'77 Cutlass question?

[65az]

Does the '77 cutlass 2dr have the same roof stamping as a '77 chevelle/malibu? I know.. a wierd question.. but there is a method to my madness.....

[Allan R]

Originally Posted by 65az

Does the '77 cutlass 2dr have the same roof stamping as a '77 chevelle/malibu? I know.. a wierd question.. but there is a method to my madness.....

It depends on which model you're talking about. If you're comparing say the 76/77 442 models to even 73-77 Chevelle Languna or SS models, I think I know where you're going with this. The side profiles look identical, and it wouldn't suprise me in the slightest to see they are a generic pattern. GM did a lot of duplication on some model years. Probably because they weren't very inventive, or they had a winner in one series that they wanted to keep alive in other divisions. Although on close inspection it appears that the "B" pillar on the Olds is somewhat narrower than Chev.

So, are you looking for a donor roof to replace a mangled or rusted out one? If yes, why not just find an Olds donor car? I know the answer to that, it's better to take a chebby off the road than an Olds! Or, perhaps you're trying to create a model like the last pic???

Cutlass Supreme is a whole together different roof line and I don't think I've seen it duplicated on other models - close but not the same.

[65az]

Actually.... the reason I am asking is this.

My Dad purchased a brand new Malibu Classic off the showroom floor at Bernie Hoot Chevrolet in 1977 outside Detroit Michigan. When he drove it off the lot.. he took it right over to ASC and had T-tops installed in it. Now everyone knows that the Cutlass and Grand Prix were available with T-tops, but the Malibu/Chevelle were not. Well. We found out later that ASC installed T-tops in only 2 Malibus in 1977. I have been trying to find our car to purchase and restore, but it is not going well. Furthermore, what I do remember from back then is it was getting pretty rusty when he later let it go in the early 80's.

Which leads me back to my question... if I can't find the original, I am going to duplicate it. ASC has unfortunately trashed all documents from way back then, so I cant trace which car they used the T-tops from. But my recollection tends me to lean towards the cutlass... I could swear that the shape of the roofline is the same as the MAlibu.. but not certain.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by 65az

Actually.... the reason I am asking is this.

My Dad purchased a brand new Malibu Classic off the showroom floor at Bernie Hoot Chevrolet in 1977 outside Detroit Michigan. When he drove it off the lot.. he took it right over to ASC and had T-tops installed in it. Now everyone knows that the Cutlass and Grand Prix were available with T-tops, but the Malibu/Chevelle were not. Well. We found out later that ASC installed T-tops in only 2 Malibus in 1977. I have been trying to find our car to purchase and restore, but it is not going well. Furthermore, what I do remember from back then is it was getting pretty rusty when he later let it go in the early 80's.

Which leads me back to my question... if I can't find the original, I am going to duplicate it. ASC has unfortunately trashed all documents from way back then, so I cant trace which car they used the T-tops from. But my recollection tends me to lean towards the cutlass... I could swear that the shape of the roofline is the same as the MAlibu.. but not certain.

I can't say this with 100% certainty, but GM typically used the same roof stamping across divisions on like models. Since T-tops were installed in both mid-70s Supremes and Cutlass S models, I'm willing to bet that even the notchback and fastback cars used the same roof panel. The differences were likely in the quarter panel stampings.