86 vrs 87 442 differences

[81X11]

I think the 87 Cutlass was still a very big seller at the time which was one of the reasons they still produced it in 88. The demand was still there, but of course GM doesn't make what their customers want, so they went to the ultra popular FWD Cutlass that totally rocked the publics socks off.

I've read that 87 was supposed to be the last year for the RWD Cutlass, but that there were supplier delays and production issues with the new front drive models, so GM continued Cutlass production into 1988 until the FWD factory ramped up to speed.

Makes sense.

-Mike

 

[81X11]

i have an 87 442 and it has reclining buckets, as far as i know this is the factory seats, and they are power, well the driver side is power.
i jus sold an 85 salon, and it had reclining seats, but no power.

thats all i know.

The seats in my '88 recline but are not power as well.

 

[81X11]

My 88 Supreme has the chrome seat trim and reclining bucket seats....but it's not a 442.]

Maybe it's because the 88's were an oddball year? Maybe they were using whatever leftover parts they had in their invetory to get rid of them?

I do know that the 87 442's were based on the Supreme's and definately don't have reclining buckets. I've only actually saw one other Supreme with buckets and they didn't recline either. I've heard others state NO supremes had reclining buckets being it was the lowest trimline and all. Not many Supremes with buckets.

Also see in your pic you have the sportier Salon steering wheel.

My car is bone stock with the exception of the radio and I replaced the front upper door panels with ones from an '87 because I like the Cutlass Supreme script emblems. The '88 models did not get door panel emblems, at least on my trim level.

 

[81X11]

i think you have to remember that 87/88 was the dying years of these cars............sales were low, and I think they just wanted to get rid of any excess inventory they had without anymore production of new parts. an example would be the 1988 cutlass LV2.........basically all the 83/84 H/O STUFF thrown on a cutlass supreme classic. and then there is the cutlass supreme classic....seen a buch of those and some look like supremes, some look like broughams........some are a mix of both interior/exterior. I think you will find more variation in the 87/88 years than all previous years

just my opinion though.........


peace

All rear drive '88 models were called Cutlass Supreme Classic. You could still get the Brougham interior, the Salon interior, and the 442 interior, just without the badges, it was all option packages. When I bought my '88, which is fairly loaded, I was surprised it did not have power seats or a remote right mirror. It also didn't have a power trunk release (!). Weird options. The one option that I do wish it had, but am told not having it saved the body from rust, is the lower body chrome trim, which was part of an appearence package. I like the lower body chrome but have been told it traps dirt and can hide rust.

I like having an '88 model, it's kind of a factory mutt.