“You know how it goes” is the tagline that the seller of this 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible proclaims in its listing. Actually, no, I don’t know how it goes because it doesn’t look like it goes at all. It’s actually a candidate for my “What in the Sam Hill happened here” award. Rough is the word that describes this car best but it actually has an interesting configuration and an interior that I can’t take my eyes off of – more on that to follow. Located in Taneyville, Missouri, this Cutlass ragtop (literally!) is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Thanks to Gunter K for this tip!
So, first up, this Cutlass convertible is technically a Cutlass “S” trim level which was positioned above the base F-85 but below the Cutlass Supreme and performance-oriented 442. The “S” designation was bestowed on convertibles, two-door sedans (Sports Coupe), and hardtops (Holiday Coupe). About 14K Cutlass S convertibles were assembled in ’68 and, an interesting factoid, about 400 were equipped with a Chevrolet in-line six-cylinder engine.
One thing that the Cutlass S didn’t possess was a 455 CI V8 engine which is the claimed powerplant for this convertible. While new for ’68, the 455 mill was the province of the full-size 88 and 98 series cars, along with the Toronado. There were some “specials” in the form of the “Hurst/Olds”, based on the 442 that were, in fact, 455 powered but the production numbers were low, about 500 or so, and all were steel roofed. Equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, this car supposedly, “ran when parked” – that must have been in the last century judging from the engine’s visuals. We’re also told that it has a twelve-bolt differential, but it’s an Oldsmobile twelve which is a hybrid, and not the performance twelve-bolt which was a Chevrolet piece.
OK, ready for it, get a load of that interior – it leaves me speechless! Yes, this is what happens when a convertible is left to rot outdoors – but it’s more than that. There’s some kind of wooly mammoth fuzz covering everything – and it looks like it’s growing. What’s sprinkled all over the floor? I hate to speculate on that one. The seller suggests, “Floors aren’t as bad as you would think for a convertible“. They’re usually not bad at all, in a convertible, if the top is in decent repair and left in the up position. Honestly, I wouldn’t get inside this Cutlass without first donning a hazmat suit.
The exterior, fortunately, has fared better than the interior, with the exception of the roof, of course. Lots of surface rust, some quarter panel rust through, and what looks like a slightly bowed-in rear bumper pretty well defines the image. There’s a dent or two here and there but the exterior, overall, wouldn’t be a big challenge to make presentable again – just a lot of elbow grease and $$$.
I don’t know what to make of this Oldsmobile – the interior is such a gross-out that it’s hard to get around it and think in terms beyond that lone facet. The big, non-original 455, assuming that’s really what it is, could be shaken back to life, or maybe not depending upon its internals and how long it has been sitting since that “ran when parked” incident occurred. This Olds has the right combination of desirable features but I think I’d keep looking, that’s how it goes for me, how about you?
I just want to know how BMW wheels ended up on a 1968 Oldsmobile.
It’s an M442
Somewhere out there is a very angry 535i owner waking up to find their beloved ride up on blocks with two spoker wheels missing.
Good question indeed J-P but my question is how could anybody have used those window cranks? Sadly, those are the easy questions.
And no title!?!!?
YOU give ME $5000. I’ll tow it away and the NIAID will be none the wiser-but then again I should take it to their lab for research.
After all, this 2 door convertible Petri Dish could provide some new spores and molds!
I stopped looking after reading “no title”.
No way would I take on something this nasty without good paperwork, even for free.
Parts car, unfortunately.
And a nasty parts car at that…
I have a 1968 cutless supreme convertible
35,000 miles in immaculate condition
Huggy Bears old Cutlass!
I think Huggy always envied the Torino. But this ride was much smooover.
Cars a nightmare.
Canadian built Cutlasses had chevy 12 bolt rears.
It would be a crime to reward this seller with $5000
I bought a ’69 Cutlass S convertible roller for $900 back in 1990, stuffed a Buick 455 & TH400 into it in the apartment complex parking lot. Ah, youth.
Five large for parts is a bit rich for my tastes, but those peak moldings are damn near impossible to find & worth possibly $1500-$2K on their own. Strap on a bunny suit, strip the interior of every useful component fitting, bracket, & fastener then nuke it from orbit. Looks like a fairly solid donor body shell, even with the cheesed-out floor & trunk.
Back in the day when these cars were parked they didn’t have big value I could of bought any big block car for around 2 grand ford g.m. mopar seems most barn finds or overpriced with today labor rate material misc parts this can get pricey some of the cars I passed on what there worth today I could cry who knew
Fabulous run on sentence Lon. But it’s not 1983 anymore.
Sorry, but this belongs in “Manure Pile Finds!” Too far gone, dubious engine swap, and as mentioned, who knows what is growing inside for what was a pedestrian Olds Cutlass to be worth $5,000. Maybe $500 for the trim parts.
Home Depot sells inexpensive disposable full-body suits. (Don’t ask how I know. 😬). That and a respirator, and there would no reservation about ripping out-whatever that is..? It would be interesting to research what this car was when it left the factory-and what it is now. However, No title, No way.
5ooo bucks!….well u know what they say…”theres a sucker born every minute”….
I have a 69 s. Paid 3800 in 2006 from the 2nd owner 11900 miles. Got about 12000 into it did all the work myself. Love it. 350 auto.
I will pay $100 for it. The car is saveable but it needs everything. It would have to be a labor of love.
Another junkman looking/hoping for a big fish before he heads to the scale and yes the BMW wheels fit. I put a set on an 80s Firebird. The tires were brand new car was junk, Firebird needed rubber. Covered the BMW emblems with a Pontiac arrow and no one ever knew
When the tires wore out I put the originals back and scraped the wheels.
Was once a stunning car.
Was beginning to think this rough old car might be worth tackling until the “no title” issue surfaced. No way. Did that once and won’t do it again.
Love these people that take pics of Pigs, don’t clean anything so they can Hide more problems and rust , tell you “it ran when parked” like that makes too much difference now and put a price on it that can only be described as “swinging for the fences” Takes all kinds a true “car enthusiast” (NOT)