The owner of this 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass doesn’t make any extravagant claims about ultra-low mileage, or the fact that this might be a rare car because of one optional feature. What they have is a Cutlass that looks pretty clean, and has served its current family since the day that it left the showroom all shiny and new. The family is now looking for a new owner for the Cutlass, and have advertised it here on Craigslist. It is located in Eugene, Oregon, and comes with a clean title. The owner has set the price for the Cutlass at $2,500. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder Andria A for referring this Cutlass to us.
This Cutlass has led a fairly sheltered life, and until recently it was always garage kept. This situation has changed, but thankfully, it doesn’t appear to have had any nasty effects on the car. It is tidy and appears to be free of major rust. The paint is said to be original, although one door underwent a repaint in the 1980s. As I said before, this is not a low-mileage special, and it has a total of 180,000 miles under its belt. Still, it doesn’t present too badly for a car that has been driven that far. The car has recently been fitted with a new vinyl top and a new windshield.
The interior of the Cutlass also doesn’t look too bad. The front seat was recently reupholstered, The dash pad has started to crumble a bit where it meets the door trim on the driver’s side, but the dash itself looks good, as does the carpet and the door trims. There is an aftermarket cassette player hanging under the dash, and I think that the speakers for this have been fitted to the rear parcel tray. For your comfort, the car is also fitted with a tilt wheel.
The rear seat also looks quite good, but I did notice some minor issues with the headliner. It’s hard to tell if there are some small holes, or if it is stained, but both would be easy to fix. There are no photos of the engine, but we do know that the car is fitted with the 350ci V8 and automatic transmission, along with power steering. The transmission has recently been rebuilt, and a new alternator has also been fitted. The owner says that the car runs and drives well.
Some of you will no doubt look at this Cutlass, and not be terribly impressed with it. Before you write it off, it’s well to remember that this is a 41-year-old car that is basically original. It appears to be solid, is said to run and drive well, and is wearing its original paint and interior trim. While it may not appear to be a future classic, you should also remember that cars from this era were considered to be largely disposable items, and a great many have gone to that great scrap-yard in the sky. These were built in large numbers, but the vast majority of them went to scrap because they weren’t deemed to be collectible. That means that in the not too distant future, good original examples are going to be increasingly difficult to find. So, for an investment of a mere $2,500, you could potentially be owning a future classic.
Perhaps I missed it- what is the one optional feature that makes this Olds rare?
It wasn’t crushed for scrap?
Article reads that owner “DOESN’T” make the claim of a rare option. The car is somewhat rare in the condition it’s in, since most of these were’t preserved or taken care of. A car like this is even collectible when in the sea of SUV’s, Hondas, crew cab dually trucks, this is something different, and will be a conversation starter.
Does the fact that it has Buick Wheel Covers make it more rare?
Read again more carefully… “doesn’t make any extravagant claims about ultra-low mileage, or the fact that this might be a rare car because of one optional feature.”
“Doesn’t” is a contraction for “does not”. In other words, the seller does not make a claim that it is rare. The $2500 price reflects this. This looks like a nice old survivor for a reasonable price.
It’s rare, alright, we literally killed mom’s Cutlass like this.
Jesse and Josh, can you please let the readers know what are “view limit” is?
We have turned it up to 50 per week.
It’s an old car you can drive regularly and be able to find in a parking lot easily among a sea of silver/white/black jellybeans. Not a stunner, but went from being mundane to looking very unique in 40 years
Silver,white and black paint,you can look into any parking lot and that’s what you will mostly see. The gold paint is nice to see if nothing else.
A nice looking car but with 180k on it, I would think the motor is probably pretty tired as well as many other mechanical components. It looks like it was well-kept and well maintained but how much life is left in it? Still, it’s cheap enough and would be a neat daily driver.
I had a 69 Cutlass Supreme coupe, drove it to 220k miles before I had the motor rebuilt. In doing so I lost performance and gas mileage.
Reach our “view limit” and then be forced to pay?
NO!!!
Future classic? Ha ha!!
I just need the floor pan. Same as an El Camino.
The Cutlass was the best selling car model in America for 1977. Wonder how many are still left?
It’s not a future classic, it’s a classic right now. It deserves some respect for what it is, but it’s not likely to become more desireable or valuable.
