This third generation Cutlass Supreme appears to be an amazing find. It’s a numbers matching, black on black 5-speed car. It was found after being in storage for 17 years, and for some reason, it was abandoned. There’s no history, so there’s no way to know if the 85,000 miles on the odometer is accurate. The pictures in the eBay ad show it to be in great, original condition and there are no obvious signs of rust. Unfortunately, this Cutlass is from the days of expensive gasoline so it has the economical little 260 CID V8. Fuel mileage with this V8 with a 2 barrel carburetor was about the same fuel mileage as the V6 and they are a bit smoother. It was definitely a primary concern when options were chosen for this car. On the plus side, at least it has AC, is a numbers matching car and is said to be rust free. There’s no daylight showing through the floor of the trunk, but it might just be rust plugging the holes. The seller doesn’t tell us if it even runs.
Things look to be in decent shape inside with no signs of rodent habitation. That aftermarket stereo gear needs to go, of course. Except for AC, this Cutless looks pretty bare. It has bucket seats but there’s no console, power windows, cruise and perhaps no power steering. This interior could look really nice after a good cleaning.
The little 260 V8 is buried in their somewhere. It looks complete except for the missing air duct. There is no sign of damage to the core support or the inner fenders, so likely there are no collisions in its past. Like the interior, this could all look really with a good detail.
This Cutlass looks like a really nice straight car, does it not? Vinyl tops are always a gamble, but this one looks pretty good in the pictures. There’s some real potential here. The tires look nice, but surely they’re well past their shelf life. There are lots of “go faster” goodies available for the 260 if the new owner wants to keep it numbers matching. Otherwise, there are lots of engines to choose from as well as suspension and brake upgrades. Some might even consider a nose job and create a 442 clone. It will be interesting to read what our readers have in mind for this car.
My Dad had a 260 in his 1978 Olds Cutlass. Very easy to swap in a 403 Olds in it’s place. Same external dimensions. Tons more torque.
This is the correct answer!
The 403 will blow up that trans in no time……
I doubt that trans would handle a 403. Very unlike GM to overbuild a car like that with a trans that could handle a big block. I would be surprised if they didn’t use that same trans on the V6’s.
NO TITLE!!!
This should throw up lots of red flags especially for anyone who’s been there-done that, like me. Everything’s just fine until some guy shows up with the original title then it’s bye bye baby. The car will be gone and your purchase price along with whatever you’ve put into it will be a total loss.
Wow! I’m not a huge fan of these, but this one looks really nice. I don’t know how someone could have abandoned it.
I like the 403 idea, but can the transmission handle it?
– John
Nope. That’s the Borg-Warner T50, and the Olds 260 was the only v8 ever matched with it. It was designed for GM 4s and v6s.
Good to know that an engine swap will require a transmission swap too. Plan ahead.
@ Blyndgesser…..
What about the B-W T50 behind the 305 in the Monza?
@Utes, I thought the 305 was only available with a four-speed or an automatic. Brochures at http://www.oldcarbrochures.com show the five speed available only with the four and six cylinder engines in the Monza. But I was wrong about the 260 being the only v8–Chevy did offer the T50 with the 262 in 1976.
Sorry, I ran out of editing time. The T50 was indeed offered with the Chevy 262 v8, but when that engine went away, the 305 was the smallest v8 in the lineup, and it put out too much torque for the t50.
Olds also offered the five-speed in the diesel Cutlasses, wouldn’t it be this same transmission? Those engines would probably have more torque than the gas motors.
Minor typo, you have spelled “cutlass” cutless.
“[…] 305 was the smallest v8 in the lineup, and it put out too much torque for the t50.”
The 403 would snap something in that trans like a twig.
Not as nice as it looks in pictures. Needs a lot of work. Doors, trunk and bottoms of quarters are rotted. All wheater stripping is gone. Owner died and no one claimed.
TITLE tied up in PROBATE….. Owner died and will contested……
The title says Supreme, but the car looks like a Salon.
The Supreme had different tail lights.
This is a neat car though. I wonder how many were produced that year with the stick.
Definitely not a Supreme. The Supreme had a more squared off roof. This is probably a Cutlass S
It’s definitely not a Cutlass Supreme. The Cutlass Supreme had the ubiquitous GM Colonnade “formal” roofline with the little rectangular opera Windows, not the curved triangular Windows seen here. I think it’s a Cutlass S, but possibly a Cutlass Salon.
The picture of the trim says Cutlass S
It is a cutlass S. it’s clear on one of the eBay pics.
Here is a salon: https://www.connorsmotorcar.com/vehicles/382/1977-oldsmobile-cutlass-salon
I had a 1976 Cutlass S red white interior. I ordered the car. I?live in Lansing,Mich. Had some friends that worked at the plant and watched it built 260 5speed.
