Vehicle Description
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Hardtop
It started automotive life innocently enough in 1961. An upscale
model within a new line of compacts designed-in part-to stem the
rising tide of cheap, economical imports, while stealing sales away
from Rambler. Not coincidentally, production of excessively large,
mid-priced cars had been floundering since the late Fifties. But
this humble start for Oldsmobile's Cutlass belied its eventual
impact; the badge had longevity on its side, becoming the most
popular car in America in the process. Its secret recipe for
success was an open book for decades: Put simply, it was the
biggest bang for the buck, in the right size, with a face that
everybody loved.
Named after the familiar short curved blade sword used by
swashbuckling sailors, this Cutlass in 1987 form comes to us in
good condition. Plenty of new parts recently put into it, and
recent mechanical work brings her up to snuff. Not your father's
Oldsmobile, it's a 2 door Cutlass Salon.
Exterior
Let's take a square and a rectangle and fashion various panels, the
doors, a roofline and hood, and a spacious trunk deck and we now
have this 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon. Those squares and
rectangles are all straight and have nice straight gaps between
them, and are all painted in Silver Metallic. Rectangular
headlights make a smooth transition from the hood and front
quarters and frame the edges of a black grille which is split in
the center by a badged vertical pillar. Throw on a 5mph neoprene
bumper and a lower chromed framing for the turn signals lights and
lower grille, and we have the Salon look. A long black trim spear
painted in, and some mid section plastic 3D trimming as well as a
stainless rocker trim give this design a touch of class. Adding to
that is the squared off roofline with its vertical rectangular
opera glass on the B pillar. For the trunk, it actually dares to
break the design rule and has an angled rearward roll over for the
lid. This leads us to the rear bumper with more crash neoprene and
some chrome below just like the front bumper design. On either side
of the edges is a vertical thin tail light and the reverse lights
running between those red lights. Slight tinted glass is all clean
and has stainless trimming framing in. 14-inch Oldsmobile Super
Stock II wheels in chrome are making a splash to the design and are
wrapped in nearly new 205/70R14 rubber.
Interior
Deep blue velour covers the uppers for the swinging doors which are
wide enough to allow access to the rear bench. Some wood applique,
molded deep blue plastic, and dark blue carpeting below chromed
toggles and a mirror joystick and we can shut the front door!
Inside high back deep blue tuck and roll velour buckets grab the
front passengers. Power adjustments are within some chromed
trimming for the edges of the chairs. A square and rectangle design
center console is between these buckets and this has some wood
applique within molded dark blue plastic surrounds to hide the
hump. As the console runs into the center of the dash it uses
another square blue plastic surround insert where wood applique
highlights the AM/FM/Cassette radio with a built in EQ. The temp
sliders are here as well. The dash has more rectangles and is
peppered with blackface circular instruments with clean white
lettering. Some extra wood applique also is within this dash front
along with the fronting factory steering wheel. Cruise control is
controlled within this wheel at the touch of a fingertip. Also
noted is a high tech, (sic), cell phone mounted to the side of the
console. A dark blue fuzzy broadcloth headliner is above and below
is dark blue carpeting nice and clean. There is slight fading in
the seats which is expected to come with age on a velour
interior.
Drivetrain
Under the hood in an unrestored engine bay with plenty of dust and
patina, sits the 307ci factory V8. It has a single 4-barrel
carburetor on top, and a 200R4 4-speed automatic transmission on
back. A 10 bolt 2.56 gear rear axle is on the back turning the
tires.
Undercarriage
Some light to moderate surface rust is seen peppering the
undercarriage. The floor pans are black, undercoated and rust free.
Overall the undercarriage is kept very simple, with front
independent coil springs and a rear 4 link with coil springs
suspension. Power disc brakes are up front, and power drums are in
back. Brakes in front are new with calipers, pads, and hoses, and
there has been a very recent front end alignment.
Drive-Ability
I slipped into this late 80's touch of class and off to the test
track I sped where the car did an overall B-Plus experience. Smooth
shifting from the 200R4, and solid braking. Nice easy power
steering and the conveniences were intact save for the AC which is
blowing warm, the power antenna which does not operate, and power
locks not fully locking the doors.
A clean driver quality piece of Olds history in the form of the
Cutlass Salon 2 door sedan. Nicely preserved, nicely maintained and
a nice presentation. Sounds like new, runs like new, and is a great
way to get a solid start in the collector car world.
1G3GK11Y6HP323295
1-USA
G-General Motors
3-Oldsmobile
G-Cutlass
K-Salon
11-2 Door Hardtop
Y-307ci V8 4bbl
6-Check Digit
H-1987
P-Pontiac, MI Assy Plant
323295-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
