1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 Review and Performance Comparison

Oldsmobile Cutlass Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 is a powered by a Petrol V 8. This variant of the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 is the 3 speed / Auto version and was first brought out around 1970. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450 SS and the 1970 Iso Grifo Can-Am 7.4 V8.

This particular Oldsmobile Cutlass has a 7453cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Oldsmobile Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 8's include the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Cutlass shares its Petrol V 8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Cutlass's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1703 kgs (3754 lbs) places the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 in a similar weight category as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Turbo Convertible and the excellent 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8, give or take 50kg.

The Oldsmobile Cutlass shares the same bhp with the 2024 Audi A3 RS 3 Saloon (395 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 7453cc 16 valve, V 8 engine produces around 370 bhp (275 kW) @ 5200 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Audi A3 RS 3 Saloon (395 bhp) and also the 2024 Mercedes S Class 580 e 4MATIC EQ Hybrid Technology (362 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V 8 throws out 500 lb-ft (677.9 Nm) @ 3600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2025 BMW 2 Series M2 CS Bi-Turbo (479 lb-ft) or the 2024 Maybach S 580 (516 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1970 Iso Grifo Can-Am 7.4 V8 (242.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The Oldsmobile Cutlass has a power to weight ratio of 217.2 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1970 Cutlass 442 W30 means you're competing with the 1970 Iso Grifo Can-Am 7.4 V8 (242.2 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed (242.2 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 generates around 293.5 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2014 Tesla Model S P100D Ludicrous Performance (318.4 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2009 Aston-Martin Vanquish 5.9 V12 RS (318.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 can accelerate 0–60mph in 5.70 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 5.9 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 include the 2023 BYD Seal Design (5.70 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.70 secs).

The V 8 engine of the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) and the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 and the Toyota Supra GR 3.0 Turbo

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.67 secs with a trap speed around 99.7 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Toyota Supra GR 3.0 Turbo (13.68 seconds @ 99.5 mph) and a close race between the Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (13.68 seconds @ 99.5 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1970 version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 has a maximum speed of 116mph.

Top Speed of the 1970 Cutlass equals the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS (115 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 then there's the slightly slower the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS (115 mph) or how about the impressive Oldsmobile Starfire 7.0 V8 (115 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1970 Cutlass Rivals List.
• 1970 Cutlass: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Oldsmobile
• Compare the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass