I am looking for some assistance with decoding my cowl tag. It's a 68 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible. I tried the decoder but my interior option isn't listed. The numbers on the tag are as follows:
07C 2 1
ST 68 33667 BL 1984 BODY
TR 957 N1 PAINT

All help is appreciated.

 

07C = time build code = July (07), third week of that month (C), 1968 (it's a late production car!)


The 2 and the 1 are little "tics" that appear on trim tags and I don't believe anyone knows what they mean. I have one on my '68 Lansing 4-4-2 and another on my '69 Fremont 4-4-2.


ST 68 = style/model year = 1968


33667:
3 = GM division = Oldsmobile
36 = model series = Cutlass V8
67 = body type = convertible


BL = assembly plant = Linden NJ


1984 BODY = Fisher body number (no relation to the VIN)


TR 957 = interior color and front seat type = parchment vinyl interior with a bench front seat


N 1 PAINT:
N = lower body color = burgundy
1 = convertible top color = white


The standard issue Millenium Industries assembly manual is missing some pages that they apparently thought were not important. BUT...if you go to www.wildaboutcars.com and sign up (it's free), there is a bundle of info in there that is yours for the taking (for personal use; not for re-sale). And they have a wonderful '68 assembly manual with crystal clear pages that you can download for free, and it has a bunch more pages than the MI assembly manual. Your trim combo is in manual section 0, page 185.


Randy C.

 

Here's a thread from a few tears back that might help. It's titled 68 cutlas coel tag code.
Trim 957=Parchment according to the link below.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ferrerid=49739

Bill

 

Ooops must not have refreshed in time, ya had it covered.

Bill

 

Thanks everyone for the information. As I was hoping its all original. Now to get the interior reworked since I know the color. Thanks again everyone.

 

OK now I'm confused. The car is labeled as a Cutlass Supreme but from what I am reading from the 3667 it's a cutlass convertible. Where does the Supreme come from. I don't see a convertible listed under a Supreme from what I found on wildaboutcars. Help please?

 

I think that you may have emailed me about this. 957 has been added to the trim codes.

 

Thanks John and I did contact you. Thanks again.

 

Chris, just to be 110% correct here, shouldn't your decoder show this as a Cutlass convertible, not an F-85 convertible?



In 1968, the F-85 was available in two series, 331 (4-door sedan called "Town Sedan") and 332 (2-door post coupe called "Club Coupe"). The subject car is a 336 series, which indicates specifically a Cutlass V-8.

The OP is also correct in that the car is NOT a Cutlass Supreme. His car is a convertible, and no convertible was offered in the Cutlass Supreme line that year. If his car were a Cutlass Supreme, the style would be 342.

 

OK Just to be clear here because I father bought this car when it was about a year or two old. He was the second owner. My father has since passed so I can't ask him but to the best anyone can remember it has always had the Supreme emblems on all four sides of the car as well as the glove compartment. There is no way this could have been a special order or anything like that? I understand that these could have been changed or added but just want to make sure there is no possible way this is truly a supreme. What was the differences between the cutlass and the supreme? Anything else I could look for that would be a give away? If this is indeed a Cutlass and not a supreme I think I will change it back to the correct emblems and I guess remove the glove box emblem. Was there any emblem on the glove box besides the word cutlass on the standard cutlass? Thanks again everyone and thanks for clearing this up, wish I knew the whole story on how/when these were changed/added.

 

Do the emblems actually say "Supreme" or is there simply an "S"? If it's just the "S", or "CS", it's a Cutlass S.


Randy C.

 

OK they are just an S. What is a cutlass S? Versus a cutlass supreme? So cutlass S would be right for a convertible?

 

Correct. You have a Cutlass S, as verified by your trim tag. A Cutlass S is an Olds "A" body with a V8 engine. There are differences between a Cutlass S and a Cutlass Supreme. I don't have a '72 but others here do and they will tell you what those differences are. "Cutlass S" is right for a convertible...33667...3=Oldsmobile, 36=Cutlass S, 67=convertible.


Don't worry. I've wondered in the past the same thing and finally found out there is a difference!

Best Regards,


Randy C.

 

OK So can anyone tell be the difference between a Cutlass and a Cutlass S? Again thank you for all the help on this. I'm new to this and just started researching information on this.

