1969 Cutlass V-8 convertible

[ozoneblue]

I have decoded the VIN for this car which checks out okay. The guy who owns it says it is a Cutlass S. The VIN didn't say anything about S model so would be on the BodyTag: ST6933667LAN149620 How do I check this out? Here is a pic, although not real good. The car is between two buildings and can't get a good profile shot.

[rrielley]

I think all convertibles were Supremes rather than "S" models

[69sAndrew]

Well my first guess that it is an "S" model is that there is the "S" emblem on the side. I can tell because I have the same year and it has those emblems. I decoded my VIN as well and all it tells me is that it is a Holiday Coupe, so I don’t think there is any decoding for the "s" classification.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by rrielley

I think all convertibles were Supremes rather than "S" models

Not correct. For the 1970-1972 model years ONLY, all non-442 convertibles were Supremes. In 1968 and 1969, for example, you COULD NOT even get a Supreme convertible.

And as for the "S", why oh why does everyone get so hung up about this? ATTENTION: the "S" is a MEANINGLESS marketing thing. It does NOT mean "SPORT". It does NOT mean the car has some rare performance package.

The 33667... VIN just means it's a Cutlass V8 convertible. That's not a bad thing.

[Chumley]

Thanks for clearing things up, Joe. I see too many cars on Ebay and Craigslist advertised as a "Supreme", because the owner thinks that is what the "S" stands for. The Supreme always has the "notchback" body style, and anything else is an "S" as far as I know.(except 442 of course) Chumley

[rocketraider]

The Standard Catalog of Oldsmobile explains it about as well as I've ever seen. Cutlasses were all four-doors; Cutlass S were all two-doors; Cutlass Supremes could be two or four doors, but not convertibles or wagons.

From SCO:

Just as Olds had a proliferation of full-size models several years before, the same tactic was now used on Cutlass models. Four-doors in the Olds intermediate series now had a longer wheelbase than two-door models. Olds took its midsize four-doors for 1968 and named them Cutlass models, while the two-doors were called Cutlass 'S' models...

3539= 6-cyl 4D Holiday sedan, 3639= V8
3569= 6 cyl 4D Town Sedan, 3669= V8
3535= 6 cyl 4D station wagon, 3635= V8

The new nameplates of Cutlass 'S' applied to the shorter wheelbase Cutlass coupes. A total of three Cutlass 'S' models were offered. They carried the same standard equipment as Cutlass models. Also, the same tire sizes and upholstery were used.

3577= 6 cyl 2D Sports Coupe (post coupe) 3677= V8
3587= 6 cyl 2D Holiday Coupe, 3687= V8
3567= 6 cyl convertible, 3667= V8

The ultimate in intermediate size Oldsmobile luxury for 1968 was the three model Cutlass Supreme series. A slightly more powerful version of the new 350 Rocket V8 was standard equipment...

4287= 2D Holiday Coupe
4269= 4D Town Sedan
4239= 4D Holiday Sedan

442 were all 2-doors and Fisher code for them is:

4477= Sports Coupe
4487= Holiday Coupe
4467= convertible

So, stands to reason that if you have a non-442 or non-Supreme 1968 Olds Cutlass 2-door, you have an S. (F-Eighty Fives were not considered Cutlass in the Oldsmobile sales hierarchy. They were F-85s.)

[rocketraider]

Damn a bear. All that yapping and I got the wrong year. 69 is pretty much the same though, and at least we now know the origin of 'S'.