This was an era of some pretty awful American cars. A mid-size family sedan would have a v6 with a carburetor and 110-125 hp and still weigh 1.5 tons or more. An automatic transmission with a lockup torque converter was probably a pretty new improvement at the time, and ABS brakes were still 5+ years away in high-end cars.
If you were my dad, the V6 in your Gutless Supreme was the normally aspirated diesel, clocking 85 horsepower, and required new head gaskets approx every 20,000 miles.
But at least the rich luxury of the crushed orange velour interior could keep you comfortable while you waited for the tow truck.
They had gotten rid of the V6 diesel by 1981, and then they used the infamous 350 diesel
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automot...
From your link:
“The 4.3 L V6 that came out in 1982 did have a denser head bolt arrangement, and did not suffer the catastrophic head sealing failures of the V8.”
V6 diesels were put in Cutlass’ until at least 1984:
Whatever. It got sent to the crusher and we never bought an American-made car ever again.
The best selling car in 1981 (450,000 sold) was the Oldsmobile Cutlass, with 110 or 180 HP V6/V8 engines and a three speed automatic