Question about four-doors
February 3rd, 2010, 02:41 PM
#1
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Question about four-doors
Hi,
I have a 1971 F-85 four door town sedan.
bench seats, 350 Rocket 260hp, column shift.
just wondering if these cars are rare or something? because when I go to car shows with it people ask " is that really a Cutlass?(f-85)"
Does any one know anything about these cars?
thanks for any help,
Kyle
I have a 1971 F-85 four door town sedan.
bench seats, 350 Rocket 260hp, column shift.
just wondering if these cars are rare or something? because when I go to car shows with it people ask " is that really a Cutlass?(f-85)"
Does any one know anything about these cars?
thanks for any help,
Kyle
February 3rd, 2010, 04:37 PM
#2
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
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Kyle, they made thousands of them but you don't see them much now. People think a four-door isn't cool and is valuable only as parts for a 2-door. Plus a lot of them simply got used up and junked.
I do not subscribe to that nonsense. A nice old car is a nice old car no matter how many doors or tailgate it has. And if you want to blister me, start yapping about stealing a 455 out of a nice Ninety Eight, Delta or Toronado to put in a Cutlass. Getting one from a rough car is one thing, but stealing a nice one's engine is totally unacceptable in my eyes.
The F85 Town Sedan was Oldsmobile's "entry level" car back then. It was the least expensive Olds made until the Omega came along in 1973. They weren't trimmed out quite as nice as a Cutlass, S or Supreme, but they were still nicer than Pontiac/Chevrolet entry level cars.
Little known secret is they could be ordered with 455's for police duty.
Enjoy the F85. Pics?
I do not subscribe to that nonsense. A nice old car is a nice old car no matter how many doors or tailgate it has. And if you want to blister me, start yapping about stealing a 455 out of a nice Ninety Eight, Delta or Toronado to put in a Cutlass. Getting one from a rough car is one thing, but stealing a nice one's engine is totally unacceptable in my eyes.
The F85 Town Sedan was Oldsmobile's "entry level" car back then. It was the least expensive Olds made until the Omega came along in 1973. They weren't trimmed out quite as nice as a Cutlass, S or Supreme, but they were still nicer than Pontiac/Chevrolet entry level cars.
Little known secret is they could be ordered with 455's for police duty.
Enjoy the F85. Pics?
February 3rd, 2010, 04:48 PM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Rathdrum, Idano
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Kyle, they made thousands of them but you don't see them much now. People think a four-door isn't cool and is valuable only as parts for a 2-door. Plus a lot of them simply got used up and junked.
I do not subscribe to that nonsense. A nice old car is a nice old car no matter how many doors or tailgate it has. And if you want to blister me, start yapping about stealing a 455 out of a nice Ninety Eight, Delta or Toronado to put in a Cutlass. Getting one from a rough car is one thing, but stealing a nice one's engine is totally unacceptable in my eyes.
The F85 Town Sedan was Oldsmobile's "entry level" car back then. It was the least expensive Olds made until the Omega came along in 1973. They weren't trimmed out quite as nice as a Cutlass, S or Supreme, but they were still nicer than Pontiac/Chevrolet entry level cars.
Little known secret is they could be ordered with 455's for police duty.
Enjoy the F85. Pics?
I do not subscribe to that nonsense. A nice old car is a nice old car no matter how many doors or tailgate it has. And if you want to blister me, start yapping about stealing a 455 out of a nice Ninety Eight, Delta or Toronado to put in a Cutlass. Getting one from a rough car is one thing, but stealing a nice one's engine is totally unacceptable in my eyes.
The F85 Town Sedan was Oldsmobile's "entry level" car back then. It was the least expensive Olds made until the Omega came along in 1973. They weren't trimmed out quite as nice as a Cutlass, S or Supreme, but they were still nicer than Pontiac/Chevrolet entry level cars.
Little known secret is they could be ordered with 455's for police duty.
Enjoy the F85. Pics?
February 3rd, 2010, 05:36 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gorham, Maine
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Wow thats some great information Rocketraider! I did not even think they could be ordered with a 455. but the 350 still has a great deal of muscle for me!
I have some pics but I can not figure out how to make them smaller so they can fit?
Kyle
I have some pics but I can not figure out how to make them smaller so they can fit?
Kyle
February 3rd, 2010, 06:11 PM
#7
Welcome to the forum. As others said, a nice old car is a nice old car. It's always going to turn heads when your driving something cool like that.
Certainly going to stand out on a road full of modern day jelly beans.
