When people think “luxury” in 70s American automobiles, they likely picture the usual suspects: Lincoln Continental, Cadillac Eldorado, perhaps even Buick’s Electra or Chrysler’s New Yorker. They may not, however, think of a mid-priced marque like Oldsmobile, and they certainly aren’t envisioning full-size luxury sedan feel in a mid-size coupe. That’s exactly what you get with this immaculately preserved 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe, available here on Facebook Marketplace in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, for $15,000. A special thanks to Barn Finder Zen for locating this gem.
This Olds is the last model year of the fourth-generation Cutlass, based on GM’s legendary A-body platform that powered the Chevelle, 442, GTO, and GSX, all of which shared this car’s 112-inch wheelbase, a staple in the midsize GM lineup since 1967. All 1977 Cutlasses came standard with the paltry 260 ci V8; whoever ordered this particular Brougham had the forethought to upgrade to the much more appropriately powered Oldsmobile “Rocket” 350 ci V8, adding 60 horsepower over the base engine (170 hp vs. 110). The result is a peppy car with excellent power and responsive throttle thanks to its 4-barrel carburetor. A Turbo Hydramatic 350 transmission provides reliable shifting.
This car is in exemplary, all-original condition for a vehicle nearing 50 years old, with the odometer at just 42,000 miles and no rust in sight. A small scuff in the Dark Green Metallic paint is noted on the passenger-side door just above the door handle, and there is slight discoloration on the steering wheel, but all other imperfections are incredibly minor and sporadic. The trunk is spotless, the engine bay is well detailed, the Landau-style half vinyl top is in excellent condition, and the original velour interior appears virtually untouched and absolutely SCREAMS 1977. It has a very distinct pattern that looks like it was pulled straight off the couch in your grandma’s house. It also has power locks and windows. There are no photos of the underside of the car, but nothing indicates any issues with the undercarriage of this Cutlass.
There truly may not be a nicer unrestored 1977 Oldsmobile anywhere in the world than this car. The modest $15,000 asking price is more than fair for a car of this magnitude, in this condition. I briefly owned a 1976 Cutlass sedan with this powertrain combination, and I was surprised by how easily it reached cruising speed. My Cutlass had the 2.41 rear axle ratio, which made 35 mph achievable almost at idle driving down the streets of my college town, and a light-footed driver can coax pretty decent fuel economy out of one of these, as well, easily reaching the 20 miles per gallon the smaller 260 V8 could manage under proper conditions. As these ’70s “malaise era” cars increase in popularity, they will no doubt also increase in value; who wants to be the trendsetter?
One of my all time favorite cars. I wanted a Cutlass badly when I first got my license, but just couldn’t find one I could afford. I agree with the author, if you kept your foot out of it and didn’t let the secondaries open up, you could get pretty good mileage out of the 350. The 260 I had in my Delta 88 would get about 18 around town and over 20 on the highway no problem. Great write up Nick!!! I enjoyed it. And of course a tip of the hat to Zen for finding this.
You’re welcome. I love the car, it’s gorgeous, even if a color I dislike! It has almost every option available, too. I hope it finds a good home.
I was just going to say, “Awesome, a green car.” I love green cars and colorful cars in general. I will never understand why so many boring gray, tan, silver, black and white cars are sold and bought. More green cars! More green cars!
Although I think differently now, this was not a car that me or any of my friends wanted, back in the high school days.
I’ve mentioned this before, my friend’s Dad had a nice ’75 Supreme 4 door that he took really good care of. He gave it to my friend when he was 17 (1978). It had the 350 and was an okay car to run around in, blasting the music from the 8 track player.
But, when he got a decent job and could buy his own car (1980), he traded it for a crummy 4 cylinder automatic Mustang coupe. Slow as hell, and the biggest thing I remember about that car is that it had a glued on plastic hood scoop from the factory / dealership.
He should’ve kept that Cutlass.
The standard engine for most 1977 Cutlass models was Buick’s 231 V6.
I have always puzzled over the rationale for changing from the round a/c vents in the 73-76 models, to the rectangular vents for 77 only…why bother? My mother had a 76 Cutlass S sedan, creme with buckskin top and interior, and I was just mortified that everyone could tell it was an S because of the sloped front header panel.
I always wondered about that, too, but I think the round vents were first used in the early Toronados, so maybe they were getting “dated” or possibly the rectangular ones were cheaper and already used in other places on the dash. The new dash pad molding costs were easily amortized with over 630,000 Cutlasses sold in 1977. I always thought the ’77s were the best of the Colonnades.
I bet the die that stamps out the dash panel wore out after a millions plus pressings. That was the reason the Chevy Camaro got a new dash in 1979 after 8 years with the 1970 version.
For being in Connecticut, this Cutlass must be parked in a garage for as clean as it looks. It definitely doesn’t look as if there’s any problems with rust. They definitely get an award for the way they took the photos, out in daylight and at the right distance to give potential buyers good details. The asking price seems about right. Offer them $12,000 and I bet they sell it.
I had a 1976 pukie brown, it had 289,xxx on it when sold, then my father found a 1977 lime green with bench seat that old lady had, think it had 42,xxx it, drove it my senior year, and traded it in for a GEO Tracker 2 years later. Now I wish I would’ve kept that one. Also had a 1979 H/O that I should’ve kept too. Looking for another 77
A very nice find and writeup! This is as good as you are going to find one unrestored. The engine bay and interior are equally as impressive as the rest of the car. This should sell before the weekend ends if not earlier!
