It has been sitting for twenty years, and it does look shaky but this 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, which calls Bakersfield, California home, is a California native as it was built 56 years ago at GM’s Fremont, California plant, now Tesla’s west coast home. It’s undercover now but has obviously spent a lot of time outdoors and has the life experience divots to prove it. The listing makes one believe that the seller is the second owner of this popular intermediate model from GM’s mid-tier division and he’s now trying to move it to its third caretaker. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,300 with the reserve not yet met.
The first thing noted is the seller’s claim that this Oldsmobile is a 442 but I can’t find any specific evidence other than a 442 badge affixed to the grille. The VIN (3817) is correct for a Cutlass Supreme or a 442 but it’s not helpful beyond that. I noticed that the rest of the 442 badging is missing as is the distinctive vented hood, hmmm. The obvious visual is this Oldsmobile’s body. It’s mostly straight but is festooned with surface rust. The markings on the roof and the extended C-pillar moldings tell me that this Cutlass was wearing a vinyl top at one time, and fortunately, its presence doesn’t appear to have caused any roof rot. In addition to the primered, faded, and surface-rusted body panels, the chrome bits – the parts that usually withstand the test of time, are worn and forlorn. But hey, the Magnum 500 wheel are looking clean and sporty.
This Olds is a runner and the seller tells us, “I had it parked for 20 years so I recently did a full tune-up as you can see in the pictures. It has a brand new engine oil and filter, new spark plugs, a new alternator, a new battery, and a new fuel pump and filter. Car is running, I drove it on the fwy for 2 hours with no issues“. If this were an authentic 442, it would be powered by a 350 gross HP 400 CI V8 engine but I have my doubts and this may be a 330 CI V8 that’s actually occupying the engine room. It has a recorded 86K miles and I was surprised to see that it is still wearing its CARB-mandated A.I.R. pump – those babies usually get the bum’s rush early on. And note the cool dual inlet air cleaner, while it’s likely not correct for this model, they don’t seem to turn up often. The seller does mention an idling problem but I imagine that it’s a minor carburetor matter. A 442 would employ a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission (a “432” perhaps?) but what we have here may be a Super Turbine two-speed. There are no images of the shift selector template or the actual transmission so your guess is as good as mine. I will say that there is a rear anti-sway bar in place and that is an item usually associated with a 442.
Often not found on intermediate models of this generation is air conditioning but this Olds is so equipped and the seller claims that it works. What’s not said is whether it actually cools. As for the rest of the interior, the black vinyl bucket seat environment presents a whole lot better than the exterior. The driver’s seat is showing bolster wear and the rear seat is uncharacteristically displaying a split. Also, the headliner is having some problems and these fabric and rib arrangements can be a bear to repair if you don’t know what you’re doing.
So, final judgment? Inquire and find out what in the Sam Hill this 1967 Oldsmobile actually is. I’d like to suggest “Trust and Verify”, but this may be more of a “Buyer Beware” situation, wouldn’t you agree?
What is that crazy air cleaner? – not a “star wars”one.
Odd, but for some reason this looks like a full size car to me.
The “Star Wars” air cleaner was a 67 Buick thing, not Olds.
Its a California car set up… AND THIS CAR IS 100% NOT A 442!
SMOG AIR CLEANER WITH AIR PUMP…
This not a 442 but it is a pretty rare Cutlass supreme with all of the 442 options, someone added the 442 grill somewhere all the line….
Its a California car set up… AND THIS CAR IS 100% NOT A 442!
SMOG AIR CLEANER WITH AIR PUMP…
All 442’s were built off the Cutlass Supreme platform. So to say it has all the stuff a 442 has. Well yeah.
This car is a Cutlass Supreme California car and is a “TURNPIKE CRUISER” and should not be called a 442!
That could be a California Emissions air cleaner, hence the belt driven air pump. Nice to see one of these with nice options. I hope it finds a good home.
Its a California car set up… AND THIS CAR IS 100% NOT A 442!
SMOG AIR CLEANER WITH AIR PUMP…
All 442’s were built off the Cutlass Supreme platform. So to say it has all the stuff a 442 has. Well yeah.
This car is a Cutlass Supreme California car and is a “TURNPIKE CRUISER” and should not be called a 442!
Turnpike Cruiser under the hood. 442’s in 67 came with top and bottom rear taillights red and backup lights in the bumper. Not sure about the trunk trim, if it’s 442 correct. Sure someone will come along and straighten this mess out.
I had a ’67 Turnpike Cruiser that said “442” only on the dash, it was loaded with a 400 2 bbl with a similar air cleaner in red. Climate Control…..
