Convertible offerings are no stranger to the Oldsmobile Cutlass lineup, and although they took an extensive hiatus at the end of the third generation run in 1972 the ragtop reappeared on the W-Body, lasting until 1995 and fondly remembered as being the last Olds droptop ever. This 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass here on eBay is a real barn find located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and while it needs a restoration the car seems mostly complete so if you’ve been looking for an early seventies convertible project this one’s probably worth checking out. So far, bidding has reached the $6,200 mark and there’s no reserve.
This is one of those cases where we get very little written information to go on, but what the seller does share is that his Oldsmobile was put into hibernation a quarter century ago and that it has sat on a concrete floor during this period. No specifics are offered regarding the body, though rust is visible on certain areas of the metal including both quarters and front fenders, so some repairs will be needed outside or maybe even replacement panels depending on how severe things are once you get a closer look. It’s also pretty much a given that the top canvas will have to be scrapped.
Another tidbit we get is that the engine is said to have been running when the Cutlass was parked 25 years ago, but we get few drivetrain details beyond this such as whether or not the crank will still turn after such a long time sleeping. No word at all regarding the automatic transmission, but the seller states that the front brakes are frozen and another concern is the vertical trajectory of those rear wheels, as the tire on the passenger side looks considerably farther up in the well than on the opposite end. Maybe that’s only due to the tire pressure or lack of, but I’d probably at least inquire about it.
With the limited views we get from the interior, it’s hard to say for sure what is and isn’t salvageable, but that steering wheel is showing either rot, mold, or both, and I’d probably swap that out as my first act of improvement inside. I’m digging that this one’s got buckets and a console, but the front seats are going to need reupholstering with the condition of the rear area remaining a mystery. No photos are provided from the underside, but if the platform is solid I’d be more enthusiastic about taking this one on as a project than if it’s compromised. What are your thoughts on this 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible?
Bucket seats were standard equipment on the 1969 Cutlass S convertible. The console and floor shifter was optional. Photos from the ebay ad show the PRNDSL shifter, which means this has a TH350, which was a mid-year intro for 1969 (the two speed Jetaway was the only AT available in the Cutlass line up to that point). Base 350 2bbl motor rated at 250 HP (gross). Manual drum brakes. Current ebay price is $12K and climbing. It will be easy to get underwater with this car, unfortunately.
I’ve only seen one Cutlass with buckets but no console. A wrecked ’70 Supreme 2-dr hardtop that I bought for parts. I still have the buckets, but wish I had a spare console tucked away to go with them. Were buckets alone on that hardtop an extra cost option or standard as on the ’69 convertible here? Interesting call on the vacuum trunk release. Were power door lock actuators still vacuum in ’69 too?
As I said above, base equipment in the Cutlass S convertible for 1968 was bucket seats and a column-shifted three speed manual trans. Floor shifter was an additional cost for the manual trans and console for either AT or MT was another additional cost on top of that. The base equipment varied from year-to-year, but in all cases through the 1972 model year, the console was NOT included with bucket seats but was an extra cost option under RPO D55. This is well documented in the SPECS booklets and the order forms.
Vacuum in all 69 GMs. 70 they switched to electric which makes the 70 switches a one year only item but the wiring and actuators go to 72. You can put the 70 to 72 system in the 68, 69s which actually work better but is not correct if your a diehard original person.
Joe: Where can one find the specs books you are talking about that show all the various options and their prices? Are they available reprinted?
Isn’t that the wrong hood? Should be a double hump with chrome vents on a S. Unless convertible’s are different
Appears complete and unmolested (except by time and the elements). No A/C, manual drum brakes and 2bbl 350 engine, but the factory buckets/console, original SSII wheels, and drop top increase desirability greatly. Hard to tell if it’s restorable from the description, but I hope someone deems it worth restoring to original specs.
What is the vacuum canister used for in a non a/c car?
Vacuum-operated power trunk release
I bought a 1969 Cutlass S when I was 16 in 1979 for 500.00. The tires and brakes were good, and I spent less than a 100.00 on fluids,filters, tune-up kit belts and hoses. I gunked the engine previously , and it looked pretty damn good. The interior was perfect, black carpet, bucket seats, and an auto with a column shift. That car never gave me a bit of trouble the entire time I owned it which was about 2 years and 40K. I had to park outside, and it was bitter cold, like 15 below zero, parent’s cars wouldn’t start, my Cutlass did first crank. I loved that car and should of had it redone,. I was stupid and the times were different. Every time I see one my heart hurts just a little bit.. I have had 30+ cars and trucks since, but that one will always be special.
