you’re in need of Oldsmobile Cutlass parts, Cutlass Supreme parts or any other model classic Oldsmobile parts, Collectors Auto Supply has what you need. You can search by year, which makes it fast and easy to see what’s available. 

We recognize how finding the perfect part for your third-generation Cutlass—or any other classic car, for that matter—can be challenging. That’s why the founder of Collectors Auto Supply (who has spent plenty of time searching for those hard to find parts for his own vehicles!) decided to create a company where car lovers can help other car lovers find what they need. If you need help finding Oldsmobile Cutlass parts justcontact us online or call 1-800-414-4462.