Oldsmobile Cutlass F85 Two-Door Sedan

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Introduced in 1961, the Cutlass was the top spec model in Oldsmobile’s compact F85 range and was aimed at the younger, sportier driver.

Small and light by American standards, the Cutlass was powered by Buick’s new all-alloy 3.5-litre V8 (made famous in the UK as the Rover V8) which offered decent performance (185bhp) and good fuel economy for its time (20mpg+).

Restyled for 1963 with newly fashionable squared-off lines, it was available as a two- or four-door sedan and as a convertible with the option of either automatic or 3- or 4-speed manual transmission, but in 1964 it was restyled again, becoming longer and heavier with a cast-iron V8 replacing the all-alloy Buick unit. Just 53,492 Cutlass models of all types were sold in the 1963 model year and survivors are now rare and sought after.

This 1963 two-door sedan has the desirable 4-speed manual gearbox and started its life as a forces car shipped to Belgium in kit form – standard practice to avoid import duties and provide US military personnel with a ‘car from home’ that was assembled in the host country.

It made its way to the UK in early 2008 where it received a mild restoration, including a respray in the original two-tone silver, a new carburettor and new carpets. The rest of the interior is original apart from an under-dash pod of additional gauges for oil pressure, water temperature and battery charge.

It had just one UK owner until 2015 (who took it to the Le Mans Classic and back with no problems) before being acquired by the vendor three years ago to join his private collection. In very good condition throughout and excellent underneath, it is said to remain in good running order although it has spent more time being polished than driven in the current ownership, the odometer displaying only 39,000 miles which may be correct - who knows?

Believed to be the only 1963 Cutlass 2-door Sedan in Europe and one of only four manual gearbox versions still on the road in America, it is sure to attract lots of attention wherever it goes.

PS: This car was driven some 50 miles to the sale and ran faultlessly. We have driven it around the yard ourselves and it feels lovely with a fantastically smooth and quiet engine!