The mid-size Cutlass was a hot property for Oldsmobile during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1977, the last year for the Colonnade styling that was adopted in 1973, the Cutlass represented 56% of all GM division sales. This Cutlass Supreme Brougham, the fanciest you could buy, may have less than 10,000 miles on the odometer – and sure it looks it. It comes across as a true time capsule piece, located in Clovis, California. Available here on eBay, bidding has been brisk and – at $20,300 – has yet to crack the reserve.
Unless you wanted to step up to the much bigger Olds Ninety-Eight, the Cutlass Supreme Brougham had all the conveniences available circa the ‘70s. The Brougham was reserved for only coupes and sedans, with the ’77 coupe outselling the sedan by a margin of 7 to 1 at 125,000 copies. These automobiles were offered with a variety of V6 and V8 engines and this car’s VIN verifies the one under the hood is the Rocket 350 eight-cylinder.
Very little information is provided by the seller about this car, leaving it to the photos to carry the load. This is unfortunate because I’d want to know where this car has been hiding for 44 years to be in such terrific condition. And how you only put on 10,000 miles during this period – an average of 225 miles per turn of the calendar. The medium green metallic paint has nothing more than a smudge or two in terms of flaws and the matching vinyl roof and luxury interior are just as nice.
Online sources seem to think that $20,000 could be top dollar for a beautiful car like this. But the outstanding condition of the Olds and its low mileage, if accurate, have already broken that barrier. What would you give for a beauty like this? And would you tuck it away or drive it like it was meant to be in the first place?
These are good drivers, ride nice and handle decent. Nothing to go crazy over but 350 olds gives plenty of push but geez 20 K and still asking more?
They don’t need to ask. People are voluntarily throwing their money at it! This is an auction.
I think a lot of people have just given up. They do not feel money is worth much and want to salvage the last vestiges of times when things were better. Personally, I sure wish I had a car I wanted to sell!
How old are you? When this car was around we had double digit inflation. The difference was that people respected each other more. Think for yourself, do not repeat talking heads, because they laugh at you.
You don’t need to be old to see what’s happening. Here I see people vying to spendover $22,000 on a vehicle that would have sold for half this 3 years ago. And this is hardly an isolated example. People are scared and want to go back. Or they think the dollar in their pocket today is going to be worth 10 cents in a year or two, or some combination thereof.
Put another way, I’m not the one you need to be telling not to listen to the Talking Heads, lol!!
Bick, the dollar will be fine. Do you see the ultra wealthy panicking? This is just an excuse to justify buying a car you don’t need. If you are that scared, don’t buy the car, move to the wilderness and pretend you are Grizzly Adams. The inflation of the late 70s was much worse than this and we survived. (of course it ended because the American middle class was sacrificed to stop it. Namely no raises adjusted for inflation since the mid 70s) Remember, all this is just because greedy people are raising prices because they can, it is not at all from anything any political entity is doing. As far as inflation being caused by too much spending, remember that of the 30 trillion, A LOT of it was from one party in particular, but at the time they were not worried at all, were they? Do we have to stop spending money? Yes, but lets not point fingers or buy cars at crazy prices we can not afford. Want to fix American? Bring back the Middle Class.g
I don’t think you’re picking up on the gist of what I’m saying Gary. I happen to agree with you myself. I was making an observation about what’s happening in society. There was no way I would pay this kind of money for these vehicles. It’s shortsighted and will come with regret later. If I had a vehicle like this to sell I would take the money, but I certainly wouldn’t buy.
But anyway, it bid up to $27,100, and didn’t meet reserve. I don’t want to get in trouble by posting the link but a similar 1977 Cutlass with 15,500 miles, and factory T-Tops, sold for $10,250 on Bring a Trailer on 7/27/17. 2 years ago, this was an 11-12k car
And 2 years from now, I will guess this seller is going to deeply regret not taking this money and running. And if someone pays 27 large for it, they’re going to be very sad when they go to resell.
Never believe a bid unless it hits reserve. They could simply have the price up.
Loved ’em then, love ’em now. IMO, these look so much better than the other GM varriations on the same platform.
I remember seeing the engine bays of cars from this era and thinking look at the mess of hoses and wires, compared to todays vehicles it looks so clean.
This is a gorgeous car in a gorgeous color. The reasons they were popular then are the reasons people still want them. Especially a nice one! It amazes me that 56% of Oldsmobile’s 1977 sales were Cutlasses, since the downsized Delta 88 came out that year and was also very popular. And there were plenty of other Olds models to choose from also.
It’s great to see a “Nicest One Left” in a really good period color.
Oldsmobiles, even in the malaise era, were always well built and handsome cars.
That being said, this is WAY too much money.
A friend of mine says “You never win an auction, you only pay more than anyone else was willing to pay”.
Wow, that’s nice and what a time capsule! It’s obviously been garaged it’s entire time. Wish the seller would have posted pictures of the front seats.
