The year is 1972 and revolution is in the air. The world is changing and consumers are starting to think differently about their purchases. And the car market was was undergoing changes of its own. The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, created by General Motors as a durable sporty vehicle, demonstrated the car market's push toward building a stronger, more powerful sports car.
The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme came with a V-8 engine, with four cylinders located on each side of the crankshaft. V-8 engines are known for being powerful and are a regular choice for race cars. The bore (measurement of the cylinder) is 4.96 inches and the stroke (distance that the cylinder travels) is 3.38 inches. This measurement allows the engine to create torque without compromising power. The compression ratio (how hard the pistons squeeze the fuel and air) of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is 10.25 x 1. Racing engines have compression ratios of 12 x 1. Cutlass Supreme also is constructed with two valves per cylinder, for a total of 16 valves, allowing for more gas and air in the cylinders for an increase in power.
The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme can reach top speeds of slightly over 100 miles per hour. The car can accelerate to from 0 to 60 miles in 6.5 seconds, and gets 13 to 14 miles per gallon (mpg). The fuel tank can hold 15 gallons, helping to offset the low mpg rate. Both features further illustrate that the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was built for power and looks rather than fuel economy.
The 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme weighs 3,501 pounds. The wheelbase -- the distance from the middle of the front wheels to the middle of rear wheels -- measures 203.3 inches. The height of the car is 53 inches and the width is 76.3 inches. These measurements represent a transitional phase in car design. General Motors attempted to reach a compromise between size, strength, appearance and durability.
