Car: Oldsmobile Cutlass Coupe
Year: 1968
What makes it special: The Cutlass model was produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors for the 1961 through 1999 model years, beginning as Oldsmobile’s unibody compact model, but having it’s greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate model. It was the top trim level for the F85 line before becoming its own series, then spawning off many variants, including the famed 4-4-2 muscle car in 1964, the premium Cutlass Supreme and the all-out performance Hurst/Olds and the beloved Vista Cruiser Station Wagon in 1968.
What made it famous: The 1968 model year saw a complete and major restyle for the Oldsmobile Cutlass model, in accordance with GM’s restyle to the A-Body cars. It received a new 112 two door and 116 four door wheelbase. The two door F85 and Cutlass now had a semi-fastback roofline. The F85 remained the base model, and the Cutlass S, Cutlass Supreme and 4-4-2 were now a distinct model as opposed to an option package. The Cutlass and Vista Cruiser station wagons were redesigned; the F-85 wagon was discontinued. Engine options were similar to the previous year, although the Cutlass’s V8 option was expanded to 350 cu in, still with both 2- and 4-barrel carbs. The optional 2-speed Jetaway and 3-speed Turbo Hydra-matic automatic transmissions were now discontinued.
Why I would want one: The 1968 to me was the best looking year of the now coke-bottle styled Cutlass.
Fun fact: 1968 also saw the addition of a limited-production model called the Hurst/Olds, a special 4-4-2 marketed by Oldsmobile and Hurst Performance. The H/O combined the 4-4-2 suspension package with a 455 cu in Rocket V8, not ordinarily offered in Cutlasses because of a GM policy limiting intermediates to engines of 400 cu in or less
Powered by Dragone Classic Motor Cars
