Some cars we feature here on Barn Finds manage to live their whole lives with a single owner. In many cases, the owner is more of a caretaker. Caretakers keep cars in good condition, tend to their needs, and keep them out of the weather whenever possible. That is not what we have here. This one-owner car was the seller’s great aunt’s car and auntie wasn’t polishing it up every weekend. Take a look at this 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe for sale on Craigslist in Branford, Connecticut. Equipped with a seldom-seen inline six-cylinder engine, this was basic transportation. Do 48 years of sun, snow, and time make a car a collectible? Is the $4,000 asking price out of line for a car with rust issues and in non-running condition? Thanks to Jonny for this baby blue tip!
For those of you who weren’t around during the life cycle of Oldsmobile’s third-generation Cutlass Supreme coupes, a little background information is in order. Oldsmobile produced these midsize coupes from 1973 through 1977. They were soon Oldsmobile’s best-selling cars. This is a big deal as Oldsmobile was punching out around one million cars per year at this time. During this time there were various oil embargos and fuel price hikes. To respond, Oldsmobile began offering Chevrolet’s inline six-cylinder to thriftier customers. There must not have been that many penny pinchers around, as a 350 cubic inch V-8 with a three-speed automatic was the preferred choice for a majority of buyers. In 1976, Buick’s 231 cubic inch V-6 took over fuel-sipping duties and the inline six was no more.
To better understand what you are getting with the 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme you see here, the first thing you need to know is that it was purchased by the seller’s aunt with one of those seldom-seen Chevrolet inline sixes under the hood. Many of these engines came with a manual transmission, but thankfully a little extra was paid for a three-speed automatic. It would be neat to see a picture of what lurks under the hood. Unfortunately for us, we don’t get a glimpse of that rare engine in any pictures in the ad. All we know about the engine is that the seal for the oil pan has failed and the car has leaked its precious oil all over the garage floor. We are also told that the car does not run at this time either.
Having been parked for three years, the seller is contemplating putting some fresh fuel and a new battery in the car to get it fired back up. If the bad gas is drained out and the fuel lines purged, this may work out OK. The car has just 115,000 miles on it. From there, anyone wishing to hit the road would need to do the usual hose and belt changes, cooling system flush, brake job, and proper cleaning. The interior looks like it will clean up well. While rather plain, the velour upholstery seems to be free of tears, rips, and stains. Given the bench seat, crank windows, and AM-only radio, it doesn’t seem that a lot of money was spent on interior options.
The good news is that the car came equipped with air conditioning. It seems that the seller’s aunt ordered just what she needed and nothing more. As a survivor car, it is definitely interesting when you consider the inline six under the hood. However, the most pressing issue here is the rust. Every exterior picture reveals rust in all the usual places. Most notably around the wheel wells and the bottoms of the fenders. If it is a Connecticut car originally, then you can count on salt being a part of everyday life during those 40+ winters the car endured. Even if you are religious about washing the underside, salt, and brine go into the tiniest places to wreak havoc. Add to that the fact that GM cars of this era seem to suffer from extensive rust damage in far higher numbers than what you would usually expect.
This one is a car that might be savable. If you are interested, then I would request an in-person inspection. Bring magnets, mirrors, a floor jack, and anything else you could use to thoroughly inspect the underside of this survivor car. It could be a beater, or it could be a good car that just needs some tender loving care and the usual injection of a lot of folding money. At the very least, you would be the only one at the car show with an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme powered by an inline six Chevrolet engine.
Have you ever owned a car with a rare or unusual engine under the hood? Please tell us about it in the comments.
Somehow this Cutlass Supreme sans the vinyl half-roof it was no doubt always intended to wear looks even more stripped than a one-trim-level-down Cutlass S which would’ve had the “pure” thin pillar/semifastback/big triangular quarter window Colonnade styling.
Add brake hoses all 3, all the fuel hoses at tank and pump ,cap rotor wires plugs, carb rebuild w/filter , I’d replace the pump too while I was at it,repack front wheel bearings,air filter,most likely brakes lines and fuel lines,tires, probably calipers and pads, brake shoes and maybe drums,wheel cylinders, brass radiator is probably done big money to recore nowadays and not to many people do it anymore, t stat, freeze plugs and heater core hmm ?,all front end parts will need to be checked and I bet you’ll find many of them worn out especially upper control arm bushings ,idler arm and centerlink, all fluids, all engine gaskets at least valve cover and the 2 pushrod covers on the passenger side,and I bet you’ll find more items I missed.If I’m gonna drive an old car on the roads it’s going to be dependable to the best I can do .Never saw one with a straight 6.Parts prices add up real kwik and you have to consider your time and labor.Been there done that when I was a young lad with rust buckets.No more imo.
Gee, thanks! That was informative.
Don’t forget the muffler bearings.
Damnit I knew I forgot something. Lol. Those pesky muffler bearings.
