You might see this 1971 Cutlass Convertible and say to yourself, “What a tidy little car.” And it is, though not so little as these used to seem. Nonetheless, this is a nice one, apparently a Santa Barbara, CA resident (though currently wearing Montana tags) available here on ebay for a current bid of $15K and a week to go in the auction. Probably a good bet would be that the current price is just a starting point.

The Cutlass came out for the 1961 model year and would eventually be offered in many forms, including two- and four-doors, station wagons, and drop tops, like this one. The third generation encompassed 1968-72 and featured memorable models and options packages like the Hurst/Olds and the 442. Muscle touches available included the W-31 option, a ram air setup. The car on sale here has 80,000 miles on the original 350 Rocket V8, which comes equipped with a Turbo 350 3-speed automatic transmission. It also features the dual gate “his and hers” shifter, which is explained and illustrated here online. The seller doesn’t comment further on this, and I find no documentary evidence that this is original equipment, though it certainly looks right with the console. Note that there are other, similar cars in the market, so let’s assume the best, and you expert Cutlass people amongst the Barn Finds community can weigh in.

There’s some ambiguity as to the condition of the car. It is said to be “all original,” but then later is described saying it is “painted a creamy white color with gorgeous chrome bumpers and detailing.” Who did the paint? Probably someone in Santa Barbara or environs, and recently, rather than GM in the misty far off days of the early 1970s. Well, that means the car is not all original. Still, it looks good, with the noted exception of needing the seats repaired or reskinned. New covers go with the sale. It is also equipped with AC that is noted but for which no claim is made. Where’s the obligatory, “AC blows ice cold” sentence? Maybe you don’t care when you’re buying a convertible. I do get a bit nervous when I see accessory gauges hanging under a dash. Is that a sign of something that needs watching (oil pressure), or just a fun thing and a bit of a period accessory?

What else would you need to do to this Cutlass? It’s billed as “a great driver” which “starts, runs, and stops perfect.” Does that speak to its mechanical condition (the starts and runs stuff) or its quality (driver-level)? It’s just ambiguous enough for the little voice in your head to issue a warning. The difference between a solid original, a driver, and a concours champion (which one is this?) can mean a few G’s out of the wallet more, or less. But if the body is solid and not featuring damage-hiding white paint, and if the car powers through the gears and doesn’t smoke out the back, this will be one fun and stylish driver. You could add value with an under-hood detailing before you show it. Summer’s coming—time for a convertible!