1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Review: A Classic Muscle Car

The 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass stands out as one of the best muscle cars of its time, so much so that car enthusiasts still look to add this to their vintage collections today. It began the fourth generation of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, which was produced until 1977.

The Cutlass is known for offering some famous styles, including the Supreme, Hurst, and 442. In this guide, we cover all you need to know about the Cutlass, especially if you’re thinking of getting one now.

Overview of the 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass

The 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass is a collection of vehicles, including a 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon and 2-door coupe. While the Cutlass series dates back to 1961, the 1973 model is unique because the Cutlass line was redesigned at this time. Oldsmobile redesigned the car using the Colonnade A Body Platform from General Motors.

The 1973 model lineup consisted of the base trim, S, Supreme, Salon, Vista Cruiser station wagon and the 442, which was an appearance package available on the Cutlass S coupe. The Cutlass bodies also had a unique design, unlike any other GM vehicles.

One of the unique parts of the 1973 Cutlass was the optional Strato bucket seats, with in-built head restraints and high seatbacks. These swivel seats were loved by drivers because they could turn up to 90 degrees, allowing the driver and front passenger to enter and exit the car easily.

There was also the popular Salon package, which was offered on the 4-door Colonnade sedan. This package was a luxury European style with upscale sports features, and this set the car apart. The Salon offers upgraded suspension, reclining bucket seats, radial tires, and a hand-operated headlamp dimmer switch.

• Features and Specs

The 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass is powered by a 350 cubic-inch 5.7-liter V8 engine that is located at the front of the car. It is a rear-wheel drive on an A-body platform. The engine offered 180 horsepower with a three-speed automatic that improved its performance. It also came with 275 pound-feet of torque, but the fuel economy was poor.

The stroke was 3.4 inches while the bore was 4.1 inches and the compression was 8.5:1. The car offered five main bearings while the cylinder block is made of cast iron. There were 381,094 units of the Cutlass produced in 1973. The coupe had two doors, a seating capacity of 5, and a 112-inch wheelbase.

As for the sedan, it had a seating capacity of 5 while there were 4 doors. The wheelbase was the same at 112 inches. The wheelbase was the same for all the trims offered, but for the sedan, the wheelbase was 116 inches. For the handling, the tires were F78-14.

All the 1973 Cutlass models came with front disc brakes, while the transmissions were standard three-speed manuals with a column shift and optional four-speed manuals with a Hurst shifter. Buyers could also upgrade their gauges.

• Supreme

The 1973 Supreme was a mid-sized car offered as a premium offering. At first, the car was offered as a trim package, but then it was also a roofline. In 1973, the car was offered as the highest-selling Oldsmobile in its class. The Supreme was also redesigned in 1973, like the rest of the Cutlass models.

The hardtop was replaced with a Colonnade style and fixed center pillars, and it came with a unique roofline, front-end styling and vertical opera windows. These features set it apart from other Cutlass models, making it highly successful. It was also lower-priced compared to other vehicles like Monte Carlo and Century Regal.

The Supreme also had high sales, as the public loved it. The output of the two-door coupe was up to 220,000 units. Even in that time when muscle cars were becoming less popular, the Supreme was still famous. It is powered by a sturdy 455 cubic-inch V8 with TH400 three-speed automatic, cruise control and sway bars in the front and rear.

Some of the other features include front disc brakes, power brakes, power steering, vinyl interior and air conditioning. The center console and bucket seats were typical of a muscle car, and they came with power adjustment features and an intricate pattern in the interior for luxury. There were black carpets and designs on the side panels, headliner and back seat.

• 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442

While the 1973 Cutlass was one of the most popular generations, the 442 is one trim that will definitely sweep any car collector off their feet. The car looks sporty and sleek, with its muscular look, sharp lines and a very long hood. The Cutlass 442 was larger than most muscle cars, with a 76.5-inch width and 207 inches in length.

The Cutlass 442 had impressive engine power, with a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine that offered 250 horses and 370 pound-feet of torque. This offered a maximum speed of 115 miles per hour, and it could get from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. This was one of the most powerful engines at that time, and it came with standard three-speed manual transmission.

The base price of the Cutlass 442 was $3,159, and even if Oldsmobile was dealing with a lack of sales, it could still sell up to 10,000 442s in that year. This also makes the 442 one of the rarest Oldsmobiles today, and some well-preserved 442s will cost up to $60,000. If you’re interested in classic cars, you can be on the lookout for this one.

The Cutlass 442 has also been represented in pop culture as it has appeared in TV shows and movies. These include “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Two Lane Backup.” These appearances gave the 442 the look of a cool American muscle car. Even after all this time, the 1973 Cutlass 442 is a sleek and sporty, sought-after collectible car.

