To help provide relief to buyers of performance cars who were paying rising insurance premiums, Oldsmobile came out with the Cutlass Supreme SX for 1970 and 1971. By not having a unique VIN that shouted “muscle car” to insurance agents, the SX combined luxury with power in one package. This ’70 drop-top is only of only a few hundred. It is one of those “ran when parked” cars, but that was some time ago. Needing a restoration, this 455 V8-powered SX is in Hermiston, Oregon, and is available here on craigslist for $7,500. Another interesting and rare car brought to us as a tip by Pat L.!
The best way to characterize the Supreme SX is by calling it a personal luxury muscle car. These autos didn’t stand out from the crowd with loud graphics or air grabber hoods. An SX badge on the front fenders is about the only one to identify one from a regular Supreme. Pop opens the hood and you’re likely to find either a 455 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel (320 hp) or 4-barrel carburetor (365 horses). A TH-400 automatic transmission was the only way to go (no 4-speeds allowed).
Oldsmobile squeaked out 9,374 copies with 357 convertibles (that number may be for only 1971). The pros of having one of these vehicles should be cheaper insurance and a sleeper-car look at the corner traffic light. But on the other end, the SX is a heavier car because of its luxury additions and it’s not likely to make you happy will you have to fill it up with gas. The seller’s car is said to have its original 455 engine and it may run, but it won’t drive as 3rd gear no longer functions.
The seller may have been thinking of doing a restoration and changed his/her mind as the Olds has new tires. The blue paint has run its course and some bodywork may or may not be required. We’re not sure about the convertible top, but it’s power operated. If you buy the SX, plan on doing a full restoration and you might end up with a car worth the same kind of money as a 4-4-2. The seller is willing to entertain a trade but doesn’t identify any parameters.
Would be very cool to put back together but price is to high for what it needs. 5K all the way. Hope it goes to the right buyer. Good luck.
Not being of age in 71 I have to ask: was it really that much more expensive to insure a car based on the engine? And was it really that easy to fool the insurance company?
In 1969 I bought a used ’65 Corvette convertible with a 327/350hp engine and a 4-speed for $1,750. Yes, I overpaid.
My father’s lifelong insurance agent told me “no coverage at any price”. Other insurance agents quoted me $1,100 a year for $5,000 / 10,000 / $25,000 (the state minimum legal coverage).
Good ol’ USAA came to the rescue. They didn’t care much that it was a Corvette. I think their yearly charge was about $350 back then. I’ve used USAA ever since, although they now cover me through a specialty car subcontractor (American Modern).
Where is that 65 Vette now! I hope you enjoyed it
Interesting… I also have USAA for home and daily drivers, and they have a partnership with American Collector’s Insurance, I’ve had them for 15-20 years or so for my 4 “collector” cars. I will have to look into American Modern.
No, it’s something people love to embellish though to try and make their cars sound cool and, somehow, add value to them, lol.
Depends on which one !!!
Back in the day, my dad bought a used ‘68 corvette coupe, 350 engine.
His insurance agent from Allstate gave a little wink and insured it as a Chevy coupe. Company never caught on.
But a few years later they stopped insuring cars in Mass.
Yes, you can thank a then unknown state representative from The People’s Republic of Brookline for that, Mike Dukakis. He rode into the corner office at the State House as the original author and sponsor of so-called “No Fault” auto insurance. When insurance companies stopped writing auto insurance because No-Fault insurance was losing them money, the insurance commissioner told the companies that if you don’t write auto insurance here, you won’t be allowed to write any insurance here in the People’s Republic of Taxachusetts. The companies, including Allstate, said that they were taking their ball and leaving, and they did. No Fault was later repealed because the promised savings to drivers never happened, and too many people got sick of losing their right to sue an at-fault uninsured driver!
Massachusetts is still a ” no fault” insurance state???
In 1970, there were 700-odd convertibles built. The number in the ad and above, as referenced, is for the 1971 model year. Cool car. You don’t see many SX’s out in the wild and many people, even ones that claim to love Olds, have never seen one or know what they are. Out of all the Olds I have owned, I have never had an SX. Always wanted one and came close once but missed out by about a half an hour on a really clean 70 coupe. Maybe, one of these days…unfortunately, I have more willingness than money.
The SX was basically the Turnpike Cruising package available on the 1967 Cutlass Supreme and the 1968 442 with a new name, tuned for big torque and relaxed cruising.
Thanks CC never seen one, never heard of the model. Cool cars. Ideal Business/Company car for a saavy buyer. Could sneak it past the mngt team, being an unassuming exterior and automatic transmission.
Wish there was more pictures. Hard to tell what it really looks like. 7500 is reasonable compared to the prices normally seen. I’m too beat up physically to restore this car . Shame it needs some major TLC
I agree w Davey definitely worth @ least partial restoration some body work ; new top & some interior fix ups & def’ly not much more than $5k?! $7500 is doable but little high ?! Also nice if You don t want to pay 442 prices & next step down from a 442 as far as I know in model & trim & other options ?!