Certainly going to stand out on a road full of modern day jelly beans.
February 4th, 2010, 10:11 AM
#10
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just wondering if these cars are rare or something?
February 4th, 2010, 11:40 AM
#13
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Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 17,638
pics 101
When you reply make sure you are in “Advanced” If it says post a “Quick reply” hit “Advanced”
Scroll down below the box you type in and hit “ Manage Attachments” A new box will pop up.
Hit “Browse”
The hit “Upload” and wait a few secs for the pics to up load. Then close this box.
Next you can hit “Preview Post and your pictures should be there.
There is a size limit on pics
Scroll down below the box you type in and hit “ Manage Attachments” A new box will pop up.
Hit “Browse”
The hit “Upload” and wait a few secs for the pics to up load. Then close this box.
Next you can hit “Preview Post and your pictures should be there.
There is a size limit on pics
February 4th, 2010, 03:36 PM
#16
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Nice looking car. If it's really just an F-85, why does it have "Cutlass" on the side. Did someone add that?
As a little info, Olds made 3,650 F-85 Town Sedans (4-door sedan) with the 350 V-8 in 1971. An even smaller number, 769, of F-85 Town Sedans with the 250 cubic inch "Action Line 6" engine were made. This was the only body style available in the F-85 line that year.
Base price of the F-85/350 was $2980. That was a $121 premium over the base price of the 6-cylinder F-85, which was $2859.
To give you an idea of how small these production numbers are, Olds made almost 10 times as many Cutlass V-8 Town Sedans at 31,904.
1971 Cutlasses and Cutlass S's could also have been had with a 6-cylinder engine as well in several body styles. Olds discontinued the 6 on May 1, 1971 for all models. After that, only a V-8 could be had. In 1972, Olds did not offer a 6-cylinder engine in any model. The lowest-line 1972 F-85 Town Sedan came with a 160 hp version of the 350 as the base engine.
As a little info, Olds made 3,650 F-85 Town Sedans (4-door sedan) with the 350 V-8 in 1971. An even smaller number, 769, of F-85 Town Sedans with the 250 cubic inch "Action Line 6" engine were made. This was the only body style available in the F-85 line that year.
Base price of the F-85/350 was $2980. That was a $121 premium over the base price of the 6-cylinder F-85, which was $2859.
To give you an idea of how small these production numbers are, Olds made almost 10 times as many Cutlass V-8 Town Sedans at 31,904.
1971 Cutlasses and Cutlass S's could also have been had with a 6-cylinder engine as well in several body styles. Olds discontinued the 6 on May 1, 1971 for all models. After that, only a V-8 could be had. In 1972, Olds did not offer a 6-cylinder engine in any model. The lowest-line 1972 F-85 Town Sedan came with a 160 hp version of the 350 as the base engine.
February 4th, 2010, 05:16 PM
#17
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Location: Gorham, Maine
Posts: 7
Thank you for that Great deal of information! may have to hang on to this car after all! I am glad though it has a 350, a straight 6 just doesn't seem like it would have that much pull.
Welcome to our site... she looks nice!
February 4th, 2010, 06:42 PM
#19
Just an Olds Guy
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Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
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Kyle, not taking away from your car, but the pic you posted shows it has a 350CID L32 (2bbl) engine which would only be rated at 160 hp, not 260. Interesting color choice on the repaint; it goes well with the interior.
February 5th, 2010, 12:12 AM
#21
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Cool car. 
It's always better to have too much than not enough, that goes for doors too.
I have five for people, one for the engine and one for gloves.
There is the secret storage compartment on the rear load floor but that's a secret so I won't mention it.
Nuns drove those type cars a lot, they do take a vow of poverty.
Nothing against the the car, just the way it was. They go incognito in street clothes now so I don't know what they drive anymore? You would see those cars parked in the convent parking lots next to the priest's loaded Ninety-Eights, deuce and a quarters and Cadillacs, all the trunks loaded with their golf clubs at the ready.
There were always six nuns in those stripper spare-doors cruising to the grocery store, it would look like a car load of penguins driving around.
They can't get me with a ruler across the knuckles now.
Lightning just struck my PC!
Back to the confessional again, I think the thing needs a revolving door for me.
It's always better to have too much than not enough, that goes for doors too.
I have five for people, one for the engine and one for gloves.
There is the secret storage compartment on the rear load floor but that's a secret so I won't mention it.
Nuns drove those type cars a lot, they do take a vow of poverty.
