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Supreme Survivor: 24k Mile 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass

This Cutlass is a little late for St. Patrick’s Day, but we wanted to feature it anyway. It may not be wearing the best color combo, but this car is in amazing condition! There’s only 24,711 miles showing on the odometer and everything looks very clean. A lot of sellers like to use the phrase “time capsule”, but I think it actually applies here. Apparently, the female owner always kept this Olds garaged and only drove it sparingly. It’s located in Anderson, California and is listed here on eBay with no reserve!

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham. That’s a mouthful! The name may be long, but this Cutlass was shorter than its predecessors. American cars were starting to shrink at the end of the seventies and Oldsmobiles were no different. There were still a lot of traditional American values here though (space and pace). That’s a 305 V8 in there and although not as potent as previous versions, was the most powerful option at the time.

The outer dimensions may have gone down a bit, there was still plenty of space in here. Look at all that green! We have had discussions about green survivor cars before. Some think that older people must have liked the color and that’s why there are so many still around. Others claim that green was just a popular color at the time. Whatever the reason, you had better like that hue because you’re going to be completely engulfed in it every time you leave the house!

I’d ask for some higher resolution photos and more information about the maintence done before bidding on this one. Obvious there are a few people who think it’s worth picking up. Give the engine bay a good detailing, replace any consumables that need replacing, and this classic should be ready to enjoy for years to come. Whether you are a leprechaun or just want a nice cruiser, you can’t go wrong with this cool Cutlass!

Comments

  1. Avatar jdjonesdr

    Great cars

    Like 1
  2. Avatar nessy

    Oh I love the 78 to 80 Cutlass coupe body style. This green on green with that beautiful Brougham interior stands out. The only thing I do not like is the 260 V8 gas slug under the hood. Most of you remember the famous 5.7 Diesel Olds engine from 78 to 85? Well, for one year only, Olds introduced a new 4.3 260 V8 diesel available only on the mid size Cutlass. It was worse then the 350 diesel and only made 90hp. Only offered in 79, it was dropped for 80. The 260 diesel had so many issues that almost every 260 diesel was replaced under warranty by the dealerships with a 350 diesel. To find an original 260 diesel today is next to impossible. Olds even offered for that one year, a 5 speed manual with the 260 diesel. It could get over 35 mpg on the highway, when it ran right, however, 0 to 60 times were in the 20 second range. I would love to find an original 260 diesel 5 speed Cutlass but they are nowhere to be found.

    Like 2
    • Avatar nessy

      Above is a photo of my 80 Cutlass Supreme Brougham Coupe with the factory 350 diesel. When I first saw the car, I knew it was unique because of all the options it has so I did some research with the Oldsmobile History Center. I discovered this car was a one of a kind special order for one of the top GM executives. Everything possible was ordered in the car except T Tops which I guess he did not care for them. Leather, fiber optics, cornering lamps, two tone paint, power everything including twin power seats which were not even offered on the Cutlass at that time from what the records say. I have never seen another Cutlass with a passenger power seat before. If any Olds buffs here have seen another one, I would love to know about it. This green Cutlass is my pick of the day. Thanks for showing it guys.

      Like 2
    • Avatar Mike H

      Seller commented with a VIN and update to the engine displacement of 5.0L (307 ci). VIN code H lines up with that.

      4V too, for what that’s worth. . .

      Like 1
      • Avatar nessy

        Yep, I just saw that. He first said a 260 4 Barrel but I recall the 260 only having a 2 barrel. OK, the 5.0 makes it much better but I would still rather have the yucky diesel. The only cars I like better than Oldsmobiles are Oldsmobile Diesels.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Mack Johnson

      This Cutlass has the 305 4 barrel. The vin has an H in it and the 260 has the oil fill in a different location. This one is well optioned and has the wastepaper basket under the glove box, very rare. GLWS!

      Like 1
    • Avatar Jesse

      I have a1978 cutlass 260 v8 5 speed from factory

      Like 1
  3. Avatar nessy

    If you think that plush green pillow interior is over the top, Olds also offered a one year only for 79 Mojave style interior with an Indian Tribe pattern. The Mojave interior is also very hard to find today as very few people had the nerve to order it even back in the 70s.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Anthony

      I really do like your interior I have the same interior right now in my 78 cutlass supreme Bro ham

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Rod

    This is a nice car. Not too fond of the green but it would be a great car to own. Barely broken in the car is like new. Try buying something that compares to this nowadays and see what it would cost you. I think this is a great find and worth it.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar edh

    The 305 was the only engine option you would want, based on power and the fact that the other options were turds.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Gunner

    Very cool Nessy, and very unique. I once owned a 78 with the 260 in it, and the TH200. Gutless engine, and weak transmission. It was literally an old lady’s car, and had been loved. I had fun with it until my EX fried the motor when the throttle stuck open. She got it stopped and put in park, but did not turn it off. That was done by the gentleman who’s house she was in front of when he came running out yelling at her to shut it off as it was taching out over redline. So comical now. Imagine. I wish I would have been with her to save the motor. I remember her coming back afterwards and hearing that dreadful knocking sound of main bearings that were shot, and the sinking feeling in my stomach knowing what it meant. I never fixed it, and sold it later on to a Father/Son team I knew that would give it the love and attention it needed. At least the car would listen to me when I talked to it, unlike the EX. ;-)

