1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon
Submitted by Brian Miller
For my graduation from high school, I received a car. Wait, let me back up. Before I graduated from high school, my mother drove a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon to her job every day for 10 years. Don't ask where she got it, suffice to say it was not new. The Olds was parked in the back yard during an ill-fated interlude with a Chevrolet Cavalier--an interlude that ended up a complete failure. The Olds had 90,000 miles on it when parked after having served us well--the helm awaited the hands of the new teenage driver, me.
After I turned 16, and the automatic transmission was repaired after disintegrating from two years sitting unused in the backyard, I took over the keys to the Olds. It didn't take long for a leaking oil pan and my own obliviousness to the engine's need for oil to catch up to the Olds. After a long drive out to the remote reaches of the Eielson Air Force Base neighborhoods, the old Olds spun a bearing and we limped home 25 miles. Knock-knock!
This was the spring of my senior year of high school, and I hadn't graduated yet. So of course I shrugged off the need to study hard and get good grades; I just knew I could fix that engine, no problem. So I bought a Haynes manual and patiently and methodically replaced the crankshaft, bearings and rings, and so on. Eventually I had the engine entirely disassembled and neatly labeled in the garage. My parents were horrified!
The 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass is a real piece of crap. I mean that in the gentlest way possible, in that it's the kind of car that just basically sucks. It's ugly, for one, and the build quality is typical 1970's General Motors. It uses a Chevrolet engine and transmission, the 305 and the Turbo Hydromatic, that I assume were originally destined for a Caprice Classic. Despite its shortcomings, the Chevy engine is simple and relatively robust--an instructive platform for learning the basic principles of gas engines. The 305 is a gas-chugging but gutless beast with a 4-barrel carburetor; married to a slushbox transmission, the only way you can tell you're accelerating is when the gas gauge needle moves to the left. The Olds also has vague but effortless power steering, which makes you feel not as if you're robbing the engine of power, but you are in fact robbing yourself.
Soon after graduation, I reassembled the engine with a reground crankshaft, new bearings, rings, and gaskets, and installed it in the car. After some mucking about, it finally fired up. It worked! After some tinkering, and it ran well for the rest of my ownership, about four years. We finally gave it away to some people down the street who needed a vehicle more than we did.
The Olds never had much power, looked very cool, or got very good gas mileage, but it taught me a thing or two about cars. It taught me that they can really suck, and totally break down after like less than 100,000 miles. It also taught me that attention to detail and preventive maintenance can avert tons of hardship later on down the line. It also taught me that rear-wheel drive plus icy, snowy conditions is a recipe for very difficult driving.
My friends (and girlfriends) had some interesting times in the Olds. A typical conversation would go:
"Why did your mom buy this thing?"
"I don't know, but I guess she had to get to work in something!"
It was an okay first car but didn't really have a lot to offer in the way of mileage, performance, luxury, or reliability, though it was fairly large and obviously unique. That weird sorta-Euro wedge-back design ... I mean, what the heck is that, anyway? It looks like a hatchback, but it's not--there's a wedge-shaped trunk in back. One thing it did have was lots of space for friends and cohorts, and a very nice cruising feel. You had to put a lot of weight in the back and mount studded tires to get anywhere near competence in snowy weather, but that's how it was done! The only Cutlass of this era that really looks okay to me is the two-door version, which is still strange but at least in a coupe-like way.
Of course, Oldsmobile took that too far--one of those coupes was a 4-4-2--to which I can only say ... What?!?!
--Brian Miller
Chris Hafner on October 06, 2008 at 09:45 AM
This shouldn't come as a surprise, but I've always liked these. Mechanically, these are pretty similar to the '83 Malibu that I loved, and slope-back quasi-hatch was an intriguing trend that fizzled out. Remember the Seville that had also had a hunchback? It was at least something different from The General, and it's not often we see that. It definitely didn't have the utility of a hatchback, and it wasn't as good looking as a fastback--yet it was executed a bit like a fastback. Truly curious.
You're right about that 305. In the Malibu world, at least, the word was that the V-6 wasn't much less powerful but got much better fuel mileage.
Maybe it's just me, but I've always liked the Salon 442. Black and gold, with raised white letter tires and that quasi-fastback look ... mmm, yes. Yeah, I'll take my medication.
Will on October 06, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Hmm. It looks like an overgrown Chevy Citation.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on October 06, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I wonder . . . is the Cutlass Salon sheetmetal/unibody the same as the Citation from the firewall aft? Sure looks like it.
Anthony Cagle on October 06, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Heh, I was going to mention the possibility of a Cutlass-Citation hybridization gone horribly wrong. "It's alive!"
Dave on October 07, 2008 at 08:28 AM
And IIRC the back windows on the 4-door did not roll down. Hope your a/c never went out.
