During a recent visit with friends we had a conversation about past automobiles we have owned. His was a 69 Cutlass Supreme and mine was a 69 Cutlass S. As almost 50 years have passed from our ownership of said cars we were foggy on the differences or were they the same. His car had a high compression 350 and my S I believe had a 2 barrel 350. We’re they the “same” or what are the differences. Like I said this was 50 years ago and details are fuzzy.

 

The 2 cars are different trim levels, the basic equipment would be different. The Supreme would come with more, or better, equipment than the S, but options could allow the buyer to upfit his car for a cost.
Both of your cars came with the base motor for each model. Yours was a 9 to 1 350 2bbl Ithink it was rated at 270hp(probably wrong). His was 10.25 to 1 350 4bbl rated at 310hp. You could have ordered his mptor in your car for extra cash. He could have down graded to your motor and got a credit.
This would apply to most of the items on each car, but not all. Some options were only available on the higher trim car. Olds figured they had an A Body for everyone, no mater what your pricepoint was. F85, Cutlass, Cutlass S, Cutlass Supreme, 442





could have

 

FWIW Body Style is different, Notchback for Supreme Fastback for S

 

The Supreme notch back first appeared in 1970. For 1969 (what he had) it was the same fastback as the S.

 

Gentlemen
As always correct precise answers to all things Olds.
Thank you.

 

The Supreme has 2 esses in "Cutlass"

 

Not the same, but could be optioned similarly.

Cutlass S ------------ CutlassSupreme

HP, 250 vs 310
Torque, 355 vs 390
Automatic, 2 speed vs 3 speed
Different hood
Different tail light lenses
Different weight, 3443 vs 3534
Looks, sporty vs more refined

Standard options, a Supreme is obviously far more expensive. And both a quicker and faster car.

Cutlass S ---------- Cutlass Supreme

0-60 = 9.4 vs 7.4
1/4 mile= 17.4 @ 82 MPH vs 15.4 @ 91 MPH
Both come with same 2.78 rear gear standard.
Top speed, 119 MPH vs 127 MPH

 

In the 1969 model year, the Cutlass S and Supreme were the same basic car. Differences were in the standard equipment that was included in the base price, the upholstery pattern, and the trim. These two pages from the SPECS booklet list the standard equipment and options for each. Note, by the way, that the Cutlass S was only offered in two door versions - the more doors were called Cutlass (despite having the same model numbers in the VIN). The Supreme came in both two and four door versions. Also note that the Cutlass and Cutlass S were available with the I6; Supremes were only available with the V8. And while the L74 4bbl 350 was standard in the Supreme, the L65 2bbl 350 was also available. The three speed column shifted manual trans was base equipment for both lines. Also note standard and optional drivetrain availability.

 

Not in 1969.

 

Go back to 1966 when the Supreme first appeared, only as a high trim level Cutlass Holiday Sedan. Then 67 it became its own series, available in all bodystyles and was the only way to get a 442. 68/69 reverted to 2 and 4 door hardtops and a 4 door sedan. 70-72 changed to 2 and 4 door hardtops and a convertible.

Mmph.

 

The reason for this is than in 1967, the Supreme was the only model line in which bucket seats were available.

 

While the lowly F-85 model soldiered on, the base Cutlass in 67 was the Cutlass. There was the Supreme like described.

It looks like "S" just muscled in between Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme in either 68 or 69.

 

The three-level marketing concept was (and remains) common in the industry. Olds nameplates underwent "grade inflation" over the years. Even back with the Y-body cars in 1961, Olds offered the F85, F85 Deluxe, and Cutlass trim levels. In 1964, the 30xx cars were F85s, the 31xx were F85 Deluxe, and the 32xx were Cutlass. Note that the Vista was a 30xx F85 and the Custom Vista was a 32xx Cutlass trim level. (The leading "3" is left off on this chart).




For 1967 this became the F85 (33xx/34xx), Cutlass (35xx/36xx) and Cutlass Supreme (38xx). Again note two versions of the Vista, one base with F85 trim and one custom with Supreme trim.



1968 continued with F85 (31xx/32xx), Cutlass (with or without "S") (35xx/36xx), and Supreme (42xx). Note that the "S" was only used to refer to 2 doors, the sans-"S" to 4 doors and wagons, but both retained the same model code 35xx/36xx, depending on I6 of V8. And note that this is the first time that the Vista also has it's own model line (same as the 442 that year) and the low-rent Vista was dropped.




1971 brought a new wrinkle, were the 31xx/32xx models were called F85 if it was a 4door but Cutlass (no "S") if it was a 2 door. The 35xx/36xx cars were called Cutlass as a 4 door/wagon and Cutlass S as a 2 door. Supremes were still 42xx. The names are really irrelevant. It's the model line code that matters.

 

That'll teach me to try and type on my phone, VBG In a previous life we called that a finger problem, I.e. wrong switch. oops