Oldsmobile is lengthy gone. By the point the model was phased out within the early 2000s it was a shell of its former self, however Oldsmobile used to make fascinating automobiles just like the 442, Trofeo and Aurora. One of many model’s final fascinating automobiles, and certain one of many rarest, was a badge job of Common Motors’ full-size wagon from the early Nineteen Nineties: the Oldsmobile Customized Cruiser.
The Customized Cruiser wasn’t a brand new nameplate for the model. The mannequin had been round because the early Nineteen Seventies, and it was all the time Previous’s model of GM’s full-size B-body automobiles, fashions just like the Pontiac Parisienne/Safari, Buick Electra and Chevy Caprice. By the Nineteen Nineties, solely three of those full-size B-Our bodies have been left in GM’s portfolio: the Chevy Caprice, Buick Roadmaster and Oldsmobile Customized Cruiser. All had just lately acquired rounded, aerodynamic redesigns in 1991, making the earlier generations sq. designs look archaic compared. Whereas the Caprice and Roadmaster have been out there in each sedan and wagon physique types, the Customized Cruiser was solely out there as a wagon. Olds did this so it may nonetheless market the Ninety-Eight as its full-size sedan.
Save for issues like brand-specific trim and options, the Customized Cruiser was almost similar to the Roadmaster and Caprice. Up entrance, the Customized Cruiser had the identical precise grille because the Caprice, simply bisected by a physique colour panel with the Oldsmobile badge. The roof saved the second-row skylights that had all the time been a function of the Customized Cruiser, however this time across the function was shared with the Roadmaster.
Low-skirted rear fender wells have been additionally shared with the Roadmaster and made the wagon look decrease than it actually was. One huge distinction that the Customized Cruiser had over its platform-mates was the outside trim. Olds did away with issues like vivid chrome trim, wire wheels and wooden paneling for the Customized Cruiser, as a substitute going for alloy wheels and two-tone or physique colour paint and bumpers.
Inside, the dashboard design was an similar bi-level setup to the Caprice and Roadmaster. The one distinctive issues have been the seats, wooden trim, and analog gauges; Caprices and Roadmasters had an old style 85-mph speedo or elective digital gauges.
Fortunately, that replicate and paste engineering prolonged to the Customized Cruiser’s powertrain. One of many issues that made these wagons nice was their normal V8 energy. When the Customized Cruiser (and Caprice and Roadmaster) debuted for 1991, it was out there with Chevy’s 5.0-liter Small Block V8 that made 170 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. Energy was despatched to the rear wheels by a four-speed computerized transmission. When 1992 rolled round, GM dropped in Chevy’s 5.7-liter Small Block V8. Whereas horsepower in comparison with the 5.0 was simply up 10, torque jumped to 300 lb-ft.
Sadly, this didn’t appear to be of curiosity to patrons. Gross sales of the Customized Cruiser in its first 12 months have been simply 7,663, lower than half of Caprice gross sales. In 1992 gross sales have been even worse, dropping over 43 p.c to only 4,347. It appears patrons needed the Caprice and Roadmaster extra. The Customized Cruiser was killed after 1992, with the model focusing its efforts extra on the Bravada SUV and Silhouette minivan. Simply 12,010 Customized Cruisers have been ever constructed, approach lower than the over 50,000 items of Caprice and Roadmaster wagons that have been remodeled their 5 years of manufacturing.
It additionally turned the final rear-wheel-drive V8-powered Oldsmobile. This rarity comes up while you attempt to discover one on the market. Simply two 1991-1992 Customized Cruisers have appeared on Carry A Trailer within the final 12 months, and there’s just one at present on the market on automotive shopping for websites like Cargurus and Auto Dealer. In case you ever come throughout one and have an opportunity to get your palms on it for affordable, seize it and by no means let go.