Mikey on October 07, 2008 at 11:23 AM
OK, I like a lot of ugly and bad cars. But THIS is just dredging up every bad memory of my 70s childhood. Even at 8 years old, I knew THAT was a piece of crud.
dpatten on October 08, 2008 at 12:23 PM
There are still two of these kicking around our town. Despite being ugly they do in fact share a great amount of parts commonality with the Grand Prix/Malibu/Regal RWD line of that era.
The 84-88 Monte Carlo SS and the Buick Grand National are close relatives as well.
You can buy updated braking and suspension kits for them. A fast ratio late model IROC Camaro steering box and a GM crate motor would drop right in. Add a modern overdrive transmission and you would have a sleeper. An ugly sleeper, but a sleeper.
Brian on October 08, 2008 at 09:59 PM
From what I recall, it doesn't actually share much in common with the citation besides of course the outlandish looks. It's a much bigger car, and it's a good study in plug and play Chevy engines. Yes you bet you could cannibalize a Camaro and install the mechanicals in this thing, but would you really want to? I think that they literally had a surplus of Chevy Caprice engines and decided to just fill out the Olds line with the excess. Pretty common, right? Strange though, my Mom loved this car. Still can't quite figure out where they were going with the "wedge-back" design. I think it was going for a "euro" look, and the odd badging included a string of european flags along the side under the "Cutlass Salon" script.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on October 09, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Brian: you're correct, it's just a "family resemblance." I posted a question to a Chevy Citation forum, and the consensus of the brain trust there was that there are few to no common parts between the X-body cars and the Salon and its ilk.
dpatten on October 09, 2008 at 07:32 AM
The Chevy based engines in the other GM lines of cars was in fact a cost-cutting measure. GM was looking for a "corporate" engine in the early 1980's and the small block Chevrolet was it. Less duplication of effort, cost savings in R&D. Olds and Buick Guys hated it though.
The 305 in this car was also in the similarly badged mid-sized Chevy, Pontiac and Buick. I'd have to look up the specific option code for the engine, but I would bet it was also available in the base Camaro.
Would you want to put Camaro parts in this car? Sure, if you owned one. You wouldn't even have to cannibalize a good Camaro, just walk in to your local auto parts store and order appropriately. GM's policy of reusing designs for years and even decades (a half century for the small block) can come in handy sometimes.
These cars have NOTHING in common with the Chevy Citation. Except for maybe some interior parts. (Window cranks?)
I kinda like em.
Guy V.Coulombe on October 13, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Wow! You guys really hate this car. Its almost extinct now, and it has a beautiful (ugly) unusual body shape and style you will never find again. I just met a gentlemen yesterday with a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon 4dr Hatchback. It had the original diesel engine at 1,200,000 miles! That's not a typo. He is the original owner and the car has lasted forever. The body is even in good shape. I wish there was a club to save this car as the owner will junk his diesel once it breaks down because too many of you hate this car. No parts.
That Car Guy on October 24, 2008 at 08:15 AM
If memory serves, this body style was originally meant to be a hatchback, but by the time the car was to be released, hatchbacks had become known as cheapies, and Olds did not want to further degregate this car. It was the still the "least expensive" of the Cutlass series, but being rear wheel drive, it shared no drivetrain components with the front-drive X-Body Citation (The most-recalled cars in history).
Being the first "downsized" mid-size GM cars, on the 4-doors, the back door windows were fixed to allow more elbow room into the door cavity. Dubbed "Vista Windows", GM offered an optional power vent window in the C-pillar behind the rear doors to try to make up for this inconvenience. It did not.
At least these cars were sturdy! GM cars can take a lick and keep on ticking. Oh, the body panels on this series fit so badly that dealers often put pin stripes on the cars to give them some appearance of build quality. The late 70s were the worst-built cars in the history of American manufacturing, as noted by the then-UAW President Bieber in a "60 Minutes" interview when he said the UAW would take over the Nissan plant in Tennessee. They have yet to achieve that goal, and that facility has become the most-productive automotive plant in the country.
MaiLi on December 06, 2008 at 05:24 AM
I have olds 1979 ,4door same as here...it is in very bad shape.My father bought this car 10 years ago,from finland. (its located in estonia right now ,so... very far away from its original home) He drove it for a few years and when the transmission broke he abandoned it.So... I wrote because i want to restore the car, but I dont know nothing about it . Seems like it has never existed, there no information in internet, only few owners like Brian here has wrote about this car.
I think this is ugly car but its so rare, at least in estonia its the only 79 cutlass.So if anybody knows someting or has some spare parts or a car(oldsmobile cutlass salon 4 door 1979) to give away... anything abot this car. I would be really grateful.
stan on January 02, 2009 at 03:57 AM
i have one like the bottom pic in your add here
my dad had got it new in 1979 and stored it in the barn
it was drove for 6 month's then parked tell i was old anuff
to drive i started it and drove it from shelton wasington to
molalla oregon then parked again in my shop with a tarp on it.
do you know how much it is worth and how many 2 door's are left
please e-mail me back thank you
Dustin on February 09, 2009 at 05:51 PM
I have a 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon 2dr with 86k on it. Leather interior, cruise, AC. Heck it even has the sticker on it from being in the Iowa dept of transportation lol. It runs great. 260v8. New brakes are coming this week. A cd player to replace the am/fm radio is in the near future also. This will be a fun car.
