’80 Olds Cutlass Station Wagon May Be The Ultimate Heavy Sleeper

If you ever find yourself driving in the 508 area code, beware of stodgy looking station wagons. Sometimes the most innocuous looking kid transporter might smack you around and take your lunch money! The Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser pictured here was found on the Autoholics website and may be from the outside the most tired looking grocery getter ever seen. However, with the addition of an 8.1 L Vortex engine and backed up with a five speed manual transmission, this brute melts tires like flames melt ice cubes.

There are few clues that can help you spot this beast before he sneaks up and blows the doors off. The transplanted motor does not quite fit within the stock confines of the engine bay. A small hole had to be cut in the hood to allow for a few parts to be exposed.

Massive 8.1L powerplant protrudes slightly from the engine bay but it still looks like a beater used in wintertime rather than a font of horsepower. Photos from Autoholics.com.

While the stock automatic transmission was replaced with the five-speed manual, the original column mounted gear selector was retained, so as to not give away its bad intentions from a distance. The remainder of the interior is left so painfully stock and unimproved that there is no fear of damage from hauling the dogs, kids and groceries on a daily basis. Even the child safety seat looks well-worn from use by multiple children.

But after you are lulled into a false sense of security by its seemingly harmless appearance, this boulevard monster comes to life and shows its real personality as a street predator.

Stock column shifter for the previous transmission was kept for giggles but the serious business is done through the 5-speed manual floor shifter. Child safety seat position allows for child to watch and learn hot rodding first hand. Photos from Autoholics.com.

Big torque and horsepower in this combination can vaporize the tires in a moments notice. Photos from Autoholics.com.

About the author

Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert is an independent writer who grew up during a time in Southern California car culture when big horsepower and high speed were celebrated above all. He now understands that turning, stopping, appearance and comfort are equal in importance...almost! Paul tries to find something likeable and interesting about anything with wheels and thinks that the people, history, and culture of hot rodding are often as important to the story as the cars and events being featured.
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