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
anthony stinson on August 14, 2009 at 03:58 PM
I have a 1978 cutlass salon all orginal thinking about sale make offer,from georgia.
Anthony Stinson on September 02, 2009 at 01:38 PM
I have a 1978 cutlass salon 2door hacthback for sale make a offer.
Terry J. McLane on December 09, 2009 at 05:05 AM
I have one of these cars, it is a 1979 442 Cutlass Salon. It came with a 5 speed and 260 v/8 I took an 85 olds Diesel motor and converted it to run on gas, it is now a muscle car! I would like to have another one. They are extremely rare. GM. was going to revolutionize these cars by making them for less money, more people could afford to buy it. Olds, Pontiac & Buick had these cars
Duane Hayes on December 23, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Some weird comments. Just for equality's sake, To let you know, I really love these cars. I always thought that the fastback style was very classy, like a smaller Rolls Royce. I have several of these cars, mechanically they're quite good, my 260 auto consistantly gets 20 mpg, and nothing ever goes wrong. Nice handling, ride, size. I think GM would have prospered by continuing this design till now, especially the El Camino.
Don Shumate on January 14, 2010 at 07:06 PM
ihave a 1979 olds wedgeback with 33251miles i love it
Sarah Welcher on January 21, 2010 at 09:09 PM
I am seventeen and I am the proud owner of a 1978 cutlass salon sedan. Her name is Agnes. My grandpa gave her to me when I got my license. He painted her with a paint brush but with my dads help we are workin on her. She runs like a charm and never gives me any problems.I just recently bought a new car and my dad is in the process of figurin out to what to do with dear old Agnes. My guess is that he will tear her down and build her in a drag racing machine. Got to love all that rooom under the hood :]
Donald Shumate on February 06, 2010 at 12:12 PM
i have a 1979 olds 2dr wedgeback 35,265 miles like new want to sell or trade 757-291-6873
Don Shumate on February 06, 2010 at 12:19 PM
this olds 79 2dr wedge with 35,000 miles on it has the same tires on it that came with the car i need 2 panles that go in the back around the side windows and cant find anything if anybody knows of any call me 757-291-6873 Don
Mike on February 16, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Hey guys, I came across this post and had to share my 2 cents. I have a 78 Salon Brougham 442, with roughly 98,000 miles on the clock. I have had it since I was 17 years old and will be honest, at the time I thought it was ugly as sin but all I cared about was the "442" on the door. I purchased it from the original owner's son and have had it for over 15 years. I am lucky in that the car was garaged and cared for all its life. The black and gold paint was redone before I purchased it, however the black interior is original and mint condition. Something of a rarity in these cars. The interior panels (unlike most due to sun damage) are in incredible shape. It has never left me down in those years (shy of aged maintenance stuff like hoses and modules) and as far as I am concerned you can pry it from my cold dead hands (that is if I don't get buried in it). I have driven it to shows from eastern PA to Cincinatti, OC MD, Detroit, Wildwood NJ, Pittsburgh, upstate NY, and more and with the 305 have had no problem with the performance (lets be honest I am smart enough to realize its not a 70 442 with 455). Not to mention I have gotten on avg 19-21 mpg on the highways. It gets almost as good of mileage as my 88 Ciera International or my 97 Cutlass Supreme SL. The car was also equipped with the FE2 suspension package and with a set of 15's from a mid 80's 442 handles damn good for a 31 year old car.
Several years ago I also had the chance to purchase another 78 Salon 442 as a project car, but buying a house took precedence over some of my toys so I had to let it go. That vehicle was maroon over black.
Ugly or not...she's my baby! I am also looking for people to keep in contact with and share pics of the 442's. I can only imagine how many of the original 2418 78 Salon 442's are left. 79's are even rarer. Not to mention the limited amount of stick shift ones that were made. We are a dying breed! Feel free to contact me kulprit@ptd.net. Thanks guys!
Don Shumate on February 16, 2010 at 07:49 PM
i have a 1979 olds 2 dr wedgeback 35,251 miles on it this car is like new i want to sell it cheep 757-291-6873 hampton va.