• Hurst

Another popular 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass was the Hurst, which was also called Hurst Olds. When the standard Cutlass started using the Colonnade body style, the Hurst Olds also did in 1973. It also came with a better suspension, a new chassis, and power brakes with front disc brake calipers.

The 1973 Oldsmobile Hurst came in two color schemes, which were white/gold and black/gold. There were only 1,097 units of the Hurst Olds produced, which made it very rare. Even now, it is a collectible car. Other features include an acoustical double panel roof, inside hood release, flush-style exterior door handles, and better-fitting glass.

It also came with flush-and-dry rocker panels on the 1973 model. The car also had a better structure, including sturdy side-door guard beams and a power moonroof. The 1973 Hurst Olds is powered by a 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8 big block engine coupled with a four-barrel carburetor. Hurst also includes a digital tachometer.

The car offers 250 horsepower, and it features rear wheels that are powered by the Turbo Hydra-matic 400 automatic transmission with Hurst Dual-Gate shifter. Other features on the 1971 Hurst include the sealed side terminal battery, Delcotron generator, and a large 22-gallon fuel tank, with the dual exhaust system offering extra rumble and performance.

• Salon

The 1973 Cutlass Salon is known as one of the most popular cars from Oldsmobile. This trim was offered as a 4-door Colonnade sedan, which came with upscale sporty features. It also came with different features like an upgraded suspension, reclining bucket seats, radial tires and a unique turn signal switch.

The 1973 Cutlass Salon came with European qualities, so despite being called a mid-sized car, it was actually full-size. The car was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine with a three-speed THM automatic. This offered 180 horsepower, making it a pretty popular car like the Mercedes 450SE. Drivers could also pick the 7.4-liter engine with 250 horsepower.

The 1973 Salon was also impressive with its interior. Many car owners praised the front seats for their comfort. The back seat was spacious for adults, and it offered a 116-inch wheelbase for more space. There was also an HVAC system and AM/FM radio, but the trunk was not as roomy as the rest of the car.

Despite the benefits of the Salon, there were some downsides of the car, like the stiff power steering that made it hard to drive. The car was also poor at bad speeds, and there was a lack of boost in the brakes power. Even with this, most drivers preferred the Salon to import sedans from Europe because it was cheaper and had a great engine.

• 1973 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

Another part of the 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass lineup was the Vista Cruiser, which was a station wagon available until 1977. The car is powered by a 350 cubic-inch 5.7-liter Rocket V8 engine for standard, while the optional engines include a 403 cubic inch 6.6-liter Rocket V8 and a 455 cubic-inch 7.5-liter Rocket V8 engine.

The car also came with three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, power steering, windshield-embedded radio antenna, and fiberglass noise insulation. Other features included power brakes with front discs, cigarette lighter, interior hood release and vinyl upholstery. It also has a distinctive design, like the Colonnade style.

Buyers could also get optional features like sports mirrors, full instrumentation gauges, power door locks, Super Stock wheels and AM/FM radio. One difference that separated it from other Cutlass vehicles is the lack of front door vent windows. The car also comes with optional pop-up sunroofs.

Although the car is scarce, you can still get the 1973 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser to add to your collection. Some car owners have also used it for restoration projects, so you can look out for those of high quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

– How Much Is a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Worth?

The worth of a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass depends on the trim level and whether it was well-taken care of or not.

You can find some cars worth about $3,000, while others go up to $60,000. It’s important to check the value of the car before buying it.

– How Fast Can an Oldsmobile Cutlass Go?

How fast an Oldsmobile Cutlass can go depends on the make and year you choose. The Cutlass is known to be the fastest model, as it has a maximum speed of 116 miles per hour, and it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

– What Type of Car Is the Oldsmobile Cutlass?

The type of car the Oldsmobile Cutlass is depends on the year model that you buy. From 1966 to 1988, it was a personal luxury car, but from 1988 to 1997, it was a midsize car. Some also call it a muscle car because of its engine performance.

Conclusion

The 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass is one of the most iconic cars from General Motors, and it remains a classic.

Here’s a rundown of what we covered in this article:

• The 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass is a collection of personal luxury cars, including a 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon, and 2-door coupe.
• The lineup from the 1973 Cutlass includes the base trim, Cutlass S, Cutlass Supreme, Cutlass Salon, Vista Cruiser station wagon, and the 442.
• It was powered by a 350 cubic-inch 5.7-liter V8 with rear-wheel drive, but there were other engine options depending on the trim.
• The 1973 Supreme was the highest-selling car in the series, with a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine.
• The 1973 Cutlass 442 is a well-known trim, and it offers the highest speed among the other models in the lineup.

If you’re thinking of adding an Oldsmobile Cutlass to your collection, this guide has offered all you need to know about the highlights of the 1973 model. It would be hard to get this car since it is a rare vintage, but you can still check online communities.