Vehicle Description
To answer Ford's Fairlane and Mercury's Meteor of 1962, which
created the mid-size car category in North America, General Motors
fielded not two but four cars in response.
One of those four is Oldsmobile's F-85/Cutlass, aimed directly at
the heart of the mid-priced, mid-size car market. This example is a
unit from the model's second model year and is also a project in
need of completion. It was made in Oldsmobile's Lansing, Michigan
assembly plant (VIN code M) during the fourth week of May 1965. We
purchased this 442 from the original owner. He started the
restoration some time ago. But sat in storage unit unfinished. The
car is all there and runs and drives well but need to be finished
and sorted.
Finished in Turquoise Mist (code L), the car's paint and trim are
in overall very good order. The bodywork is straight and sold, the
engine bay is in very good order and the chrome bumpers are in
good, overall condition. The corresponding white vinyl
power-folding top is in good shape.
This Olds rolls on older red strip tires, mounted on factory
wheels. All of the wheels and tires are in good, original
order.
Under the hood is a rebuilt Oldsmobile 400 CID V-8 engine breathing
via dual exhausts, which was new for 1965 on the 4-4-2 trim.
Backing this motor is a four-speed manual transmission (ACC code
2L). Driver convenience features include power steering.
Inside, the car's black vinyl interior (code 950) needs the most
TLC. The Strato Bucket seats look good, as does the rear bench but
the matching carpet is merely in satisfactory order. This unit has
deluxe seat belts with retractors (ACC code 5W). The inner door
panels and dashboard are all in good, original order. A
floor-mounted shifter and a factory AM radio complete the
interior.
For 1965, a modest facelift increased overall length to 204.3
inches while the front end received a "dumbbell-style" grille
similar to full-sized Olds models. A bigger 400 CID engine was
included with the 4-4-2 option, based on the newly introduced 425
CID engine from the full-sized Oldsmobiles while the Buick 225 CID
V-6 and Olds 330 CID Jetfire Rocket V-8 were carried over from the
previous year, with increased power ratings for the V-8 options.
Sales increased again to 187,097.
The year 1965 was also the first for Oldsmobile's "Rocket" logo
that would last, with minor variations, until the 1990s.
Documentation includes a Fusick Automotive Products catalog from
July 1990; three Year One Inc. catalogs; various correspondence,
invoices and receipts and numerous spare parts and trim.
Convertible competition to this Cutlass in 1965 included American
Motors' Classic and Ambassador lines, Buick's Skylark, Dodge's
Polara, Mercury's Meteor and Pontiac's Tempest/LeMans.
If you're looking for a project car, this Olds Cutlass 442
convertible, may be your next candidate, particularly if you're
good at body and interior work. Check it out at MotoeXotica Classic
Cars today!
VIN: 338675M358944
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis,
Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 6,610 miles. It is
sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title.
GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!
Note: Please see full terms and conditions listed below that
pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.
