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Time In A Rocket Bottle: 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass

I suppose it’s not a barn find when it’s this clean and has been garage stored its whole life. However, for those of you wishing to recapture the late 1980’s, reader Clarke B. has sent in your time machine in the form of a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic. It’s advertised here on craigslist and is located (ironically) near Cadillac, Michigan. Does anyone else besides me remember when Cadillac dealerships often carried Oldsmobile as well? Squirrel, Jamie, back to the car. This nearly new-appearing, slightly used time machine can be yours for an asking price of $6,500–a pittance compared with the price of the average new car today.

These are the sort of things you can find when you are viewing a 14,000 mile, two owner time machine. Yes, that’s right, 14,000 miles. (NOTE: this figure has now been revised in the ad to 67,000 miles). Don’t believe it? Look closely at the pictures and see if you agree. I love the little key set and I think the bagged item on the left may be a polishing cloth. Someone bought one of those show car dusters they sell at events and it’s beside these in the trunk, so they didn’t need to open the genuine Oldsmobile polishing cloth.

This is one of the few times that I think a design team revisiting a car’s shape to freshen it up resulted in a nicer result than the original design. This was the last year for the rear wheel drive G-body from GM, and I think the Cutlass was the nicest shape of the bunch, although I’m sure Monte Carlo, Regal and Grand Prix fans will disagree.

To no one’s surprise at this point, the interior looks absolutely mint as well. I was surprised to see manual windows on this fairly well-optioned car, but it’s one less thing to worry about breaking. The car was equipped with the FE3 suspension, a 3.08 limited slip differential and a 307 cubic inch V8 with a four barrel carburetor. Also of note: the air conditioning works! Now that’s a true survivor!

Under all those late 1980’s pollution control devices is the 307 V8. Apart from the duct tape being used in its correct usage, I don’t see anything to worry about under here, and nothing a good morning’s detail wouldn’t help. Anyone interested in going back in time?

Comments

  1. Avatar Ralph H.

    Worth it all day…what a nice weekend cruiser…

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  2. Avatar JDJones

    Great car. I wish I could import it without costing me a fortune.

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  3. Avatar Suttree

    Classic styling, nice color & paint, fantastic interior, ultra low milage, no vinyl top, like new condition, garage kept, reasonable price, what’s not to like? Its a bargain & a keeper as I see it.

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  4. Avatar Sam

    Ditto, fair price for such a nice find! Seems odd that it doesn’t have power windows and locks but still a ton of fun.

    This would have to a very late 87 as my first new car was an 88 fwd Cutlass Supreme Coupe.

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    • Avatar rmward194 Member

      I agree! It does have power locks though which makes it even more odd that it doesn’t have power windows. On one of the images showing the interior there is a power lock button on the passenger door panel.

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    • Avatar Arthur

      This is listed on the Craigslist in my area. When I first saw it I thought there was an error listed for the year. I did some quick research and found they did make this style into 1988 and called it the Cutlass Supreme Classic even though they were producing the restyled front wheel drive as well.

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    • Avatar Miguel

      They made these at the end of the ’87 model year as ’88 models. They had already been phased out. The same happened with the Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix.

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  5. Avatar Ant

    Excellent car. If GM kept building them I would have 2 new ones.

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  6. Avatar Mr. TKD

    Cars like this are why i’m putting play car money aside. I want to be able to jump on something like this when the when the opportunity presents.

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  7. Avatar Butt

    Find a rusted out grand national and put the drivetrain in this

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  8. Avatar Rob

    I have never been much of a GM fan but these cars have always caught my eye.

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  9. Avatar Fred W.

    If you can keep it like this, it’s money in the bank.

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    • Avatar boxdin

      Cannot put miles on it.

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  10. Avatar Howard A Member

    Sure do remember Caddy/Olds dealers, those were paired for good reason, I’m sure. GM knew, after an Olds, the next logical step up, would be a Caddy. This is a sharp car. I for one, don’t care for the color, but looks like the real deal. Nice find.
    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/09/25/55/0925556ff704559de973187b234787e8.jpg

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  11. Avatar Mike

    It’s hard to remember how popular these were. I think it was the best selling car for about eight years or so. Nice copy here. One of those cars that were everywhere one day, and seemingly disappeared overnight.

