I stumbled across this link on another website. These cars are rare HERE!

http://photofile.name/users/wasgun/95024891/

 

Looks like a oversized Omega. I have never seen one

 

Those are cool cars! I have seen a few of them here in the states but they are mostly fender flappers and beaters.

 

Always thought they were kind of ugly, the way the back window/C pillar has that dogleg appearance from the side profile.

 

I loved the body of these but the 4door didn't have roll down rear windows. I have owned a couple of these and they are not that bad. Unless the ac doesn't work and you are driving in the summer and the windows will not roll down. Here in Tn I still see a few of these. I can't remember where they were made but remember them having the emblem with all the different flag on them. I don't remember the signifigance of this. They were pretty cool. I have seen a couple of rare 442's in this body as well.

 

Wasn't that also used in the 80s on the Cutlass Calais?

 

I remember those. I think they were trying to make the bigger luxury cars smaller without a complete redesign... I thought that they were butt-ugly, but I guess some people liked 'em...

 

I think the same person that designed them must have also designed the Pontiac Aztec. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Butt ugly. Two of the ugliest cars in GM history. Just my opinion.

 

They wrecked one of those on highlander the series. Odd looking things, but kinda cool now.

 

You know now that you mention it My moms Calais had that emblem too. I just realized that after you mentioned it. I never understood that emblem.

 

I guess, those flags represented "world class" or something like that. I hear that phrase thrown around a lot at work .

Does that mean if its good enough for us, its good enough for everybody else?

 

A version of the emblem with all the flags goes back further than that. My 1975 Cutlass Salon "International Series" had a linear version of that emblem under the nameplate on the fenders and trunk.

 

I remember those as well. Certainly not the nicest looking car that Olds has made but interesting that it is in Russia. Would not have thought too many american cars would be there.

 

There is a 442 version for sale in the Portland Oregon area now. I never liked these cars, maybe I should buy it?

 

There are tons of American used cars in Russia. A lot fewer new ones, but lots of used ones. Literally boatloads of them.

 

Did Olds make the cowl tag in German, or is that something that got added when it was imported. Never seen a tag like that one before...

1974 was the first year of the Cutlass Salon, when it was a distinctive 2 door "personal vehicle" something like the Monte Carlo was intended for the Chevy audience.

In 1978, if you remember the introduction of this body style, you will also remember the 1980 Cadillac Seville when they chopped its rear end and made it look "butt ugly" too. It was the first Caddy that didn't look "elegant". I think the 1978 styling lead used the Olds line as a benchmark since it was one of the most popular selling cars in NA at the time. Perhaps it was GM's way of testing the water for introduction of the 1980 Caddy. Although the Salon was a couple of years ahead of the chopping of the Cadillac, it wasn't just Olds that was affected. Seems to me that Buick and Pontiac also had some "butt ugly" models of the same sort, anyone remember which ones they were? This distintive look was also available in 4 door models.

I believe the styling statement of "grand touring design on an international scale" was the reason for the multi flags that are crested below the nameplate. I owned a 1985 Calais..but it never had this flag arrangement. Maybe later models did.

 

A buddy of mine had one of those.........woof! ugly........

 

Here is one for you Buckeyes...http://jxn.craigslist.org/cto/956467877.html .. probably just needs a nice home and an owner with deep pockets

 

I jes can't believe that nobody has scooped that bad boy up yet....
(not)

 

Thats one ugly duyckling that will never turn into a swan

 

Totally agree. The amazing thing is that it's survived this long and looks to be in pretty decent shape.

I really wonder how many of these cars were produced, and what it was like to be an Olds salesman trying to move these off the showroom? I guess once you get in behind the wheel, the front and the dash looks pretty much the same.