One of the inescapable facts of life you discern if you are a regular Barn Finds reader is that special edition cars tend to have a much higher survival rate than their run-of-the-mill stable mates. While these special editions were often nothing more than decals or a special combination of regular options, people tended to take much better care of them. A case in point is this 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W-30 for sale on Craigslist in Gresham, Oregon. This white and gold Oldsmobile has received exemplary care over its 44 years of existence and 81,000 miles on the road. It can also be yours for a mere $16,500. Do you think it survived because it was a special edition, or did it escape the junkyard by chance?
I had a wise friend tell me that flashy fishing lures caught way more fishermen than they ever caught fish. His meaning was that we as humans like shiny, flashy, and unique things and we are willing to pay a premium for these baubles. This must be the opening lesson in Marketing 101. Over the years we have seen people go bananas for a special edition car time and time again. We have even seen them exhibit the odd behavior of paying more than double the sticker price, cocooning these cars up and never driving them, and even going so far as building their whole identity around the special car they have gathering dust in the garage. It seems absolutely bizarre on the surface, but we humans are a strange lot to begin with.
Few automobile brands were better at pumping out special editions than Oldsmobile. This once wildly popular brand was a staple of the middle class, and a disproportionate number of driveways in suburbs in the seventies and eighties had Oldsmobiles adorning them. So, how do you stand out in your neighborhood? Oldsmobile offered all manner of special editions, from 442s, Hurst/Olds of all varieties, Anniversary Editions, and several Indy 500 Pace Cars. Even though there was little other than decals and badging that separated these cars from standard versions optioned out by someone who actually studied the choices available to them, these cars are still revered decades later. You also see them far more often at shows, in print, and online than more common versions despite huge disparities in production numbers.
This 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W-30 is a rather unique special edition for the brand. Built on the Cutlass Calais, the car was surprisingly available with the 350 cubic inch Oldsmobile V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor. Any performance improvement was a godsend in the late seventies and early eighties, so the ability to get this car in an engine larger than the usual 231 V-6 or Chevrolet 305 V-8 was notable. It also came with a set of decals on the front fenders identifying it as a W-30 and was available in two paint options. This car was one of the 346 made in gold trim over white paint. Customers could also choose gold trim over black paint, and 540 did just that.
Other options that customers got for their $6,919 base price were a painted grille face, a pillar molding applique, aluminum sport wheels, body-color tail lamp bezels and rear window moldings, and a 442 emblem on the sail panel and the deck lid. Customers also enjoyed a sport console, a Rallye suspension package, raised white letter tires, and a digital clock to round out the deal. Sadly, California customers could not purchase one of these cars likely due to emissions requirements not being met by the 350 V-8.
The very nice Oldsmobile you see here is described as a barn find by the seller. It is claimed that the car has been sitting for thirty years in the original owner’s garage. That person gave up on driving in the early nineties. There is a small dent that the seller believes was caused by a scrape on the driver’s side quarter panel that was never repaired but may be a clue as to the cessation of motoring. It is also claimed that the T-tops have not been removed since the early nineties. For those who remember T-tops on cars, if they weren’t leaking you didn’t dare mess with them. They were a fun substitute for a convertible top, but their reputation for letting liquids in and the loss of structural rigidity they caused were major factors in their subsequent disappearance.
The seller also claims that this car does run and drive. However, we know nothing else about the car’s reliability other than the fact that it served as the original owner’s daily driver until it was parked. That person must have enjoyed a rather short commute as the odometer reads a relatively low 81,000 miles. Also interesting if the car was used as a daily driver is the absence of sun damage to the paint or upholstery. Even the seat material on the driver’s side shows very little wear and tear as does the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
In fact, it is hard to believe that this car was not cocooned up immediately after it was purchased. This is either the best refurbishment of such a car we have ever seen, or this car is one of the best cared-for examples ever featured at Barn Finds. The fact that we have profiled more than one example of this special Oldsmobile provides additional evidence that these special cars enjoy a high survival rate. That is not a bad thing. It is just another unique quirk in automotive history.
Do you think that special edition cars enjoy a higher survival rate? Do you think this special Olds is worth the $16,500 asking price given the condition? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Lemme see. If the car was parked in say ’93, that would be an average of 6,200 miles / year. Not necessarily a short commute, esp if it wasn’t used in inclement weather.
