Appreciation for GM’s mid-sized Colonnade A-body cars (’73-’77) is mixed. Some like them, and others find them to be an affront after the uber-successful ’68-’72 edition. One thing that’s not debatable, however, is their sales success – popularity ran rampant. And of GM’s four marques, Oldsmobile and its Cutlass became America’s best-selling car in ’76 and that’s what we have for presentation today, a ’76 Cutlass Supreme. What drove those sales? Let’s look this very clean example over and see if we can determine the secret to that success. Pat L. discovered the listing for this Arden Hills, Minnesota example and it’s available, here on craigslist for $13,950.
Olds had Cutlasses out the ying-yang in ’76, including a Supreme Brougham (pronounced Bro-ham’) coupe, a Salon Coupe and Sedan, a regular old Supreme Coupe (our subject car), Supreme Sedan, and a Cutlass S Coupe and Sedan. Besides these, there were two station wagons too, a Vista Cruiser and a Supreme Cruiser. As for the venerable 442, it was still available as an option on the Cutlass S coupe but it was more about appearances than actual performance. Total output all combined? Just about 500K units – a huge number!
Whereas some of the Colonnades lacked, subjectively speaking, a pretty face, like the four-door Cutlass S and Supreme, the two-door body styles, called coupes, nailed it well, much better methinks than Chevrolet’s Malibu or Pontiac’s LeMans. Buick, too, did a pretty good job with their Century. Our 76K mile subject car presents excellently though I could do without the landau vinyl roof covering. But, if you’re going to have it, it may as well be in sharp nick and that’s the case here. Saddle Metallic, AKA “brown” was the order of the day, for Oldsmobile and everyone else, and while I’d suggest other options, it looks fine on this coupe. Actually, there seemed to be so many Cutlasses finished in this shade, that it would seem strange if it weren’t brown. Oldsmobile’s ubiquitous Super Stock wheels, finished in matching Saddle Metallic (what else, right), hold up all four corners and complete the exterior nicely.
Oldsmobile’s famed “Rocket V8” was still holding court in ’76 but it wouldn’t be long before Roger Smith’s cost-cutting, brand-destroying antics allowed an invasion of Chevrolet engines to make the Old’s scene. In this case, power is provided by a 170 net HP 350 CI V8 married up to a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission. The seller tells us that it’s “strong running” and is geared with a 2.41 final drive ratio. Cruising is probably great; low-speed acceleration runs? Probably not so much so.
Olds always seemed to do a nice job with their interiors and this Cutlass Supreme is no exception. The upholstery is vinyl all the way but it shows as being soft and supple with no sign of wear. Ditto the dash pad and carpet – nothing is out of place. This Cutlass is equipped with the usual suspects of air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, AM/FM stereophonic radio, and tinted glass.
So, back to that question about driving sales. Give the people what they want, add in attractive styling and a reasonable price, and boom, you got a sale. Now, how Oldsmobile went from these highs to their early 2000’s lows, to dissolution in 2004, is hard to fathom but I guess that’s what happens when you throw in some management incompetence and stop giving the people what they want, right?
Good looking example of a very successful model for Olds. Now is it a 14K example? These ride well down the roads and if I remember correctly got about 18 mpg. This isn’t the Brougham so it’s a little plain inside. Due to age would probably replace the timing set, usually they went about 125 to 150k but due to age that cam sprocket may be about ready to loose the plastic. One reason I wouldn’t pay that asking price. Pretty much an all day job, done a couple of them during my Olds ownership.
This is a real nice example that still looks as good now as it did in the 70’s. I side in the camp that this is the best looking model of the cannonade line up and one of the nicest cars of the malaise era. I still think the Cadillac Seville gets top honors. Growing up I had 2 neighbors who had 76 Supremes one was light green metallic and the other silver. Both were religiously maintained and looked like new. Religiously maintained means they got washed on Sunday. It’s a damn shame Oldsmobile and Pontiac were killed off. GM should have allowed each franchise to be sold allowing the name to continue to different owners who could develop the franchise.
Still have my T-top Brougham… 40+ years.
Ran true dual exhaust and a carb adjustment
to realize near 28 mpg at 55 mph. That gave
way to 30 over TRW forged pistons, etc. Also
swapped a ’73 posi w/a new 373 gearset. Add
NOS; and for 4100lbs, it’s quick.
Mine was a Drivers Ed car with 5,000 miles and turned in so I bought it as ‘used’ but it was awesome! Silver with burgundy landau top and burgundy cloth interior. Wish I still had it as it drove like a dream.
Note to readers- The Bro-ham pronunciation thing was a joke, or I sure hope it was. It actually rhymes with home. Say it as Brome… Brougham.
Bro-ham must be the East Texas way to say it or something.
Absolutely! I’ve heard it mangled as both Bro-ham’ and Bro’-gum.
JO
Good carb, dual exhaust and a 3.00 gear would go nicely in this cruiser coupe.
Had one just like this. Great car, wish I still had it.
My parents first new car they ever bought was a 1974 Cutlass Supreme. I still have it today.
can we see it possibly??
The older I get, the more I like this model. Not $14K though. If I did buy it I’d swap in some rear gears, 3.55 or 3.73, heads and cam and overdrive. So I’d be into it for like $18K. I don’t like it THAT much! LOL!
I do take some offense to the Pontiac cracks, lol, as I own a ‘76 LeMans coupe. She really does have to be one of the best riding and driving cars I’ve ever owned. Mine has the Poncho 350 2bbl with the ridiculous OPEC gear. Even then my best has only been around 15mpg. 🤷🏽♂️. Could be my twitchy foot and the Magna Flows. 😎. New gears are the next thing on my todo list.
Well then……Pontiac’s Tag line worked for you. I too drove a colonnade era
LeMan’s…..with swivel buckets. yeeeha !! (or were those in the Malibu)
‘We build excitement !’
Oh give me a brougham where the Buffalo rougham.
My Mom had a Cutlass Salon, same year. Same drivetrain and it looks identical on the outside; the inside was pretty similar but she had bucket seats instead of the bench.
It was a good car as I recall and I think she only traded up eventually due to rust issues. (Wisconsin specialized in salty roads even back then perhaps).
Hers had the limited-slip differential and we had a steep driveway but with about 240 # of salt in the trunk, she always made it.
Memories… :)
Lovely looking car. There was a time when I found most Colonnade styled GM cars to be ughly! Perhaps my favourite was the 1975 Monte Carlo. Most other cars I thought was ugly to look at. I reckon it depended on the make and year.
Wow, these cars were a dime a dozen back in the day.
Did not know the Cutlass was the best selling vehicle of 1976.
This car has it all over….what would be the best selling car of the mid to late 1980’s, the Ford Taurus. Bore us with a Taurus. The jelly bean on wheels.
Sad what happened to Oldsmobile…..i guess America’s fascination/obsession with youth…..killed the Old(s).
It still has the rear bumper, not a butt-less Cutlass!