The tip on this 1975 (or 1976) Cutlass Supreme has been sitting on the Barn Finds job board for almost a week. Why is nobody grabbing it, one of Jonny’s excellent finds? Is there no story here worth telling? The car is going for $13,500, and you’ll need to get to the Indianapolis area to claim it if you decide that your price point extends that far north.
It seems like more and more of these post-1972 Cutlasses are turning up for sale. This could be a matter of the barns being emptied of 1960s treasures and sleuths turning their attention to the next decade’s cars. Or it might be that there are more of these left out there than GTOs and 1960s Mustangs, and so we’re just seeing a natural shift in ad subjects. Or maybe everyone who wants a classic-era muscle car has one, and so the hobby is moving on. I will confess that I have a lot of fondness for this era of GM intermediate and would love to add one to my collection. But not this one.
There’s a story here, but it’s one of contradictions. The car is listed as both a 1976 model and a 1975. If the latter, great—no smog checks needed where I live. If it’s a bicentennial year edition, then no go. I don’t want to deal with the Cali bureaucracy every second year when this would need a tailpipe test. It is also listed as a 100K mile car and as having 110,000 miles. Maybe the author of the ad is just not a detail person, though. His entire narrative on the car is 14 words. Best to give a call if you have any interest.
This is a nice-looking car with the rally wheels and the half-vinyl top. The color is right, though faded and demanding attention. Various panels seem to mismatch with one another in the images provided (look at the hood compared to the front fenders, for one). But are we really at a place in the hobby where a car in this condition is worth thirteen grand plus? The interior door panel on the driver’s side looks like eight toddlers with dirty hands rubbed all over it a hundred times. The engine bay is in desperate need of detailing. This would be a nice car, with one of two things made different: either a price more in the $6500-dollar range, or a serious improvement in condition inside, outside, and under the hood. You Barn Finders can weigh in on the value here, and I’m sure there will be some infighting about how prices have gone up of late, but the number this seller is asking is just not something most of us are going to support. Right?
Jeff listed this same car just 3 days ago with a very different perspective on its’ condition. Perhaps the writers should check w/ each other before posting? :-)
This car is a 1976 for sure just by the dual square headlights, which was the first year for these on the Cutlass. 1973, 74 and 75 all had the single, round headlight. I know these cars well, as I have a 1974 Cutlass Supreme that my parents bought new.
Also, this car is in decent shape, but in this condition and mileage would not sell for $13,500. I have seen 76 and 77 models in far better condition on Mecum sell for about this price.
No, in fact this a ‘75. I owned a ‘76 which was identical to a ‘75 as far as the front end goes. The difference is in the tail lights, the ‘76’s were much narrower.
Nope. It’s not a 75. I owned a 75 and a 76. The 75 had round single headlights and the 76 (which is not identical to a 75) had the quad headlights. This one is a 77. The grilles on the 76 models didn’t have as many sections on each side as this one has.
No, it is a 76. Had a 75 and it had round headlights. I remember first 76 I saw and thought it was “butt” ugly.
narrow taillights on 76 cutlass supreme, this a base cutlass. Also they had at least 3 different taillights, depending on model & number of doors.
It’s a 76 in the front for sure. The Regal, MonteCarlo, Cutlass and Grand Prix all went from single headlights 73-75 to dual rectangular headlights in 76 and 77. The 77 cutlass had a hood ornament the 76 had an emblem in the grill area.
Nope. The 77’s had the same quad headlights. The difference is in the grille and tail lights.The 76 model grille was divided into 2 sections on each side (with a bunch of ribs in between) whereas the 77’s had a few more sections on it.
Point on, you described it well. As far as value, seller needs to begin with some basis accuracy of they expect premium coin.
I agree on the 77 I had a 75 round headlights the 76 did have the quad square headlights but also had the same sculpted sides as the 75, the 77 had the smooth sides like this car listed.
The waterfall grille started in 77.
Nope. They started in 76
No, I had a ‘76 the year the waterfall grill started. This looks like somebody put a ‘76 front end on a ‘75 model . The tail lights are definitely from a ‘75.
The tail lights are 74-75. Oops.
I’m certain that it’s a 1977. Grille, dash and tail lights
Nope, ’76 or earlier dash with spherical vents on passenger side.
No, they were round on the ’76s. Here you go…
http://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Oldsmobile/1976_Oldsmobile/1976_Oldsmobile_Mid-size_and_Compact_Brochure/slides/1976_Oldsmobile_Mid-size_and_Compact-12-13.html
’76. Round passenger dash vents. They’d be rectangular on a ’77. It’s also a Cutlass S GMO, not a Supreme. See prior listing on this same car
They were rectangle on the 76 and 77 models. The 75 model had the round vents.
Wrong again JJ
You would be correct!
“You would be correct!” was directed to Duaney
He would be incorrect. It is a 1976 Cutlass S equipped with the W76 package (aka the GMO). See the below link.
https://y76cutlass.com/y76
could be a 77. But NOT a 75.