This looks like my father’s Buick regal with robins egg blue paint and velour upholstery. I inherited it and used it until it started eating oil. I got $1000 15 years ago
15k. Budget?
In the sense that it was far cheaper when new than a Ninety-Eight or Toronado (let alone a Caddy) and not that much more than a Malibu based on its’ original market positioning.
1976 cutlass brohm…my mom’s car..Olds 350 motor..great car. Ac and all power.steering and power brakes.tilt.cruise.power windows..it was probably the best car we ever bought..drove great..very balanced car.and great driver.car.
Looks to be a fairly clean Olds. Outside of maintenance items, the obligatory steering wheel wrap, some floor mats (and seat cushion) and the Ford “Caution” decal on the fan shroud, it looks to be largely unmolested. It is amazing that the car still dons the original wire wheel covers. I am sure SSIII’s (which painted correctly in lower body color would look great) , or another style of wheel will be one of the first modifications made by the next caretaker. Unique color combo. I don’t recall seeing many 76-77 in triple green as it did not seem to be as popular in the latter seventies as it was in the earlier part of the decade and late sixties. There is some truth to the axiom “survivors are always green.”
Beautiful car. Wish I lived closer to it.
They’re seeking top dollar, some pics with the steering wheel cover and seat cushion off are a reasonable ask. From what I can see, it’s a top example.
I thought it would be under 10k.
I agree. It’s definitely a nice car but not a desirable car (IMO). I had a new 77 that, after 9k miles, ran poorly; rough idle, often hard to start, felt much bigger than it was although the interior was very nice, not much power and very loud when you stepped on the go pedal but it had a hard time getting out of its own way. Mine was all black, no vinyl and an extremely good looking car but jeez, I traded in a good running 71 Chevelle 350-2bbl for it and after the new wore off, I felt let down. If $15k is on the high side, I would offer $8k on the low side. Just me thinking out loud (in print).
Got one in the garage same year with the 350 rocket.. but with blue interior.
Not much for that green but that’s a nice one.39,00 on mine.🙂
My Dad had an Olds 98. That’s what I learned to drive in. Love all the Oldsmobiles! Had a Tornado also! Why settle for less!
Effortless and comfortable 😌 cruising guaranteed.
Little tidbit of information
In 1976 the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best selling vehicle in the USA selling over 600,000 Cutlass’s that year!
NOW Oldsmobile has been a Orphan Brand for many years.
My how times change!
A little tidbit of Oldsmobile information:
In 1976 the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best selling vehicle in the USA selling over 600,000+ vehicles.
20 years later Oldsmobile became an Orphan Brand.
My how times and fortunes change!
These were truly good-looking Oldsmobiles. It was one of the best of the colonnade platform designs. I loved the rip off Chrysler imperial waterfall grill and the tail light standing up vertically. It was a classy looking intermediate vehicle. This one is especially nice. It is the up level trim and you can tell it. It’s a great color for me too. I like green. I find it sad that Oldsmobile is no longer here because of bad management decisions. But it seems that General Motors is the queen of that. Maybe Mary Barrett needs to go?
I was lucky enough to order a new 77 Cutlass when I was 18. Black, Firethorn red interior 403 V8 and all options but the T Top. It was cool back then and of all the cars I had, the one I miss and wish I still had. I actually like the dark green on this car but might have skipped the landau top
My father bought a 1976 Cutlass Salon. That was one of the best built, & driving and looking cars he ever bought. It was Brown on brown and again a super good car…
Last of the best GM full size cars…we sold it to out neighbor and was sad to see it rust in to nothing after a few years…otherwise it ran great for them…
nice olds. i would swap out that steering wheel for the 4 spoke sport wheel. the price is fair if it is as nice as the pics show. i would try to get it for less. that’s great it has the 350 “R” code engine in it. i would not buy 1 of these with a 260 in it. they were pigs. had an 80 4dr brougham with 1. lucky if it got 12 mpg.
I went from a 1964 Cadillac to a new 1976 Cutlass and was a serious downgrade. The rear bumper fell off, the engine hood bent like aluminum foil, and the engine messed up around 80,000 miles. There is nothing special about these cars.
sorry you had a bad experience, but it was the number 1 selling car then. They must have been doing something right. My cutlasses, 75, 77 and 79 were all flawless
It was hard to go from the superior 1964 Cadillac to the median range Oldsmobile. Should have at least got a 98 or Tornado. The 1976 was #1 in rear bumpers falling off. There is a reason they quit making Oldsmobiles and I loved my 1964 Jetstar 1 I put 3 engines and 2 transmissions in.
a lot of bumpers fell of all GMs across the line of all the divisions. you must have got 1 built on a Friday or Monday. they sold a ton of them so they could not be that bad.
Well, maybe the Cadillac Northstar engines weren’t that bed because a lot of people bought them. I knew about them but had to have one anyway, not smart. The Olds was my first new car so probably left a bad taste in my mouth. Love those 442s!
After seeing only the pics of the car here on BF, I was thinking it was overpriced due to all of that faded paint on the hood and trunk.
Looking at the full ad, though, I then realized that this is actually in very good shape.
Great cars, and this one is Gorgeous! My wife had a 72 Cutlass Broham Sedan and that Rocket 350 got me in trouble!
I’ve always liked the 76 and 77 Coupes and kinda wanted one. Someone’s going to aquire a nice one here. Congratulations to the new owner!
I saw one of these with a 3.8 liter V6 in it from the factory.
I have a 77 Buick Regal in the garage. it’s a T top car that Hurst made an a sport Regal purchased new . White with black buckets and console . Beautiful car 29 thousand original miles. 350 Buick with an automatic