First colonnade Cutlass 4 door I’ve seen on this site. Glad to see some are still around. The 350 is a huge plus.
Neat car, but sadly it’ll probably wind up a parts car for someone’s coupe. Especially that tilt steering column. As someone else said, with 180,000 miles on it, everything is probably worn out. Still, I agree that it would look cool among the gray, silver, black, and white jellybeans in parking lots. I like that: “Jellybeans”, a good way to put it, as a description of today’s bland cars that are all exactly the same.
I don’t get that comment on the mileage.
As people drive their cars they fix what goes out.
Why would you think somebody drove the car 180,000 miles with out doing any maintenance at all?
I agree Nick, it’s a standout among today’s bland cars.
There is a couple of year older 4 door Supreme that I see in a driveway during my daily commute. It’s so nice and different to see someone using it as their daily driver, especially here in NH.
It would be something great to go up the street and buy for $2500, but if it has to be transported anywhere, it’s a losing proposition.
yep…good solid driver for the price – winter car anyone on the east coast ?
Handsome cars when new, better now. Cutlass was the class of the field for that gen of A-bodies. Nice car.
It is rare. Where I am from by 1986 many already had the rear bumper rust off and replaced with a wooden plank.
This is a used 1970’s GM that has lived past its life cycle. It’s climate as well as it;s owner has preserved it to live on. If this is something your mother of father had and you are into them the price is right.
As one poster stated a winter beater for someone on the East coast makes little to no sense for paying $2500. plus another $1200-$1500. to ship. No way I would drive an unknown to me from out West. No way I would want this as a winter car. After two seasons you would have to find another.
Again if I was on the East coast I would buy a Honda for a beater of better still a mid to late 1990’s Grand Cherokee with 4,0 power and AWD. Either one that has been maintained will easily achieve 300 K mikes if not already. When done kids will line up at your door to buy either one.
Where I am from most people with classic cars will buy a winter beater in the fall and sell it off in the spring. Older folks have no problem using a RWD car for a winter beater and prefer cars that you can repair with three simple tools. A hammer, screw driver and vice grips!
My parents ordered one of the 4 doors new in 1977. Their Cutlass was the top of the line one year only Brougham sedan in jet black with a beautiful plush red and gold pillow velvet interior. The 4 doors were built only in limited production while the 2 doors were one of the best sellers in the US at the time. The car had every single option you could order. Power everything, 8 track stereo, super stock wheels, 442 gauges, sport mirrors, you name it. What a sweet car it was. Loaded like a Cadillac. The 4 door Cutlass models from this era are just about impossible to find today. When they bought a new Cadillac in 1988, I could not part with their Cutlass so we put it in the back of our building where it still sits today. It’s rough now after sitting for 30 years but I don’t have the Heart to scrap it. Here is a blurry photo of the car back in 77 and another photo of it in storage.
Here it is in it’s current 30 year storage. The Supreme Brougham has a better looking more formal grill.
The Brougham interior with all the options is like night and day next to this basic tan Cutlass featured. The color combo made it.
I drove a 2 door model one like this for a weekend back in the early 90’s. The guy I borrowed it from had dropped in a 455 from an early 70’s Pontiac, not sure of the model. I remember it had a cam and Hooker super comps on it. All I remember was the low end torque was crazy. A real scream to drive.
180,000 miles. Engine toast.
Not a very nice looking cat.
4 doors ends the story.
This is maybe a nice first driver for some youngster. Worth 750 bucks tops
Thanks Del. Hate to be the one to say it but….surprisingly don’t think anyone said it yet…..
2 doors too many.
Future Classic……um….mmmaaaaybe.
Future collectible…..don’t think so.
My Grandmother had one much like this. When she passed away in 88’, she still had it, making it her last car. It had s little rust but low miles. It ran great. Had been through 10 or 11 Iowa Winters and sat outside most of the time. My Dad sold it back to the Olds dealer she had bought it from, probably for next to nothing. Wish I had drove it back with me to the west coast.
Had a 74 4 door it was great car to drive
Lovely car, who care about mileage on a 41 year old car? Pay the $2500 and have a classic you can drive in nice weather, get admiring looks at car gatherings and whatever else this hobby is all about.