1991 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon (aka Orca)

Update (7/15/04): I had the windows tinted several months ago by Britt's Window tinting in downtown Orlando, but I had yet to post pictures of my wagon with it done. Soooo....here they are on the left. Sorry for the long lapse in updates, but the new Nikon D70 digital camera we just bought sure did represent the tangerine color of my wagon soooo much better than the results I've had with a traditional film camera.

Update (2/05/04): After the new paint job, which was finished at the first of the year, I had the wagon tinted this week (pictures with the tint to come as soon as they are developed). Next up.....lowering the car two inches. Though it will be down the road a bit, I'm going to have Howard Krusey at Complete Auto Upholstery in Altamonte Springs, Florida do some interior stuff when the time comes.

Update (1/20/04): The wagon was brought to Tom Miller in Orlando for a new paint job! Tom worked out some of the bumps and bruises, and installed a rolled rear pan bumper. I decided on the Tangerine Pearlcoat color found on the new Limited Edition PT Cruiser as the main body color, while below the beltline trim it wound up a charcoal gray (I think it was actually called pepper gray or something, but it actually has a very slight gold hue when the sun is directly on it well). I got it back at the first of the year, and I'm very pleased with how it came out!

History: I (Michael B. Kelly - the younger of us Kelly guys) purchased a 1991 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon for my daily driver in late July, 2003. It was actually a car that a reader sent in as a word classified for the August issue. It peaked my interest, we went over to Clearwater, Florida to check it out, and it now rests in my driveway. For those who are unfamiliar with the model, it is the same basic body style as the Chevy Caprice and Buick wagons of those years (basically like the Impala SS's, but with a wagon back end). It has 17 inch Budnik Switchblade rims, the factory "Moon Roof" (reminiscent of the old Vista Cruisers), a custom (and rare) top treatment with an integrated small rear spoiler to get rid of the luggage rack stuff, a custom front bumper that gives it a bit of a sporty look, the front grill shell was converted over to the sleeker looking Impala SS one and has a billet aluminum grill insert, and it has a leather interior with all power goodies. I put BFGoodrich G-Force 245/45/ZR17 tires on it, and then decided to revamp the exterior with bodwork covered in smooth paint.

My dad came up with the Orca nickname because it is a rather big "whale" of a car, and is a neat reference to the 1977 film titled Orca. I got a specialty "Protect Florida Whales" license plate, which is personalized to read ORCA1 (someone already had ORCA, minus the number 1 which appears on mine). As there isn't a DVD version available I also recently ordered a VHS copy of the Orca movie, and enjoyed viewing it again, as it was a very good film.

I'll continue to post pics when progress is made, for those that are interested.

After I had my Wagon for a while my dad also decided to get one for himself as his daily driver. He located a 1992 Olds Custom Cruiser on eBay, won the auction, then flew up to the Boston area to pick it up and drive it home. His is bone stock looking, and is painted dark blue with charcoal colored ground effects and a set of the factory aluminum wheels. His changes over time might possibly include a set of 17 inch American Torque Thrust II rims, and possibly down the road a bright yellow paint job with gray fleck accents ala his "Bad Banana" 1957 Chevy Sedan Delivery. Who knows.