After a 40-year hiatus, this 1966 Oldmobile Cutlass convertible in Walden, New York seeks a new owner here on eBay, and the $6000 Buy It Now price may appeal to someone looking for an affordable starting point for a cost-conscious refurbishment. A crushed right rear quarter panel poses a manageable challenge.
In addition to the numbers-matching engine, this highly original Cutlass retains its original headlamps and battery! While many “flippers” write 27-word descriptions and obscure the car’s past to insulate themselves, this seller knows the car’s history and included details in the listing. Well done!
Once car designs moved from bolt-on fenders to integral quarter-panels, damage such as this often results in the car being “totaled” i.e. the cost to repair exceeds the value of the vehicle. As an amateur I’ve done one such repair, grafting the right rear chunk of one car onto another. While not “difficult” per se that process can be extremely time-consuming. Likely you’re looking at what sidelined this Olds long ago. Note the original painted steel wheels and hub caps!
The ’66 Cutlass features a stylish interior with plenty of chrome and a full console with tachometer. The “tach” itself served to indicate the car’s (and driver’s) sporting intentions, and GM offered various interesting tachometer options.
The two 330 cid V8 options made 250 or 320 HP, and only the sporty 442 model’s 400 offered more cubic inches. The seller reports the engine is locked and rodents may have damaged some wiring, but the power of perseverance and PB B’laster penetrating oil may eventually win the day. New car prices begin at nearly triple the Buy It Now price, making this classic a tempting alternative with ten times the class. Are you the one to revive this drop-top Oldsmobile?
If the car had a reasonable price, it would be a good project.
Only about 4hr ride from my house, verrrry tempting. I love the old Oldsmobubbles.
This one requires some ambition and it will be a great ride. A solid start. I’m sure this will find a good home.
That is a vacuum gauge on the console.
That is a factory vacuum gauge on the console.
Wash it for chrissakes. Looks like a solid car despite it sitting in the moist dirt in the barn. Kind of strange if it doesnt have more extensive rot underneath. I’m sure the seller has thought this all through…but…if he wants to sell it…he ought to try to get it running. No bids yet….
Agreed at least wash it down and ger it to crank over. Especially at that price.
I agree…Why do they think the dirt adds value?
To me it says: “What’s really hiding under all that dirt?”
If I was selling a car like that I’d wash it up and pull up all that rotten carpet and the mats in the trunk. (Especially it being a convertible) If you’re trying to get top dollar, and the car is worthy of it, show it for what it is.
I think some people believe the dirt is like the wrapper. They don’t want to wash it because that’s like removing the wrapper on something new.
I’d wash it.
I have had a few cars in the past that if I washed them, they would probably would have disintegrated… The dirt was the only thing holding them together.
Hard to justify a dirty, rusty, smashed car that has been poorly stored for 20 plus years that doesn’t run when you can buy one that looks great and runs and drives for about $7,000 more.
https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/d/oldsmobile-cutlass/6585863802.html
Wow! I agree…This Craigslist is a way better buy! Thanks for posting!
yuck, are you kidding?
that ghetto cruiser is in worse condition than the blue one …
I agree with the others. Take some pictures of it all dirty inside and out, proving its the barn find you claim it to be. Then for f@#%’s sake, wash it, pull the carpets out, clean the engine bay, get the engine to turn over manually, and then take the main pictures! Trying to sell it with mud all over it says to me (too) that God knows what is hidden under all that mess. Let me see what I’m really getting myself into!
That being said, I’d love to take on this project! I really enjoy bringing forgotten (in the sense of leaving it in the barn all those years) cars like this back from the dead. And an Oldsmobile is the only GM I’ve never owned. But I’m in the middle of saving a Buick Skylark convertible. And being in California, this Cutlass is way too far away from me to buy sight unseen. I hope it goes to a good owner that’ll do her justice!
I gave $300 for one of these in clean, driveable condition in 1979. That is equal to ±$1,100 dollars today. Even at $1,100.00 its WAY overpriced because its a hunk of moldy stinky rusty junk. $6K is ludicrous.
The price is too high, and the car should be washed. Sellers really need an education on how to sell cars. This isn’t it. I would be a player at half the asking and restore it. I had a coupe the same year. Lovely cars.
Shouldn’t the factory have called this car the “432” since (4 barrel, 4 speed, 2 tailpipes) isn’t true as the car does not have a 4 speed?
I enjoyed the link relating to GM’s tachometers. The strangest one that I’ve ever seen was in a ’68 El Camino SS 396. It was located high & center in the instrument panel., where I suppose a clock may go. What was strange, was that it was rectangular, with a vertical orientation. The indicator was not of the swept design, but moved up & down. Very unique !
I’m here in Salem Oregon with a 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible if your still thinking about an original car stored 25 years in a heated shop that has ALL original parts. Frozen up 330-Jet away trans engine is out and all parts are sorted on shelf including every nut and bolt. I was going to LS swap it (Due to it being frozen up) but never got further then taking engine out. Family obligations and medical bills. Clean straight NO rust and NO filler, Original paint Autumn Bronze – red interior- white top. Needs new top, rear bumper. Glass is perfect and all chrome is on car. Gauges and dash are good to great all there and no splits in pad.