Oldsmobile’s sporty SX package added style and performance to your Cutlass Supreme coupe or convertible including rear bumper exhaust cutouts, special trim and badges, and a stout 455 V8. This specimen in Prior Lake, Minnesota comes to market as an unfinished restoration with a freshened motor and a mixture of refurbished and disassembled parts. Check out more details here on Craigslist where the $14,500 asking price could be reasonable if everything checks out. Thanks to sx455.clubexpress for some details and tip your hat to reader Gunter K. for spotting this bright red SX.
The two-tone interior features new carpet, upholstery, and seat cushions, according to the seller, who claims Oldsmobile built a mere 793 of these SX convertibles in 1970. A picture of the claimed original window sticker may help validate this car’s provenance as SX cars did not get a special VIN code.
The rollback truck normally signals a “flipper” who snagged a bargain and hopes to make a quick profit for minimal effort. That doesn’t make a good project car bad, but buyers should be prepared. Instead of talking to the person who knows the car’s real story, you’re getting interpretations and guesses in answer to your questions.
We might expect a more impressive showing from a “rebuilt” engine with “virtually no hours.” If it was rebuilt during the Carter era, that would be different than, say, last year. Still, Olds fans salivate like Pavlov’s dog thinking about uncorking that 455.
Someone added an incorrect 4-4-2 hood and it should be easy to find a Supreme owner willing to trade plus some cash. There are enough 4-4-2 clones out there to present this one as-delivered. That said, once you buy it, do it your way! The world doesn’t need more car snobs who look at a car that’s factory-correct except for the wheels and quip, “Looks nice except the wheels.” Either buy them all and make them perfect or, as my grandmother used to say, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Would you rather have this laid-back 455 SX or the in-your-face 4-4-2?
I’d much rather see it restored to original. I’m sure the Olds forum people will be drooling over this one. Hopefully, it finds a good home.
I tried to inquiring a couple of times on this one via craigslist but the seller is not replying. Very strange.
Is that the best place for a photo shoot, on a flatbed? Yes not all photos are on the flatbed.
It has potential for sure, just depends on what would need done to complete what was started. I’d need to see how much rust it has. You can see it in a few places but there is always more. It’s got a lot going for it though – matador red and white, fairly rare convertible SX, definitely a worthwhile car to bring back to life if you have the time, skills and or bank account.
The asking price is reasonable. Nicely equipped with discs, posi, rally pac, console, new upholstery, etc, would be even nicer with factory AC. The hood, if an original W25 hood and not cracked or rusted is worth quite a bit. Heck a reproduction (the best) by Thornton is $3500 these days. A 70 hood should not be too difficult to find. I installed a W25 hood from a Rallye 350 on my 69 442 convertible back in 1973. One of the best looking “ram air” hoods ever!
Most of the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass SX455 Convertibles from looking around are selling in the $50k to $60k so the $14,500 isn’t a decent price, depending on how much they put into the restoration !
Whoops is a Decent Price is what I Meant to say
The Good Dr Olds delivers again 👏
It’s a factory 2bbl 455 (L33 on the window sticker) so, not really that cool.
Even with the 2bbl, these things really moved out. Tons of torque. Probably the largest carburetor throats you will ever see!
Default axle ratio was a 2.56:1 also, so all that low end torque from the 455 2-bbl was a good thing to have.
Put the small 3 bbl & A.M intake on it n put the 2bbl n intake in the garage…that would be COOL !
I had a 69 442, and my buddy had a 70 Cutlass SX with the high compression 455 equipped with a 2 barrel and 2.56 highway gears and the dual trumpet exhaust. He ordered a new cast iron 4 barrel manifold and carb from Cooper Olds and we installed it. Really woke the car up!
320 HP with 500 pound feet of torque is nothing to sneeze at… remember, this car was essentially the 1970 version of the “Turnpike Cruiser” Olds had previously offered with the 2bbl carb. You could also order the W32 engine if you preferred. The standard rear axle was 2:56, again with emphasis on the high speed cruising rather than brutal acceleration. If you wanted a “performance car” you ordered a Cutlass W31, 442, or the W30.
I like 442s but an SX455 is far more desirable in my eyes because of their rarity. Performance upgrades are easy to find. My only concern is the rust I’m seeing, and as a MN car there may be more rot underneath.
great rocket for your pocket. i sold a 71 sx convert 21 years ago for that price. this a good deal. shame the owner didn’t put more pics up on his craigslist ad.wish i had the cash to burn.
The rear quarters on these cars rotted and this is from Minnesota. Buyer beware. Convertibles rot faster due to lousy top seals in those days. The floors and trunk were gone by 1980. However, as mentioned, the SX is much more scarce than a 442 and most were equipped with more options as it was sort of a gentleman’s hot rod. So it’s a two barrel. At least somebody didn’t modify it.