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4,642 Miles! 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Who knew that there were so many low-mile time capsule vehicles still hiding out there? With the internet, I assumed that they’d mostly be accounted for by now but cars like this 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic with 4,642 miles on it are still in hiding. The seller has this one posted here on craigslist in Clinton, Tennessee and they’re asking $22,500 or best offer, or they’ll trade for a 1940 Ford coupe or convertible. Thanks to Ikey H. for sending in this tip!

This car isn’t a 1963 Split Window coupe, but it’s 32-years-old now and is as close to being like new as any 1988 car could be. The seller says that it has been in climate-controlled storage for three decades and it sure looks almost like new to me.

This is the last year of the fourth-generation Cutlass Supreme, the last of the rear-wheel-drive models. I have to wonder if the original owner bought the car as an investment as the folks who squirreled away 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertibles did, thinking that the last of the rear-wheel-drive Cutlass supremes would be incredibly valuable someday? NADA, while certainly not the be-all-end-all guide for value, puts a high retail value of $3,250 on a 1988 Cutlass Supreme. That’s a long way from $22,500 but maybe someone had one three decades ago and has recently sold 7 shares of Amazon stock and wants to relive their youth?

As expected, the interior looks almost like new, but it’s hard to tell if the seats and carpet are a little faded or if it’s just the exposure of having the door open and the sun shining on the interior. I’m assuming the latter. The rear seat looks new as does the trunk area. I’m surprised to not see power windows and locks in this car.

The seller doesn’t mention the engine at all and they don’t give a VIN, but in 1988 the engine would have been a 5.0L Oldsmobile 307 cubic-inch V8 with 140 hp and 255 ft-lb of torque. A couple of hours of detailing on the engine would have gone a long way to show how nicely-preserved things are under the hood, but the next owner can take care of that before trailering this one to car shows. Have any of you kept a low-mile vehicle hidden away for decades? If so, what was it?

Comments

  1. Avatar Steve Bush Member

    Nice car with low miles but ridiculously overpriced for a Cutlass, especially one with a bench seat, column shift and no pw/dl. The seller will be lucky to get half his asking.

    Like 22
  2. Avatar Farhvergnugen Member

    Not exactly King Tut’s car locked away in some climate controlled tomb. Like mom said….GLW finding someone who thinks otherwise.

    Like 14
  3. Avatar Fred W

    Asking price is sky high, but then the NADA “high” of $3250 looks a bit low to me, even it were a typical extremely nice car with 80K miles on it. I think someone would pay around 8K for this if it brought back memories.

    Like 14
  4. Avatar karl holquist

    good luck getting $10 grand!!!

    Like 9
  5. Avatar Little_Cars

    YAWN! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Couldn’t get more blasé if it tried. 4 thousand miles or 400 thousand miles. It’s still an extremely white with black landau top, ugly blue velour interior car with wire wheelcovers. Can you say “granny get out there and start the ol’ Cutlass before the battery goes dead?” These are so commonplace I imagine a good shop could build two of them as knock-off 442 or Hurst clones for the asking price.

    Like 9
  6. Avatar Argy

    The 83-84 Hurst/Olds with the warmed-up 307 and the Lightning Rods would definitely be worth this kind of money, if not more. Or an 85-87 442 in similar condition with the right options. But a granny-spec G-body like this one, no matter how remarkably kept, is not a $22,000 ride. I can buy an equally clean 35th Anniversary Corvette for that kind of money if I HAD to have something from 1988.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Quicko

      You can buy my 35th better for half that price….
      I mean come on you could at least put on the chrome rally wheels for that price… My 87 has a 455 with a long tail 400 with a grand national rear and it cost me only a fraction of that price just alot of elbow grease.,..
      Good luck but definitely not worth that asking price they are a dime a dozen here in phily

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Frank B

    Engine could be a Chevy 305 too.

    Like 0
    • Avatar patrick

      The Chevy 305 was not installed in the Cutlass that year, only the Olds 307 V-8!

