Thoughts on '73 455/4-speed

Fishcity · January 13th, 2008, 07:29 PM

Wanted to get some input on the car I looked at today. It's a '73 Cutlass 'S', 455, 4-speed. VIN starts 3G37V3 and it has M20 on the cowl tag. Unfortunately, the original drivetrain has been replaced with an F-code ('68-'72) 455 and Borg Warner trans. Body is very good with minimal rust around windows. Interior is complete but needs most items restored. Options that I noticed are: a/c (intact), tilt, & swivel buckets/console. Asking price is $4k. It seemed like a good deal until I discovered the non-orignal engine/trans, but what do I know?? I'd like to hear from the experts. Thanks for ANY thoughts/advice. Bob

joe_padavano · January 14th, 2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishcity

Wanted to get some input on the car I looked at today. It's a '73 Cutlass 'S', 455, 4-speed. VIN starts 3G37V3 and it has M20 on the cowl tag. Unfortunately, the original drivetrain has been replaced with an F-code ('68-'72) 455 and Borg Warner trans. Body is very good with minimal rust around windows. Interior is complete but needs most items restored. Options that I noticed are: a/c (intact), tilt, & swivel buckets/console. Asking price is $4k. It seemed like a good deal until I discovered the non-orignal engine/trans, but what do I know?? I'd like to hear from the experts. Thanks for ANY thoughts/advice. Bob

The 73-77 cars are starting to become collectible as the price of 64-72 cars passes the moon. I've personally never been a fan of colonnade styling, but a documented manual trans car is pretty rare. Before you write off the engine, check the VIN derivative to ensure it is or is not original.

Olds64 · January 14th, 2008, 06:49 PM

I think that would be a fair price if it runs good and has a decent body and interior. Who cares if it is orignial. Just get the car and drive the BEJEEZUS out of it!

The_Jeremiah · January 14th, 2008, 09:14 PM

4k for something like that seems like a good deal if its straight, has it been repainted ? is there any bondo ? check it out. and if the engine is from an earlier year, then you got nothing to lose, you could probably find someone to trade with and get your proper engine/tranny. it just means that there are more horsies for you to play with under the hood

Fishcity · January 14th, 2008, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the input. The body is straight with no Bondo or evidence of repair. It appears to be the original paint job and is a cream-color (I think it was once called Bamboo).

vette442 · January 23rd, 2008, 12:41 PM

'73 (and '72) V Codes are rare - period. Did you check the VIN on the engine block stamp pad to see if it is in fact the original 455?

January 13th, 2008, 07:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fishcity Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	Thoughts on '73 455/4-speed Wanted to get some input on the car I looked at today. It's a '73 Cutlass 'S', 455, 4-speed. VIN starts 3G37V3 and it has M20 on the cowl tag. Unfortunately, the original drivetrain has been replaced with an F-code ('68-'72) 455 and Borg Warner trans. Body is very good with minimal rust around windows. Interior is complete but needs most items restored. Options that I noticed are: a/c (intact), tilt, & swivel buckets/console. Asking price is $4k. It seemed like a good deal until I discovered the non-orignal engine/trans, but what do I know?? I'd like to hear from the experts. Thanks for ANY thoughts/advice. Bob

January 14th, 2008, 06:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 4,286	I think that would be a fair price if it runs good and has a decent body and interior. Who cares if it is orignial. Just get the car and drive the BEJEEZUS out of it! __________________ Ferris, my father loves this car more than life itself... Apparently, you don't understand! Ferris, he never drives it! He just rubs it with a diaper! Cameron Frye Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986

January 14th, 2008, 09:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Jeremiah Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 294	4k for something like that seems like a good deal if its straight, has it been repainted ? is there any bondo ? check it out. and if the engine is from an earlier year, then you got nothing to lose, you could probably find someone to trade with and get your proper engine/tranny. it just means that there are more horsies for you to play with under the hood __________________ 69' Cutlass 4 door. Built 455 inside, grandma's grocery getter outside. Best sleeper in disguise.

January 23rd, 2008, 12:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
vette442 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 57	'73 (and '72) V Codes are rare - period. Did you check the VIN on the engine block stamp pad to see if it is in fact the original 455? __________________ '72 Supreme 455/M20 (1 of 77) '70 SX 455 Conv. '72 442 (455 OAI) '96 Vette LT4/6spd CE coupe '72 Chevy Custom Dlx LWB pickup highoctaneauto.com ('72 V Code Registry) sx455.com sevencolorsky.com

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January 14th, 2008, 11:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fishcity Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	Thanks for the input. The body is straight with no Bondo or evidence of repair. It appears to be the original paint job and is a cream-color (I think it was once called Bamboo).

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