Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser

Chassis

Technically derived from the GM B-body chassis, the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser shares its 127-inch wheelbase with the GM C-body chassis (though the Custom Cruiser was given a B-body serial number). Shared with the same-generation Oldsmobile Ninety Eight, the 1971-1976 Custom Cruiser is the longest-wheelbase Oldsmobile ever produced by General Motors.

In contrast to the rest of the GM B/C/D-platform vehicles of the time, GM 1971-1976 full-size station wagons used a truck-style rear suspension of multi-leaf springs (in lieu of rear coil springs).

At 5,161 lb (2,341 kg) shipping weight (5,186 lb (2,352 kg) with woodgrain), or about 5,400 lb (2,400 kg) curb weight, the three-seat 1974 Custom Cruiser wagons are easily the heaviest Oldsmobiles ever built (the Custom Cruiser competes with similar models of the Buick Estate as the heaviest GM vehicle ever produced).

Body

As a result of its longer-wheelbase chassis layout, the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser effectively existed as a hybrid of the Delta 88 and the Ninety Eight. From the Ninety-Eight, the Custom Cruiser adopted the front fascia and rear quarter panels (and fender skirts); the Custom Cruiser adopted interior trim elements from both the Delta 88 and Ninety-Eight. As with its Buick and Pontiac counterparts, to compete with the Mercury Colony Park and Chrysler Town & Country station wagons, the Custom Cruiser was offered with simulated woodgrain siding, with nearly 80% of buyers ordering the option.

Following the exterior of the Ninety-Eight, the Custom Cruiser was given a new front bumper for 1972. For 1973 and 1974, Oldsmobile added 5-mph bumpers to the front and rear, respectively. For 1974, the grille was redesigned.

For 1976, alongside all GM full-size vehicles, the Custom Cruiser saw a redesign of its front fascia. Largely a preview of the 1977 Oldsmobile 98, the fascia was given four square headlights with outboard marker lights.

Clamshell tailgate design

1975 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, clamshell tailgate closed

Along with all other 1971-1976 General Motors full-size station wagons built on the B-platform, first-generation Custom Cruiser wagons feature a "clamshell" tailgate design. A two-piece tailgate configuration, the tailgate slid into a recess under the cargo floor while the rear glass window slid up into the roof; the design operated either manually or with optional power assist.

The first powered tailgate in automotive history, the powered option ultimately became standard, as the manual tailgate required a degree of effort to lift out of storage. The system was operated from either an instrument panel switch or by key on the rear quarter panel. The clamshell tailgate, was intended to aid the loading the long station wagons (over 19 feet long) in tight parking spaces. Heavy and complex, the system was not included in the 1977 full-sized station wagons (shorter by over a foot and over 1000 pounds lighter); instead, GM developed its own two-way tailgate (a design developed by Ford).

Production Figures

Note: 1971-1976 model years are the only production figures that Oldsmobile broke down specifically by body configuration (i.e., woodgrain, two-row or three-row seating)

Three-row: 9,932

Chassis

The second-generation Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (as with all full-size GM station wagons) is based on the GM B-platform. As part of the GM downsizing, station wagons were consolidated upon a common 115.9 inch wheelbase shared with wagons of all three mid-price divisions and Chevrolet (and all B-platform sedans). In the redesign, the Custom Cruiser shed 14 inches in length, 11 inches of wheelbase, and up to 900 pounds of curb weight (though becoming taller). Though sharing its wheelbase with the intermediate Vista Cruiser (and nearly 200 pounds lighter) prior to its 1978 downsizing/replacement, the Custom Cruiser remained in the full-size segment, as its body was several inches wider and taller.

As Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac (and most Cadillac) full-size sedans were downsized further to the front-wheel drive C-body and H-body platforms in the mid-1980s, after 1986, the rear-wheel drive B-platform remained solely for the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac station wagons (with the Pontiac Safari ending production after 1989).