      Like 2
  8. Avatar JC

    Sure is a lot of moisture in that left headlight… hard to believe the under 5k mileage claim… its been well kept but its just a nice old car, nothing collectible about it IMHO.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Little_Cars

      Maybe just faded from exposure. If that’s the case, was the car stored outdoors?

      Like 1
      • Avatar Mike Brown

        Those headlights don’t “fade” because they’re actual glass. It’s more likely that the rubber seal between the bulb holder and headlight housing is either deteriorated or missing allowing moisture in. I bought one of these cars new in November 1987, loaded with every option. I still have and love it.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar Vin_in_NJ

    1987 was the last year of the G body for the Monte Carlo, Regal, & Grand Prix, but Oldsmobile somehow produced the 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic.
    As it was the only G body produced that year, it’s possible the owner thought it would be valuable one day.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar Bob C.

    These early 1988 models were actually leftover 1987s. This was the first year for FWD Cutlasses, which caused a lot of confusion.

    Like 4
  11. Avatar bikefixr

    Seller must live in fantasy-land. Stupid low miles doesn’t justify a stupid-high price for a car everyone forgot about (including the owners). Nobody is standing in line to buy one of these.

    Like 6
  12. Avatar Robert Thomas

    That is the car my dad always bought my mom. Very milk-toast to say the least. Reliable transportation is about all I can say about it.

    Like 3
  13. Avatar DuesenbergDino

    In all reality, I could see this car bringing in close to $17,000 just for the condition it’s in. Power door locks and windows are not that difficult to install using donor parts. They even make kits where the updated window crank sends power to the motors. I’m ok with the bench seat and column shift as I wouldn’t plan on ramrodding it all over town. For what is presented, and the cookie cutter selection on new cars, this is not bad. Basically a new car for about $20 grand. Could do a lot worse.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Scott lee

    Agree the car is over priced. But it’s interesting how those who peruse these listings pretend that the only thing that matters is a big block muscle car. A close neighbor still has one like this .. white with white and the blue velour..and occasionally I ride n the car. You would all very surprised at the attention the car gets. And I’m not talkin from other blue haired retirees….from people of all ages. It’s a car only American’s would build and build them they did. But no matter the era and demographics of who bought them…the car has classic elegant style that has aged very well. Though I agree $22k is a stretch.

    Like 4
  15. Avatar Douglas Threlfall Member

    It’s not popularly optioned, why a power antenna but no power windows, door locks or seat? Where’s the factory floor mats? It Vanilla white, black vinyl landau & a blue(?) velour interior??? It might be worth $10-$12K if someone is having RWD withdrawals, but $22,500? Not!

    Like 4
  16. Avatar JCA Member

    $14k for the car, $35k in storage fees or opportunity cost on the cash. Never understood why people save these everyday cars. Now he wants to recoup with a rediculous asking price. No thanks.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Robert Thomas

      wishful thinking

      Like 3
    • Avatar TimS

      The seller is nuts on the price, but I’m glad some people do save everyday cars, simply because statistically nobody did. Just like people need to know that in the 60’s and 70’s we all weren’t riding around in big block 4-speed coupes or convertibles with A/C, we should show that in the 80’s not everyone had a V8 Mustang, a Grand National or a GTA Trans Am.

      Like 7
      • Avatar JCA Member

        He could have saved this car and also made it useful by actually using it what it for what it was intended for. you could easily get 250k miles out of this car and take care of the body and would still be here today. What’s dumb is the treated like an investment car because it’s not special or rare. That’s not my opinion just look at the market.

        Like 4
      • Avatar Little_Cars

        Nicely put, TimS. I would add we drove cars in the 1960s that were the platform for some major hot muscle cars, (1964 Tempest, 66 Galaxie XL, 67-68 Skylark, 67-76 Firebirds) and in the 1970-90s badge engineering and shared platforms meant we could be driving a Ford Fairmont as hot as a Fox bodied 5.0 Mustang, a Buick Regal rather than a Grand National, a GMC Sonoma rather than a Cyclone.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Mike Brown

        I bought one of these off the showroom floor in November 1987 and still have it. Mine is burgundy and loaded with every option up to the t-tops. It was my daily for the first 2 years, then became my fair weather cruiser. It has about 80k miles now and I still love it. Before anyone asks, No, the t-tops don’t leak and never have.