And make sure you order from J C Whitney a custom transparent sun visor and a high performance chrome floor hump along with an oil pan brick so you don’t have to put as much oil in it.
Buy a set of various sized wooden gas saver blocks that go underneath the gas pedal so your gas mileage improves along with the brake saver block.
I can say, I’ve seen a lot of Cutlass’, but I don’t ever recall an in line 6 in one. Just shows, “auntie” was probably a spinster who knew nothing of mechanics, grew up around in line 6 cylinders, knew enough that Olds was the right car and bucked the trend of a V8. I can just hear the salesperson,”okay, and last, what V8 did you want”? (they offered 4 plus a V6) her reply, “oh no dearie, a 6 cylinder is just fine”. A man in her life would have insisted on a V8. I read the coupe was cheaper one at about $4650 new, optioned ones, which this wasn’t, went well over $5g’s. Many of us wish for simpler days when a basic car like this was good enough, but will never happen. I think Americans are way too spoiled with their modern gizmos to do without them, but it really is gratifying to say, for auntie and me, this was good enough. Got to love the ” lighter” and “ash tray” as identified. No touchy info screen here. Simple times,,,
The sweet little old lady asks ” 6 cylinders is enough. What am I going to do with 2 extra cylinders? Maybe save them in case I need to replace 1″.
This was the same period of time when GM got their utters in the ringer for installing Chevrolet V8s in Pontiacs, lotta unhappy customers. I’ve never seen nor heard of an Oldsmobile with a Chevrolet straight 6, seems a disgrace. I like rare, but not intrigued with this one.
You’re thinking of the Chevymobile case. An Olds buyer discovered that his car had been equipped with a 350 V8 all right. It just happened to be a SBC and not a Rocket 350. That led to a lawsuit and another black eye for GM.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-1977-oldsmobile-chevrolet-engine-scandal/
Udderly ridiculous
What’s sad is today someone is under the impression this is worth 4K and the thinking that get it to start it’s worth more! Crazy, selling for a parts car is unlikely.
If ALL the oil leaked out on the garage floor? Hopefully the seller didn’t try to start this thing! I’ve never seen a straight six in a Colonnade Cutlass. It would have been really neat if it would have been a 3 speed column shift. I doubt that was even an option in ’75.
3 speed manual was standard equipment. Automatic is optional.
v6.
No. The 250 inline 6. The V6 never came in the Colonnade Cutlass.
For what it’s worth, the old Stovebolt had 105 HP in this application. So equipped, a Gutlass would take nearly 18 seconds to hit 60 with automatic transmission per automobile catalog.
A real shame they don’t include any underhood pics. I would love to see what this engine looks like in a Colonnade engine bay. They are customarily stuffed with a smog choked V-8 and miles of vacuum hoses!
I have 3 Cutlass’s Colonades with the V-6. Started for 1977
My sister had a 75 Cutlass with an inline six. Hers was nicer looking, navy blue with white landau top and interior. Very sluggish starting off, but cruised along nicely on the highway.
Yes, per the brochure, it looks like for the last year of the Colonnade, the Cutlass did come with 231. Automobile Catslog is incorrect. My bad. But this ’75 should have the 250 I-6 Stovebolt if it’s a six.
Not a “stovebolt”. That nickname is for the 1962 and earlier 6 cylinder.
Yes correct. Turbo-Thrift six! Replaced the Stovebolt in 1962 and soldiered on in Brazil and Argentina through the 1990s.
FWIW, it also powered Checker cabs from 1969-79, the Pontiac Catalina from 1977-79, and was in the base Camaro through 1979, and the Firebird from 1970-76.
A buddy of mine had a 1975 Camaro with this engine, I now recall. It was an absolute dog!
v6
229 or 231 V-6
Pitiful. Just pitiful.
Back in the mid 80’s I went to look at a 71 Cutlass convertible ” great condition new paint 2500.00 ” . Baby blue / white interior . Obviously painted with a brush , no attempt to sand the absurd amount of fiberglass and bondo that made up the lower bodywork ( never got around to looking at the frame ) . The stake in the heart of this sale was the straight 6 and 3 speed column shift .
I’ve never seen an Olds with a straight six Chevy , but I did see a 76 Lemans with one. We used it as a delivery vehicle for a short time in the mid 80s
The seller says it has a straight six in it, but there are no under hood pictures of it. He hasn’t even had it running – maybe its a 350 Olds under the hood and the guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about ?
It’s very rare but man. That’s for a good reason. What a gutless turd this thing must be to drive! 0-60 in 18 seconds, as I said above. A Tesla Model 3 Performance could probably go 0-60-0, 0-60-0, and 0-60-0 again in the time it would take this thing just to lumber up to sixty miles an hour once!
How much?? Hahahahahahaha!
Rusty, dented, no thanks
I’ve seen 1969 Chevy Biscaynes with inline sixes and plenty of weight. They worked. This seller touts this car for it’s rarity but, doesn’t show any photos of the engine. Think about it.