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Rare Rallye: 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350

You don’t see these very often. If I lived closer to Nuremberg, Pennsylvania, I would inspect this 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 just to see it in person. With 4 days remaining, the seller has set a buy it now price of $19,500 here on eBay. The car was cosmetically restored in the 1990’s but has not been driven in 8 years.

The interior looks pretty nice. It is equipped with black bench seats with the shifter on the column. An aftermarket tachometer is attached to the top of the non tilt column. The odometer reads just over 91,000 and the Sebring yellow paint looks nice except for some bubbling in the usual places.

The seller believes the block might be a period correct replacement block but has a Holley carburetor, aluminum Edelbrock intake, headers and MSD box. Overall, 3,570 Rallye 350’s were produced in 1970. When introduced, the Rallye 350 was designed to compete with the lower cost Road Runner and came with W-45 option package which included a fiberglass, twin scooped hood, rear spoiler, L74 350 cubic inch V8 engine, sport mirrors and steering wheel, Rallye suspension and dual exhaust.

The Oldsmobile 350 cubic inch engine delivered 310 horspower and 390 ft lbs of torque. This was quite a package for the price and road tests indicated a 7 second 0-60 mph and 15 second quarter mile. I am not an expert on these cars but they are respected and, if the rust is not bad on this one, the price seems reasonable for the style and performance.

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    A few years ago, I met a guy driving one of these in immaculate condition, it was the only time that I’d seen one, and haven’t seen any since! This one looks good! GLWTA! :-)

    Like 4
    • Avatar KarlS

      On Uncle Tony’s Garage youtube channel, he has a friend from New Zealand that runs a shop nearby called Kiwi’s that has one of these there for some work. Same color and stripe combination but with the proper Magnum 500 type wheels. Looks like new.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Miguel

        Yes Uncle Tony. I am waiting for his Sunday live stream to start right now.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar Tort Member

    I would surely look a whole lot better without that ridiculous spoiler on the trunk lid.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Pat L Member

      The spoiler is factory equipment. Think Plymouth Superbird.

      Like 11
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      If that spoiler is “ridiculous”, then what do you call this? …
      http://levelonerestoration.com/portfolio-view/1969-hurst-olds-prototype/

      Like 2
      • Avatar 19sixty5 Member

        I saw that spoiler abomination few years ago, the designer must have dipped into Dr Oldsmobile’s pill collection! I didn’t like the 68 body design, I preferred the 69, I’ve had 8 A bodies from a 66 to a 72, including a 69 W30 4 speed convert. Funny thing about the 68 though, it was my favorite Hurst/Olds, it was so subtle. The side stripes flowed nicely along the body lines, the 69 Pontiac Judge adopted a similar design.The dual hood stripes were relatively understated as well, nothing special, but the rear end paint treatment was well designed. This was a gentleman’s super car, understated but carried a big stick. it was also devoid of gaudy hood scoops. It used the 68/69 style OAI air scoops under the bumper like the W/30/31/32 cars.It was the first Oldsmobile use of the Hurst Dual Gate shifter, the GTO got them in 1967 and 1968. Olds made them as an option for any console equipped Cutlass/442 I believe from 1970-1972.

        Like 3
  3. Avatar 19sixty5 Member

    I remember these when they were introduced, and was never a fan, but after 50 years they are growing on me. Many were converted to chrome bumpers at the dealership to sell, the monochromatic look didn’t work with most people. This one is pieced together somewhat, starting with the engine that is not the original. It is nice to see the OAI components in place though, but this car also suffers from an identity crisis. It appears to be a Cutlass, there are emblems on the hood and deck lid, but none on the front fenders. The glove box has an F85 emblem on it. It does have the stainless trim around the door and window frames, the F85 did not have them. It does look relatively complete otherwise, and if rust isn’t a major issue it could be put back closer to an OEM look without much difficulty. $17500 for a non-original engined car, wrong wheels, post body style, bench seat column shift car is a bit high in my opinion.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Desert Rat

      I don’t think it’s a post car is it? Seems the chrome strips are the edge of the side class.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Desert Rat

        P.S. Ok I looked again and your right because it has the vent window, which only came in 68, so a post it is.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Trey

      For some reason, Olds applied Cutlass badges to the front fenders of F85s when equipped with the W45 package. I don’t know why this was.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Desert Rat

    I love these cars this one looks good. I would have to lose the wheels and put on a set of the factory wheels I think they were called SSII if I remember correctly, anyway great car.

    Like 4
  5. Avatar TimM

    Did this car come with the bumpers painted yellow??? It gives it a more modern look and I don’t disapprove of it but it’s just that I don’t remember seeing them around when I was younger!!! Nice looking driveable car with a low product package to me is always cool!!!

    Like 2
    • Avatar 19sixty5 Member

      Yes, they were urethane coated in the body color (Sebring Yellow) and baked. The original SSll wheels were also color matched to the car. The SSll wheels on all other models were originally a charcoal gray color from 68-70, then beginning in 1971 they were color keyed to the body color. They made roughly 3500 of these, so it’s not surprising you rarely see them.

      Like 3
  6. Avatar TimM

    Thank you 19sixty5 I just don’t remember this!! It makes for a good looking well thought out car!!!!

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Bamos

    The rallye 350 motor was a special select component engine with tolerances like a blueprinted engine & the whole reason it was a low volume car as it was a speacial option. IMHO the replacement block took the special right out of its worth.

    Like 2
    • Avatar 19sixty5 Member

      Bamos, I believe you are thinking of the W-31 Cutlass engine, it indeed was factory assembled with what the good Dr. Oldsmobile called “select fit” components to meet the factory blueprint of the engine. The W-31 is based off the typical Olds 350, but it is a different animal compared to the L74 that was installed in the Rallye 350. That engine was also available in the regular Cutlass. The Rallye 350 is mostly an appearance package meant to give the buyer an “almost” 442 (think OAI hood, suspension, dual exhaust, spoiler, etc) but with an engine that wouldn’t get noticed by the insurance companies like the 455. There isn’t any known documentation that a W-31 engine was factory installed into a Rallye 350. L74 is 310 HP, and the W-31 is 325 HP.

      Like 3

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