All Cutlass Supreme cars had some package options in 1967… In 1967, all 442’s were built off the Cutlass Supreme platform. With this set up on this car. Somebody,changed the front grille and put 442… That does not make it… Sorry folks… This car is a California Cutlass Supreme “TURNPIKE CRUISER” packaged car with its California smog set up air cleaner and air pump…
Cutlass fender on pass. side not right. 442’s also had louvered hoods.
My thoughts exactly
I’m somewhat confused on the wording in the ad? Seller states, ‘ bought it new ‘ which I take it to mean, the seller bought it new?
Then it says, one owner vehicle, not original owner? This could mean just a one owner title?
It also says, actual miles, but the numbers on the odometer are all whe hawed? I seriously doubt the odometer is functioning properly?
Other comments posted on BF suggest some of the existing parts belong to two different vehicles? I’m unsure of which model it really is myself?
If the seller is the original owner, or even the second owner, why wouldn’t he know the above mentioned things that aren’t original or constient?
Just to be safe, I would ask more questions first, before even considering to make an offer?
Or, to really be safe, just wait for something else to come by where the seller doesn’t leave so many unexplained questions to be answered?
Just my oponion!
That air cleaner was part of Oldsmobile’s Climatic Combustion Control system, which controlled carb air temperature.
This may be a Cutlass Turnpike Cruiser, which had a 400/2 barrel, special THM-400, and a 2.4:1 axle ratio for highway fuel economy.
Based on the sellers added VIN analysis, though somewhat confusing,this appears to be the 400.
I’m not sure how you can own a car for fifty plus years and allow it to devlop this rust and ‘patina’, unless it was left in the baking sun, day in and day out, in say, Bakersfield.
I take it this seller is in the family that has always owned the car. To me that’s a plus. For what it’s worth, if I had the money, I’d throw a decent original color paint job on it before I sold it.
Good catch, that’s exactly what it is!
JO
How do you spell clone? If this is a 442 my name is Geronimo. Being rust free has value and engine swaps are easy on these. Finding a big block olds engine might be just as difficult. Good luck.
Very interesting car! Yes, it does look like it’s a cutlass supreme or something and it has a 442 grill added. Can’t really tell if it’s a 442, easier if there’s some documentation.
As far as the air cleaner goes that is part of the Oldsmobile Climatic Combustion Control system. At first, I thought it was something from a Buick Wildcat but an Internet search revealed that is a Oldsmobile part. The Buick air cleaner is ver different but does induct air similarly.
In the eBay ad the seller adds additional information but not sure how correct it is. The 350 was not offered that year. That year the other V8 was a 330 engine besides the 400. I do like that console and shifter! I had a 67 Cutlass and it was column shift.
Here is a link with some information and picture of the air cleaner.
https://oldsmobilesforever.com/1967%20TC%20WEb%20Page.htm
I have my doubts about this being a 442. Usually the 442 have badges all over them, including the interior. Looks like a nicely equipped Cutlass Supreme to me, in need of a full restoration.
Don’t know what the reserve is, but considering the uncertainty of what it is, and the overall condition, don’t go over $10 K on this one.
Several guys have it right, this is a Turnnpike Cruiser, kinda rare.
Its a Cutlass with a 2bbl 400, different cam, supposedly would get about 20 mpg. I Believe it has the 442 suspension, a little heavier duty. I learned some about these while I was restoring my 67 442.
A friend that I grew up with still has his 67 Cutlass Convertible with the Turnpike Cruiser option. That 400 with the highway gears and all that Olds torque used to make for quite the smoke show back in the seventies even with the 2-barrel. The air cleaner is a dead giveaway. His car did have the rear sway bar too.
The car is a 1967 Cutlass Supreme with the Turnpike Cruiser package. The oddball air cleaner is the RPO K50 Climatic Control air cleaner that was included in the Turnpike Cruiser but also optionally available on any V8 Olds that year. The Turnpike Cruiser was a high compression 400 with a 2bbl and 2.56 or 2.73 rear axle. This was supposed to be a “high gas mileage” package. Read about the 1967 Turnpike Cruiser in this Motor Trend article that also explains the differences between a real 442 and a Turnpike Cruiser.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-motor-trend-review-1967-oldsmobile-cutlass-comparison-testing-two-kinds-of-supreme/
Diana Ross was w/the only supremes I knew back then, We were
all into the shorter, lighter cars that could carve the canyons and back
roads in our area. This was considered a big lunkin gas hog w/o breaks
or means to turn at speed. Guys havin open shirts w/gold chest chains drove
’em while we had smokes rolled up a white T-shirt sleeve, engineer boots and a triumph/bsa 650 back up to our 2 dor drop tops.
You sure paint a picture, fella
Brylcream, or Vitalis?