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  12. Avatar Steven

    Dirt Track Racing, those made good stock cars.. Even Modified racers used the frame clips from Cutlass and Buick Regals

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  13. Avatar Keith

    My first car was a 68 Cutlass Supreme 4-door I bought it back in 1981 with the 350 Rocket It had it’s flaws but she started up everyday. I’ve always admired the Cutlass especially from 1976-1986. I wasn’t too crazy about the slight changes GM made with the 87-88 Cutlass. Then in 1989 The Cutlass Supreme was never the same as well as never a popular car ever again.

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  14. Avatar rumpfox

    you can thank cash for clunkers program for the disappearance of all these 80’s great cars. I own a 86 t-top monte (southern car) and if it hadn’t been garage kept in a collection it would be gone to my buddy sold used Daytona, laser parts and woke up one day and they’re all gone. over a hundred thou. a year deal to zip overnight because of this program. still has over 200 junked Daytona’s an lasers.

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    • Avatar Steven

      Stock car racers especially IMCA Modified racers they went around buying up these for the front frame clips..

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  15. Avatar Tom Kolde

    I had a 82 Cutlass Supreme once….260 v-8. was a nice car.

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  16. Avatar Barzini

    I always thought this was the best looking car to come out of Detroit in the 1980s. I was surprised at the time when Oldsmobile replaced this best selling model with a radically different front wheel drive version. All good things come to an end.

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  17. Avatar Kenny

    Man,wish I had the money,I would own this in a minute,my first car was an 87,same color and everything,someone had swapped a 350 rocket in mine and you couldnt hardly tell it,only when you drove it you knew it was not the 307,traded it to my brother for an irocz then 5 days later he rolled it,broke his arm and my heart.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar CJ

    Why does this barnfinds ad state this is a 14,000 mile car when the Craigslist ad states 67,000 miles???

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    • Avatar Steven

      I too noticed that, facts is why it is hard to believe in these pages..

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      • Avatar Jamie Staff

        Because the craigslist ad said 14,000 miles when I wrote it up. It’s been revised.

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      • Avatar Mike H

        “. . . facts is why it is hard to believe in these pages..”

        If one actually read all the posts FIRST before commenting (in lieu of speaking from their *choose your body part here*) they’d have noticed that the author already pointed out that there was a later correction to the ad.

        Funny to me how many people complain about something they don’t have to pay for and don’t contribute to.

        By the way, the car looks great and $6,500 is pretty much a steal. I’m actually considering this one.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jamie Staff

        Actually, Mike, thanks for sticking up for me but I made the change after re-examining the ad after I saw the comments. The mileage had certainly changed from when I wrote the car up!

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      • Avatar Mike H

        Eh. . . This article is just one of many that I feel this way about. So many repeat comments by persons who don’t look at the other comments. . .

        I figure you’d only need to be told once; seeing it a second time shows lack of attention to details.

        Sorry folks. Carry on. . .

        Like 0
  19. Avatar MRE2ME

    Howard A – In Canada G.M. paired Buick with Cadillac at our dealerships. Never saw Olds/Cady in Ontario anyways.

    Like 0
    • Avatar CarNut from Winnipeg Member

      Eastern Ontario when I was growing up had Chev/Olds/Cad and Pontiac/Buick/GMC.

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  20. Avatar BRAKTRCR

    In 1986 I ordered new from the GMC/Olds dealership, a Caballero, which was GMC’s el Camino. I had the same seats, and center console with auto on the floor, which I am sure was one very rare car. I almost ordered the 4 speed, which was on the option list, but I let the salesman talk me out of it.
    Anyway, those seats are very comfortable, and my Caballero handled pretty well. I too had the 308 and posi. I imagine the Cutlass would even handle better. Mine of course had the 305 Chevy motor. Amazingly, my cost new, was just a hair over $10k good guy price. I think the Cutlass’s were about $13k sticker price, maybe $14k
    This Cutlass, is a beautiful car, and if all it says is true, I think it’s a bargain. As Jamie says, compared to a new car, it’s a deal

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Steven

    This Olds more likely has 114,000 miles and cleaned up just for some photos taken.. Hack im more inclined to believe those Cars in a Los Angeles warehouse that’s been stuck stored there all these years since its owner died in the 1990’s and his family never done nor went into the building since his passing.. Cause I did some checking the appropriate person who owns a building in the area and he told me that all of those 60 plus cars are tied up in courts until a Auction is set.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Bill M.

      CAR DOES HAVE 114,000 miles on It. It shows 14,000 because the speedo doesn’t go higher than 99,999 miles.He is the 3rd owner.

      Like 0

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