Like the Plymouth GTX, the Oldsmobile Cutlass SX was an upscale muscle car. Based on the Cutlass Supreme, the SX was a special edition that could be equipped with a 455-cubic-inch V8. Because it didn’t have its own VIN, insurance companies viewed the car as a Cutlass Supreme – at least for a while. The SX was only offered in 1970 and 1971, and the seller’s car is said to be one from the second year. Located with a dealer in Magnolia, Texas, this non-running project is available here on eBay for $9,500 OBO.
In 1970 or 1971, if you checked the option box for Y79 when buying a Cutlass Supreme, you got the SX package (Supreme Extra?). It was offered on both hardtops and convertibles. A 350 cubic inch V8 was standard, but a 455 was optional, and the seller’s car has one (presumably original). To tell the car from a regular Supreme, it had SX badging, a rear bumper with dual exhaust cutouts, and a few other doodads here and there. But you had to have a build sheet to be sure the SX was the real deal.
SX’s came strictly with a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, helping the 455 engine to crank out up to 370 hp. While the seller says this hardtop is one of 1,800 produced in 1971, both years generated builds numbering just over 9,300 units across both body styles. This Olds is described as a survivor, but it has a rough body, especially around the roof. The paint and interior are original.
We’re told the 455 does not run, with no indications of its shortcomings. This car will likely be more work than the few photos indicate, but you’d end up with one of the rarest muscle cars from the peak of the performance car era. The seller says he/she may be able to deliver the SX, but we assume that would be limited to the spacious confines of the State of Texas.
Wow. Being from Texas, one would think, ‘No rust at all!” But this Magnolia, Texas with high humidity – not good for long term storage. This SX 455 4bbl (standard in ’71) has a leaky back window because of the vinyl top, allowing water to enter the trunk, and down the inner fenders to pool and rust out the top of the rear wheel wells *and* the trunk – a two for one deal. Look at that surface rust under the hood. What does that Rocket look like internally? And speaking of the internals, the shift knob (a focus point in the passenger side picture) is white with mildow. I can smell it now.
A Goodyear Eagle ST was a late 80’s product. Just an observation and a good meter to judge the last maintenance window.
And, wow. Nine (9!) strategically staged pictures because this seller “knows what he has!”…
I’d at least like to see what’s going on under the duct tape.
Holes.
You are right, this car is a much bigger mess than the seller suggests. They also didn’t mention it will likely need a new roof. It’s way overpriced based on what can be seen.
Steve R
I have to wonder if maybe it was a flooder ??
I’m 79. I owned and bought new a ‘70 Oldsmobile 442 with 455 hp. Two door British Racing green tan leather interior Auto transmission. If I floored it and held it down it would change gears at 50 mph and the tires would scratch rubber for a second before moving own. One hell of a car. Wish I still had it.
It doesn’t look bad. But that tape looks fairly new. If it’s there to hold the vinyl in place, just cut it off or leave it alone. If it doesn’t run, why bother. In the time you took to do that, you could have vacuumed it out.
A guy in Miami has a nice looking 1970 one for sale asking 18500. Personally I like the arse on the 70 better than the squared off 71.
Restorable… with a fat wallet!!
Like Steve stated, judging by the duct tape, the car looks like it’ll likely need a new roof in addition to the filler panel and the other rust issues – which I suspect may be more than what the seller described in the listing. As it sits now, with all the metal / body work that is needed and a non-running 455 with an unknown internal state, the asking price is pretty high.
In regards to identifying the car as a legit SX without documentation – of course matching the VIN derivative on the engine or trans is one way (though restamps are a thing), but also there’s other small clues that are normally overlooked when someone is turning a regular Supreme into an SX clone, and one main item is SX cars came with were front end frame straighteners – you can see the connection point inside of the engine compartment identified by the nut / bolt that is attached to the inner fenders directly in front of the hood hinges – same as the 442. While cloned SX’s will usually have the rear addressed with boxed CAs, the front detail is from what I have seen, always omitted.
The FE2 suspension was still optional on the SX, so boxed CAs to try to replicate a “true” SX is folly.
We owned a Chevy Pontiac Olds Buick GMC & New Holland farm equipment store up in S Dakota…my job renovation of all these old slugs – that said –
This car has MOLD Entire interior needs taken out – headliner carpet sound deadner Dash taken out glass removed & then entire body acid dipped.
