Whatever it was that the Oldsmobile Cutlass had in the 1970s, people wanted it. Although the fancy Cutlass Supreme was the volume seller, Olds also managed to move almost 100,000 of its lower-priced Cutlass S, including the Colonnade Coupe shown here. The selling dealer bought it from the family of the original owner and claims it’s been an Arizona car all its life, so you know it is probably rust-free but perhaps in need of some soft parts (looking at you, right-rear bumper filler). Located in Glendale, Arizona, it’s currently on Milwaukee’s craigslist (a wide net!) with an asking price of $10,000. Thanks to Rocco B. for finding it for us.
Arizona has a reputation for being kind to sheetmetal but mean to interiors, but this Cutlass didn’t get the memo. It’s not too bad in here at all, which is good, because Colonnade interior parts are in short supply in comparison to their 1968-1972 brethren. It’s not perfect, but a little interior dye might do the trick on some of those faded and discolored surfaces.
The seller doesn’t mention what’s under the hood, but it’s definitely an Oldsmobile V8 (see the oil filler near the front of the engine?). Cutlass buyers in 1976 could order a 260, 350, or 455 cubic-inch V8 with horsepower ratings ranging from 110 to 190. I doubt this is a 455, so I’d say it’s one of the small-blocks: We’ll cross our fingers that it’s the 350. The seller says that “the car runs great and everything works fine,” so we’ll have to assume that the air conditioning is included, which would be refreshing in the world of collector cars.
A decent number of photographs show tired paint and solid sheetmetal. There are no undercarriage pictures included, but the usual suspects, including door jambs and rocker panels, look good. A set of Oldsmobile “rally” wheels will be “included with the car at full asking price.” You’ll apparently get two spare tires along with the deal.
The seller says that he bought the car in order to make a 4-4-2 clone but never got around to it. That would certainly be an easy project considering that the 4-4-2 was based on the Cutlass S Coupe, and I think I’d even keep the base hubcaps. It’s a slippery slope to start dreaming about what you’d do with your new purchase, but a big 455 would fit right in. Maybe you could build the ultimate sleeper. Or maybe you could just leave it alone and enjoy the drive. Whatever made the Cutlass so popular when new would still apply today, so why not?
The ad has a picture of the VIN in the door jamb…F code means 260 V8.
Ample opportunity if a change is desired…from a simple turbo muffler (or two), or reach deeper into the piggy bank for faster Oldsmobile powered acceleration.
Good catch…Thanks!
Thanks Big_Fun for that info! The seller doesn’t realize that the 260 makes a big difference in desirability. It’s an interesting car – but with the 260 V8 – that’s about it.
A bread 🍞 and butter 🧈 offering from Dr Olds. Considering the base roots, a powertrain swap would be a welcome idea. And agree w you Toth, leave those stock hubcaps alone. Sleeper potential bigtime. 🏁
This car has one of the best looking noses of the mid-70’s. As a kid I still remember it and the Chevrolet Laguna/S-3 from the segments of ABC’s Wide Workd of Sports that featured NASCAR. That sloped nose was uncommon even then, it will make a great foundation for a project.m.
Steve R
They found out that the Supreme roof line and flat nose did not work for Nascar , so this special nose was designed to be more aerodynamic. only the S models and 442s used it. Since most Cutlass models were the Supremes, it was rarely seen on the streets
That car looks familiar – I think I’ve seen it around town somewhere recently.
my dad got his driver’s license in a 350 4 Speed equipped 1974 Cutlass S and used to drive his dad to work and take the car to school his sr. year of High School 76-77 and his grandmother and father laughed at him when he paid 4,800 for a 1979 Toyota Corolla station wagon where as a 2024 Corolla Cross starts at 24,000 and a monthly payment of 632 over a 3 year purchase
As if anyone doesn’t know. Fishing is better in the rust belt, thus the ad in Wisconsin. The cutlass was popular in it’s day. Good luck to the seller.
Equipped with rich vinyl interior and air conditioning. Don’t people know how to spiff a car up for sale?
260 v8 were under powered gas pigs. 10k too much $.5k would be a good deal. olds rally wheels are a dime a dozen.
Alero,
The Olds 260 V8 was an engine that made for gas mileage and nothing else. Sure, it was not like a 350 but people bought it for the gas mileage. My dad had a 76 Cutlass Supreme with that engine. Good car, good times, and good memories. You could get a nice car for around 5- 6 grand. Enjoy and drive it. Who cares if you can’t beat anyone at the red-light. There have been worse engines and cars made. Enjoy it.
I had two Supreme Broughams back in the day, a ’76 and a ’77, both were 350 4bbl and gave me 17mpg on the highway. I had a co worker back then that bragged that his mom’s ’77 with the 260 got 18 mpg. Whoop dee doo, a whopping one mpg improvement.
ymmv
I have never been a fan of the base model colonnades. This car is crying to it’s GM daddy for a proper landau roof treatment with an opera window. without gingerbread, these cars just don’t look right and extremely cheap. Hence strong Supreme sales
Goodness, this car was run hard and put away wet.
Rough life I’d say…plus that engine, oofah.