By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images courtesy of the GM Media Archives
Published 2.14.2024
A color photo of the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car (GM Media Archives)
The 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass was introduced in 1954 as a dream concept car that traveled the country via the auto show circuit. The name came from the Chance-Vought Navy fighter plane, which was well-known and popular to those familiar with the U.S. military. The Cutlass show car was painted iridescent copper, with a white and copper interior to match. The car’s body was made with a fiberglass material and the design featured a tapered fastback roof style which most consumers thoroughly enjoyed.
Some automotive historians have called the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass “the lost show car” because some General Motors concept cars have disappeared or have been scrapped throughout history.
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car design sketch by Irvin Rybicki (GM Media Archives)
The model was designed by Irvin Rybicki (September 16,1921 - July 24, 2001), under the direction of Vice President of Design Harley Earl (November 22, 1893 - April 10, 1969). The jet aircraft canopy-like roof design of the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass, along with its lowered backlight design, was among the many new ideas exhibited in the dream car styling.
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass concept at a show (GM Media Archives)
Throughout the 1950s, General Motors introduced new cars and concepts through its Motorama shows. GM’s first exhibition, entitled “Transportation Unlimited,” opened at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1949. Five years later, the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car was placed on a turntable in the grand ballroom of the hotel with five other great-looking Motorama show cars. The public enjoyed its great automotive styling features.
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car (GM Media Archives)
In 1954, Auto Age magazine featured the Oldsmobile Cutlass show car comparing it to the larger size Oldsmobile offerings for the model year. The Cutlass show car also offered a great looking aircraft canopy-like roof design that was very futuristic. The front end of the Cutlass show car was later used for the front-end design look for the production 1956 Oldsmobile models, which landed the brand in fifth place in American automotive sales.
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass rear end design (GM Media Archives)
The Oldsmobile Cutlass show car, along with the Oldsmobile F-88 concept, shared the same 250 hp Rocket engine, which was HydraMatic and equipped with a tachometer and chronometer. GM called the show car “an experimental, high-performance two-passenger hardtop coupe.”
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass promotional photo on the beach (GM Media Archives)
Automotive historians have said that, during the 1950s, Harley Earl’s GM design staff was competing with Chrysler’s Virgil Exner and Ford’s George Walker for great styling changes. The 1950s were characterized by that “Buck Rogers” styling of chrome and style that made many popular show cars stand out.
Another view of the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass (GM Media Archives)
When the 1954 Cutlass show car was designed, it had no outside trunk lid to open for easy access to baggage or luggage. The rear window design featured an unusual glass styling feature with louvers on the surface that integrated with the rear end styling. Also, a radiotelephone was located between the seats for the driver or passengers to use when driving. The car also offered recessed split taillights and a spare tire that was located in a compartment behind the fold-down center section of the rear bumper.
Finally, some automotive historians have said that the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car was the most unusual dream car designed by GM during the 1950s.
1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass show car interior (GM Media Archives)
In conclusion, I don’t know if the Oldsmobile Cutlass show car is still around today. However, I do know that the 1954 Oldsmobile Experimental F-88 is a part of the General Motors Heritage Collection. GM’s Motorama events ran from 1949 until 1961 and their legacy will always be a part of our automotive history and culture.
Bibliography
“A Look at the 1954 Oldsmobile Cutlass Motorama Show Car.” Hemmings.com, December 1, 2020.
“Starfire or Cutlass.” Auto Age magazine, February 1954, page11.
Casteele, Dennis. “The Cars of Oldsmobile.” Crestline Publishing, 1981.