Don Shumate on February 16, 2010 at 07:51 PM
you can email me atashumate210@yahoo.com i have the 1979 olds wedgeback with 35000 miles
CHris on May 21, 2010 at 01:17 PM
I Have 1978 olds Cutlass Salon. Took my Drivers test in it when I was 17 my Dad owned it . Now I have a son turning 16 he & I are fixing it up. for him to take his test drivers test in. This car is been passed down to my son now. It was bought by my Grandparents in 1978 then My Dad took over it when they could not drive any longer. Then he gave it to me. Now its my 16 year old sons. Yes its an ugly car but it runs like a top.
tomm on June 23, 2010 at 01:49 PM
My mom's '78 Cutlass Supreme had a 260 v8 and I loved to borrow it. It got OK mileage for a V8, 20ish in suburban driving. It wasn't a muscle car, but was more reliable than V6 G bodies other family members had, Malibu and Regal. Was owned for 9 years, and only broke down once, needed a new HEI cap and rotor, which I should have changed.
ziggy8882 on August 03, 2010 at 11:20 AM
I managed to trade a beat up 84 s10 blazer for a 78 cutlass salon 442. It's a little rough, i had to replace the floor plans and a little bit of body work. but overall it's in pretty good shape. I just need to find the time to put it back together. it was originally a 260 v8 with a weak metric trans, someone put in a 350/350 olds combo. I've been debating on weather to haul it out to drag race in or just to leave it stock. It's white with the powder blue stipes.
michael newton on October 31, 2010 at 10:46 AM
i have a '79 salon brougham with the 442 edition. which is silver with black. and it looks sweet
Al Sapp on January 02, 2011 at 08:06 PM
This Is Pretty Much The Greatest Olds Ever Made.
Matthew Bockhouse on February 06, 2011 at 06:16 AM
I have a 79 Cutlass Salon Brougham 2Dr. It was my aunt's and my dad bought it...he spun a cam lobe in the 305 and after the cam swap while settign the timing we noticed the crank dancing laterally and were not about to run it with a bad thrust bearing. if you follow the link you can see the 438 small block that was swapped into it. it's been 16 years since i have driven it and am starting its resto as it is number 137 of 916 with its options its one of 140......
I never had a car that was cooler!!!
Matthew Bockhouse on February 06, 2011 at 06:17 AM
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs286.snc6/181447_10150177416591562_702051561_8554098_3904983_n.jpg
Dean on March 10, 2011 at 07:38 PM
I love these cars. I have two 1978 olds 442's, one I bought brand new, sold it and recently repurchased and restoring it and another that I purchased about a year ago from a guy who loved it for 31 years before he finally let it go. They are the twins, being the same color, nearly identical options but different interiors.
Dean on March 13, 2011 at 06:51 AM
I need some parts that will fit my 78 olds salon 442. A rear window and rear bumper to start (which I think would be the same as on a four door 78 or 79 salon) but a number of other smaller things as well. If you are aware of where some parts may be or a entire parts car, please send me an e-mail at dean@lifesatwitch.com
Kevin Yates on May 27, 2011 at 08:27 PM
I saw an Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon 2 door version over in Lansing, Michigan last week on Thursday. It was for sale and was a blue color. There was a for sale sign in the window, but did not say how much it was.
Michael Newton on July 05, 2011 at 12:39 PM
i have one its a two door 442 coupe but black on silver. we're dropping a 305 bored and stroked to a 327 in it. still have original motor that will deffinately be built nice pretty soon here
Brad on October 24, 2011 at 06:37 AM
One thing about this car you failed to relies is it's classic car. You're car crapped out because YOU failed to put oil on it and in turn wrecked you engine. I feel that an Olds would be fine if you maintained it. I was recently given a car that my father dreamed about a 79 cutlass supreme, not bad for a first car and I'm proud to have been given a dream car. A poor driver blames his car, just like a poor workmen blames his tools. Take car of classic cars and they will take car of you.
mbattle on May 15, 2012 at 03:22 PM
My father has the black car. Just like it has you see in the 3 pic. Now, I'm try to get it back from my cuz in P.R. to send it bank to me at the state so I can restore it how it was from the first time i remember it has a little girl, Im 31 now and LOVE THIS CAR!!!