Very car. Hope somebody picks it up and does a full restoration
First off, that’s a 2bbl version, which doesn’t have much value. It really was not, in any way, shape, or form, a muscle car. To make it worse, it’s a bench seat, column-shift car, which is not desirable either. Basically, someone would spend ten times what it would ever be worth to restore it so, it’s probably never going to get done…better off parting this car out.
Anybody with basic mechanical skills can install an aluminum four barrel intake manifold and carburetor. It’s not the end of the world if this car has a two barrel carb. The value is going to be minimally affected. Nobody is going to restore this back to a number matching concours restoration.
It was never intended to be a “muscle” car.
Do some research and look up the GM reasoning behind the SX/Turnpike Cruiser package Olds created.
Way rarer than any run of the mill 442.
Rarer, yes, but less desirable than even a base 442.
I had no problem dusting off a ’69 SS396 Chevelle, a ’68, GTO, a ’69 Road Runner, an AMC Machine, a 340 duster, a ‘ 69 340 Barracuda, SS 350 Nova. Torque matters.
Hope my tears don’t damage my laptop. Second owner of a pristine 1970 Cutlass convert, bought mid seventies from a neighbor for $1200, Fellow worker said if I couldn’t get laid with that car there was no hope: ergo, Virginia vanity plate GETN NE. Vehicle lost to the zoning gestapo with years of other collectibles.
Wish Oregon was closer. Would love to bring this car back to life. Sure it’s not a bucket seat W32 car, but it’s still a big block ragtop Cutlass with factory air.
Not sure if the FE2 suspension was standard on these but the rear cutout bumper and dual exhausts were.
Oh, and front disc brakes too…
The FE2 suspension was indeed part of the Cutlass SX package.
No, FE2 was an option and not standard :)
Well sorry to say this a luxury muscle car. It still has 455( yes 2 barrel) motor turbo 400 trans and a 12 bolt posi. Dual exhaust. So what of this car is not a muscle car? Why cause it has a 2 barrel? Because it has a bench seat? I have seen 442 with bench seat. And a 2 barrel is fine and easy to change if desired. And convertible makes it a rare bird. And not ask8ng 10000 or more makes it fair deal.
Agree 100%, and I’ve seen 442s with 2bbls offered as the Turnpike Cruiser mentioned earlier. Gobs of low end torque down low where you want it.
I have a ’70 Cutlass convertible with buckets/console. I kind of like the bench seat in this car since the back seat is so miserable for riders when the top is down. Can take a couple of grandkids to get ice cream and all fit up front.
This listing is twisting the knife! I was the proud owner of a fairly clean 1971 SX coupe. Years before I had owned a 350-powered 1972 Cutlass Supreme, and trust me when I say that the 455 makes a difference. It’s a brute! Very different driving dynamics. After a few years of ownership I came across an even cleaner 1965 Bonneville 2-door. I can only afford to be a “serial collector” (one car at a time) so I sold the SX, bought the Bonneville and pocketed the difference (well, sent it to one of my kids’ colleges.) Yes, that was right before SX prices took off. Now I couldn’t afford to replace the SX for a car in similar shape without renting out one of said kids. (And don’t get me started on the 1965 Catalina 2+2 convertible with the ORIGINAL 421 that I stupidly sold.)
I had a ’70 back in the mid 70’s, looking for one currently (no projects). Oddly enough, my SX with a/c, titled in lighter than my buddies ’70 442 w/o a/c. Both were similarly otherwise with buckets and my std. th400, which was optional on his so equipped 442.
This looks like a good project for the long term to make it a nice everyday driver. Why is the investment value always the first thing that comes to mind?
Because most people aren’t wealthy enough to simply burn money, that’s why! While most people buy old cars for emotional rather than practical reasons, they at the very least, don’t want to lose money when it comes time for them (or their heirs) to sell their “toy”. They’re not expecting to get rich, but they don’t want to take a financial bath, either. The ideal for most of us is to break even, so we can enjoy the cars while we’re alive, then get most of our money back when the time comes to pass the car onto its next caretaker.
Can I get a amen from the choir. I’ve been blessed with a wife that allows me to buy a car or two every couple of years. Oh course she’s had horses for 25 years. A tit for tat situation . I’ve taken a bath once or twice. Always hear about for years. Still taking crap over a 78 cobra 2 that she was gifted from her father. Couldn’t stand to see it falling apart. Sits in the barn with the rest of my TOYS according to her. Can’t sell it got too much money in it . Was her car in high-school . Vowed not to make that mistake again. I guess I’m just jaded. I hope you have a nice ride Robert. If your looking I’m sure this site could help you find what you want.
The 455 2 barrels made great road cars. Smooth as glass with great throttle response. Most had 2:56 gears I believe.
Oregon to far away or I would take this. To much to get to PA. Nice project. As for bench seats, that’s so your girl can slide up next to you like back in the old days.