Nothing against the the car, just the way it was. They go incognito in street clothes now so I don't know what they drive anymore? You would see those cars parked in the convent parking lots next to the priest's loaded Ninety-Eights, deuce and a quarters and Cadillacs, all the trunks loaded with their golf clubs at the ready.
There were always six nuns in those stripper spare-doors cruising to the grocery store, it would look like a car load of penguins driving around.
They can't get me with a ruler across the knuckles now.
Lightning just struck my PC!
Back to the confessional again, I think the thing needs a revolving door for me.
February 5th, 2010, 02:37 PM
#24
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Gorham, Maine
Posts: 7
. i'll post the vin soon but the reason it has "Cutlass" emblems is because I could not find any F-85's.
Thanks for the compliments on the car everyone!
Kyle
February 5th, 2010, 02:59 PM
#25
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I'm not sure about that 160 hp number, at least for 1971. According to "Setting the Pace," the base 350 in the '71 F-85 was rated at 240 hp. This was the lowest horsepower V-8 offered in 1971. The standard 250 cubic-inch Six was rated at 145 hp.
By contrast, the base V-8 in the 1972 F-85 WAS rated at 160 hp. But as I mentioned above, that was the "lowest" engine Olds offered that year as the Six was discontinued in May 1971. The '72 Delta 88 could have been had with that same base V-8 engine (as well as a 180 hp version or a 225 hp version of the 455).
By contrast, the base V-8 in the 1972 F-85 WAS rated at 160 hp. But as I mentioned above, that was the "lowest" engine Olds offered that year as the Six was discontinued in May 1971. The '72 Delta 88 could have been had with that same base V-8 engine (as well as a 180 hp version or a 225 hp version of the 455).
February 7th, 2010, 04:19 PM
#26
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Wasn't 71 the last year of the gross HP rating and the net HP rating going into effect in 72?
I do know the '72 350 2bbl single exh was rated at 160HP.
Regardless, a 350 2bbl of that era did get up and move. The torque is excellent compared to the new 'family' cars. My '72 has a 4bbl but the throttle cable is too long to open the secondaries. Therefore it has only given the performance of a 2bbl with duals. Very respecable, but I can't wait to see what the secondaries do!
For the record, if anyone needs door weatherstrip for 4 doors, try here:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...stripping.html
I do know the '72 350 2bbl single exh was rated at 160HP.
Regardless, a 350 2bbl of that era did get up and move. The torque is excellent compared to the new 'family' cars. My '72 has a 4bbl but the throttle cable is too long to open the secondaries. Therefore it has only given the performance of a 2bbl with duals. Very respecable, but I can't wait to see what the secondaries do!
For the record, if anyone needs door weatherstrip for 4 doors, try here:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...stripping.html
February 7th, 2010, 04:25 PM
#27
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Wikipedia says that '71 was the last year for gross horsepower ratings and '72 the first year for net ratings, but then later it implies that this occurred in the "71-72 time frame," so it's possible, apparently, that not all manufacturers adopted the net horsepower format at the same time?
February 7th, 2010, 07:48 PM
#28
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February 7th, 2010, 08:11 PM
#30
Just an Olds Guy
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??? Did it break or something? I can't imagine having a 4 bbl that only works as a 2 bbl. Why not just get the right cable and put it in? I've found that my 4bbl is pretty touchy at the first bit of travel and there's certainly no lack of performance. Keeping it below 35 in the city is pretty hard. Gotta do a lot of coasting.
February 17th, 2010, 09:29 AM
#32
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February 17th, 2010, 09:34 AM
#33
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I'll second the Autozone comment. I was able to order a rebuild kit for the 2-bbl carb on my '67 Delta 88. Only $14 and had everything I needed. Do a search on the Autozone site for your year, make, model, and engine, and it pops up as available for home delivery.
February 17th, 2010, 09:40 AM
#34
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??? Did it break or something? I can't imagine having a 4 bbl that only works as a 2 bbl. Why not just get the right cable and put it in? I've found that my 4bbl is pretty touchy at the first bit of travel and there's certainly no lack of performance. Keeping it below 35 in the city is pretty hard. Gotta do a lot of coasting.
Cable grew on me or was replaced sometime withthe wrong one that was too long.
Also the bushing/grommet that the carb end of the cable goes on was missing.
So basically, the pedal would be on the floor before the secondaries would pull open.
I got a chevy bushing to mod and install - spacers at the pedal end of the cable to take up the rest of the slack.
Then i wait for a nice day to open her up and see if she will sing!
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