Vehicle Description
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon Hardtop
"Champions know each other by the pace they set. For 1986,
Oldsmobile offered Cutlass Salon and Cutlass 442. These coupes go
head to head with the best. Cutlass Salon's driving environment
will satisfy even the most demanding. The reclining buckets seats
let you find your ideal driving position. Rallye instrumentation
puts you in touch. The Firm Ride and Handling suspension system is
standard." From the 1986 Cutlass brochure.
For consignment, a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon hardtop with
unknown miles but a list of go fast modifications that resulted in
a 499 horsepower dyno pull and built to be bulletproof, as our
consignor states, "a really driver that goes, a go car, not a show
car.". Well, let's take a closer look and see if you wouldn't mind
checking this one out at a show!
Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by
the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws
to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public
highways in your area.*
Exterior
Painted about 18 months ago, the car presents in Medium Gray
Metallic, looking at first like your pedestrian Cutlass. Digging a
bit deeper finds a sporty bulge on the hood and 15-inch Weld
Rodlite wheels with staggered size tires and suddenly things look a
bit different. Out back, a vintage Wynn's decal gets our attention
and so does the shut off switch on the bumper and braided lines
visible under the bumper. Clear lense tail lights are a piece we
never knew existed and dress up this G-body with a more modern
display. Nothing unusual on the grille, just the usual split unit
with quad headlights. Why the Trans Am reference on the front
plate? We'll find out. The paint, metal, and half vinyl top are in
great shape and we could not find any exterior imperfections.
Interior
Things get more interesting, but the door panels are familiar GM
G-body units with faux woodgrain decoration, gray velour, gray
plastic, and gray carpet, and both doors are in great shape. The
gray velour bucket seats look clean and stock as well and the back
seat looks showroom fresh. But turn your attention to the front and
behind the standard steering wheel, things start showing up. An
air/fuel meter on the A-pillar, a shift light on the dash pad, a
big tachometer in the middle, and a three pack gauge cluster in the
center console. The standard instrument cluster in the dash,
nothing unusual there. But the myriad of toggles in the center
stack is different. And wow! The Lightning Rod shifter assures
you'll never miss a shift because there's a stick for each gear.
It's incredibly intimidating looking and feels like something out
of a fighter jet. Only this time, it's for a street fighter.
Meanwhile, a Mallory ignition system is in place of a glove box.
Carpet and headliner bring us back to normal for this wolf in
sheep's clothing.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is an engine built by Mondello Olds and it's a 1979
403ci, dyno'd at 499 horsepower with a 4-barrel carburetor and a
built 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission, good for 750 horsepower
according to our consignor and sending power to a Currie Ford 9"
rear with 3.90 gears. Power disc brakes are found front and rear.
The Trans Am reference? 1979 models produced in California were
equipped with a 403ci Oldsmobile V8 and displayed "6.6 Litre" on
the hood scoop.
Undercarriage
From back to front, the first thing we notice is some seepage from
the fuel cell, then an underside that is uniformly black, including
the FlowMaster mufflers which are part of the dual exhaust that
originate from headers on the engine and conclude with black pipes
behind each rear wheel. There is no catalytic converter onboard. A
driveshaft loop is present as well as a G Force transmission
crossmember. There's some surface rust underneath but overall clean
and dry. Suspension includes coil spring up front and a 4 link with
coil springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
If you had a Monte Carlo or Regal in this era, the interior will
feel very familiar. That is, until you look around and suddenly
you're feeling like Don Prudomme! We take to the test loop where
this Cutlass on steroids fulfills the consignor's desire for a
fast, powerful and stable car. Our crack staff tutored us on the
shifters and they're as fun as they are dependable! It gets to
fourth gear in a hurry and fully engages the driver while the
gauges around us display all the important info. Other than the
power windows, all functions on this four wheeled F15 work as
intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions
were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee
these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
This writer's first car was a '79 Trans Am with the 403. It had
less than 200 horsepower and I always wondered if there was more
potential in that engine. Well, this Salon answers that question
with close to 500 horsepower from the same engine! Would you want
to take a closer look at this car at a car show? Maybe peek inside
the cabin to see those shifters? Absolutely! We have to correct our
consignor, this car is for go AND show! And is ready for its next
pilot!
1G3GK47Y7GP389765
1-USA
G-General Motors
3-Oldsmobile
GK-Cutlass Salon
47-2 Door Coupe
Y-5.0 Liter V8 4bbl
7-Check Digit
G-1986
P-Pontiac, MI Assy Plant
389765-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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