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Auto Talk => Jalopies => Topic started by: cawimmer430 on March 22, 2015, 04:45:37 AM

Title: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: cawimmer430 on March 22, 2015, 04:45:37 AM
Anyone else find these cars oddly attractive? The coupe versions especially look very handsome to me, almost like a "fattier" version of the 1979 Toyota Celica Liftback (very nice cars).  :mrcool:


(http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/79-Olds-Aerobacks.jpg)

(http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/olds/bilder/80o14.jpg)

(http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/olds/bilder/80o15.jpg)

(http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/olds/bilder/79oldsmo.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6676540615_be7e503ed6.jpg)
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Byteme on March 22, 2015, 08:21:45 AM
Quote from: cawimmer430 on March 22, 2015, 04:45:37 AM
Anyone else find these cars oddly attractive? The coupe versions especially look very handsome to me, almost like a "fattier" version of the 1979 Toyota Celica Liftback (very nice cars).  :mrcool:


Velour laden shitboxes. 
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Eye of the Tiger on March 22, 2015, 08:55:24 AM
I had a thing for these when I was about eight years old.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2015, 09:13:38 AM
No, they look and are horrible.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: cawimmer430 on March 22, 2015, 12:54:16 PM
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on March 22, 2015, 08:55:24 AM
I had a thing for these when I was about eight years old.

They still look good IMO, especially the coupe.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Byteme on March 22, 2015, 01:00:30 PM
Quote from: cawimmer430 on March 22, 2015, 12:54:16 PM
They still look good IMO, especially the coupe.

I recall when they were new in showrooms and  thought they looked oddly proportioned and ungainly then.  Thirty five years later my opinion hasn't changed. 
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Gotta-Qik-C7 on March 22, 2015, 01:06:59 PM
I just saw one these a few weeks ago! I couldn't believe it rust free and in pretty good condition. It was only missing the rubber pieces behind the rear bumper.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Soup DeVille on March 22, 2015, 01:15:06 PM
Congratulations, Wimmer.

You've exceeded even my tolerance for badge engineered shitboxes; and that isn't easy.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Submariner on March 22, 2015, 01:23:59 PM
I imagine, like most GM cars of the era, that they were garbage. 

Those diesel MPG numbers are fairly impressive though - I'm guessing MPG calculations were a bit more...erm...generous back then?
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Soup DeVille on March 22, 2015, 01:28:37 PM
Quote from: Submariner on March 22, 2015, 01:23:59 PM
I imagine, like most GM cars of the era, that they were garbage. 

Those diesel MPG numbers are fairly impressive though - I'm guessing MPG calculations were a bit more...erm...generous back then?

Very.

Early EPA ratings were fairy tales.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: FlatBlackCaddy on March 22, 2015, 01:47:02 PM
What's the mental health system like in Germany?

Surely there must be some help available.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Payman on March 22, 2015, 02:34:03 PM
He's posted malaise-era shitboxes that were at least interesting or stylistically cool looking, but these cars were terrible and completely forgettable.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: 280Z Turbo on March 22, 2015, 05:00:39 PM
How could they talk about aerodynamics when the front of the car is a damn brick?

Also, I don't know what's worse: this POS or the bustle back Seville. Seems like everybody was far too eager to use primitive CAD software to design cars in the 1980s. Compound curves are hard.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: Payman on March 22, 2015, 05:49:53 PM
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on March 22, 2015, 05:00:39 PM
How could they talk about aerodynamics when the front of the car is a damn brick?

Also, I don't know what's worse: this POS or the bustle back Seville. Seems like everybody was far too eager to use primitive CAD software to design cars in the 1980s. Compound curves are hard.

The bustle-back Seville was at least infamous, and therefore interesting and even collectable today. The topic cars have zero interest or value.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: MX793 on March 22, 2015, 08:51:28 PM
Quote from: CLKid on March 22, 2015, 08:21:45 AM
Velour laden shitboxes. 

I miss velour.  Velour was too good for these crapboxes.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: 280Z Turbo on March 22, 2015, 09:10:42 PM
I think this thing still looks better than the square roof G-body coupe, but that's not saying much.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: cawimmer430 on March 23, 2015, 10:13:07 AM
I don't doubt that their quality was awful, but from a design point of view I think they look rather cool. Maybe it's because of that distinctive Aeroback design, which definitely set them apart from most of the boxy designs back then.
Title: Re: 1979-1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Aerobacks
Post by: MX793 on March 23, 2015, 10:22:53 AM
Quote from: cawimmer430 on March 23, 2015, 10:13:07 AM
I don't doubt that their quality was awful, but from a design point of view I think they look rather cool. Maybe it's because of that distinctive Aeroback design, which definitely set them apart from most of the boxy designs back then.

GM was trying to copy the shape of Japanese hatchbacks.  Except their design wasn't a hatchback, it still had a trunk, which greatly reduces versatility.