The first Oldsmobile Cutlass was an experimental sports coupe designed in 1954. It rode a 110 in wheelbase, and had a dramatic roofline. Its platform was quite similar to the later compact Olds F-85, which was not introduced for seven more years. The 1961 Oldsmobile F-85 shared a new A-body platform, using a 112 inch wheelbase and still-novel unibody construction, with the Buick Special and Pontiac Tempest. It was Oldsmobile's smallest, cheapest model -- some two feet shorter and $451 cheaper than the next-smallest Olds. The F-85 had double wishbone front suspension and a four-link live axle in the rear, suspended with coil springs all around. Standard engine was the new small V8, all aluminum, displacing 215 cu. in. (3.5 L). With a two-barrel carburetor, it was rated 155 hp and 210 ft·lb of torque. Transmission options were initially three-speed manual or the newly introduced three-speed Roto Hydramatic. The F-85 had 9.5 inch drum brakes. Overall length was initially 188.2 in, and curb weight was around 2,800 lbs.
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The first-year F-85 was offered as a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan in base or Deluxe trim, or a four-door station wagon with either two or four seats, in base or Deluxe form. Car Life magazine tested an F-85 with the standard engine and automatic transmission, and recorded a 0-60 time of 14.5 seconds, with a top speed just over 100 mph. They praised its construction, but found its steering too slow and its suspension too soft for enthusiastic driving. Oldsmobile later introduced the Cutlass sports coupe (a pillared two-door for 1961 which became a pillarless "hardtop" for 1962) sporting unique trim, an interior with bucket seats and center console, and a four-barrel version of the V8 engine, rated at 185 hp. This engine was optional on other F-85s, as was a four-speed manual transmission.
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The big news for 1962 was the arrival of the Jetfire model, a Cutlass hardtop with a turbocharged version of the 215 V8 rated at 215 hp and 301 ft·lbf, bucket seats and console, unique trim, and a vacuum gauge mounted in the console (where it was almost invisible). Although much faster than a standard F-85, the Jetfire was criticized for having the same soft suspension as its less-powerful brothers, for its lack of a tachometer and other instruments, and for the poor shift quality of both the automatic transmission and the optional four-speed. Car and Driver tested an automatic Jetfire and obtained a 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds, with a top speed of 110 mph. The Jetfire's high cost (nearly $300 over a standard Cutlass coupe) and reliability problems with its turbocharged engines limited sales.
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A modest restyle for the 1963 model year added four inches to the F-85's overall length, increasing it to 192.2 inches. Three-seat station wagons were dropped. The Jetfire and its turbocharged V8 returned, for what would be its final year.
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