Then the rust fixed & while the plastic parts some can be cleaned others will be to brittle – NOS sourced parts & new interior placed.
Engine – DRY ROT all hoses belts replaced Brake booster etc etc etc
Car needs FULL renovation.
Problem with these OLD JUNK cars is guys see all the BIG MONEY ADDS like 70k 120k cars & think IVE GOT THAT…only they DONT.
What they do have is a ROTTEN OLD MOLDY car with rotten belts & hoses a rotted suspension a seized engine & brittle plastic interior that crumbles to the touch…constant maintenance is only way to keep these old cars FRESH
Armorall interior coating..polyglycoat paint coating swapping out suspension grommets & bushings & donuts plus Shocks replacement of various under hood components on a regular basis.
This car is Worth 250bucks that’s it ….
Had a ‘71 a DJ in Selma, AL ordered wit just about EVERY option… buckets, console, factory 8/track, 442 hood w/ latches, power windows & seats…
FAST car, best gas mileage was @ 92mph, unfortunately!!!! B
🤣🤣🤣 Seller says, “research the car if you don’t know.” I don’t have to even go that far. The evidence is provided by the seller. Passenger door open shows water stains on whole front seat & worn arm rest. Obviously the roof is problematic as is the non-running 455. Plus more. That’s just the obvious. Btw, were the bungie cords on the floor used to hold that door shut? Good grief, what a mess!
I think the bungies were for a car cover that probably held the moisture in!
I have to agree with Donald: This one looks like a flood survivor. That engine bay has discolorations in odd places. The stains on the front seat don’t help. These aren’t my jam, but if they were, I’d keep right on looking.
Magnolia, Texas has an extremely high flood designation on the flood map…
The area had a flood in 2024.
First of all, the 350 was standard in the Supreme. The RPO Y79 SX package brought the 455 with 365 HP, not 370. The TH400 did not “help” the engine to do anything. Note that despite the same 365 HP rating, this was not the same engine as the 365 HP base engine in the 442 that year. Note that if you got the RPO W32 package with the SX, then you got the 442 engine, with a different cam from the base SX 455. And that duct tape at the base of the back window screams that this car has the dreaded rear window rust that is unfortunately oh so common on this body style. There is a repro patch panel for this.
Green garbage can…. possibly a parts car.
Looks like a beater driver with aspirations to one day restore and then got flooded. Electronics throughout are probably shot.
this has been on eBay for almost 2 months. no bids. that dutchman panel between the trunk and glass is gone. hence the 200 mile pr hr. duct tape. there are not that many left. not running fairly rusty fair buy is around 6500.00.
This is listed at a set price, BIN, not an auction. There is no way to know if they have received any offers, or for how much.
Steve R
This is not the first ad for an overpriced car so why show so much surprise? The dude is asking but we know he will take what he can get.
It would seem to be quite a nice muscle car if restored and would be worth a nice price. Can it be restored for a profit? Perhaps not but I do know if it is restored somebody will have a swift ride to enjoy with the Oldsmobile ride and the air conditioning.
My bro-in-law has got an SX 455 4speed, same wheels it’s a ragtop maroon, black gut, it hauls. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen or driven. I had it for the weekend a few years ago I buffed it out for him so I got to cruise it around :) nice car he said. The suspension is same as 442 and drivetrain. hH’s owned it about 35 years ‘it’s a’71
The 442 suspension was optional on the SX, not standard (but many were ordered with it). The very cool cutout bumpers with trumpet tips, however, were standard with the SX.
A cutlass SX is harder to find than a 442, I like them better, too bad this one is need of a major restoration.
Never was a fan of the pea green interior offered in ’71. Even less so with a cloth bench seat, but it looks to have decent equipment including factory discs, AC, cruise control. I’m not in the market, but I don’t think the price is too out of line if you can prove it’s a true SX through the engine stamp and transmission tag/stamp.
All SX’s had 455’s…but most of the 1970 models were 455 2bbl cars. All of the 1971’s were 455 4bbl cars.
The most rare Cutlass SX is the 1970 with the W-32 455 4bbl option, which very few had.