 

In 1968 SPECS guide there were 5 primary models in the Cutlass line.
It goes:

• F-85 (Club coupe and town sedan, which means that I have to make a minor database tweak, good catch Jaunty75!)
• Cutlass (Coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon)
• Cutlass Supreme (Hardtop sedan, hardtop coupe, holiday coupe)
• 442 (Sports and Holiday coupe and convertible)
• Vista Cruiser (Wagon of course...)

Then in 1969 they added Cutlass "S" to the model line splitting off the sedans and coupes, making the "S" model coupes only, therefore:
F-85 > Cutlass (sedans) > Cutlass S (coupes) > Cutlass Supreme > 442 > VC...

So there was no "Cutlass S model" per se listed for 1968, that came in 1969, however they did mention "Cutlass S" several times in the sales brochures. I would agree that you have a Cutlass S going by the logic of splitting off sedans and coupes, it was just not split into a separate "S" model line until the next year.

To answer the other question, which you may have figured out already;
The difference between Cutlass and Cutlass "S," at least in 1968 was two doors.

 

You are correct and I corrected it. Thanks for the catch!

 

OK but I'm still confused I think. So would the S emblems be correct for my 68 convertible? From what I know they are original factory. Could it be because its a late year production car it may have been caught mid change? Or did the 68's have S emblems?

 

I would say yes if it is the "S" under the Cutlass script on the front fenders. If they are "CS," then no they are not correct because as stated there was no Cutlass Supreme Convertible for 1968.

 

Check the Fusick catalog, www.fusick.com, for Cutlass S emblem part numbers SE68HS (the hood emblem), SE34T (the trunk emblem), and SE07F (fender emblem). If you have those, you have a Cutlass S!


Randy C.

 

Those are the emblems on it but I thought they didn't make a cutlass S convertible in 68 it r it would have had a different code? What was the difference between a cutlass and an S?

 

The Cutlass S is a trim level, just above the Cutlass and below the 4-4-2 and Cutlass Supreme. The Cutlass S was only available on two-doors, implying it was a trim level with a dose of sportiness, but don't let that fool you.

http://www.oldcarbrochures.org/NA/Ol...Prestige-12-13


Finally, is absolutely incorrect.

This is an Olds site - doesn't anyone here know Oldsmobiles? I can appreciate everyone trying to help, but there are resources out there that can be used to help the OP. Why can't someone step up to the plate and give accurate information within 20 posts? I apologize if someone's sensibilities are offended, but we can do better.

 

The difference between a Cutlass and a Cutlass S is that a Cutlass came with a 6-cylinder engine whereas the Cutlass S came with a V-8 engine. From your trim tag, you definitely have a Cutlass S.


Cutlass Supreme came only with the V-8 engine, and only in the holiday coupe (2-door without a post), town sedan (4-door with a post) and holiday sedan (4-door without a post) versions.


The Cutlass and Cutlass S models both came both came in the 2-seat station wagon, holiday sedan, convertible, town sedan, sports coupe (2-door with a post), and holiday coupe versions.


Hope this clears things up!


Randy C.

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I REALLY appreciate all the help and information.

 

Sure it's cleared up?

 

I think so or am I missing something else? What on the cowl tag, VIN or line (option/build sheet, found that in the glove box) would show it has the S trim pacakage? I just glad to know that it is original as an S. Also glad to learn the difference between a Cutlass, S and Supreme. Again, thanks for all the help on this. Thanks again Diego

 

Well, I was referring to AFAIK, only the Cutlass Supreme had a standard V-8.... but don't quote me.

 

OH ok, well mine has a V-8 so that would help show it's a S.

 

Okay. let me try to clear up the 1968 Cutlass S issue. Oldsmobile itself contributed to the confusion with their documentation. I think they realized it as it is a little more straightforward in 1969. In '68 and '69 the Cutlass S was the 2 door models of the 3500 and 3600 series. It was not a trim level or option. If it was a 2 door, it was a Cutlass S. If not, it was a Cutlass.
The '68 SPECS booklet doe not mention the S in the model breakdown, but in '69 it does even though the series and model breakdown is the same as in '68.
The '68 SPECS booklet *does* mention the S in the "interiors" section.
(Once again, multiple sources of information are needed to clarify).

 

Awesome. I think we got to the bottom of it. Thank you again everyone for all the help.

 

Thank you Kurt!

 

Quick question on this again, sorry. Since it states the interior is parchment bench, does that mean door panels etc were also parchment? Looking to start interior rework and want to do it right.