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One-Owner Survivor: 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

The Cutlass Supreme was Oldsmobile’s premium mid-size car from 1966-97 and evolved to become not only the company’s most popular automobile but also the highest-selling model in its class. In 1972, the Holiday Hardtop, like the seller’s car, represented more than a third of all Cutlass production that year. This vehicle has only had one previous owner who kept it in the garage and – except for the rear quarter panels – looks as good today as it did when new. Located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and offered here on eBay by a dealer of sorts, the bidding has reached $6,850 with no reserve in play.

Second-generation Cutlass Supremes were built from 1968-72 and were money-makers for Oldsmobile. Out of total division production in ’72 of more than 762,000 cars, the Cutlass made up nearly 300,000 of that number and the Supreme formal hardtop (aka Holiday Hardtop) saw 105,000 copies built. The seller’s car left the factory with Flame Orange paint and a tan vinyl top and matching interior (said to be leather, but likely super-duper vinyl). The car has seen less than 80,000 miles in the past 49 years.

As the story goes, this Oldsmobile was purchased new in Philadelphia as a surprise birthday gift for the original owner’s wife. It was used regularly for several years, but less so later. The car presents well until you look at the rear quarter panels. The driver’s side has a bit of rust, but the passenger side is quite intrusive behind the wheel well. But since the paint shines so nicely, hopefully, it will match up after the damage is repaired. The interior looks original and well-kept although there is a non-matching patch on the driver’s side seatback.

This is a numbers-matching Olds with a “Rocket’ 350 cubic-inch V8 and Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. We’re told it starts up every time, runs, and drives great. The seller has the car’s maintenance records and other documentation going back to at least the mid-1970s. Hagerty estimates one of these cars in Good Condition is $15,000 but everything fixed up might get you to Excellent and $20,000.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo normadesmond

    Hard not to smile.

    Like 4
  2. Avatar photo Mark C

    I love this car. Makes me wish I had a spot in the garage. That orange is great.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar photo Bob Wade

    I bought one of these back in 85 from my landlord . It was his mother’s who passed away. White with blue painted top and matching blue interior with white rallye wheels. Very striking. Anyway, a fantastic car and the rocket 350 ran fantastic. Sure miss that car.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar photo Terrry

    You can see why these cars were so popular. They look great even today!

    Like 7
  5. Avatar photo Lyman

    I think we all have a “ sure miss that car “ story, thanks for sharing yours Bob

    Like 4
  6. Avatar photo Autoworker

    My Dad bought a new ‘72 Cutlass S, Viking blue , blue buckets, and black vinyl top. It wasn’t six months later, he bought Mom a used ‘72 Cutlass, Orange, white interior, and white vinyl top. Both were 350, 2 barrel automatics. This Olds reminds me a lot of Mom’s car.

    Like 4
  7. Avatar photo Bakyrdhero Member

    @Autoworker, the 350 2bbl automatic is a great cruiser. That’s what my 71 Skylark had. That’s my “sure miss that car”
    As for this one I would fix the rear quarters and leave the rest. I was thinking of some rallye wheels, but she wears her wheel covers so proudly that they would have to stay.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar photo Patrick Curran

    I had a 1970 and 1971. Both were great cars.

    Like 3
    • Avatar photo Ron

      I had a 73, 74, 77 and a 79. I wish they were still here with me! Such a sin that the great Oldsmobile no longer exists.

      Like 1
  9. Avatar photo Richard Isenberg

    Back when GM made good cars. Buick’s Pontiac’s olds Would have liked to see the underneath of it though. PA is brutal on frames and undercarriages

    Like 2
  10. Avatar photo Poppy

    4bbl A/C car. Should run well even with the big compression ratio drop from ’70. Looks like a drum brake master cylinder, but I thought front discs were standard on Supremes starting in ’72 (?). Bought my first ’70 Supreme (hardtop) in ’83 and followed that up with another ’70 Supreme convertible in ’89. The hardtop is long gone, but I still enjoy the convertible 32 years later….

    Like 3
  11. Avatar photo Ron

    Gorgeous!! Man that brings back a ton of memories when we didn’t have a care in the world!

    Like 1
  12. Avatar photo Chuck Dickinson

    It always amazes me that people assume since it’s not cloth, it’s leather. Heard that for years! Apparently, they’re too used to modern cars, but back then leather was ONLY offered on high end cars/models. This is NOT one of those. They’ve apparently forgotten that vinyl was used extensively for many years in car interiors.

    Like 4
  13. Avatar photo Zephyr424

    My father bought a white ’72 cutlass from a local little old lady for my older brother who was around 20 at the time. It had a 350 Rocket motor and a sunroof in it. They painted it a gorgeous maroon color and put mag wheels with thicker tires on the rear. I believe it had a 4 barrel carb as well. What a gorgeous muscle car it was. He let me drive it once and the motor sounded great during acceleration. A deep roar. It was a real mover. The suspension was very bouncy, however.

    Some years later he wanted to sell it and had listed the tires and wheels separately in the want ad press, which was a local buy/sell magazine. He scheduled an appointment with a guy to come see them, but got caught up at work and was very late meeting him. When he finally arrived after rushing home, the car was sitting there, but all four wheels were gone, having been stolen by the potential buyer. Was a great car though and I would love to have one myself.

    Like 0

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