Has it come to this, then? Is a four-door “malaise era” 1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass worth $12 grand? Someone thinks so, and just such a car is being sold here on craigslist for that price. (With thanks for the tip going to TJ). It can be picked up by the next owner in Sandpoint, which is near Spokane, WA. That’s no-rust territory, and an increasingly common spot (broadly speaking) from which to see cars on offer.
A four-door may not be nearly as collectible as a two-door Coupe, but let’s look at the bright side. The car is all-original, and the only downside named is a radio that doesn’t work. Everything else is as it came from the factory to the original owner. She, in fact, is the person selling the car, and if you travel to get it, you’ll meet her. The Cutlass is like new, with the interior being praised for being immaculate. Even the carpet in the trunk is apparently pristine.
So should you want it? There’s an article on this era of Cutlass in a national magazine out now which says that Colonnade-era Cutlasses, released in 1973, “are an acquired taste, but excellent cars to own and drive,” going on to further cite ease of maintenance and comfort. Looking at the images, that seems quite true, with the white vinyl seats inviting you in and the full wheel covers suggesting that you’re not just anybody, but someone with tastes that lean toward the deluxe end of the scale.
The one area you’d probably want to verify is the claim about the paint being that applied by Oldsmobile. Yes, the car is said to have been “very responsibly stored,” and it does shine. The thing that strikes one about the car is that the under hood region, where a clearly original 350-CID engine sits, is more dirty and crusty than is the top side. Does that signify anything? It does suggest at the very least that you could add value with a careful under hood detailing. Perhaps that need is why the ad writer (the seller is the so-called little old lady, remember?) says that the car is “on the edge of Concours” rather than fully there. On the other hand, he makes the useful suggestion that this has potential as an “immediate daily driver,” and why not? You might pay a bit too much for the car as a collector’s item if you can’t get the lady to budge off of $12,000, but what else are you going to get for that money? Sometimes it’s not about what you’d get back if you decided to sell, but rather what your money buys and how much fun you’re going to have. I’ll take this Cutlass four-door over a used Nissan Sentra for the same money, not that there’s anything wrong with the latter.
That’s a $5k car all day.
Not bashing the car or the seller.
It’s not worth 12 grand until someone buys it.
Listed for 12 grand is completely different.
I’d be inclined to buy such a car for much less (a lot less) but that’s just me…
I agree. Even given its condition, I’d be willing to pay close to $10,000 for the car.
I know. It’s important what it actually sells for. I mean, if you think $12,000 in our devalued currency is worth it, go for it. I don’t think so ($6-7k is more reasonable in my mind) but somebody might feel differently.
But then again, even if you pay that, it doesn’t mean the value will hold long term. I find it hard to imagine any Millennial or Generation Z car enthusiast being very interested in this in 10 years.
A Millennial or Gen Z car enthusiast goes in without all the preconceived notions. They weren’t alive to know and understand the 1960s muscle cars that are selling for wild amounts today. Today’s extreme prices and demand are fueled by nostalgia they lack. So, if anything it’s the hyper-inflated 1971 Hemi Cudas and original Bronco prices that are most due for an eventual realignment.
The generation you speak of grew up in 4-door sedans and minivans, primarily Japanese, in shades like metallic beige and prison cell gray. They don’t have the same preference for coupes we do – 4-doors weren’t considered nerdy in their formative years and most of the cars they knew were generic plastic blobs devoid of any style or personality whatsoever. Chrome was unheard of. As the older generations pass on, it is likely there’ll be plenty of younger car enthusiasts willing to fork over the equivalent of $12K and more for ’70s time capsules like this loaded with style and personality Cutlass in a zesty color combination never seen in their Soviet Blockesque automotively repressed formative years. And the classic V8 exhaust note will seal the deal.
I think Adam of YouTube’s excellent Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History channel is a perfect example of how younger enthusiasts view automotive desirability without today’s investment-grade muscle car bias.
Considering that a new base model Kia or Hyundai will set you back several thousand more. And that $12K is literally nothing in today’s devalued currency…
This is a beautiful car and not an unreasonable ask at all. When they start shutting down your modern internal combustion engines via the multilayered web enabled computer electronics, and they start deciding when and how often if at all you can charge your trendy $60+K EV, all you’ll need is some regular gas and you’ll be riding free and easy in this handsome classic all-American gem.
“Immediate daily driver. And why not?….
