1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass F85 Hardtop
It wasn't until the '65 model year that the Olds' higher-ups understood the public's clamoring for real performance and approved the new 400ci engine that produced 345 horses and 440 lb-ft of torque. Available in all two-door F-85 and Cutlass models, the 4-4-2 package included a heavy-duty frame, driveshaft, shocks, and springs, plus front and rear sway bars. The '65 improvements in the 4-4-2 package redefined the name to stand for 400 ci, four-barrel carburation, and dual exhaust.
For consignment, a car that will make the aforementioned intro all go away because it has been turned into a drag racer. It could be street legal if it had DOT tires, but for now it's a track car.
Exterior
The basic F85 hardtop is there and looks mostly factory on the dual headlight egg crate grille and silver sprayed bumper below. Long front fenders have a trimming that starts just behind the bumper, and runs the length of the car undulating up and down around the wheel wells. Windows are all factory looking with their stainless trimmings, and the trunk deck is nice and long with the tail lights looking just like the factory and another silver sprayed bumper below. The roofline is standard and the car is bathed in Ocean Mist, (turquoise), paint. Paint is good with some scratches and spotting but it's mostly mild. Chrome trim has a few areas where it's been bent and it shows some dimpling. RECORD SCRATCHING SOUND HERE! So to create this strip monster more room was needed under the hood. So as you can tell the hood has been dual scooped with a larger one facing rearward, and the smaller more rounded over one facing forward. These are painted in silver and this stripe starts at the front edge of the hood. The rear quarters have been tubbed and now accommodate Moroso DS2 31x14.0-15 straight line track tires wrapping Weld Pro Star wheels. The fronts are Moroso DS2's 26x4.5-15's and are wrapping the Weld Pro Stars as well. Light that tree!
Interior
A swing of the classy doors and we can see the F85 trimmings for the door panels with stitched black squares in vinyl and buttons in their intersections. Armrests and cranks are still there as well as the shiny actuator. Inside, black carpeting is the base for the factory low back buckets which are in good condition and in black vinyl. A roll cage and window net are in here and the cage has a removable post for easier access. The factory rear bench remains although one cannot sit in it due to the roll cage constraining access. Up front, the factory dash is behind a tilt column rally steering wheel. It has the horizontal GM style speedometer and some aluminum panels where pulls, knobs and temp sliders reside. The radio has been removed and the padded black dash top is still in and looking crack free. Under the dash a lineup of 4 gauges in white face form reside in a black panel. Mounted under the rear view mirror is a shift light. A Hurst shifter controls the gearing and it has a trans brake. Above the cage is a nicely preserved black headliner.
Drivetrain
Under the hood we can see the money shot where a 455ci V8 resides. It has Edelbrock aluminum heads work by Mondello and a 4-barrel Holley Dominator carburetor. On the back is a TH400 3 speed automatic with a trans brake. Further back is a Moser 12 bolt rear axle. A large fabricated tray is on top with a foam surround that fits the hood scoop when the hood is in the down position. A new radiator and all new electrics are installed.
Undercarriage
Underneath we can see a custom aluminum fuel tank and an aluminum driveshaft. Independent coil springs are in front and ladder bars with coilovers are on back. The car also has Global West front control arms. Wilwood Brakes are grabbing discs all around and have a line lock optioned on.
Drive-Ability
With a mere 4 hours on the engine, this car needed a workout, and it got it with some quick acceleration runs and plenty of smoke in the tires. It had great brakes and steering is nice and tight. The wipers did not work, and the horn did not beep.
Built for the track, our consignor stated, (but it's undocumented), that this car can produce 700hp. It's a straight liner, and has a comfy factory interior with a roll cage. The large hood scoop gives it away, but the car could still be a 65 F85 in most of its appearance. It does not show up to do that though!
338275M279496
3-Oldsmobile
38-Cutlass F85 V8
27-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
5-1965
M-Flint, MI Assy Plant
279496-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