Not my fathers’ Olds, nor mine, but someone’s…
Looks like this model of 4-4-2 emphasized plush to go along with the decals. At least it also has a 350 V8 so that’s definitely in its favor. Also, I believe this is on the Culass platform, not the Cutlass Calais. The Calais was smaller and its biggest motor available was a 2.8 V6..
Also the Calais is front-drive. Cutlass was rear drive.
Should have had the 400 from the 1979 Trans Am
Unfortunately these 2 Calais statements are both incorrect. The Calais from 1978 thru 1984 were the sport version of the base Cutlass Supreme, much like its plush counterpart, which was the Brougham. All were RWD. However, in1985 they introduced the slimmed down FWD that you mentioned but that does not relate to the car at hand in this listing.
Nope!!! Had a calaise with the tops floor shift power widows and locks 307 motor
Same exact car I had a weak 79’ Calais and it’s exactly the same car and it was white, I had the same grill but I had 2 headlights.
Yes, it is based on the “Cutlass Calais” model. You are correct though, that the smaller Calais is a different platform. But, it was a model unto itself.
In 1980, the Calais was on the same platform as the Supreme. The grill is the only real difference. Supremes had the “waterfall” grill and the Calais did not. The 1980 442 was a leftover of all the 1979 Hurst/Olds that didnt sell. They changed the front facia from single headlights (79) to quad headlights (80) and changed the tail lights from chrome to body color paint. The interiors were nearly identical. Seat stitching was the only changes I’ve seen. Just my 2 cents on Oldsmobiles. I’ve owned ALOT of 70s era Cutlasses.
Should have had the 400 from the 1979 Trans Am
I’m holding out for the ultra rare 10W-30 model. That car was slick!
There is no 10w- 30 that is an oil viscosity w30 and w45 are the designations used on olds. No w45 in 1980.
Let us know if you find the Mobile -1 pace car!😆
Ha! I get it 30W oil!
These late 78 thru 86 GM cars was so under powered with all the federal admission and especially the California cars they look good but not my cup of tea good luck to the new owners
Maybe more fuel efficient, but you’re missing that the down sized G-bodies due to reduced size and weight happen to handle 10 times better than the earlier models that burn rubber. And you don’t realize that this model with a 350 was actually pretty fast. Consider that many of these got by with the wheezy V-6, those are pretty slow.
This car probably has chevy 350. In 77 olds started putting chevy motors in oldsmobile. There was even lawsuits in 77 because half of cutlass had chevy 350 without disclosure.
looking at the cl ad makes me wonder about folks who cant bother to use punctuation or to grammar check theyre ads not to mention spelling perhaps they could at least end with some assorted punctuation symbols so you can put them where you like but I do think the car is nice and worth it ,,..;:”!
their
I see what you did there. LOL
You probably want to read yours back to yourself.
I’d be willing to bet 15k drives it away. That’s a good price and it is downright immaculate. Get the ding fixed and enjoy it. I had a 79 Cutlass with a 305 4bbl. It wasn’t a dog. No, not a racer, but I never had any issues.
I think the car is totally worth it. Where are you going to find another one like this one? That’s what I ask myself. A 350 ? That’s actually the best selling point for this car because if I’m correct, 1980 was the last year that Oldsmobile produced a 350ci V-8 . Which makes this Oldsmobile Cutlass VERY RARE! Also the last year for “exposed chrome bumpers “. Yeah – the more I think about it, THIS car is DEFINITELY a keeper! AND – that interior! They are probably, just about spot on with the price. Sure wish I could buy it, because I would if I could. Great article too.
I think you’re right this is a leftover from 79,79 Calais were the only Cutlass with this grill I know I own one, but the t-tops on this one look a little different than on mine 79
I tend to agree that special models have better survivability. More Corvettes and Porshe’s live long lives as compared to Chevy Impala’s
I’m a long long time Oldsmobile guy …The 78-87 Cutlasses were good cars but they should’ve never let the marketing people put the 442 moniker on them.
Part of the reason for the car’s good/un-sunbleached condition is it’s from the Northwest where the isn’t that much sun relatively speaking. Also, it was probably garaged. It might be worth the money in this condition. I just dont find them that impressive no matter what version, I had so many of them back in the day. This was definitely a nice one. If this is your thing then this looks like a winner!
Nice for what it is. Good condition. I hope it finds a loving and caring home. This will be a 60k auction block car in 2054