OLD SKL 69

I started to look at late model Cutlass convertibles from the 90's and I had a few questions as I am not that familiar with them. The questions I have are:

1. What years were they produced?
2. Any years more desirable than others?
3. Any good options I should look for or stay away from?
4. Any problem areas/issues?

Thanks for any help.

joe_padavano

Well, ignoring the 50 hand-built 1988 Indy pace car convertibles, the FWD Supreme converts were built from 1991-1995, if I remember correctly. The top engine was the 3.4 liter DOHC V6, available with manual trans. The one thing to watch out for is that the frame for the convertible top is virtually non-repairable, so be sure the top works properly on any car you consider.

jaunty75

Very close! According to Setting the Pace, they were produced from 1990-1995. In 1990, the top engine was the 191 cubic inch (3.1 liter) V6. For 1991 and later, it was, as you say, the 3.4 liter (207 cubic inch). Standard engine in 1990 was a 138 cubic inch (2.25 liter) Four, while for 1991-1995, the base engine was the 1990 top engine, the 3.1 liter V6.

Production of the convertible in 1990 was miniscule at only 464 units. Find one of those and you've got a rare car. Production climbed considerably every year thereafter except for the last. In 1991, it was 1,514, in 1992 it 4,306, in 1993 it was 6,751, in 1994 it was 8,638, and in 1995 it dropped back to 4,490.

Values for these cars vary interestingly, according to the Old Cars Price Guide. For all its rarity and even though it's the oldest, the 1990s fare the worst in value.

In #3 condition (car-show quality, but not showroom new):

1990: $3,600 (original base price was $20,995)
1991: $6,530 ($20,995, no increase over '90)
1992: $5,400 ($21,995)
1993: $5,400 ($22,699)
1994: $5,400 ($25,995, huge jump from '93)
1995: $5,400 ($25,995, no increase over '94)

Not sure why the spike for 1991. Bigger standard engine? Things do steady out after that though. I'm guessing these cars, at least in the later years, are fairly indistinguishable from each other? I don't know.

Aron Nance

OldSkl69: My tech (as I had inquired about the '90-95 convertibles as far as maintenance) told me that the 3.4 is a great engine, but you will pay 6+ hours of labor to replace an alternator (remember, I don't do mechanical work on our cars, saves me money in the long run); other items on that engine fall in the same pricing area. He has convinced me to look at 3.1's, but there aren't as many of them......catch 22! Obviously, the 3.1 won't run as well (i.e. as fast) as the 3.4. A friend in Tyler has two of them (one for sale, if he hasn't sold it, both 3.4's) and he said finding parts for anything on them is darned near impossible.

Cameo White

I had a 94 I bought new on Super Bowl Sunday in 1995. Red/White/White. 3.4 car, nearly all options (except HUD and CD). The 3.4 cars all had the trunk lip spoiler with special tail lights--the tops molded to fit the spoiler. Those are hard to find. Most of the other exterior bits aren't too hard to get yet, except the band under the trunk lid with the Oldsmobile name on it.

A few mechanical problems: The alternator, as Aron said. They are way down low on the passenger side. They tend to get toasted by the exhaust. It is easiest to remove part of the front end to get too them to repair. I think it was only 4 hours labor, but I had to have it done 2 or 3 times in 40K miles. That gets pricey pretty quick.

The 3.4 was a wonderful engine on the cams. It was GM's first modern DOHC 6. It was kind of loud mechanically, though. It was fairly thirsty in town. And it was expensive to repair. GM orphaned it pretty quickly for those 3 reasons. Great torque steer when you hammered the pedal down, though! The shop that worked on mine wanted to swap in a 3.1--referring to the 3.4 as a boat anchor on more than one occasion. It has/had a known issue with blowing the intake gasket (IIRC). The fix requires tearing down the top end of the engine, and this usually means pulling it out of the car. Basically, if the problem is on the backside of the transverse V6 against the firewall, where there is minimal clearance, unless your mechanic has tiny hands the engine is coming out to fix it.

All the convertible specific interior parts are tough to find. Most were grey, though, so that color is a bit easier. White was said to be very rare at the time I got mine. The 95 interior is different than the years before. Up to 94, the interior was all square corners and angular. In 95, it was much more rounded.

As for the top, itself, the seals were poorly installed from the beginning on many of them. On mine, it was OK until the first time you opened the door in the rain. After that, it leaked from the front corner of the windshield. I'd say check the floors for rust if it spent any time outside in the weather.

Hope this was helpful.

OLD SKL 69

Thanks for all the info everyone. That's good to know to stay away from the 3.4. My wife's 96 Grand Prix had the 3.1 in it and I remember it had good power and got around 28 mpg on the highway. I started to look for these cars on auto trader and ebay and noticed that, like you said Jaunty, the prices are all over the place. There was a nice 94 in L.A. that looked showroom new and sold for $3500. There's one by me that is no where near as nice and they want a lot more. So I will continue to look as I am in no hurry.

Cameo White

I wouldn't necessarily stay away from the 3.4. In fact, I'd get that engine if I were looking for another one. I'd just check to see if the intake gasket had already been replaced or not, and how new the the alternator was. Those 2 things would help determine the price I was willing to pay. That 3.4 is a blast to hear sing when you put your foot in it. Makes the 3.1 sound like a lawn boy. Pretty quick as well. Overall a nice top down cruiser as far as the more modern converts go.

Whichever engine you find, keep in mind it is a big car. Within fractions of every dimension compared to my old 69 442 convertible, including weight. About the only bad driving dynamic I can think of (assuming you are putting your foot into it deep enough to invoke the torque steer because you want to) is the turning radius. It absolutely needs about half an ocean to turn around.