This sharp 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Coupe in what Oldsmobile referred to as “Black” – not fancy, but it does the trick – has had just one owner over the last 47 years! Oh yeah, and it’s said to be all original, too, right down to the radio and the exhaust. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Nassau, New York, and they’re asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
Easily one of the most well-known body styles of the 1970s and 80s, Oldsmobile hit a grand slam with the Cutlass Supreme, in my opinion. Even though it was a bit smaller than what a lot of Oldsmobile buyers were used to, it offered a nice, quiet, smooth ride, nice handling, and a few engine choices, from a V6 to a V8 diesel and two gas-powered V8s, a 260 and a 305. This one has the 260 V8, and this car has 92k miles, according to the seller. Here is a 1979 Oldsmobile mid-sized car brochure for your viewing pleasure…
The fourth-generation Olds Cutlass Supreme was made from 1977 for the 1978 model year until the end of 1988. You can see that this car has a lot of nicks in the paint, and I mean a lot. Please check out the photos in the listing, as they can be enlarged a bit, and you’ll see an incredible number of nicks and scratches. I’m not sure what happened, but the driver’s side seems to have taken the brunt of the paint damage. A new paint job isn’t cheap, but I really like the scheme on this car in black with that gold stripe that runs along and goes across the top. Very cool.
The floor mat is crooked, and there’s a steering wheel cover… just kidding. No, it looks fantastic inside to me from what can be seen in the photos that the seller has provided. And for a craigslist ad, they have snuck in a lot of great photos; well done! The seats look like new to me, both front and rear, and the trunk compartment also looks nice. It would have been great to see the Mojave seats here. The seller says this is a solid car with a solid frame and floors, and I tend to believe someone when they provide so many photos, even if there aren’t any showing the underside. Nassau is on Long Island, so there could be some surface rust from the salt air and 18-24 inches of snow in the winter months.
The engine is the smallest of the two optional V8s, Oldsmobile’s 260-cu.in. OHV V8, which was factory-rated at 105 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque when new. This one is backed by a THM-350 three-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, and they say it runs and drives well. The price may be a bit aggressive, at least according to Hagerty, as the next buyer may want to spend a few thousand on new paint. If that’s all it needs, I’d just drive it and enjoy it for now and tinker with the cosmetics later. Any thoughts on this black Cutlass Supreme Coupe?
One thing you have to watch out on these is the rear frame – especially in rust-prone areas, will rot out and makes the rear bumper do the Watootsie…
I have seen what you are talking about back in New Jersey in the 1990’s.
That’s why you see the bungee cords keeping the bumper attached to the car! Myself, the esteemed author & others in the rust belt have seen that one more times than we can remember.
I had a 1978 Maroon two door Cutlas. I loved it and drove it until 140,000 and sold to a person I knew and he drove another 30,000 prior to putting another six cylinder engine under the hood.
They were great smaller car that did decent on the fuel mpg. It was my first sedan type car when I was in my Junior year and college and through being married and one kid times. My prior cars were muscle cars that raced on the weekends for fun. (1955 Chevy hardtop and then the 1969 Rally Z28)
Good luck on the sale of this car. Glad it didn’t have the small V8 swapped to the 350 Chevy transfer that many did back in the day when the engines started wearing out.
Won’t burn out the Hydramatic 350 w those numbers from the 260. So go ahead and goose it 🏁 Boy that brochure brings back memories. Had the whole lineup in there. 👍
Thx SG
Right with you Stan. I’ll take that burgundy Cutlass Supreme 2 door on the cover please. ( Thanks Scotty for postint that brochure) I’m suprised, but in a good way about the THM 350 in this one. As Stan said you wont ever hurt it with the 260 in front of it. Typically they had the THM 200 bolted to the 260’s, so with this one you’re way better off. Black and gold color scheme looks great. I’d probably want to paint it if it were mine.
Okay so I had a 79. Mine had the 305. Nothing to brag about but it had no problems going fast. The engine and trans were terrific mechanically. But the entire car piece by piece was falling apart after 100k miles including frame rot.
While really nostalgic for me (some great memories), I can live without another one of those.
These weren’t bad cars, with the exception of the back windows that wouldn’t roll down on 4 doors – I had a 1980 coupe with a 305 4V … far from a race car, but certainly more than adequate acceleration – especially for the times… it accumulated many highway miles between Nebraska and Oklahoma – sold it at 180,000 no problems
Still a big seller after being downsized. This is well equipped with air, buckets and console. Wish it wasn’t boinked in the nose.
I have written here many times about my 1st car and my current resto-mod being a 79 Cutlass. I live in the SE, so frame rust was not a problem here. I love this body style, and both of mine have been Calais trim level (buckets, floor shift, full gauges, sport steering wheel and upgraded “sport” steering & suspension). This car is said to be a Supreme. The buckets and floor shifter were options on the Supreme, so it is possible those are original. The grandma sweep speedometer and padded steering wheel are correct for the Supreme trim level. The stripe would not be OEM, but maybe a dealer add-on. The non-matching wheels would not be stock. Probably this one came with wire hubcaps and the owner bought some SS-IIIs later, or maybe a dealership change to match the rims to the add-on stripe? I would check the housing on the transmission. It is probably the light duty THM250 (or was it 200?) unit. My original 79 Cutlass had a 305 engine with the light duty transmission. I seriously doubt Olds would put a THM350 transmission with a 260 motor. As others have said, a close look at the rear frame rails is advised for a car driven up north. Price is a bit optimistic for a 260 (and likely light duty transmission), dented and dinged all over, with weird stripe and non-matching wheels. Will likely sell for under $5K and end up with big wheels, a wild paint job and “custom” interior. Bless its heart.
I saw the SS-III wheels are on the build sheet, but no mention of the custom stripe. I would bet the dealer swapped out the wheel colors to match up to the dealer applied stripe. After looking at the original ad more closely, I doubt the interior is actually original. Even with low miles, the vinyl seats would show creases. Reproduction seat covers and door panels are readily available and fairly inexpensive.
decent looking cutlass. that stripe needs to go. shame it got a 260 in it but that could be changed out easy enough. love the snow tires. you don’t see those anymore.