So what makes a 68 Cutlass a Cutlass Supreme? I will assume that any 68 Cutlass Supreme is not a post car. Does the Supreme come with bucket seats like a LeMans? Is it trim? Just a few questions.

 

68-69 Cutlass Supreme was a different option package than Cutlass S - easy way to differentiate is the higher wheel well chrome line.

 

The Supreme has a different VIN (342....) from a Cutlass (336...) or 442 (344...)

 

Different interior as well

 

Thank you for the replies. Could you get a white dash?

 

Different pattern?

 

I’ve never seen a white dash, yes, different pattern

 

I was guessing that someone painted this.

 

The whole interior looks like it’s been altered from original

 

No. Cars with white interior came with a black dash. The table in Section 0 of the 1968 Product Information Manual documents this.




I'll also add that while the VINs were different, the Supreme is obviously just another Cutlass/F85 body shell. The only substantial differences between F85, Cutlass, and Supreme were exterior trim, interior upholstery pattern and material, and standard equipment included in the base price. For example, the Cutlass came with either an I6 (335...) or L65 350 2bbl motor (336...) as standard equipment. The Supreme came with the L74 350 4bbl as standard equipment, however the L65 2bbl was available as a $33.70 credit option.

 

I noticed the arm rest on the door panel looked janky. Is that pattern correct for a 68 Cutlass? I am contemplating this as a project car. I haven't seen it in person. Body looks very straight. The reason that I asked about a 68 Supreme was the glovebox emblem. There are no Supreme emblems on the exterior. Also does not have the chrome trim like the red car posted in this thread. Beautiful car by the way.

Thanks Joe on the dash information. I was 99 percent sure that no car came with a white dash. Only the prototype GSX as far as I remember.

 

Yes, the door armrests appear to have been replaced on the car. Car originally had the "long" armrests....something like 16" or so long compared to the 12" or so armrests on the car in the pic. Obviously a "custom" interior job of sorts was done on the car sometime in the past.

 

That dash pad just doesn’t look like it came from the factory, notice the seam on the right above the glove box. Also has a 70-72 console. I would like to see a factory 1968 white dash pad. My 71 Cutlass Supreme has white interior and black dash.

 

I will know more once I look at it in person. Someone at one time or another definitely gave it some custom work.
I was guessing that the pattern on the seats was correct for a 68? Hard to get a clear view of the console.

 

Good luck with the project if you get it! I have been looking for a 68 for awhile. Do you know what the original color is?

 

I believe silver. I need to see it in person. It has 77 Oldsmobile 350 in it. The original 350 comes with it as well. I have always loved white interior cars. Next week I should get time to look at it.

 

The black and white interior pattern had, if I recall correctly:

Black: steering wheel, column, dash pad, kick panels, carpet, seatbelts and seatbelt trim. Seat floor bracket covers.
Parchment/Champagne(depending on year): seat, seat trim, sail panels, package tray, quarter panel trim, steering column trim under dash on some years, door arm rests.

Both: door panels. White on top 80%, black on bottom.

I HAVE seen some black package trays with this setup, but I think they were wrong and I think it's supposed to be white.

I think black or white vinyl or ragtops could be picked with this interior, or there was at least a recommended pairing.

Edit, the console is black.

 

You can tell the kick panels were painted white. I say obviously the dash has been painted. I honestly don't mind it all white.
The console looks odd like unlike a 70 console. I need to do more 68 research. Like door panels etc.

 

It looks like the console is missing the top portion of the glove box, the door panels look to me they were recovered

 

I agree. It is missing the lid, but still does not look like the console in my car.

 

That's a Pontiac console. Just look at the width of the woodgrain in front of the shift lever. Not even close to a 70-72 Olds console. Apparently hacked up to fit the Olds shifter.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking Joe. You can tell if you look close.

