1970 / 1971 Cutlass Supreme Manual Trans Production Numbers
[added/updated April 21, 2009]
Hey, they can't all be 1972s or 455/M20 cars. Here are some interesting production numbers that have surfaced in old letters from Oldsmobile to owners who were fortunate enough to inquire before the records were lost. Thanks to Greg Mross' curiosity in 1980, we're lucky enough to have the V Code production numbers that we have today. These old letters are absolutely invaluable! Here are some other numbers for 1970 and 1971:
1970 Cutlass Supreme convertibles: Out of 11,354 Cutlass Supreme ragtops, only 71 had M21 4 speeds. Wow. It appears that there were some M20 cars too, but most of the '70 350 / 4 speed ragtops that I know of so far are M21 cars. None of the cars would be 455 4 speeds according to what is known today.
[Letter courtesy of Tom Stoker - March 2008]
1971 Cutlass Supreme manual transmissions:
[Information courtesy of Michael Fain - April 2007]
Michael contacted Bill Van Luven (now retired) at the GM Heritage Center and they still had some useful production records for 1971.
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: william.vanluven@GM.COM [mailto:william.vanluven@GM.COM]
>>Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 10:13 AM
>>To: Michael D. Fain
>>Subject: RE: 1968 Oldsmobile 442 VIN: 344678Z117478
>>
>>Hi Michael:
>>I'm almost embarrassed to reply to you after such a long delay. I'm way behind
and trying to play catch-up.
>>Relative to your questions: We do have some option percentages but
unfortunately they don't break down as fine as you and I would like them.
>>The records that I have been able to find are for production Model Year
Through June 1971 and are as follows:
>>M14 - manual 3 speed for 4200 model (Cutlass Supreme) was 166 or 0.3%
>>M20 - manual 4 speed for 4200 model (Cutlass Supreme) was 394 or 0.6%
>>M22 - H.D. 4 speed for 4400 model (4-4-2) was 373 or 5.1%
>>L32 - 455 4bbl for 4200 model (Cutlass Supreme) was 2098 or 3.2%
(Interesting, as there were supposedly 2,177 SX455
Supremes built in 1971...)
>>If the H.D. 4 speed trans was a Muncie it doesn't show up as being
used in the Cutlass Supreme.
>>Sorry we can't provide better break-downs.
>>Hope this helps a little even if it is not timely.
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Bill Van Luven
>>Oldsmobile Archives
>>GM Heritage Center
>>6400 Center Drive
>>Sterling Heights, MI 48312-2609