The Supreme was the premium Cutlass offering beginning in 1966 and in production for more than 30 years. By the 1970s, it had become not only the most popular car in the Oldsmobile line-up but the best-selling mid-size car in America. 1972 models would be the last of the second generation of the Supreme, including this 2-door hardtop that has a formal roofline. This edition looks to have been inactive for some time yet may only have 60,000 miles. It’s waiting for restoration in Greensboro, North Carolina, and is available here on craigslist for $7,200.
Cutlass models would dominate Oldsmobile output for years. For example. in 1972 when Olds built 762,000 cars, just shy of 300,000 of them would be Cutlass units. The autos would continue with rear-wheel-drive through 1987 when the popular machines were downsized and shifted to front-wheel-drive. But during the Cutlass heyday, it would spawn performance editions like the 442, W30, and Hurst/Olds.
The seller’s car wears a little emblem on the front fender that says, “Limited Edition”, but I can’t determine if that means anything special. This Cutlass seems to have a two-tone white and turquoise (or green) interior with bucket seats, yet the exterior looks blue to me, an odd combination if they’re all factory colors. And the seller says it has a Hurst shifter on the floor. Perhaps our readers are aware of this as a special production car. This is not a Hurst Cutlass.
Rust is apparent on the roof where a vinyl top once was. It either came off its own accord over time or it was removed. The seller indicates there is minimal rust otherwise without being specific as to what any problem areas exist. We’re told the car is original and complete, which the latter would help if the buyer decided to give the car an extreme makeover.
This Cutlass is powered by the Oldsmobile 350 “Rocket” V8 with automatic transmission, a popular pairing. We’re not told if the car runs or whether the factory A/C works. The photos suggest a car that has been sitting for some time so you would have to assume a lot of time and elbow grease are going to be required. These were some of the best-looking cars that General Motors built and ’72 was the last year before the shift to the Colonnade-styled platform of 1973-77 that would sell well but be more prone to corrosion.
That blue piping looks like someone recovered those seats. Don’t remember ever seeing GM doing something like that. Could be a real challenge to be brought back. Have seen worse brought back.
i like the the Wal Mart “Special Edition” sticker
This isn’t a Holiday coupe, it’s a Sport coupe, or notchback. The Limited Edition tag was added on. Incorrect door panels and seat covers. Usually a bench seat with an armrest came in these but bucket seats with a console could have been ordered. Appears to have had a vinyl top that was removed. Sport mirrors were an option.
Pretty much another $1500 Cutlass…maybe deduct another $100 for the Trak Auto Limited Edition emblems.
Oh yeah, and the interior? Subtract another $500 for the Ghetto Edition interior.
Love me some Olds Cutlass and this one could be made into something nice, but besides the aftermarket “limited” sticker on the fender, we need to get a couple more things straight about it.
At first I thought someone put a GM HEI distributor in it to do away with the points, but then I saw the EGR valve on the intake. With those two things being later model GM items (74&73 respectfully), I’m guessing an engine swap was done in the past, unless it was originally a 2bbl and someone used a later model donor parts and made it a 4bbl with electronic ignition. Either way, all original is misleading here, especially engine wise.
This was the Cutlass Brougham, as noted by the formal vinyl roof. It’s original interior would have been more plush to go with the “formal” look. It’s not anywhere near a Hurst Olds, someone just stuck a Hurst shifter in it.
No such thing as a Cutlass/Cutlass Supreme Brougham in 1972, that didn’t come until 1976. The Hurst shifter was an option in 1972.
Sorry man, but I bought a C/S Brougham in 1972( still have the original window sticker, and build sheet from under rear seat ). have never seen a Hurst shifter in anything but a Hurst Olds in 72, but knowing that GM was the master at marketing in the early 70’s I put nothing by them (special editions were everywhere in the GM line, anyone remember the Buick GS labeled California). Other than that, this car has a lot of rust issues to be dealt with(no pics of area around rear window or leading area of trunk lid0.
Looks like the motor has been replaced. 72 Cutlass did not have EGR. likely a 73 or later motor.
There’s a lot of wrong going on with that car. This is a 1972 Cutlass Supreme (Not a Cutlass S-different car) and would have Cutlass Supreme on the glovebox door. I would need to see the cowl tag but blue with a white vinyl top and interior would be consistent with the offerings for that year. Dual sport mirrors would also be relatively common. The interior is the biggest offender. The white color would be appropriate, but the seat pattern and blue piping around the seats and blue-ish seat backs are not factory. They look spray painted. This was likely a bucket seat car to begin with as proof with the speedometer. Now we come to the center console. The Hurst Dual-Gate shifter WAS an option for all of the Cutlass coupe line. In this case it could have been ordered, dealer installed, or someone got really lucky, found one the correct color and installed it themselves. This car doesn’t even approach the possibility of being a Hurst-anything. The Limited Edition sticker on the fenders means one of two things; First-Possible (but unlikely) dealer option “package” that included dual mirrors and a Hurst shifter (why they wouldn’t include a Rallye Pack is beyond me), or Second-(Most likely) some JC Whitney crap stuck on it, probably around the mid-late 1980’s when the interior was redone. $7200? Nope. Though it looks to be pretty complete it has rust issues and I’m not betting it runs at all or if it does, not well. If running, it’s worth about $4000 taking into consideration that an original console and Hurst shifter will easily fetch $800+ and the bucket seats, although not the correct pattern, start at $1000 and can go way up from there. If it was bench seat car, maybe $2200.
Sorry dude, but I owned a C/S Brougham in 72, still have the window sticker to prove it. The special edition was a special promotion in different areas of the country to boost sales. Usually had updated interiors and the like on standard cars. GM was a master of this promotion. As far as a Hurst shifter, that is new to me on anything but a Hurst/Olds.
I owned a 1972 Cutlass Supreme with a 4 bbl & 350 engine. Triple green, 2 door. The Cutlass script should say Cutlass Supreme, if it is one. Mine had bucket seats with console shifter. Dad payed $450 for it in 1979. 60 something thousand miles. Decent car back then. I wouldn’t buy another one now. I prefer the ’73-’77, ’78-’80, and ’81-’87 body styles. I daily drive my ’79 Cutlass Supreme with T-tops and bucket seats. Wee-0-5 chevy engine still runs great. 350 turbo still shifts perfectly. And “I” can “fix” pretty much anything that goes wrong with this car. I probably will never buy another car before my time is up here. This one suits me just fine.