“What else are you going to get for $12k”
A 48 yr. old car getting maybe 12 mpg @ $4/gallon with let’s say a 20 gallon tank….that’s $80 every 240 miles.
Drive this daily and you can at least take comfort in knowing it has a large enough trunk to carry your weekly groceries…..both bags worth.
Somebody is dreaming …. but that’s ok I guess. Someone said earlier … it’s a $5,000 car ,,, on a GOOD day.
I really get tired of everyone calling the 70s cars “malaise” . Sure they were down on horsepower and had larger bumpers thanks to the government regs, but the cars really weren’t much different than the previous decade . An Olds was an Olds, a dodge was a Dodge and you could tell each make by its design . GM was still using full frames (except the Nova/ Camaro) , Chrysler was still unbodied , and Ford was doing both . Many 70s cars were still using 60s platforms .My 74 Cutlass would fry the tires on demand and trounce any newer cars from 10 years later. I think the 80s should be called the “malaise” decade – few cars had any real performance , styling was all boxy ,with cheap plastic interiors with velour seating. Your high end car may have had something as exciting as a 305 , and most sporty types were anemic cars like the Daytona. Your entry level cars were absolutely powerless and small, and no one missed them when they were gone. I’d venture to say that there are more 1970s cars on the road today then 1980s cars. Would you rather have a 74 4 door Cutlass or an 84 4 door Cutlass ? Other than better gas mileage, the 84 offers nothing
My thinking exactly! The 1970s were a difficult time for *all* car makers, not just American car makers. It’s not that they deliberately cut corners to make a car affordable, etc. I’ve never understood the whole “Malaise Era” bs.
$12k for a car like this? That depends on the condition and maintenance. If it’s been well cared for and it’s still running and driving safely, then I wouldn’t mind paying close to the price.
I’m ready for when they shut down my internal combustion engine via the web.I have a roll of aluminum foil to line my hat and my bicycle tires are pumped up:-)
They are going to shut down all the electronics having an engine like this, you’re safe, just gotta have a gas supply
Don’t forget to wear your safety helmet and use proper hand signals to avoid me accidentally running you over in my beautiful blue 74 Cutlass as I drive around posting Alex Jones Was Right stickers on everything.in sight. Just flag me down and I’ll graciously stick a couple on your Chinese helmet and your bottled water! It’ll do wonders for your popularity.
That rusted out vacuum brake booster has the alarm bells going off in my head. The car looks nice and I would certainly drive and show it (won’t be another one like it at the Cars ‘n Coffee) but I would have a thorough inspection done to see if there was ever any flood damage. And, in no way is it a $12K car. But as I always say, a car is worth whatever a buyer is willing to offer and a seller is willing to accept.
Everything needs to be replaced sooner or later. That’s what happens with use.
It has rust, its not rusted out . Boosters weren’t painted, and some anodized , so after nearly 50 years I’d expect some “patina” on it ! Under the hood looks pretty good to me- a little dusty from driving it, but it would clean up with a rag. Heck, even the paper like air breather tube is intact !
Is a four-door “malaise era” 1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass worth $12 grand?
NO!
A lot of the BF comments about what a car like this is “worth” are wishful thinking…. until they go to sell their classic I imagine.
Noooooo
If only more pics were posted of this car. I don’t expect Craigslist to post every nook and cranny of a car. But I would think that 20 pics, maybe 30 pics, if not more would’ve been perfect.
Craigslist doesn’t post the pix, just displays what the seller gives them.
Because C/L is free, it attracts the folks who don’t want to spend money, learn how to type/spell, or don’t have a digital camera, just a sucky phone.
You can always contact the seller and ask for more pix/info.
If only I had the seller’s email, I might.
How many pristine nearly new looking low mileage cars of any vintage can be had for $5K or less in 2022 pesos, geniuses? Priced any lately? Please bring ‘em on, then. Some of you are obviously living in a time warp, a dream world – or possibly both simultaneously.
It looks just like the Delta 88 my parents bought when I was in grade school.
Maybe because they were both Oldsmobile models.
Or maybe because Olds was just trying to cash in on the ‘ Cutlass’ moniker…? For me, it’s just a Delta 88 with a Cutlass badge.
Uh yeah..
$5,000 will get you clapped out Camry with 150K miles. Get this Olds gem for $10K and if need be you run it on alky from your still in the woods. Some people have no clue of the cost to buy a car today.
The belt is off the A/C compressor, most likely not working.
My grandmother had a 1975 Olds Cutlass drove great and never gave her problems. Great car.