Wholly crap over $20k 25 bids and still not hit the reserve. They can keep it start saving your cash because this crazy market is going to crash and soon you can buy this for $2500 bucks and enjoy it let them take the loss.
that green interior is rather unfortunate……
A 1976 Cutlass, the same condition may be more desirable because of the engine.
“The Oldsmobile 350s made from 1968-1976 have heavy castings, beefier crankshafts, and better flowing heads.The 1977-1980 350s have lighter castings, including a thinner block with large “windows” in the main bearing bulkheads, and have crack-prone cylinder head castings manufactured by Pontiac Motor Division (castings are marked “PMD”; these heads were also used on the 260), and a lightened crankshaft.”
I also read that the Oldsmobile V8 was balanced up to ’77. I would say once GM started using one divisions manufacturered block in another divisions body, Oldsmobile had no reason to keep up the HD specs…
Another casualty was the Pontiac 350. It was actually a 355, and emissions took care of that one in the late ’70’s.
Thanks for your posting, this makes sense with what I read (in Hemmings?). Maybe that’s why the air cleaner doesn’t have a ‘Rocket 350’ decal?
Our 1977 Vista Cruiser had a ‘Rocket 350″ emblem on the air cleaner. Not sure why it’s missing on this car.
Author Russ.
Does this have the available rear 3.08 gear option ?
Otherwise its a malaise era 2.41
Or 2.56. I have a 1975 Cutlass Supreme/Hurst Olds with the Rocket 350 and 2.56 rear gears. And a 1978 Trans Am with an Olds Rocket 455 (I installed it from a 1973 Olds 98) with 2.56 posi rear gears. The TA is a beast. The Hurst…not so much.
I love the rocket 455 ! My grandpa always drove Delta 88s with the 455 4bbl in them !! His last one was a 75 he died that year !
I had a loaded 77 Cutlass Supreme with Hurst T-Tops. Yellow with white vinyl top and interior. Went to FL to bring it back to the Northeast. Loved this car and it served me well
I was the assistant service manager in 1977 at a very busy Chevy Olds dealer in New York. When a truck load of these arrived, it was all hands on deck in service to get them ready for delivery. In 1977, you didn’t need to be a car salesman. These quality made cars sold like stupid $2,000 cell phones do today. We sold all we could get. In 1978, I bought a perfect 1986 silver Cutlass Salon loaded including the first year Hurst Hatches in a regular Cutlass. Of the 50 cars I have owned, including two Corvettes, one I still have, an 88 Monte Carlo SS, two GTOs and a loaded silver 77 Grand Prix SJ with Hurst Hatches, the Olds was the best looking and most reliable car I have ever owned. God, I miss the 70s.
Stupid auto correct. I meant 1976 Cutlass Salon.
Probably wouldn’t have been my first choice of colors, but I admit it still looks sharp. I love it.
I had a ’73 Supreme, and a ’76 & ’77 Supreme Brougham’s back in the day, nice driving cars, all with the 350 4bbl. Put over a 100k miles on all of them, and never had any engine issues. I did crack the trans housing on the ’77, had it parked on a hill, and shifted it to “drive” and it cracked, dumping trans fluid all over. A local shop replaced it, but I don’t recall the cost (40 years ago), but not expensive.
As a high school student in the late 1970s, this was the car that all the “rich kids” drove.
I had a black one with T-tops in the 80’s
I have a 77 442 currently. Nothing like a nice GM floating ride to help ease the stress of the day……
Such a nice car. Could get these with a bigger motor also i believe. The 403ci.
I had a 73 ,76 ,and a 77 ! Great cars! I did have some good times with them!
I saw tons of these back in the day, & none ever with raised white letter tires, unless it was the rare as heck “442” version.
As usual, the color keyed (in this case, green) floor mats are missing.
Good luck finding replacements.
That upholstery is crazy cool.
At $25K, this is an “economy car” with style and provenance. Insurance, registration and maintenance all cheap. The same malcontents carping about the price probably own a $35K Prius and think they are stylin’ and saving money?
Didn’t sell, with a bid north of $27K.
Gets to keep it, I guess….
I’m surprised it got to 27k. It’s a time capsule and would love to own it but not at the reserve price, or the price it closed at. This last year prices for just about everything has gone up, from a gallon of gas, a pound of meat, a home, and cars, just to name a few. We are in the midst of inflation and it’s just a matter of time before our equity markets resend. With the Fed expressing that prime lending rates will increase soon it will trigger the financial markets to correct. If you have any collector cars you are thinking about selling now is the time. We will look back in the future and say we should have sold now. If your a buyer, buy to enjoy, and if your car loses some value just keep enjoying your car(s).
Nice car. It has been relisted. Merry Christmas everyone.
I had the opportunity to PM the seller. Very nice man who had the good fortune to purchase it from the original owner’s wife. Husband died years ago and the wife did not drive it much. She is in her 90’s now. The Seller got it ready to sell and wants 29k for it. He came very close last time and just might get that. As much as I would like to own it I would not pay that for it.