    Like 1
    • Avatar Larry K

      Funny. Same thing happened to my Monte Carlo during the winter. Mine had the 267.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Mark

    Broken drivers side rear lense and trim looks loose, but great looking interior

    Like 0
  8. Avatar John T

    Back in the early 90’s, I had one of these ’79 coupes with the 260 V8 and a 5-speed stick. Exterior was black with a black vinyl roof and interior was red with bucket seats. Was an awesome cruiser, Lots of fond memories! Ended up trading it in for a 4-door sedan because at the time I needed a family car. Sure would like to have that Cutlass back now!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar AMXSTEVE

    I think the 76-77 is a better looking body style and had 350 motor option. My dad had a triple black brougham 76 with the 350 and it was an awesome riding comfortable car with some power. Good luck finding one now which is peculiar because they made millions of em.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    Effin’ hideous

    Like 0
  11. Avatar z28th1s

    I would swap the wire wheel covers for a set of color matched Olds rally wheels with a set of BFG Radial TA’s and put a nice set of dual exhaust on it and cruise!

    Like 1
  12. Avatar John M Jones Member

    Why is there a hole in the carpeting on th
    e left side where a drivers left foot would be

    Like 0
    • Avatar Poppy

      Is it a hole or a dark stain? I bought a 45K mile LeSabre from a buddy’s grandfather. It had a hole in the carpet where your left foot would go. The rest of the interior was immaculate. Maybe there is something about old guys climbing in and out of cars with golf shoes on that causes this?

      Like 0
  13. Avatar Duane Boda

    School used both an 1978 Cutlass Calis and Surpreme during the Summer of

    78 for Drivers Education. They drove impeccably (I thought) but as I recall both

    back ends had a real sharp slant which made it look like wedge. I do believe

    these were the first and only year for such a rather drastic design.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar 86 Vette Convertible

    Interesting comments on the diesel, I was one of those that had a red on red 79 Cutlas Supreme with the 260 diesel. It was replaced with a 350 because it blew a head gasket and the cylinders were out of round. It was no speedster but then again it wasn’t a granny car either. It also got 25 mpg at over 100 with 4 people and luggage up the butt. It was a bear unless you got #1 diesel in the winter and the 12 volt glow plug system took a long time to get hot enough to start below freezing.

    I had a 79 & 84 Cutlas’ and they were good cars if you wanted a good driver.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar ACZ

    Oh No!!! My Oldsmobile has a Chevrolet engine!!
    So many people gripe about the diesels, but they forget the purpose of them. Fuel economy, and nothing else. They weren’t supposed to be tire burners. The other thing people forgot was to take care of them. Maintenance was critical! They were not supposed to sit around all week and get used for church on Sunday. If that was what you were going to do, you should have bought a gas V6. My 81 Coupe deVille diesel went 270,000 miles without a problem. My 83 Riviera went over 200K without a problem. If you took care of them, they treated you right. Why did I sell them if they were so great? There comes a time with any car, when you’ve sat behind the wheel for so many miles, you just need a change.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Patrick

      I had an 80 deville in high school with the 350 diesel. I bought it from my shop teacher. It had 190k on it when i bought it. The vaccum pump was the only trouble i had with it. The engine was a goodwrench reman put in during the late 80s so all the the bugs were worked out. I drove that car 100k more miles and did nothing but regular maintenance other than the vaccum pump….sevral times. He told me just be easy on it let it do its thing dont force it to downshift etc and it will be good to you. It was. Eventually it devolped a hole in an aluminm oil cooler pipe and lost all of its oil and even caught on fire for a second. I repaired the pipe but shortly after it started knocking. I was sad. Really the car wasnt that slow…it looked awesome and got amazing mpgs. Plus we often ran heating oil in it on his advice so really it was beyond economical for me at the time. Wish i had kept it.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Rustytech Member

    I loved the 78 to 80 GM mid size coupes. I like the green exterior, but wish it had something different inside. That’s too much green! The 305 was a excellent engine, and the best available at the time ( IMHO ). I’d take this in a heart beat if it were closer.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar EJB

    I had a 79′ Grand Prix in this color with green interior in my late teens. My friends used to say: “It’s big and mean and olive green.” even though it wasn’t really olive green (stone jade green I think is the official color) nor mean with a 3.8 V6.
    I liked the car but delivering pizza with it did not help it’s longevity.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar KevinR

    Had an ’80 coupe for a little while in college in the ’80s. Silver blue metallic, oyster vinyl bench interior, AM/FM radio and that fire breathing 231c.i. V6. Really basic car. I think the only option was rally wheels.

    Still, it was a solid car that got me where I needed to go and I wasn’t embarrassed to roll up in it anywhere. Even so, I never really missed it once I had moved on.

    Also in college, I knew a guy with a ’78 Calais coupe with factory sliding sunroof and 5 speed transmission.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar mars2878

    sold for $6500 w/ 61 bids

    Like 0

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