Wow, not that often I run across a very local vehicle here on Barn Finds, but living less than 15 miles just south of Kennett Square , ( the mushroom capital of the world!!), I’d say this is worth my time to look into!!!!, retired Chevy guy at heart, and frequent viewer of televised auto auctions, this cat albeit a non 442 but potentially a cool ride for C&C,
Steve from Oxford pa,
Is Smokey’s junkyard still down in Nottingham?
Don’t like the rust I’m seeing on the rocker panels and it looks like that top has been damaged for a while, leaving the interior to rot. Total investment will be north of $30k and that’s only if the frame is kosher. Pass.
At the $6200 this was bid to at the time this went to print, I would’ve considered it, but at the $12,000 it’s bid up to now, I’m out.
There are nine bidders and the current high bidder has bumped his max bid at least five times after he became high bidder, so someone really wants it.
It’s not very smart for someone to stack their bids like that. Anyone can safely bid up the price with little fear of being high bidder just by watching their bid creep up the stacked bids and stopping before they get to the top.
This is a desirable auto but looking at the extent of rust I see that has been, bondo repaired–that’s an oxy-moron–and is coming back through on the quarters, rockers and fenders, combined with a non-operating drivetrain with practically no options, the current $12K bid would be a hard pass. Whoever buys this car is up-side-down as soon as the gavel falls.
I bought a 69’ Cutlass S vert in 02 for $7000 in great driver condition. Eventually I replaced the interior, top and had it repainted but it was at a far better starting point than this. I think there are far better projects out there for the money.
The old saying ´there is an ass for every seat ´comes to mind when i see a $12k bid on a pos , unless there is some hidden gold in there somewhere , the buyer will be drowning …
Unfortunately Olds are undervalued. At $12 k this rust bucket will need 40k of work, and be worth $30k when done.
I agree with you mate.there are a lot of people out there that are in need of a good head shake.they are over bidding on cars that they don’t know nothing about nor the cost to have them to the way they should be at.also these old cars are going to be worth nothing in the end unless you can do your own repairs.with all the greed that is going around you will lose money as soon as you buy one.
Is it leaning a little too much ?
I really hate to always sound so mean but it’s a total pig. Too far gone to reasonably get it to a driver (probably over 20k) and a full restoration maybe double that amount.
Unless you are someone trying to recapture a significant metaphorical with this car, it’s a fools folly.
Also for everyone concerned with the leaning, if you zoom in it looks like the driver side rear tire is flat and off the rim.
I bought a ’69 Cutlass S convertible roller for $850 in 1992. It had 65K miles on it and very little rust. Had A/C.
Was a bench seat car that had buckets installed; I removed them & put the bench back in, and stuffed a Buick 455/TH400 from a ’73 Electra 225 into it. Had to route the fuel lines to the opposite side & drill a couple extra holes in the apron, but it otherwise fit like a glove. New top, got the A/C going & DD’d it for a year. The acceleration was terrifying, though it would have been worse if it had a posi.
Sold it for $1800 because I was an idiot.
Every time I see one pop up in the Philadelphia area, I wonder if it’s mine. No joy. GLWTS, these are getting rare.
The old car world is crazy but if I ever let some of mine go, I think a decent home I Costa Rica is possible. Now, yup it’s a goo box which is a gimme for the area. Lots of things are available, and for the DIY guy an easy car to navigate. The one fear I would have would be the chassis, as they do rust forward of the rear wheels on these. Your then into a frame off which is the only way to fix the chassis correctly or find another which is no longer easy since it is convertible only but does interchange various models until 72. This is an easy number 3 builder, drive and enjoy. The top is stupid easy to do unlike the 71 to 76 big GMs, ” which I still drive one daily”. The engine is likely fine, squirt some lubricant in the cylinders, put a basic tune kit on it and fire it up. The see what leaks. From experience it wasn’t uncommon for cars like this to be shelved when the top turned to crap, ” cold in winter” or the rear brake lines went. Bought many years back with those issues. I learned early how to double flare and make lines. Price may be high,” to us” but perhaps the bidders are like me and know the car and what they want from it. Cars like this are so cheap to redo mechanically now. You can replace the suspension lines and all the brakes,”less drums ” for under a grand. A disc conversion can still be easily had at the pull-a-part as interchange is great. In closing a decent original unit. My only concern would be the chassis.