Identification

Vehicle Identification Number

The VIN number on the '78 through '80 models appears on a plate at
the base of the winshield, on the driver's side of the car. The VIN
should be 13 digits long and look something like the following:
3R47F92416326. The VIN decodes as follows (for this I'll use my own
VIN number as an example):

1st. Digit: Division This is always "3" for an Oldsmobile Vehicle.

2nd. Digit: Series (Car Line)

3rd. and 4th. Digits: Body Style

5th. Digit: Engine Code

6th. Digit: Year Code

7th. Digit: Final Assembly Plant

8th. through 13th. Digit: Sequence Number

This is the actual production number of the car.
In 1979, the number for all plants started with 400001 instead of 0.
This means that number 416326 was the 16,326th. Cutlass built in 1979.
I don't have information on starting numbers for the other years yet.
This information will be added as soon as it becomes available.

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Fisher Body Plate

The fisher Body Plate is located underneath the hood at the top of the
cowl on the driver's side of the car. There are two different types of
Plates... one used exclusively for the Ste. Therese, Quebec Plant (VIN 2)
and one used at all the other plants.

Ste. Therese Plant

Your Plate should look like the following (I'll use my own as an example).

 ____________________________________
|                                    |
|    10A               038  0460     |
|  3AR47               060025        |
|                                    |
|    19L  19T  75A         19V       |
|                                    |
|                                    |
|                                    |
|____________________________________|

This Plate decodes as follows:

10A = Production Time
838 = Schedule Number
0460 = Item Number
3AR47 = Division, Series Number, and Body Style
060025 = Factory Car Order Number
19L = Lower Body Color (black)
19T = Upper (or vinyl top) Color (Black)
75A = Accessory Color (red pinstripe)
19V = Interior Trim Combination (black vinyl)

There may be other codes listed on here too... if so... they are option
codes listed for factory use.

Other Plants

Your Plate should look like the following (I'll make up an example).

 ____________________________________
|                                    |
|  79  102  3AR47   M   12345        |
|                                    |
| 19E   15L   16T   56A   L          |
|    A51   CC1                       |
|                                    |
|                                    |
|                                    |
|____________________________________|

This Plate decodes as follows:

79 = Year - 1979
102 = Time Build Code
3AR47 = Division, Series Number, and Body Style
M = Plant Code (Lansing, MI)
12345 = Unit Number
19E = Trim Combination (black cloth)
15L = Lower Body Color (silver)
16T = Top Color (brite white)
56A = Color Accent (beige pinstripe)
L = Paint Type
A51 = Seat Option (front buckets)
CC1 = Roof Option (removable panels, glass)

There may be other codes listed on here too... if so... they are option
codes listed for factory use.

Visual Identification

Here are some ways to visually identify these cars from other Cutlasses.

A list of tail-lights by year:
In 1978 The tail light had an Oldsmobile rocket symbol in the center which lights up with the brake lights.
In 1979 the tail light consisted of two vertical lights seperated by a chrome strip.
In 1979 the tail light on a Hurst/Oldsmobile consisted of two vertical lights seperated by a lower body color (black or white) strip.
In 1980 the tail light consisted of two vertical lights seperated by a body color strip.
A list of Grill's by year:
In 1978, the Cutlass had a waterfall grill of vertical chrome strips arranged into 3 distinct sections. In 1978, the headlight arrangement was single.
In 1978, the Cutlass Calais had a waterfall grill of vertical chrome strips arranged into only one section. In 1978, the headlight arrangement was single.
In 1979, the Cutlass had a waterfall grill of vertical chrome strips arranged into 2 distinct sections. In 1979, the headlight arrangement was single.
In 1979, the Hurst/Oldsmobile had a grill of crosshatch chrome strips. In 1979, the headlight arrangement was single.
In 1980, the Cutlass Supreme had a waterfall of vertical chrome strips arranged in only one section. The extension of the grill over the header panel in 1980 was less radical than in '78 or '79. In 1980, the headlight arrangement was double.
In 1980, the Cutlass Calais and 442 had a grill of crosshatch chrome strips. In 1980, the headlight arrangement was double.
In 1980, the 442 W30 had a grill of crosshatch upper body color (gold) stips. In 1980, the headlight arrangement was double.
Wheels
1980 442 Wheels.