“Parked and garaged since the mid-1980s,” this one-family 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible waits for a new owner in Clemmons, North Carolina, with a listing here on eBay. It’s refreshing to see someone letting go of a family heirloom before it’s nearly destroyed from decades of neglect waiting for that “someday” restoration.
This Oldsmobile’s provenance includes the original window sticker, original owner’s manual, warranty book, dealer literature, original “Protect-O-Plate,” and dealership paperwork. Any classic convertible should be closely inspected for rust, as they invite additional opportunities for water ingress.
Is that a non-original floor vent? Hopefully a few patch panels will complete the rust repair, but don’t count on it. This handsome interior design compares well to most late-1970s cars. With air conditioning and power steering, but interestingly no power brakes, this Cutlass invites casual cruising. After you sort the mechanicals and treat this pre-smog drop-top to a repaint and some shiny new parts, simply hoist a homecoming Queen and King aboard and you’re parade-ready.
The legendary “Rocket” 350 make 310 HP and 390 lb-ft of torque in 1970. Power peaked for most cars in 1970 or 1971 before lower compression ratios took a toll. Remember too, these gross ratings would be lower using today’s net measurements. Thanks to automobile-catalog.com for some details. Long before the Internet I nearly bought a shiny white hard-top ’70 Cutlass with the 350 for $1500, but I really wanted a manual transmission so I bought a ’76 Buick Skyhawk five-speed instead. Later I realized the 350’s potent numbers for 1970, but the Skyhawk treated me well so c’est la vie. What do you think of this long-idled rag-top Olds?
One of my dream cars.
Great find.
Being an Carolina Oldsmobile guy, I appreciate anyone who offers up a good example for sale rather than see one go to the crusher. Dead brand or not.
This Barn find was part of a large collection that went to auction. Plan to fully restore this year.
This was my Dad’s first GM intermediate convertible. He bought his at the height of the gas crisis and eventually traded it on a 6 cylinder F-bird. I’ll always remember him letting me drive this cream-colored dream, top down, as he instructed me how to relax and rest my elbow on the top of the door. His had power everything and a fresh paint job covering collision damage. The paint shop lost the center emblem between the grille and the small chrome bead along the top of the dash was inexplicably missing. Great road manners, not like the econoboxes lining our neighborhood streets at the time.
This guy shows up on almost every find
He sure must have a lot of cars in Beirut
If he moves to the States he will need his own container ship. I’d like to be at the dock when it arrives.
I like how he puts the emphasis on LEBANON. As if we would confuse it with the Beirut in Kentucky or Alabama.
I’ve always liked the 70-72 Olds Cutlass’. However, it has quite a bit of rust for only being on the road for 15 years in the Carolinas! Wonder if it traveled up North for awhile? This one is only about 40 to 50 miles away from me. I’d like to see this one in person.
Mike this one appears to have a little better metal than mine I would recommend definitely go see it
Just for reference guys I paid $3,800 for mine.
Matt, you said, “this one appears to have a little better metal than mine”……..really?? Did you see ALL the EBAY pics?…….and it’s already bid up to $4,650. The car you pictured above looks fantastic! Based on the one pic you posted above, $3,800 seems like a steal!
Matt: I agree with Jamestown Mike. $3800 for that car is a great deal. Good luck with the restoration. Keep the original 350 if it’s not too far gone.
Beautiful car! May I ask what you paid for it Alan?
Thank you Mike! the seller was asking a firm 17K but since I did previously bought 2 other classic cars from him I managed pay 15K. To be honest I was Not looking for a Skylark but I have all GM brands wanted a Buick from 70s my first choice was 78 Park Avenue but since I do have 78 Coupe DeVille no point in that too big for bad & congested roads here so A body Skylark was the logical choice.
Mike I bid with only a few pics and was concerned, shots taken while still in barn and dark. It was low below $1000 until another purchased about 10 cars. To my surprise the buyer didn’t pay and I negotiated down from his offer from auctioneer. Final as mentioned was $3800. While body looks okay the engine was rusted badly. Thinking of adding a 502
I miss my1971 Olds station wagon. Bruce.
That grill needs straightened but love the wagon!
Curious comment at the end of the description: “No shipping allowed”? If he wants to sell it – how can he without it being shipped somewhere for the new owner to work on it – it surely cannot be driven in that sate?
I still have my 71′ so far but I sold out for a 383 Chevy stroker
John that’s a great looking piece of history. The paint is what I plan to do with my 71. Can you share a picture of the rear also?
A/C-equipped but manual drum brakes – you don’t see that very often. High compression 4-bbl engine, buckets/console, SS1 wheels make for a nice package on this car. Here’s mine that was originally sold in Atlanta and I bought it out of Knoxville in ’89. Drive it 500-1000 miles each summer. Has about 105K on the clock now. Smooth, quiet, and fast. A real joy cruising with the top down.
Same color as my Dad’s, Poppy! I tried to talk him into ditching the factory wheelcovers and going for the Olds road wheels but money was tight and he only kept it for one summer.
Alexander, did your dad’s have the gold interior? I’ve had this car since 1989 and had only seen one other Bamboo over gold ’70 Cutlass convertible, and it was a bench seat car (mine’s buckets). Then last fall I ran across a twin to mine less than an hour from my house at another car show. We are going to get together in the spring for a photo shoot of both cars together.
Sold mine last fall. Had to thin the heard. I regret it now.
That Buick looks like a Very Nice Car!
Poppy the article states above the Rocket 350 for 70 or 71, picture of mine included. Any idea how to determine if mine a Rocket? You mention SS1 wheels, is that what I have?
Sure looks like SS1 wheels!!
Matt: Your ’71 has SSIII wheels since they are painted body color. They should still have the bolt on center caps your year. My ’70 has SSII “argent” colored wheels. As far as the engine goes, look at the underhood photos in the ebay listing for the subject car and the one I attached. The original Olds 350 would be painted gold, have the distributor in the back of the engine and the oil fill in the front and the goose-neck water inlet connecting the water pump to the T-stat housing where the upper radiator hose connects. The u-shaped engine lifting strap to the right of the T-stat housing (viewed from the front) is also a typical feature of that vintage Rocket 350. 1970 was the last year for the high compression engines. The 4 bbls require premium gas that year. Your ’71 is still plenty peppy with either a 2 or 4 bbl carb and 87-octane-friendly compression ratio. Hope that helps.