Having grown up in Pennsylvania, I’m continually amazed by the condition of classic cars from the even snowier and saltier regions north of the border. This splendid looking 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass in Vernon, British Columbia (Canada) may have ventured from its well-kept garage only to visit church on Sundays, accumulating a diminutive 33,000 miles over 45 years. Aside from condition and mileage, its factory-installed 455 cid V8 separates it from the overwhelming bulk of these cars that housed the competent but hardly hair-raising 350. Now this nifty mid-size could be yours with the high bid here on eBay.
One year before the front and rear of many cars got brutally rearranged to accommodate some famously enormous bumpers for model year 1974, the Cutlass featured functional and well-integrated bumpers. These GM Colonnade mid-sized cars offer attractive design and make great entry-level classics. While the W30 Hurst probably rates as the most collectible ’73 Cutlass, a 455-powered non-Hurst model seems even more interesting after you’ve seen a handful of the Hurst versions. If this car had a four-speed manual transmission, it would be fascinating indeed.
Gold paint and Oxen-grained saddle-colored Morocceen vinyl upholstery may not show up too often in 2018 cars, but it made a handsome combination in 1973. Through the ’80s you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting one of these Colonnade coupes or sedans.
Long before the Internet, you could ride around 100 or more car lots popping the hood of every Cutlass and never see this beautiful sight. Looking coy in its powder-blue paint, the mighty Oldsmobile Rocket 455 rests peacefully until summoned into action. Emissions regulations may have reduced its peak horsepower numbers to, well let’s not bore everyone with numbers, but you can’t stop a 7.5 liter engine from making freight-train-loads of velvety torque. Where the 350-powered Cutlass might squeal a tire as you turned a corner, the 455 could incinerate the stock radials from a 10 MPH roll, or so I’ve heard. Since the entire listing is “All original 455 with 33000 miles. Original paint and like new inside,” many questions remain unanswered, such as “Does it run?” and “Is the frame stronger than Graham crackers?” Still, all in good time. Considering the known and the unknown, what’s your top bid?
love it! 4-speed would send it over the top but this is still way cool.
no clue what it’s worth but $10k seems a fair ballpark given the low miles & original condition.
A total of 14 words in the listing’s description. Short & sweet?
That certainly leaves many questions to be answered.
(Such as: …33K or 133K miles? …how much rust, & where? …does everything work as it is supposed to? …how many owners? …service history or receipts? …does it come with a case of Red Racer IPA in the trunk? …etc, etc.)
Either the seller is simply just not very loquacious, or they are choosing to let the buyer discover the car’s condition (good or bad) on their own.
At least a phone number was included.
One glance at the interior, and it has to be 33K
I had a 73 Olds 442, with a 455 and factory 4spd. It was a fun car. Could get rubber in all 4 gears. I think the 73 is the best looking year for the 1973-1977 colonnade body style for Oldsmobile. I miss that car, even had the swivel bucket seats. Won it on eBay by .07¢ and it was in the next town over.
V in the VIN? Would love to have pics and info for my V Code registry. Vette442@hotmail.com.
’73s had the worst front bumpers. GM cobbled them together on many models and too many looked like this one, sticking out like a diving board.
Its very cheap compared what I paid for my 1979 Less powerful Hurst/Olds got 6900 original miles I paid 22K for it 2 years ago !!
Nice car, but no AC???
If the car is originally from British Columbia it wouldn’t be missed. Air conditioning is not important everywhere, it rarely gets above high-70’s to low-80’s and is never humid where I live, during the heart of the summer the highs are usually mid-70’s. It’s a nice feature, but hardly necessary.
Steve R
Recently it’s been 800°C / 1,472°F in British Columbia, based on all the smoke I saw in Banff a few weeks ago.
Are you kidding? The summer months here in Vancouver routinely have July August in the 30+ C range. Without AC in home and car, people would be very uncomfortable here.
