The first Cutlass was a concept car designed by Irv Rybicki for the 1954 auto show circuit. Influenced by the Jet Age, the Cutlass showed off an aircraft canopy, bullet-shaped gauges, nacelles and switches, and sharp tail fins. It was named after the Vought F7U Cutlass fighter plane – a swept-wing, tail-less aircraft. Unlike its accident-prone, “gutless Cutlass” namesake, the car went on to fame and fortune. First situated on Oldsmobile’s Y-platform as a compact, the Cutlass later graduated to intermediate status. By the 1970s, the Cutlass was the best-selling car in America, a title it held for several years through 1983. This example, available on craigslist for $12,500, is a second-generation survivor located in Granite Falls, Washington. Thanks to Curvette for finding us this gem!
This car is powered by a 330 cu. in. “Jetfire Rocket” V8, with output ranging from 250 to 320 hp depending on carburetion. Olds called its automatic transmission the “Jetaway”, and it came as a column-shift two-speed. Drum brakes were the only option in 1966, but by ’67, front discs could be ordered at extra cost. This example shows only 68k on the odometer; according to the seller, it runs and drives well on recently replaced tires. This engine bay would absorb a few afternoons of work to bring it up to Cars ‘N Coffee condition, but then you’d have a looker.
The seller terms the interior “like new”, but I’ll quibble with that. The seat upholstery could be cleaner, ditto the vinyl arm rests, the rear parcel shelf is damaged, and the dash and steering wheel are cracked. But the details that made the Cutlass stand out – optional bucket seats, deep pile carpet, everything color-keyed – are on full display here. Best yet, the car comes with its original manuals and Protect-O-Plate.
For 1966, the sheet metal was mildly refreshed. Sharper edges, squared-up headlamp housings, and the tunneled rear window were new. These changes modernized the car’s appearance, contributing to sales of over 90,000 units. The paint is tired here, with yellowing on the front edge of the hood, nicks and scrapes all around, primer showing through, and something odd going on along the rocker panel starting behind the passenger-side front wheel. Market values hover in the $25k to $30k area for very nice convertibles, but this ’66 coupe failed to find a new owner after bidding reached $11,251. I like documentation as well as anyone, but I think shifting today’s featured Cutlass to a new garage will require a discount off the seller’s asking price. What do you think?
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