1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Is Part Of A 3-Gen GM Dynasty: Readers’ Rides
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For some folks, General Motors is more than a car company – it’s a family tradition. Such is the case for Scott Richardson. Residing in Rockwood, Ontario, Richardson is a third-generation General Motors diehard, flying the GM banner in his custom 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, complete with Big Block power under the hood.
The Richardson family’s ties to GM stretch back to Scott’s grandfather, who owned a Buick dealership in Fergus, Ontario between 1951 and 1965. After his grandfather closed shop, Scott’s father went to work at Forbes Pontiac in Kitchener, Ontario.
Scott’s father would later purchase Jack Richardson Chevrolet Oldsmobile in 1967, subsequently becoming the youngest dealer in GM franchise history at the age of 25. Scott’s father sold the franchise in 2009 after more than four decades.
At one point, three generations of the Richardson family were working at the same GM dealer, including Scott’s father, his uncle, his grandfather, Scott, and Scott’s brother.
“My father instilled in my brother and I a tremendous work ethic and a great respect for our community,” Scott told GM Authority in an email interview. “It taught us what loyalty meant and that giving and supporting our community was always repaid tenfold.”
However, when it came time to have some fun, Scott settled on this 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme as his project car of choice.
“I had many Oldsmobiles as demos and grew very fond of the style,” Scott tells us. “I drove many Olds 442’s and only had one Hurst/Olds. When I had an opportunity to purchase this car, I jumped on it.”
“It’s really the last generation of RWD, full-frame car you can modify,” he adds.
Although Scott purchased the Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 383 stroker and 12.5:1 compression, he wanted more performance. As such, he opted for a Big Block ZZ502 crate motor with the intention of adding a supercharger.
“One of my customers has a 1983 Monte Carlo, and he purchased a 502 crate motor for his car, plus he has his own shop here in town,” Scott told GM Authority. “Just made sense to me.”
Further upgrades included a 950 Holley carb, 1.7:1 Bowtie roller rockers, a Victor Jr. intake, MSD 6AL ignition, Hooker headers, and Holley fuel injection.
Scott estimates the combo is good for roughly 525 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque, but has yet to test it on the dyno. Looking ahead, Scott plans to coax even more power from the build by way of a F-1R Procharger blower, which is currently being installed as of this writing.
Scott’s Oldsmobile Cutlass is also running a 700R4 transmission, which connects to a Ford nine-inch with 3.83 gearing. Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes haul it all down.
Scott has taken his upgraded Oldsmobile Cutlass to the track only once, running a best time of 11.23 at 127 mph. Unfortunately, the car made just four passes before issues with the brakes put a stop to the fun. “There is definitely more in the car. I couldn’t get it to launch consistently,” Scott tells us.
Inside, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was upgraded with a Kenwood sound system plus Bluetooth, as well as a custom center cluster with Stewart Warner gauges. “I do have an original rally cluster from an Olds Calais if I decide I want to use the factory gauges,” Scotts says.
The exterior was painted at a GM dealer in Toronto, and was originally silver with a blue top. Eventually, Scott says he wants to respray his Oldsmobile Cutlass white with flat black trim. Torq Thrust wheels complete the look.
“I consider it a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Scott tells us. “If I keep the hood closed, few people notice the dual three-inch exhaust, or the raised cowl hood with 502 ghosted on it. But when I fire it up, the clothing comes off!”
These days, Scott shares his passion with fellow enthusiasts as a member of the Oldsmobile Club of Ontario. “I have been to many of their events and they always put on a great show,” Scott tells GM Authority. “At one event, the great-grand daughter of Ransom Olds attended and we had a chance to chat.”
Scott also attends local cruise nights with his girlfriend, who owns an unmodified 2010 Chevy Camaro SS with a six-speed manual transmission.
Unsurprisingly, Scott’s Oldsmobile Cutlass gets plenty of love on the street.
“Every stop sign generates a thumbs-up or ‘my dad had a Cutlass just like that one.’ My typical response is a sly grin and chuckle, ‘no, not just like this one!'”
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What’s not to like with a 502 bb in a Cutless…
Nice.
I miss those velour seats!
The broham seats were like sitting in a puffy recliner.
That Cutlass is still a looker. Used to love the ones that came with a T Top.
In a minute these will start bringing the bucks at BJ.
G-bodies will start showing up at BJ in a minute and bringing big bucks.
My grandfather had a sweet burgundy cutlass, 307 4bbl console shift rally wheels. Just a great looking car. And if I’m not mistaken the top selling vehicle in 84 or 85.
I grew up in the 70’s loving Olds / Pontiac’s my first new car was a 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix – first year fwd !
I owned a ’84 Cutlass Brougham for 28 years & 19 trophies before I sold it last year.
Pastel beige with dark brown halo roof & dark brown interior. 3.8v6 & a loaded car.
Did visit the Olds museum in ’17; they liked the car & helped me out with some car history.
Yes! I’m from the 50’s 60’s era, I kept buying Olds Cutlass my first was 1973, 84, 91, was my last Olds only because back in the day the Cutlass was number one on the GTA list… Wish they would come back before it’s too late for me…
I grew up in the 70’s loving Old’s / Pontiac – my first new car was a 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix.
I own one it’s an 84 2door with t-tops and with an 75 350 olds engine 350 trans and posi trac rear end with 373 gears💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 and I lov my car…..lov all old cars they have a story to tell these new cars don’t have one👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Im trying to buy a 84-87 cutlass can somebody point me in right direction im in Indianapolis, in
I’m sorry. I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to Oldsmobiles. While the body style of the Olds is second to none, the true heart and soul of an old is the high nickel content olds motor. The unique configuration, the engine geometry…this makes an Old’s. You can tell an Old’s motor just by how it sounds when running! Sure, it didn’t put out the most HP or the most torque, but if you have the skills, you can make something amazing! Many years ago, I did the diesel 350 to gasoline conversion. What a rock solid engine! When I see something like this at a car show, I admire the body, but to me, there’s nothing else to look at!