1988 Cutlas GT
May 18th, 2015, 09:10 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Parksville, B.C. (on Vancouver Island)
Posts: 23
1988 Cutlas GT
Good Day to all:
I just purchased a 1988 Cutlas GT. It is #14 or 280 (plaque on console). The previous owner has given me limited information about the car, and an internet search brought me here. I saw that back in 2012 1988CutlassGT and Rocketraider discussed these cars.
I'm hoping that someone on this board either has one of these cars and has the information I'm looking for, or can direct me to where the information I'm looking for can be found.
The car is Black and silver, and looks like a 442.
Thanks for your help guys, and as I worked (before retirement) in the transmission/converter/high performance transmission parts and high stall converter industry, I might be able to help those of you with any questions you might have.
I just purchased a 1988 Cutlas GT. It is #14 or 280 (plaque on console). The previous owner has given me limited information about the car, and an internet search brought me here. I saw that back in 2012 1988CutlassGT and Rocketraider discussed these cars.
I'm hoping that someone on this board either has one of these cars and has the information I'm looking for, or can direct me to where the information I'm looking for can be found.
The car is Black and silver, and looks like a 442.
Thanks for your help guys, and as I worked (before retirement) in the transmission/converter/high performance transmission parts and high stall converter industry, I might be able to help those of you with any questions you might have.
May 18th, 2015, 09:41 AM
#2
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,361
14 is a very early conversion.
I would tell you to go to the source, Tops and Trends in Kernersville NC, but Joe Johnston sold the business and I'm pretty sure the current ownership doesn't have a clue about the GT.
When Joe ran it, he had the records for every GT they converted, from the original dealer batch order all the way thru the first owner. He maintained a stock of spare parts including the decals and striping.
Curious where you're located, so we can see how far this GT has roamed from the piedmont of NC. You may already know it was a package spec'd by the NC dealer group to have something sporty to sell after the 442 disappeared in 1987. Most were sold within 100 mile radius of Kernersville, and the only VA dealer I knew that sold them was Riddle Cad-Olds in Martinsville VA.
And contrary to popular belief, there was more to the GT than a stripe, spoiler and hood scoop package. A car like it probably couldn't get built today.
I would tell you to go to the source, Tops and Trends in Kernersville NC, but Joe Johnston sold the business and I'm pretty sure the current ownership doesn't have a clue about the GT.
When Joe ran it, he had the records for every GT they converted, from the original dealer batch order all the way thru the first owner. He maintained a stock of spare parts including the decals and striping.
Curious where you're located, so we can see how far this GT has roamed from the piedmont of NC. You may already know it was a package spec'd by the NC dealer group to have something sporty to sell after the 442 disappeared in 1987. Most were sold within 100 mile radius of Kernersville, and the only VA dealer I knew that sold them was Riddle Cad-Olds in Martinsville VA.
And contrary to popular belief, there was more to the GT than a stripe, spoiler and hood scoop package. A car like it probably couldn't get built today.
May 18th, 2015, 01:11 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Parksville, B.C. (on Vancouver Island)
Posts: 23
Thanks for the info. raider.
The car is located now in Parksville, B.C. Canada. The fellow I bought it from said that he is the 3rd owner and he purchased it from a museum in either North Carolina or South Carolina. Other than photos he sent me, I haven't even seen the car. I contacted a fellow hot rodder over in Parksville, and he knew both the car and the owner. When I asked about the car, he said the owner is a "fussy ***", and of the 60 odd photos he sent me, the car looks great. Time will tell, as I'm moving to the Parksville area in a month and will pay the balance I owe on the car.
The thing that attracted me to the car was the fact that it is kind of an odd ball. I previously owned another odd ball car, a 1974 triple green Challenger Rallye that was built very late in April of 1974. The fact that when I bought it in 2002 from the original owner it only had 32000 miles on it didn't hurt neither.
I feel this Cutlas is the same, and I really appreciate your information. Armed with what you've supplied me, I can dig further, and hopefully when I get the car the current owner can give me more on the car, and maybe some paper work.
When I finally get it, I'll post photos of it here on the site.
Again, my thanks.
The car is located now in Parksville, B.C. Canada. The fellow I bought it from said that he is the 3rd owner and he purchased it from a museum in either North Carolina or South Carolina. Other than photos he sent me, I haven't even seen the car. I contacted a fellow hot rodder over in Parksville, and he knew both the car and the owner. When I asked about the car, he said the owner is a "fussy ***", and of the 60 odd photos he sent me, the car looks great. Time will tell, as I'm moving to the Parksville area in a month and will pay the balance I owe on the car.
The thing that attracted me to the car was the fact that it is kind of an odd ball. I previously owned another odd ball car, a 1974 triple green Challenger Rallye that was built very late in April of 1974. The fact that when I bought it in 2002 from the original owner it only had 32000 miles on it didn't hurt neither.