Yeah, I live 1 mile from the border [us side] and 40 miles form vancouver bc. I dont think I had a/c till my 30s in rig. Majority of homes here dont. When we were kids almost no one had it in cars. Waay too fancy.. ;)
In Vernon it would get near 100 in summers. 250 miles N, BUT it is dry up there. Like MT but no hippie movie stars
I think this is actually a Cutlass Supreme as the Cutlass had different rear windows in 73 ( I believe). I had a burgundy 73 with the 350 as my first car. Thought it was horrible until I dragged an IROC Z and blew it’s doors off in the mid 80s. I always wanted the rally wheels this one has but totaled it too soon for that upgrade. Guy who bought it from my dad bought it for the engine and transmission for his race car for pretty much what we had into it. Lots of good memories.
This car appears to have A/C. The interior has vents across the dash. It looks to have tilt wheel as well. Beautiful Cutlass. Mom has a 72 ,last of the b bodies. 350. It moved, and trouble free car. It was the S model.
Nice write up Todd, great to see the ‘swing a dead cat’ phrase is still around.
Thanks leiniedude!
Hi Todd. My uncle was the original owner of this car and sold it with only 17,000 miles. He ordered it new from a local dealer in the Kootenays. Car spent most of its life parked in a garage because he drove his truck back and forth to work. I have some more information on the car if the new owner ever wants to find out. I can be emailed if you so wish.
Hello Marcello. Thanks for the extra information! It’s always great to hear more of a car’s story here on barnfinds.com. Your uncle had good taste. My philosophy is “Never buy a car that could have been purchased with a bigger engine.” I love it when a normal-looking car packs a hidden wallop. Good luck to the new owner. Thanks again, Marcello!
The car was purchased from Kay’s Motors in Trail BC and was a special order. The car was in Nelson, BC up until he sold it to the second owner. Upon my uncle’s passing we found some paperwork that had indicated he wanted the swivel bucket seats to come with the car. Unfortunately he received a letter indicating swivel seats were not available. Rally wheels were added by the second owner who lived in the small town of Salmo. My uncle was always big on horse power so he opted for the 455 rocket. I think it may have posi as well. It would be great to speak with the new owner one day. I hope he cares for it like my uncle did. It would be hard to find a car as original as this.
I say between 1973 and 77, the 73s were the best looking year with the still normal looking rear bumper.
it is a matter of opinion, really, but I like the 75s better , but, I wouldn’t cast this one aside either !
Looks beautiful! Even has the “Super Stock” mag wheels by Olds! It may get in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Looks “all original,” too! This was the best selling model car in America for almost ten years, and this example demonstrates why. It’s great that it has the bucket seats and console gear selector, in my opinion. I bet it rides and handles nicely.
Vernon is about 250 miles Inland from Vancouver and High temps in the summer there typically run well into triple digits, Plus it’s a dry climate of the kind much closer to Southern California and especially The Damp coast of BC. You would definitely miss having aircon in the summer maybe that’s why it only has 33 K miles on it. And rusty local cars are uncommon in that part of BC especially compared to the coast
I know of this car and the Seller/collector, bit of a recluse. Car is understated. It is Vernon BC car from new, little road rash by bottom of quarters thats it is minor, zero rust anywhere. Other then color combo sweet ride, when I saw the car I remember it had factory duals, no A/C
If only it had ac
Neat-o……
Sold for $8100.
Nice deal, IMO.
0An Old timer once told me 33000 miles or 133000 miles go straight to the brake pad. If 133000 miles right side nearest gas petal will be worn much more maybe even see some metal. 33000 miles and brake pad should be near to new looking with hardly and wear noticeable. Ya ya for all the nah sayers out there with the ” they could have changed out the brake pad” mentality! The original pads have marking stamped in circle on inside of brake pad facing metal that denotes it as original
I think that was a steal, not sure because I have no clue about those cars, but it seems that even a 350 in the same condition would be worth $8100
No AC No Sale, VERY NECESSARY
This message is for “Marcello”. My name is Joe and I am the owner of your uncles old car 1973 Cutlass 455. I would love to talk to you about the car.
My email address is ggoulding25@gmail.com.
Thanks, Joe
Hi Joe. I emailed you at the address you provided. Please check your inbox