Tail lights are 74-75. Too many gen Xers commenting. lol
Jeff51: not 74 taillights. From 75 to 77, they intermingled the same 3 taillight designs, depending on model & number of doors. I currently own a 75 supreme and 76 “S”.
It’s a y76 cutlass s with blocked off opera windows. It is 76 not a 75 I have a 75 442. Fair car not a fair price. No way anybody is going to pay 13000 for one in this condition. I just payed 1500 for a salon 4 door 76. It had buckets and floor shifter power windows power seats. And most of all a low production number. Some where around 7500 made. Maybe in another 10 year if it survives. 5000 best and even then top of the market for condition.
That is not a 1976 grill, I owned one as my first car. That appears to be 1977. 1975 had swoopy sides that carried through only on later year four doors.
Larry P: The 77 cutlass had a hood ornament the 76 had an emblem in the grill area, this is a 76 & looks like my 76 I have now & I’ve had 5 more of these in the past.
13,500? Am I missing something? 5 maybe 6 Gs
If you live in a free state, does the year matter? The point is, the seller is asking way more than it’s worth. If the title matches the VIN? You’ve got your answer.
$13,500…. really 😲. Ridiculous price for a beat up olds with 100,000 plus miles. Who’s buying these cars?
It’s a ’77. I had a ’75 and a ’76 and my mom had a ’77. The 75’s had the single round headlights on either side and round vents on the interior. The 76 was the first year of this body style but the grilles were different than this one and they went to rectangle vents on the interior as well as the 77’s. See how the grille on each side is divided up into a bunch of sections? the 76’s were divided up in 2 sections on each side. Google it.
JimmyJam: I’ve had 5 ’76 Cutlasses, all had the round air vents, maybe you had a late 76? though I’ve never heard they did dash switch earlier. Also note this is a Base model, which had different grilles than the Supreme. The 76 Base model l own now has this grille, dash & taillights. I have owned over a dozen 74-77 Cutlasses in the last 40 years. Your earlier comments are mostly right.
Nope, ’76 did have the quad headlights and waterfall grilles, but the dash vents were round on the passenger side until the ’77 model year. I’m 100% positive on that. No matter how many times you claim this is a ’77, you will be incorrect the same number of times.
That price is about $8500 over reasonable,coming from the rust belt.I’m sure there is plenty of rust that you can’t see in these pictures
When new, these were not great cars; there were fit-and-finish quality problems across the GM mid-size line. The only real value here is as an icon of a fairly forgettable series of cars–6 grand, tops.
William C Yanson: I think they are great cars! I’ve owned a dozen & own 2 now. I junked about 8 of them mostly due to rust, they all had over 200k at the time & 6 of them still ran! Very minor fit/finish, nothing noteworthy. I think you’re right about the price cap though.
I’ve owned numerous examples of the Oldsmobile Cutlass from model years 1970 through 1976. The catalytic converter was introduced in 1975 with single only exhaust. I modified one ’76 for true dual exhaust. I 86’d the cat & the single exhaust cross member replacing with an earlier dual exhaust cross member. The presence dual exhaust tips present on this car suggests similar modifications were undertaken.
Just throwing this out there the Vin # will indicate the year opinions are like a..holes everyone, s got one this has Been very entertaining
What’s funny here is that the ad has generated little buyer interest or praise because the year mix-up has taken over the show. That’s not a criticism of you BFers. This is an interesting and excellent discussion. It’s to make my point: the ad doesn’t work when it’s inaccurate. Anyway, I enjoyed reading the comments.
This keeps bugging me, the headlights say ’76 or ’77, the tail lights and rear side windows say ’74 or ’75. I loved these cars when they were new but this one just seems wrong in this respect.
Stevendallas: Nothing wrong here, this car is the Base model. Headlights are correct for 76-77. I discussed the same 3 taillight styes used in 75-77 in an earlier post. Side windows here all same on 2 door Base model & S model from 73-77, Supreme different.
Where is the link for the listing?
Definitely a 76 or 77. I just checked my Cars of Oldsmobile book. I couldn’t see any external difference between 76 or 77. 74 and 75 have the round headlights and different tail lights than the car in the ad
It’s a 76 or 77 cutlass s . Not a Supreme and not in great shape. Maybe 5k to 6k considering its from the rust belt. They are way overpriced considering condition
You are absolutely right on both counts!
Wow – all the confusion on the year model.
Did anyone do an internet search for pictures
of the different years?
I would think that would solve the mystery.
angliagt: Some confusion because posting mentions Supreme which it is not & varying year. It’s clearly a 76 to those who own them, I’ve had 5.
What’s up with the trunk lid?
It’s fitting real funky…
Joe M: must’ve been hit in right rear & bent hinge up.
This isn’t a Supreme. The Supreme didn’t have gaps in grill