Picked up a cutlass salon with 442 cluster and lightning rod shifter just need a little help on decoding the vin. any help is apprieciated. VIN 1g3gk11y8mp316803

 

I would suggest that you re-check the VIN that you posted, or post a readable photo (preferably of the VIN tag at the base of the windshield). The model year is the tenth character, and "M" indicates the 1991 model year, which obviously can't be correct for a G-body. Are you sure that tenth character isn't really an "H", which would indicate the 1987 model year? By the way, the "Y" in the eighth position of the VIN indicates the 140 HP version of the 307 and not the VIN "9" 180 HP version used in real 442s that year.

 

Your corrected VIN should be 1G3GK11Y8HP316803.
1- US
G- GM
3- Olds
G- G-body
K11- Salon (Y78 option adds Salon, which changes VIN from R11 [Supreme] to K11)
Y- 140 HP V8, 307
8- Check sum digit
H- 1987
P- Pontiac assembly plant
316803- Sequential number assigned

Salons were sorta uncommon in 1987. Weren't a ton of them made in the big scheme of Cutlasses that year. While they APPEAR more like a 442, the 1987 442 was actually based on the Supreme model because it was a tad cheaper. NO Salon in 1987 was a 442.

Lightning Rods were never an option on any Cutlass. They were included in the W40 Hurst/Olds package RPO for 1983/84 on Calais only.

All Cutlass G-bodies in 87 got an AM radio standard and fixed mast antenna. U75 power antenna and other radios were optional. Which is strange, because every other Olds model came with an AM/FM radio and fixed mast standard. Never did understand that logic of the cheapest radio in the G-body.

Externally, Salons came with amber front bumper turn signal lamps, as well as the black grilles, so it looks very similar to the 442, but in actuality, it was Salon equipment put on the Supreme to "convert" to a 442. Salons also had the built up inner door panels with the long, horizontal pull straps and smooth fabric and not the Supreme/442 style courdoroy/vinyl look matching the Bronte velour seat pattern. One of the brochures shows the "Salon" interior with the Supreme door panels and the 442 emblem on the door panel. This is incorrect for production. Again, 442 was only based on the Supreme in 1987.

The Salon also came standard with dual outside rear sport mirrors, U21, aka Rallye Pak gages. Along with the leather-wrapped sport steering wheel and RECLINING bucket seats with console shift. 442 did not come with reclining buckets since it was a Supreme. On the pics you supplied, the standard 85 mph speedometer has been changed out with a 120mph speedo which was only available and standard on the 87 442. Lots of people think the 87 442 gage package difference was just the speedometer. Not true. Tachometers are different. The tachometer is still the same Salon tach that came with your car. Tell-tale difference is the 4400 RPM orange line and 5K RPM red line for non-442 tach. The 442 came with a 4800 RPM orange line and 5500 RPM red line tach. Only differences there on the tachs. You seem to still have your stock tach, which is fine. The rest (fuel/oil, etc., gages) are the same for all 87 G-body Cutlass with gages.

Note the tach and 85 mph speedo head on this Salon. NOT an 87 442 setup. However, it's the same setup as 85-86 442.


Slight change for 1987. Note tach and 120 mph speedo head from 442.


The "442-style" sheffield gray radio and ashtray inlays were also added to your car. Based on the piece on the Lightning Rods, those look like aftermarket. Originally, Salon had the walnut wood appearance like the Supremes. FE2 suspension was standard but F41 could also be opted for (already standard on 442). Meaning Salons all had front and rear sway bars.

4 "wheel options" were available for 1987 Cutlass Salon. Standard on Salon was the superstock 5 spoke wheels painted lower body color with trim rings (optional on others). Optional wheels were wire wheel covers, aluminum spoke-looking wheels (not often seen), and chrome superstocks with no trim rings and black spoke inlay.

Pretty much every option you could put on a non-442 Supreme, you could get with the Salon.

Your SPID sticker suggests your car came with these options from the factory. Or should have. It's hard for me to read all of it, but here's a stab at what I can make out as far as RPOs:

AR9- Reclining bucket seats (standard and only available on Salon in the Cutlass line)
AU3- Power door locks
A01- Tinted windows all around
A31- Power side windows
BS1- Acoustical insulation
B34- Carpeted front mats
B35- Carpeted rear mats
B84- Body side molding
B93- Door edge guards
CD4- Delay wipers
C5F- Power sliding astroroof
C49- Rear window defogger
C60- A/C
D34- Visor mirror passenger side
D35- Dual sport outside rearview mirrors painted body color (standard on Salon)
F41- Sport handling package with quick ratio steering box and fatter front sway bar (a la 442, Monte SS, etc.)
GM8- 2.56 rear gears
G80- Limited Slip
G89- 7.5" rear end ring gear
C95- Dome lamp, dual dome and reading
K34- Cruise control, electronic
LV2- V8 140 HP 307
MW9/MX0- 200-4R 4-speed automatic transmission
NP5- leather wrapped sport steering wheel (standard on Salon)
N33- Tilt steering wheel
N66- Painted standard superstock wheels (standard on Salon)
QMW- Tires, 195/75-14, blackwall radials
TL6- Black grille (standard on Salon)
TR9- Auxiliary Lamp package (underhood lamps, trunk lamp, etc.)
UA1- HD battery
UM6- AM/FM Cassette radio
U21- Gage package instrument panel (standard on Salon)
U66- Extended Range Speakers
U75- Power antenna
VK3- Front license plate holder
VO8- HD cooling
WL7- Popular Options Package Savings (had to be added by dealer when certain options added)
YT1- Build up for door panels (Salon style)
Y78- Cutlass Salon Package
11A- Accent paint stripes, white
15U- upper body color sales code- Medium gray metallic. Most of the time a single color car only came with a "U" code. "L" codes were for 2-tone cars, like 442s which also included 12L for the bottom color.
82I- Interior color code, medium gray
84Q- Gunmetal Gray (body side molding inner color)
And at the bottom center, should you ever need a number to give to your paint guy for any repaints-
WA8573- Medium gray metallic

 

Thank you for the info it realy helps alot.

 

Thank you very much this is all the info one could ask for. I realy apprieciate all the time you put into it.