Hey out there. I have a one owner 80,000 mile 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic
I've owned now 5 Cutlasses - 79 Hurst Olds - 80 442 - 86 442 - and 2 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic
On my 1980 442 and my current 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic the body side molding was a
metal molding with hard plastic insert that was held on with pins and rivets, but some was the stick on adhesive more
flexible molding.
Was the metal molding held on with pins an option? Just curious. It's hard to find these.
Just Curious. Thanks

 

Body side moldings from the factory were the stick on ones. Some dealers chose to order their cars without moldings and had the moldings installed by an outside company.

 

Wow that's weird. I owned a 1980 442 with the metal pinned side moldings heavy as hell and now a 1988 Cutlass Supreme with the same thing. I don't think they look very good, didn't know
if it was a checked off option as it might be an upgrade.

 

Metal screw or riveted on moldings on a G-body was not standard nor an upgrade. Stick on only for 1988 from the factory. Over the years, the mylar chrome film around the edges peeled and looked like crap, and the inside colored plastic would get sunburnt and dry out and basically look like crap. No matter what you did. So many took them off.

Body side moldings were optional equipment. It'll be on your window sticker if you still have one, and on the trunk sticker (SPID) if it came from the factory with body side moldings. You'll find a three digit code "B85" if yours came with the stick-on body side moldings from the factory. The body side moldings also were color coded to the upper body color in 1988. So if your car is blue, you'll have blue side moldings. If gray, then you have gray side moldings, etc.

Replacements are rare as hen's teeth no matter the color, and pricey if you do find them. If you want them on the car, they have some that are close, but nothing exactly what came on the car.