General Motors did its best to try and keep things distinct between its many divisions during the 1980s, but “cookie cutter” cars become the norm.
However, in 1990, that was supposed to change with the introduction of the GM10, or W-body, vehicles. Between the W-bodies, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile would receive a family sedan, though each slightly different.
While the Lumina played breadwinner, Pontiac received the Grand Prix with an optional turbocharged four-cylinder and Buick played the luxury game with the Regal sedan, featuring the tried-and-true 3800 V6 engine as an option. But, it was Oldsmobile, the experimental division, that had the most interesting W-body vehicle in the 1990 Cutlass Supreme.
Not only did it arguably wear its styling the best, especially from the rear, but it also received a high-output, four-cylinder engine mated to a manual gearbox. That’s nearly unheard of by American automaker standards, especially in 1990.
Have a look back on the vehicles in MotorWeek‘s retro review right up above.
Comments
This is where Holden got the styling cues for the VS series Holden statesman/caprice 98my
Holden used the 3.8lt & 5.0lt engines.
And pulled it off a lot better on a proper full sized chassis with rear wheel drive! Love my Statos!!
Loved my 07 Grand Prix, too bad the GXP model ate transmissions for breakfast. Wasn’t about to drop 2K on a second replacement. Still see plenty of 3.8L GP’s driving around, with a few tweaks to the interior, those cars could probably still pull in sales. Too bad.
My parents had a 90 GP and I had a 04 GTP Comp G.
The 90 was crap and had all sorts of brake, electrical and power steering issues.
The 04 was a fun car to drive but the interior sucked with tons of cheap plastic and the car became dated fast with only the old 4 speed auto. Had issues with the wheels as I had the option chrome Comp wheels. The chrome peeled off.
The W body did its job carrying GM when it was out of money. I ponder what the car could have been if they had the money to do it the way they really would have liked. It could have surpassed the Camry and Accord if it had the extra money to finish the job.
I had a 1995 Buick Regal Limited sedan with the basic 3.8 L (231 CI) V6 engine. After 21 years of great service and some minor repairs due to getting rear-ended by a Ford Econoline van in 1999, that Regal was sold to a friend for at least ten more years of service. The entire interior (Adriatic Blue leather) is like new, and the only wear spots were on the steering wheel edges and buttons. The engine power was improved with E3 DiamondFire plugs and a K&N cloth air filter, increasing torque and getting 22 MPG. The idle dropped to just 600 RPM, and that scared the emissions inspector, believing that his instrument were bad due to such a low RPM.
No import at that same price range can compare with it. Many of my fellow workmates had two or three cars while I was just driving the Regal in those same 21 years. So I thank Buick for making such a fabulous vehicle, and I do hope that the latest Regal can be even better.
I had a 1990 Olds International-Series Coupe that was a good car for the time . It even had bucket seats in back so you were limited to only 4 people in the car . Back then all interiors minus Cadillac were loaded with cheap plastic but didn’t seem to be a downfall .
ABS was also an option as GM was slowly adding it to higher trimmed models . And you want to talk about a pulsating peddle….. took time to get used to it . Another item to show off to your friends was pressing a button on your remote to open the trunk . That was a big deal back then ! LOL
The wheels were a five spoke wheel that were found only on the I-Series . And like Scott3 said the chrome after one winter started to actually peel off and one of the dumbest things Olds did was put these plastic caps on the lugnuts to cover them and they came off all the time . Not one of the brightest things GM did .
GM has come a long way since then .
Over the years my wife and I have owned 12 Oldsmobile’s, everyone surpassing 100k and 187k from a 1998 88 Ls and a 1997 Aurora , if they were still around today we both would have one. GM chose to retain Buick and close Pontiac & Oldsmobile , they should have retained 1st Olds & 2nd Pont , still being able to refit a Cutlass (442 ) or GP models into their sport car lineup now they have none. Buick never had the following that Olds & Pont had nor the sales numbers . GM sales today would have been higher .