I feel this Cutlas is the same, and I really appreciate your information. Armed with what you've supplied me, I can dig further, and hopefully when I get the car the current owner can give me more on the car, and maybe some paper work.
When I finally get it, I'll post photos of it here on the site.
Again, my thanks.
May 20th, 2015, 04:24 PM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Parksville, B.C. (on Vancouver Island)
Posts: 23
14 is a very early conversion.
I would tell you to go to the source, Tops and Trends in Kernersville NC, but Joe Johnston sold the business and I'm pretty sure the current ownership doesn't have a clue about the GT.
When Joe ran it, he had the records for every GT they converted, from the original dealer batch order all the way thru the first owner. He maintained a stock of spare parts including the decals and striping.
Curious where you're located, so we can see how far this GT has roamed from the piedmont of NC. You may already know it was a package spec'd by the NC dealer group to have something sporty to sell after the 442 disappeared in 1987. Most were sold within 100 mile radius of Kernersville, and the only VA dealer I knew that sold them was Riddle Cad-Olds in Martinsville VA.
And contrary to popular belief, there was more to the GT than a stripe, spoiler and hood scoop package. A car like it probably couldn't get built today.
I would tell you to go to the source, Tops and Trends in Kernersville NC, but Joe Johnston sold the business and I'm pretty sure the current ownership doesn't have a clue about the GT.
When Joe ran it, he had the records for every GT they converted, from the original dealer batch order all the way thru the first owner. He maintained a stock of spare parts including the decals and striping.
Curious where you're located, so we can see how far this GT has roamed from the piedmont of NC. You may already know it was a package spec'd by the NC dealer group to have something sporty to sell after the 442 disappeared in 1987. Most were sold within 100 mile radius of Kernersville, and the only VA dealer I knew that sold them was Riddle Cad-Olds in Martinsville VA.
And contrary to popular belief, there was more to the GT than a stripe, spoiler and hood scoop package. A car like it probably couldn't get built today.
transman74
May 23rd, 2015, 07:24 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 59
A very nice car, it couldn't have been cheap! I used to have an 83' Hurst Olds when I was in High School. This car brings back vivid memories of long, smoky burn-outs. One in particular being left as a Junior out in the street in front of a house where the Seniors were having a party! The G Bodies are fantastic cars! Congrats on a great find!
May 23rd, 2015, 10:31 AM
#16
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,361
I'd really be interested in what else you know about these cars, especially the last paragraph
GT:
Based off 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic. Tops & Trends in Kernersville made the batch order for these cars thru Highland Oldsmobile in Winston-Salem NC with NC Olds Dealer Association approval. Initial run was pre-ordered by participating dealers. After dealer prep Highland delivered the cars to T&T for conversion and then T&T delivered the GT to the dealer that ordered it.
Mechanically it used a Code Y 307 with trailer towing package which included 3.08 Posi rear end and HD cooling and transmission. Any RPO available on CSC could be ordered for the GT and it could be ordered in any CSC exterior/interior color combo, though most were black, Dark Charcoal Gray or Dark Claret. I have seen several dark blue ones and one each white and silver. Never seen browns or greens.
Batch order specified: delete "Cutlass Supreme Classic" roof and trunk badging, rocker mouldings and wheel arch mouldings. This is why I said a car like it probably couldn't get built today even on a fleet order.
The T&T conversion items: "Cutlass GT" dash plaque, 83-84 Hurst/Olds style side striping, hood scoop and trunk spoiler (these are not 83-84 H/O pieces as some claim), specific "Cutlass GT" trunk and door decals (w/ Rockets), "5.0" decals on hood scoop, and factory exhaust replaced with a glass pack muffler and double slash chrome tip on passenger side. Due to warranty and emissions certification issues GT did not come with 83-84 Hurst-type dual exhaust though I've seen many that had it put on later. The "glass pack" was actually a GM resonator, is how they got around the 307Y emissions certs as it wasn't certified with dual exhaust.
Original dealer specs called for a run of 400 conversions. Joe told me 287 were made.
A few really late cars were produced for dealers who requested one after the original batch run was sold. These cars may have the wheel arch and rocker mouldings and the CSC roof and trunk scripts. They tried removing the scripts at T&T but even on new paint they left a shadow, so the really late cars have them.
As part of the factory conversion approval, T&T was required to maintain a stock of conversion parts for collision and warranty work. This was probably a good thing as the hood scoops were glued on and had a bad habit of flying off. The spoilers had separate end tips which also were noted for coming off.
Was it a barnburner? No, but it had a great look and served its purpose well in the Carolinas after the 442 disappeared for 1988.
I had the chance to buy #7 around 1998 but by the time I got a day off to do the deed, its new owner was driving it off the lot. I have not seen that car since.
Last edited by rocketraider; May 23rd, 2015 at 11:12 AM.
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