Dustin on February 09, 2009 at 05:52 PM
I have a 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon 2dr with 86k on it. Leather interior, cruise, AC. Heck it even has the sticker on it from being in the Iowa dept of transportation lol. It runs great. 260v8. New brakes are coming this week. A cd player to replace the am/fm radio is in the near future also. This will be a fun car.
Dustin on February 09, 2009 at 05:52 PM
I have a 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon 2dr with 86k on it. Leather interior, cruise, AC. Heck it even has the sticker on it from being in the Iowa dept of transportation lol. It runs great. 260v8. New brakes are coming this week. A cd player to replace the am/fm radio is in the near future also. This will be a fun car.
Dustin on February 09, 2009 at 05:52 PM
I have a 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon 2dr with 86k on it. Leather interior, cruise, AC. Heck it even has the sticker on it from being in the Iowa dept of transportation lol. It runs great. 260v8. New brakes are coming this week. A cd player to replace the am/fm radio is in the near future also. This will be a fun car.
Dustin on February 09, 2009 at 05:52 PM
I have a 1979 Olds Cutlass Salon 2dr with 86k on it. Leather interior, cruise, AC. Heck it even has the sticker on it from being in the Iowa dept of transportation lol. It runs great. 260v8. New brakes are coming this week. A cd player to replace the am/fm radio is in the near future also. This will be a fun car.
Darren B on March 07, 2009 at 02:44 PM
I also have a 1979 cutlass salon 442. Mine is white with blue stripes, It is indeed a rare car i have only found three and mine is the only runner. Originally it had a 305-4bbl auto in it, I have since swapped in a 454 big block the car is the ultamate sleeper fast and fun to drive. I am in the process of rebuilding the car as I for one like the strange style and love beating the mustang,camaro crowd with my olds.
Tom P on May 02, 2009 at 06:05 PM
I have a 1978 Salon 442 with 100K miles A/C still works. One Owner.
Jacquie on May 14, 2009 at 10:52 AM
This is for Stan or Dustin,
I am looking to buy a car just like the one in the bottom picture. Both of you said you have one.... email me back please.. would love to discuss maybe a purchase...
j_quennell@hotmail.com
Kendra on May 22, 2009 at 10:38 AM
79 Olds Cutlass Salon was my very first car. It got 12 miles to the gallon and I drove all over San Antonio and New Braunfels in it. I was in high school and I figured I would be its last owner, so I spraypainted that thing orange with red stars(it looked like a hideous, hideous cheeto). The interior was white vinyl and I kept ink pens so that my friends could autograph all over the interior of the doors and seats. I thumb-tacked photos to the ceiling until it was entirely covered. There were couch pillows in the back seat. I listened to CDs on a boom box that I had hooked up through an AC converter and I used as an arm rest. Oh yes, and all my friends referred to it as, "Tortuga."
Somehow I didn't really fully realize it at the time, but I must have been quite the spectacle, especially in small-town New Braunfels, Texas.
I loved its ugliness (and it was REALLY) ugly! After driving it for a year, the oil pan sprung such a suddenly bad leak that it decided to stop running on the highway one Wednesday evening. It was all I could do to get on the shoulder. My mechanic told me that the damage to the engine was "catastrophic." I tried to at least part it out, but yeah, there is NO demand for these parts. Eventually towed it to a scrap yard where I received $32.50 for it.
I regret not being able to get more than 3 photos of the exterior, and non of the interior. But it remains in me and my friends' memory - how could anyone forget it???!
Dan Licht on June 21, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Hi:
I also own a '78 salon coupe 442. I bought it from a used car lot as my first car in high school. It has the 305 Chevy V8 and the Hurst 4 speed on the floor. In Wisconsin, the car has become very rusty, almost beyond repair. I would like to find another rustless coupe with burgundy interior and trade/swap parts to make one good car. Plan to put a crate motor in it to match up to the four speed. If anyone knows of any, let me know.
lichtfamily@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Tommy on July 02, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Very few people have come to appreciate the '78 and '79 G/J87 cars b/c so few have seen them without pockets of rust and clouds of smoke billowing from the exhaust.
A '78 4-4-2 won best of class at the OCA annuals held in Detroit last year. Although that car is truly well kept, mine is in a league all its own.
As original as you'll ever find and as rare as a virgin hooker, it turns heads for all the right reasons. Realizing I'll never get the time to spend on it that it deserves, I've considered putting it up for sale. Not cheap, but nothing worth it ever is.
I'll leave my hotmail address here just for kicks...but I haven't got time for curious parties.
Cheers,
Tommy
Toronto, Canada
dieseljettavw (at) hotmail (dot) com