Gbody Cutlass "S"

[DRIVEN]

To your original post, I'm not aware of an "S" beyond A-body. I suspect it was either some sort of autofill when the ads were posted, laziness, or ignorance. At this point in history, more and more Gbody owners weren't even alive yet during their production and just have no idea what they have. Plus, Cutlass was such a broad model lineup, it could have been it's own division.

 

[69hurstolds]

There was no G-body designator with a "Cutlass S". Depending on who you believe, there was a story going around that there was Olds's push to make a 1968 Cutlass SS but some fight with Chevy blah blah blah....ended up being a Cutlass S. Better than the base model F-85 and Cutlass, but not as classy as the Supreme, nor as sporty as the 442. I believe it only lasted through the 73 model year, after that they used "Cutlass Salon".

Interestingly, 69 Cutlass S even had a Youngmobile ad showing the car and some pirates around the car sword fighting. In that ad, they mentioned something about "Cutlass, the gay blade" or something of that sort. I got that ad somewhere around here. But you'd never get away with that ad today. PC police would be all over it.

I personally don't subscribe to that Cutlass SS nonsense. These names and such are typically thought up several years in advance and usually, just a name. The "S" is just an "S". Nothing more. Although, in 68 and 69, the Cutlass S and 442 were the only two body styles that could get convertible tops on. In 1970, they used the Supreme body style for convertible.

Some cues of future cars can historically be found up to 7 or 8 years in advance of the next project. Not so much anymore as design times have been cut down somewhat due to *gulp*, dare I say, more efficient "design table to garage" timelines. But sometimes it still takes a while. As I mentioned in another post talking to a GM wheel at the Oshawa Camaro homecoming in 2011- out of the blue he asked me what I thought about a mid-engine Corvette. This was about 8 years before they actually were unleashed. Another worker I knew at the Camaro plant told me of a new hood and induction system they were working on in another hidden part of the plant on a stripped down future version of the Camaro with a big engine in it (turns out later that the car was the 2014 Z/28).

All that to say this- Names come and go. Sometimes they mean something (Impala, Canyon, Cutlass etc.), sometimes they don't (S, CTS, ATS, etc.)

 

[64nailhead]

Just so everyone knows I posted these only because they had the Cutlass "S" in the heading and even though I would like to get a Cutlass for my next project, that is a long ways off and it will have to be unmolested and have T-tops or power moonroof and no vinyl top and hopefully mostly rust free.
Of course I am always looking for that "deal of the day".

I assumed that.

The deal of day is always in my sights as well, but I thought it was worth mentioning the prices of the cars I the listings that were attached - wow - was my reaction.

 

[olds307 and 403]

There was no G-body designator with a "Cutlass S". Depending on who you believe, there was a story going around that there was Olds's push to make a 1968 Cutlass SS but some fight with Chevy blah blah blah....ended up being a Cutlass S. Better than the base model F-85 and Cutlass, but not as classy as the Supreme, nor as sporty as the 442. I believe it only lasted through the 73 model year, after that they used "Cutlass Salon".

Interestingly, 69 Cutlass S even had a Youngmobile ad showing the car and some pirates around the car sword fighting. In that ad, they mentioned something about "Cutlass, the gay blade" or something of that sort. I got that ad somewhere around here. But you'd never get away with that ad today. PC police would be all over it.

I personally don't subscribe to that Cutlass SS nonsense. These names and such are typically thought up several years in advance and usually, just a name. The "S" is just an "S". Nothing more. Although, in 68 and 69, the Cutlass S and 442 were the only two body styles that could get convertible tops on. In 1970, they used the Supreme body style for convertible.

Some cues of future cars can historically be found up to 7 or 8 years in advance of the next project. Not so much anymore as design times have been cut down somewhat due to *gulp*, dare I say, more efficient "design table to garage" timelines. But sometimes it still takes a while. As I mentioned in another post talking to a GM wheel at the Oshawa Camaro homecoming in 2011- out of the blue he asked me what I thought about a mid-engine Corvette. This was about 8 years before they actually were unleashed. Another worker I knew at the Camaro plant told me of a new hood and induction system they were working on in another hidden part of the plant on a stripped down future version of the Camaro with a big engine in it (turns out later that the car was the 2014 Z/28).

All that to say this- Names come and go. Sometimes they mean something (Impala, Canyon, Cutlass etc.), sometimes they don't (S, CTS, ATS, etc.)

Most of these stories came from former employees of Oldsmobile. Both Dave's that worked for Oldsmobile have passed on in the last few years. Supposedly Chevrolet inferred with multiple Oldsmobile high performance projects, throwing fits till they got their way, being the "Performance" division. Stories directly from employees who worked their during that time. Made up? Only they knew. It could be what they heard or made up BS like the solid main 403, Joe Mondello made up.