 

Joe nails it again! The car is definitely hodgepodged

 

The more I look at it I think I am going to pass. I told my brother the other night exactly what Joe said. It is definitely a Pontiac console. I still haven't seen it in person but it would have to be cheap cheap for me to get it. I have more pictures but I don't want to share everything yet. It is a very solid Colorado no rust car. It needs a drivers fender. It has a later motor in it. I would love to save it but...

Can any 68 people tell me if the seat pattern is correct for a 68?

 

I would keep looking and be willing to pay a little more for a car that hasn't been f*cked with quite so much.

As a past owner of two '68 4-4-2s and definitely not an expert, I'll just say those seat covers look more like '71-2, if not totally "kustom".

 

That is not a 1968 Olds upholstery pattern, and yes the Supreme buckets are different from Cutlass S/442 buckets but these are neither.

 

Yeah I am going to pass for now. If I could get it cheap cheap but not stepping into too much money from the word go.

Thank you to everyone for the input

 

I'll be interested to see what else you find.

 

I love the look of the S, more than the supreme.

 

In the 1968-69 model years they used exactly the same sheetmetal.

 

Whats your point? I still like the S model more.

 

Of course. Now I can see the dramatic difference...

 

So, since we've discussed the differences, and the potential car, I have a question.

The 68 442, which was legally and sales-wise a different model, and used the same sheet metal, what was it in terms of trim? It looks, from the internet, that it was a Cutlass S trim level, 442 badging, and upgraded powertrain and chassis.

Edit: I ask because I know 67s better, and they were the complete opposite, the 442 was only on a Cutlass Supreme.

 

The only difference that I see is the Supreme has moldings running down the lower side of the car and a CS in the roof, other than the different interior. I wonder if there was any weight difference?

 

For 1968, the Supreme came with the lower stainless and argent paint below that, per the photo I posted. Cutlass S (and 442) got the stainless along the top of the fender. Emblems were different (CS on the sail panel vs S under the Cutlass script on the fender). For 1968, Supremes got the same "single loop" tail light lenses as did F85s and Cutlass four doors. Cutlass S and 442 got the "double loop" lenses.





As noted, upholstery patterns were different. FYI, the Cutlass S and 442 used the same interiors and exterior trim, which is why the 68-69 442s initially came with 336xx cowl tags. For 1968, the Supreme 2drs came standard with bucket seats; the RPO A65 bench with arm rest was a no-cost option. The 442 also came standard with bucket seats, but the credit option RPO A52 bench seat was the normal non-armrest version from the Cutlass S. Cutlass S cars came standard with the bench seat (except the convertible, which got buckets); buckets in the S were a $68.46 option.

The big difference was in the standard engine. The S (and all other Cutlii) came standard with either the I6 or the RPO L65 350 2bbl. The Supreme wasn't available with the six and the standard engine was the RPO L74 350 4bbl (though the L65 350 2bbl was a $33.70 credit option in the Supreme). Both S and Supreme came standard with the Saginaw column-shifted three speed and manual drum brakes.

 

This car appears to have the holes for the Supreme trim. I don't have good pictures of the driver's side but in the one I have you can see the holes.

 

Good info, Joe.

I wonder if any clown bought a 442 and debadged it down to a Cutlass S, and went out and won smaller street races.

 

I agree. Two things that I like about it is the body looks very clean. It needs a drivers side fender but the rest of the body looks very clean. I love white interior cars but I would have to redo it to make it correct. The Pontiac console isn't a plus either. I may still go look at it. It would have to be cheap though.

I still know of a 68 442 not even ten blocks from me that has been in this back yard since at least 1990. Is that really 34 years ago?? They put up a fence since the car has been sitting there. Nobody even knows that it is there. Dark green car. Black interior. Three spoke wood wheel.

 

I'm a big fan of sleepers.

 

Amen Joe. All I can do to not get this car. You don't see unmolested cars like this. Interior is off but the body makes me want it

Trailer queens are a joke to me