1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Convertible

To answer Ford's Fairlane and Mercury's Meteor of 1962, which created the mid-size car category in North America, General Motors fielded not two but four cars in response.

One of those four is Oldsmobile's F-85/Cutlass, aimed directly at the heart of the mid-priced, mid-size car market. This example is a unit from the model's second model year and is also a project in need of completion. It was made in Oldsmobile's Lansing, Michigan assembly plant (VIN code M) during the fourth week of May 1965. We purchased this 442 from the original owner. He started the restoration some time ago. But sat in storage unit unfinished. The car is all there and runs and drives well but need to be finished and sorted.

Finished in Turquoise Mist (code L), the car's paint and trim are in overall very good order. The bodywork is straight and sold, the engine bay is in very good order and the chrome bumpers are in good, overall condition. The corresponding white vinyl power-folding top is in good shape.

This Olds rolls on older red strip tires, mounted on factory wheels. All of the wheels and tires are in good, original order.

Under the hood is a rebuilt Oldsmobile 400 CID V-8 engine breathing via dual exhausts, which was new for 1965 on the 4-4-2 trim. Backing this motor is a four-speed manual transmission (ACC code 2L). Driver convenience features include power steering.

Inside, the car's black vinyl interior (code 950) needs the most TLC. The Strato Bucket seats look good, as does the rear bench but the matching carpet is merely in satisfactory order. This unit has deluxe seat belts with retractors (ACC code 5W). The inner door panels and dashboard are all in good, original order. A floor-mounted shifter and a factory AM radio complete the interior.

For 1965, a modest facelift increased overall length to 204.3 inches while the front end received a “dumbbell-style” grille similar to full-sized Olds models. A bigger 400 CID engine was included with the 4-4-2 option, based on the newly introduced 425 CID engine from the full-sized Oldsmobiles while the Buick 225 CID V-6 and Olds 330 CID Jetfire Rocket V-8 were carried over from the previous year, with increased power ratings for the V-8 options. Sales increased again to 187,097.

The year 1965 was also the first for Oldsmobile's “Rocket” logo that would last, with minor variations, until the 1990s.

Documentation includes a Fusick Automotive Products catalog from July 1990; three Year One Inc. catalogs; various correspondence, invoices and receipts and numerous spare parts and trim.

Convertible competition to this Cutlass in 1965 included American Motors' Classic and Ambassador lines, Buick's Skylark, Dodge's Polara, Mercury's Meteor and Pontiac's Tempest/LeMans.

If you're looking for a project car, this Olds Cutlass 442 convertible, may be your next candidate, particularly if you're good at body and interior work. Check it out at MotoeXotica Classic Cars today!

VIN: 338675M358944

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 6,610 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

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