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 appliqué, 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 appliqué 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 appliqué 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 appliqué 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.