        Like 0
    • Avatar nlpnt

      This thing fairly screams Grandma’s last car. Usually that’s how these low mileage everyday cars happen, combined with someone who has lots of extra space they already own (hence “barn find”). Too bad nobody could’ve talked Grandma into a Mustang 5.0LX or an Acura Integra with the 5-speed…

      Like 2
      • Avatar Jranders Member

        Couldn’t agree more. My mom’s last car was an 85 Mustang GT convertible, opt fuel injection and the automatic w/overdrive, black top over white with the gray GT interior. Ordered it new the year she retired. Had 85,000 miles when she passed 9 years ago, sat in the garage the last 4 years as she had been put in a home. Sold it for $10k, and in near new condition, always garaged, always serviced. And she traded in her 73 Cougar xr7 convertible for it, one of the last 10 off the line 351 CJ. She had some fun cars!

        Like 4
  17. Avatar Phil D

    For everyone that’s incensed that the car is a bland black over white with a blue interior, I believe that better photos would reveal that it’s actually a bland but matching dark blue over white with a blue interior (the dark blue used in 1987-88 was VERY dark). It’s also a Brougham trim model, the most plush trim level (which makes the already noted lack of premium comfort options like power windows even more curious).

    None of that justifies the seller’s ridiculous asking price, of course, but it at least isn’t as bizarre a color combination as everyone seems to think it is.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Bob S

      Phil, I agree with you about the vinyl top being blue. I too am perplexed about no power windows or locks being in a brougham model. I’ve had a few of these gen GM’s, 1 Cutlass, and 1 Grand Prix, and that should be a 40/60 split, not a bench seat. I’d love to have this, but ridiculous price, plus I wouldn’t be buying it to squirrel away.

      Like 2
      • Avatar IkeyHeyman

        I don’t think this is a Brougham model, it’s a Classic.

        Like 1
      • Avatar nlpnt

        “Cutlass Supreme Classic” just means it was built after production of the GM10 Cutlass Supreme had started, they overlapped for the 1988 model year.

        Like 1
  18. Avatar Matt McDonald

    Typical Granny car. Granny got too old to drive, and then it sat in the garage. I started buying old Oldsmobiles instead of Chevrolets, because there’s lots of these sitting around waiting for Granny to die… and the Oldsmobiles are better cars, and cost less. None of the grand kids wants to drive something like this. We’ve still got one in my family… fortunately it’s a 72 instead of an 88.

    Like 2
  19. Avatar ron m

    Not even remote mirrors..SMH.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar CJM

    They also still produced the rear drive Monte Carlo G body in ’88. The Cutlass was not a leftover model, it was an official 1988 model that was planned and marketed as such. A new “Cutlass Supreme Classic’ emblem was commissioned and fastened to the side of the roof. All 88 RWD’s were “classics” and you could get the base model and the Brougham. The Brougham trim got you an upgraded interior and wider rocker moldings, however it did not add power windows and locks. Those were still optional on the Brougham. Who cares if it has power windows or locks anyway? No power seat or pinstripes either so this is basically a “stripped” Brougham. I think the wires were optional and the tilt and cruise may have been. The condition and colors and miles are the important things. Not my favorite color combo but it could be worse. A really nice and appealing car but the price is nuts. I would value at $10-12k.

    Like 4
  21. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    On a lesser note, those were really nice steering wheels that Olds produced. I remember my aunts 86
    Delta 88 coupe haven the same one.