Body

1990 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, rear

Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser configured without wood siding (derelict condition)

In contrast to the 1971-1976 Custom Cruiser, Oldsmobile styled the 1977 Custom Cruiser as a station wagon version of the Delta 88, adopting its front fascia entirely. To distinguish itself from its nearly identical Buick, Chevrolet, and Pontiac counterparts, the Custom Cruiser was given its simulated wood design, with wood following the curve of the wheel wells.

In a major departure from the 2-piece "clamshell" tailgate of its predecessor, the Custom Cruiser was fitted with a two-way tailgate; similar to configurations offered by Ford and Chrysler, the two-way tailgate opened to the side as a door or hinged down as a tailgate (with the rear window glass retracted). The third-row seat made its return, allowing for 8-passenger seating; to allow for production commonality on a single wheelbase, the Custom Cruiser was produced with a rear-facing third row seat (as were all full-size GM station wagons).

Alongside all B-platform station wagons and sedans, the Custom Cruiser saw an exterior update for 1980, with wagons receiving a new front fascia. In the interest of aerodynamics and fuel economy, the grille and front fascia were redesigned, with the headlamps mounted closer to the front bumpers; similar to the Ninety-Eight, the Custom Cruiser gained wraparound front marker lights. In a minor change, the design of the simulated woodgrain adopted the common layout used by Buick and Chevrolet, joining the headlamps and taillamps.

From 1980 to 1990, the exterior and interior of the Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser saw almost no visible change, besides a small front fascia swap in 1985. Instead of the split-grille style from 1980-1984, the Custom Cruiser was now fitted with a single, wider grille. Along with the wider grille came a sharper header panel, instead of curving off on the edge. In 1986, the rear tailgate saw the addition of a federally mandated third brake light. For 1989, the rear outboard seats were fitted with outboard shoulder belts; to meet federal safety standards involving passive safety restraints, the front shoulder belts were shifted from the B-pillar to the front doors for 1990 (as this generation could not accommodate airbags).

Production figures

Chassis

The 1991-1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser is based upon the GM B-platform. Sharing its wheelbase with the 1977-1990 B-platform, the third-generation Custom Cruiser and its counterparts are largely rebodied versions of their predecessors. Primarily through the addition of additional safety equipment, the redesign of the Custom Cruiser added nearly 100 pounds of weight to the vehicle (though nearly 650 pounds lighter than a 1976 counterpart).

Following the 1992 discontinuation of the Custom Cruiser, the Buick Roadmaster Estate and Chevrolet Caprice Estate were produced with no major changes (to the B-body platform) through their 1996 discontinuation. As the Custom Cruiser was the only GM B-body without a direct sedan counterpart, the front-wheel drive C-body 1991 Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan (flagship Oldsmobile) was nearly 12 inches shorter in length (5 inches shorter in wheelbase), 4 inches narrower in width, 5 inches lower, and approximately 740 pounds lighter.

Body

Rear view, 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser

While the option remained available on both its Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster counterparts, in a major departure, Oldsmobile ended its use of woodgrain siding starting with the 1991 Custom Cruiser wagon. Instead, Oldsmobile adopted the use of two-tone paint schemes as standard equipment. Alongside the Buick Roadmaster, the Custom Cruiser offered a fixed second-row skylight with a slightly raised rear roofline (similar to the 1964-1972 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser). Sharing interior elements with the Roadmaster, the Custom Cruiser was given its own seat and wood trim design; cloth-trim seats were standard, while leather-trim seats were an option. In contrast to its predecessors, the Custom Cruiser was given an instrument panel with full instrumentation, including tachometer, oil pressure, voltage, and coolant temperature.

As with its 1977-1990 predecessor, the Custom Cruiser was offered with a rear-facing third-row seat, bringing capacity from six to eight. The two-way tailgate design was modified slightly; due to the rear curve of the body, the rear window no longer retracted into the body. Instead, the window became a hatch (with a rear windscreen wiper). Similar to the mid-size Cutlass Cruiser/Buick Century station wagon, the Custom Cruiser offered optional pop-out vent windows in the cargo area to aid airflow.

Production figures