Are the 1980 Model Cutlass's Special?

[Captain S-3]

I am new to these G-Body's.
Let me start at the beginning I have a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme I bought to build into a Street/Strip Fun Car. Then I found this Forum and well after seeing all of your great looking Cars I have now decided to go all out on this Car. But I have found in doing my Research for this project that finding anything (Parts / Trim, Mouldings) for a 1980 Model is almost impossible. So I guess my question is. What’s so special about the 1980 Model? Was this a low production Model or are the folks that have one just holding onto them?

I have a 355 SBC 450Hp according to the Dyno Sheet that I am putting in it. I know from Reading the post on the SBC Swap that it is not a real popular. But I bought this as a Rust Free Roller and planed on just dropping in the New Engine and Trans for a fun Weekend Street/Strip Car. I already have a Show Car so I wanted something that I could turn some Wrench’s on. My Show Car is a Bit of a trailer Queen.

Anyway, any Info that you Guys/Gals can offer would be Greatly Appreciated. I do need some Body Trim pieces if anyone has some For Sale. I am Posting some Old pics when I first Picked it up I need to upload some new ones.
Thanks

 

[Dragonist]

Gratz on the olds...your body style is the least popular model so to speak. Idk if its the low production, or the styling of that generation.in regards to the swap, a lot olds guys like olds motors in them, even though a lot of those came with the 305.

 

[Evan11]

Well, most parts as far as body will work from a 78-80 cutlass. The '80 header panel is a one year deal though and might be what they're meaning. Interiors will swap out 78-88. If you really need some parts, what are you after? I run across quite a few 78-80 and just might be able to help you 😀 I plan to go junkyarding in the next couple weeks.

 

[dragonmaster093]

on a car lot here in town there is a pretty clean 80 cutty for sale has buckets after market shifter but no drive train for 700

 

[lesbaldridge]

congrats on getting yourself one of the best years for the cutlass in my opinion . of course, if you check out my thread on mine youll see im a little biased . as was previously mentioned, the 78-80 yrs cutty's were a unique body style, they only made for 3 yrs, and each of those yrs has some difference that is yr specific. mainly the header panels. as far as why there isnt more aftermarket support for them, i cant answer that. i personally cant understand why lmc or paddock or someone hasnt come out with an entire line of G body parts like they do for some other models. although technically your 80 is considered an A body, its still really a G body. but if you look around there are some repro parts available, and of course theres always junkyards and forums like these. i have a pretty good list of suppliers i have been compiling , if your looking for something specific let me know and maybe i can send you in the right direction.

 

[Captain S-3]

Thanks to all of you For the info. As far as parts that I need Right now. I am looking for the Headlight Bezels I found a set of NOS Grills on E-Bay and purchased them. I also Need the Rear Window Trim for a Vinyl Top. and Maybe a steering Column. I am sure that I will need a whole lot more as this Project progresses.
Lesbaldridge I would love to have a copy of your contacts list you would probably save me some time searching for stuff.

 

[Mathematic]

Congrats and welcome.

Here's my 80'. You can see that previous owner disliked the body style..and switched the front end to an 82+ front. Peep the gaps beTween the fender and the doors. I personally dislike the 80's body...82+ is more my taste.

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=33963

It's been a pain in the *ss to find stuff for this car...specifically for our years. All I can say is good luck and if you see anything cutlass related...snatch it up and sort it out later.

 

[dragonmaster093]

on a car lot here in town there is a pretty clean 80 cutty for sale has buckets after market shifter but no drive train for 700

 

[lesbaldridge]

Thanks to all of you For the info. As far as parts that I need Right now. I am looking for the Headlight Bezels I found a set of NOS Grills on E-Bay and purchased them. I also Need the Rear Window Trim for a Vinyl Top. and Maybe a steering Column. I am sure that I will need a whole lot more as this Project progresses.
Lesbaldridge I would love to have a copy of your contacts list you would probably save me some time searching for stuff.

i might be able to help you out with the rear window trim for a vinyl top. im converting my 80 cutlass from a soft top to a hardtop. im not sure what shape the trim is in, ill have to dig it out and see when i get back home, im out of town for a couple days, i should be home between frinday and monday, not sure yet. im pretty sure ill be back friday though. ill p.m. you about those parts suppliers to. i might be able to help you out with some of the other trim as well depending on what your looking for. i have all the stuff for a hardtop to soft top conversion im going to sell, the landau window trim, the trim piece that wraps over the roof where the soft top stops and the trunk filler panel ( different from hard to soft top ) . i also am thinking about selling the trim around the bottom of the car, im not sure what it is called ( not 100% on this yet, but i think im going to lose it for my build and stick with one color ). not sure what its made of , i think maybe polished aluminum or stainless steel ? anyways, i know its in excellent shape. if you check out the thread to my build in my signature you can see some of the trim im talking about.

oh yeah, and dont listen to that B.S. about putting a chevy small block in your cutty not being a popular swap. of course many of us would prefer to have an olds motor in them, but alot of people are dropping chevy iron in their cutlass's. in fact many of them came factory with chevy smallblocks in them. some people do it because they just prefer chevy motors, or because they are cheaper, or their easier to find, or because aftermarket parts availability and selection is so much better. im building one for my cutty for financial reasons, and because i just happen to have a dam good smallblock core to start with at the moment. of course , down the road i plan on building a monster cube olds motor for it but id like to drive it later this year. their are some people around that will get real snobby about putting a non olds motor in a cutty but just ignore them, its your car, do what you want with it. as far as im concerned, until one of those guys is willing to come over and loan me the money to build a killer olds motor, i dont wanna hear it .