It is a base model Cutlass S. The roofline is different from a Supreme, Brougham or Salon.
Definitely not a Salon. I had one. They had the normal rear windows, not the swept back one. They also had center consoles and were always 350 or 403 and automatic.
In 1976 there were 842 made is my understanding
That’s not a Salon…it’s a Cutlass “S”. I had the same car but mine had a 350 with an automatic.
The 2Sleepy? A friend had a ’78 with this motor and we’d laugh at how slow it was. I can’t imagine how one would feel lugging an extra 700 pounds around, LOL!
The 5-speed makes this too-ordinary Olds, an interesting acquisition. I think i’d give it what it needs to get it running reliably well; add a console, though; and enjoy it for a while before determining whether I want to make additional upgrades.
It would be interesting to find out how tall the rear end ratio is on this. Anybody here have any ideas ?
I know the automatics were 2:73 ratio
A 5-speed that nobody ordered was available in this 1977 tugboat, but when my folks bought a Chevy Citation on the all-new X-car platform in 1980, all that was offered was a 4-speed. GM really couldn’t get out of its own way in the malaise era.
This car looks great in triple black and perfect for an LS swap with a 6-speed.
Found one of these trans when putting together 383 Chev torque motor– the internals turned to small tiny bits on the third burn out
ooops….no TITLE….abandoned car….cannot register it in New York, or any other “TITLE” state foe that matter….registrations only will not do…..stay away…bidding is up to almost 8k already, and no title….what is that expression ? stupid is as stupid does ?
403 5 speed is a blast, does require some time to gather the parts though. Late 80’s camaro/firebird t5 hold up ok. Required hard part for the conversion is the McLeod scattershield that allows for the 17° index of the tranny so the shifter is located correctly. Car also has an 8.5 rear axle so gearing options are unlimited.I have done several of these conversions and what a blast they are to drive. As with most Oldsmobile v8 crankshafts the 403 may require you to use a special adapter pilot bearing but we’ll worth the fun when you finish. I currently run a t5 behind a 455 in a 67 442 with a 3:90 rear gear. Perfect combination. Someone will have a sweet ride if they do this one right.
are the Olds Cranks not drilled for a pilot bushing?
Crankshaft was not drilled when used with a 350, 375, or 400 turbo hydra magic transmission.
I had one of these cars. Real slow.
Thought this body style had 350’s and never knew they offered a manual tranny. In fact, when I worked at Clark Oldsmobile (in West Palm Beach Fla.) from 1978-1980, not one of these came in with a 5-speed. Pretty cool…….
This is a NERD car…… Worst drive train ever available, thats what makes it RARE. If you can be proud of that, go for it. Car is not as clean as it looks in pictures. BEWARE…….Bought for $1,000, on Ebay for $8,000 and reserve not met.
OMW, even though I am a Ford guy, I would love to have this car! This is the only GM product I have ever fell in love with! Unfortunately, my pockets are shallow!
$8K , reserve not met . No title . NO THANKS .
Forget all that wish wash..go find a 350 or 455 Rocket for your powerplant and keep the stock transmission..plenty of alternative original hp there or do full chevy ls upgrade and modernize it.
Along about this time GM was caught putting small block Chevy motors in a lot of Oldsmobile’s. Several lawsuits were filed and won best I remember. I know my neighbor had one of them.
Black on black looks sharp, like everything but the little engine. This would make a pretty decent cruiser but not with that engine or tranny or even rear end. All kinds of ways to make it stronger running, but keeping everything olds powered would be the way to go. Just my one cent worth.
Um, does the engine on this turn such high rpms at highway speeds to justify the 5th gear?
Since when did the General make or had supplied five speeds for the automotive division?
This must have been quote the specoal order or quite a deal when new.
Wasn’t the T50 also used in the 76 Cosworth Vega? If so, I saw one blown apart from a 4 cylinder. I can’t imagine one staying together from the torque of a V8.
Good luck getting it titled, for what their asking seller should take care of it.
This is a Cutlass “S”. Due to its rarity, the thing to do would be detail it as is and enjoy it. It was not meant for performance, I was shopping when these were new. From 1970 to 1977, it was a yearly decline in offerings and ratings for performance. A classy thing to do would be build a Rocket 350 to W-31 specs mated with an M-20 and 3:73 rear. Except for brackets, Olds V-8’s interchange nicely. The gears in it are likely 2:56’s.
Can’t be a 442 front nose
Well.if you had to have one………………………………
winning bid $8800 w/ 18 bids
No title no sale. EVER. Later JIMMY
This is a Cutlass S not a Supreme. They are relatively rare but my dad did buy one new in 1977. With a 403. 442 tail with a Salon front end and rounded C pillar. No 442 graphics.