Most cars from the early 1970s tended to be treated as disposable items. They saw a few years of faithful service, but when they started to show their age, they were pensioned off as their owners went out to buy the latest and greatest offering from their manufacturer of choice. That means that it is becoming harder to find immaculately preserved vehicles from that era, but that is what is on offer with this 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass. This fantastic survivor has a mere 40,000 miles on the clock and is being offered for sale in a No Reserve auction. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, you will find the Cutlass listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $15,000, and with No Reserve to consider, this is a “winner takes all” proposition.
I’ve been trying to determine whether this Cutlass might have been some type of special order because its color is quite unusual. I can’t find a similar shade in any 1972 Oldsmobile color chart, but it looks like it is a 1971 offering called Bittersweet. I could be wrong on that, and I am happy to be corrected by our readers if I am. Leaving that uncertainty aside, the Oldsmobile’s presentation is immaculate. This is an original survivor that has never received any repaint or restoration work. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of significant marks or chips. The tan vinyl top is just as impressive, with no signs of any deterioration. The panels are laser straight, while the gaps are tight and consistent for a car of this age. The car was sold new in Calgary but has spent most of its life in Montana. It has been garage-kept the whole time, and this has helped it to remain completely rust-free. The chrome and trim are just as immaculate as the rest of the exterior, while the same appears to be true of the glass.
I am always impressed when I see an older survivor with white interior trim. Vinyl is pretty hard-wearing, but it can still wind-up stained and marked. This is especially true of white vinyl, and that’s without considering its vulnerability to “yellowing” over the years. This interior has managed to avoid all of those problems, and apart from some slight wrinkling on the driver’s seat, it is hard to fault. The carpet is free from wear, while the dash and pad are perfect. This interior doesn’t seem to need much, and it is also quite nicely equipped for its age. The buyer will be purchasing a classic that features air conditioning, cruise, a remote driver’s mirror, and an AM/FM radio.
I’ve been studying this photo to determine whether the headliner is marked or whether what we can see in this photo is merely a trick of the light. There are no splits or tears, and if it is marked, a professional detailer might be able to address this. One really interesting feature of this interior is the seatbelt instruction card that remains attached to the driver’s side sunvisor. These were usually consigned to the bin very early in the car’s life, so finding an intact one is a rare treat.
Powering the Cutlass is the Rocket 350 V8, while the car also features a 3-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. There were several versions of the 350 offered in the 1972 model year, and it isn’t clear which one this is. It should have at least 160hp on tap, which should make the Cutlass a comfortable cruiser. It has a genuine 40,468 miles showing on the clock, and the owner says it now gets no use. It seems that life has gotten in the way of their classic car ownership ambitions, so the Olds needs to go to a new owner who will drive and appreciate it.
If this 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass is as good as the listing and photos would seem to indicate, it is an amazing survivor. You would be hard-pressed to find another one as nice as this one because many enthusiasts focus on vehicles like the 442. It is a car that would suit someone unwilling or unable to undertake a project build and is ready to be enjoyed by a lucky new owner. Could that lucky person be you?
Pretty color combination. Teacher of mine back in HS had identical colors on her 72, but hers was a vert.
I had a 71 buick skylark with the exact same color.it also had a half white vinyl top.never seen one around with that color let alone the half white vinyl top.
I had a 70 S fastback as a winter crasher in the 80’s, just a real nice driving car. Felt solid and heavy, yet was fairly quick even with a 2bbl. GREAT in the snow with a posi axle…unstoppable
I had a 72 Cutlass in that same color, pretty sure it was not a special order car.
This car, paired with the Vista Cruiser wagon offered earlier, would make any driveway or garage a very beautiful thing to behold
160 hp. What a joke…
My 2000 Mercury Sable v 6 has 50 more hp than that…
Oh gee Mark, nice to know about your sable. Uhhh, who cares?
Cool man! A Sable? That is awesome! Do you “hoon”?
Beautiful car! My Dad purchased one new, yellow, but he passed away that December. My mom had to sell it and lost quite a bit of money.
This is one beautiful example of the last year for this body style. And I agree the colors help it too. I still would want to have a professional appraiser or mechanic smoke it over first if I were considering buying it. I can’t imagine much being wrong with it but you never know.
I owned a1968 Cutlass supreme with a 350 4 bbl rocket engine that could get me speeding tickets while it sat in my driveway! LOL A fantastic car in every way!
I had a 69 Skylark with the same attributes.
Color Code # 63, Saddle Bronze
Craig, yes, you’re correct. This was a GM factory color offered in 1972. Have seen other Cutlass and Monte Carlos in this beautiful
color.
This Cutlass is finished in Code 63 “Saddle Bronze Poly” (same as ’72 Pontiac Code 63 “Anaconda Gold” which I had new on a ’72 GTO) Extremely popular color in ’72 … still one of my all time favorite GM colors.
160 hp? Not at all more like 250 hp. And the Sable had enough horse power to drive it to the scrap yard
@James Martin
The auto industry changed the way they rated their horsepower in 1972 from gross ratings in ’71 to net horsepower in ’72. Gross HP was more or less the rating of the engine on the dyno with no power-robbing factors such as power steering or the exhaust system. Net figures more accurately reflected what was coming out at the rear wheels after going thru the entire driveline.
So that 160 HP net figure in ’72 was the very same engine that was rated at 240 HP gross in ’71.
And I think even the net rating was 180 for a 4bbl, which this car has.
“Enough horsepower to drive it to the scrapyard” GENIUS!!! :)
“The Sable had enough horsepower to drive it to the scrapyard” GENIUS!!! :
Nothing like a great Olds. I really miss those cars from when I was a teen. Everyone thought my 74 Cutlass was my dad’s LOL.
So that’s where Olds got hold of the famous “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile” ad line.
That’s grandma car only 160 hp my 4cyl has 180 thats ridiculous
Cool story bro…now make me a sammich.
..all this horsepower talk. Yeah, I had a ’13 Malibu Turbo with 258 horsepower. Torque? Well, probably a match…
Cool factor? This Cutlass beats it by a mile (or two)!
People sent months looking for a Sable to buy. I bought that car new in green over green. Absolutely a beautiful car.
Rad, a Sable? That is a sweet ride. Do you drift it?
I think the color might be Saturn Gold
No, as stated numerous times, just above…the color is Code 63 “Saddle Bronze Poly”.
I had two of these, a 1970 and a 1971. Both were great cars.
I bought it :)
Hey KP. Congratulations! That’s a beauty of an Oldsmobile!!!