Vehicle Description
The F85/Cutlass was born in 1961, and by 1969 had established
itself as a versatile performer. This 1969 Cutlass F85 is a great
example of how Oldsmobile was able to neatly straddle the luxury
and performance car markets, combining a reasonable price, V8
power, and features like an overdrive transmission to create a
unique driving experience.
In 1961, the Cutlass was a model in the F85 lineup, but by '69, it
was the other way around. The F85 was your base model, but as an
Oldsmobile, it was still loaded with features and style. Distinct
from its corporate cousins, this was the era when each division
within GM competed on equal footing, and the result is a batch of
very interesting cars. This one wears a recent repaint in the
original code 63 Palomino Gold with a correct code 50 white top,
painted not vinyl! The neo-fastback shape gives it a muscular
stance, and with generously flared fenders, it definitely looks the
part of a muscle car. Workmanship is quite good throughout, with
smooth sheetmetal and great gaps, all of which are easy to do when
you start with good base materials. The split front grille with
vertical bars would become an Oldsmobile trademark for years to
come, while out back the rear window and C-pillars flow smoothly
into the quarters, resulting in a spacious trunk. The F85 was a car
that could do it all.
Oldsmobile was still a family car, even in F85 trim, so the bench
seats add utility without sacrificing luxury or performance.
Everything is neatly reupholstered in correct original patterns and
using contrasting light brown vinyl that works quite well with the
Palomino Gold paint job. As I mentioned, it carries factory A/C
(although it's not currently hooked up), which helps bolster its
upscale credentials, and the overall vibe inside is more luxurious
than a comparable Chevelle. Just check out that handsome
wood-rimmed wheel! Round gauge pods are at once sporty and highly
visible, even if they don't offer a lot of instrumentation beyond a
speedo and fuel gauge, but a set of auxiliary gauges under the dash
improve the view. The original AM radio has given way to an
AM/FM/cassette head unit, the carpets, door panels, and headliner
are in great shape, and the trunk is correctly detailed with a
reproduction mat and full-sized spare tire with matching cover.
The F85 was available with several engines, including a 350, so the
current ZZ4 350 cubic inch V8, while being a Chevy powerplant, is a
good match with some extra pop. It offers 4-bolt mains, a rebuilt
Holley 4-barrel carburetor, and a hydraulic roller cam to help it
crank out 355 horsepower and more than 400 pounds of torque. Nice!
A few chrome dress-up pieces give it a racy look, and there's a lot
of new equipment under the hood, suggesting that the owner kept his
priorities straight. Other new gear includes a fresh dual exhaust
system, a 700R4 4-speed automatic gearbox, and long-tube headers
for impressive torque. The chassis is impressively clean and tidy,
and it rides on a set of handsome 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels and
awesome-looking BFGoodrich Silvertown redline radials.
Oldsmobile fans will really dig this sporty coupe, but if you're
simply looking for a bargain A-body with a ton of performance, this
Olds is a great way to travel. Call today!