    Like 4
    • Avatar CJM

      Agreed. I love the hard plastic shiny steering wheel rims. Thought I was the only one! Most cars had them into the early 80’s. Could never figure out why so many people covered them up with aftermarket covers. GM was the last to use them. Buick stopped after ’87, Olds’ last year was ’88 and Cadillac was the last holdout using them (in select models) up thru 1990. Ford stopped using them after 1982 and Chrysler after 1983, FYI! I hate the super fat steering wheel rims on modern cars.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Little_Cars

        Those shiny smooth steering wheels on cars with power steering made quick business of parallel parking and sharp turns out of tight spots. With a necking knob, even better. A cushy modern steering wheel cannot accept a necking knob without a lot of rigging, and a soft steering wheel is no fun when you let the wheel spin back to the center/park position. My 59 Galaxie, 67 Skylark and 76 Firebird excelled at power steering fun..

        Like 3
  22. Avatar Mike

    Oldsmobiles Cutlass Supreme Classic Brougham. What a mouthful! Lol

    Like 3
  23. Avatar Joe M

    Worn steering wheel, button missing from passenger seat, faded carpet, rust in engine compartment, a well kept 104,000 miles. Not likely 4000 miles. Good try but not buying the mileage.

    Like 2
  24. Avatar Little_Cars

    The steering wheel on my 2018 Buick is already worn down, but then again I have amassed 33k miles so it was time. ha ha This seller needs to cough up some vital paperwork to confirm the ultra-low mileage claim. Was the car titled more than once? Was the oil ever changed? Tires? Something that shows the slow accumulation of miles over 32 years. Otherwise, a blah, bland, blasé double blue over white Olds. Destined to sit for a few more years.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar David R Member

    I had a 78 Regal oddly equipped like this one…pillow luxury interior without power windows or doors locks and the base hubcaps. Also had the turbo V6. A real mismash of options.

    Like 1
  26. Avatar Mark C

    If this car were $6-8k and the mileage confirmed, I’d like this more than most any new car. I actually like the velour. As for the column shift, why do people care where the shifter is on an automatic? Is it just a looks thing? But yeah, far too much money for what I’ll admit is a granny car.

    Like 1
    • Avatar CJM

      Agreed. People whine about everything. Who needs power mirrors, locks, window, or A/C on an old car? Just more stuff to break. What’s wrong with column shift? I’d prefer it on a car like this. I love the velour too. I believe the mileage is legit. All that said, the price is still nuts.

      Like 3
  27. Avatar Bob

    Yikes! $22,500! I recently bought a top of the line spotless 1987 loaded Chrysler 5th Avenue with 18,000 miles on it for $6750. I agree, the car is nice but he’s dreaming on the price.

    Like 1
  28. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    @Bob I’ll bet the Fifth ave is a nicer car and a far better deal.

    Like 1
  29. Avatar Mike

    Gosh every time I see a 1987-88 Cutlass Supreme it brings back bad memories. Although the sharpest year (IMO) with that front end for this era Cutlass, my 1987 Cutlass Supreme was junk when new, s-l-o-w and burning oil by 45000 miles and a bad torque converter. Had to stop the car on long trips sometimes for a half hour to let the torque converter “reset” (at least that’s what I called it). When you put it in reverse the trans clanked like it was going to fall out, but never did. Paint was faded in a couple of years and I shot a gallon of Shimron paint on it that I mixed with 2 1/2 times the glitter that the recipe called for. It was a sharp car, but that’s the only good memory I have of it. My last GM.

    Like 0
  30. Avatar Stevieg

    Nice car. If the miles are confirmed, I would think $15,000 would be reasonable. If not, $5,000 just because it is very clean.
    If confirmed, this is an essentially new car. You can’t even buy a stripped down Hyundai for that.

    Like 0
  31. Avatar Mike Brown

    I bought one of these off the showroom floor in November 1987. I still have and love it. Mine is burgundy and loaded with every option from the chrome 14″ rallye wheels all the way to the t-tops (no, they don’t leak!). I agree that the price is high on this one but you might want to recheck the values on them. I’m thinking that the $3250 high book is for the front wheel drive Cutlass Supreme. This is a Cutlass Supreme Classic which is a whole different animal.

    Like 0
  32. Avatar Ray

    That olds 307 is junk in it’s slow

    Like 0

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