This is a local car and it keeps calling to me. It's just a cutlass convertible that was cloned into a 442 W30. I love the colors... Love everything about it, really.

I'm not an expert in 442s... more of a GTO guy, but there is something about this one... Would appreciate more knowledgeable people taking a look and giving me some feedback before I think about looking at it seriously. Thanks for any feedback.

https://www.desertprivatecollection....2-CONVERTIBLE/

 

I am not a 71 expert but for that kind of money I would want 442 grills (they are Cutlass grills painted black). I would want a posi rear. I question the 2 tone interior (backs of seats and lower door panels, console). The engine color appear to be Toronado blue and not 442 blue. The left valve cover also appears to be from a Toronado. I am not sure the W30 stripes are 100% correct. It is an attractive car but I don't think the price is good for a clone falling short on things.

 

A clone is what it is. Its a car bought to be used & enjoyed. It won't appreciate and hopefully seller & new owner aren't trying to deceive anyone. Its a nice looking car. As far as a critique;

• Stripes don't look quite right. Painted I assume? They look too high over the wheel arches and a little too wide
• Convertibles never got the rear wing, but many have been added
• It shouldn't have both the Oldsmobile lettering on the trunk & the 442 emblems
• Grilles are Supreme grilles painted black, not 442 grilles
• I hate green interiors but thats JMO
• In general, lots of little things that show a lack of attention to detail (chrome bead hanging off the dash, plastic interior parts not re-dyed
• AC and functional OAI are nice touches for a convertible and a clone
• PCV valve not hooked up to anything? Weird little overlooked detail
• Paint & chrome looks nice in the pics
• Wheel well moldings are the half moldings used on Supremes with the belt line moldings and look stupid with them gone

Since you asked, price seems high to me. People will opine about what it will cost to make things right, but its a clone so that wouldn't be m,y concern.

 

I had actually looked at this car a couple of days ago just doing a search of what's out there in the world. Let me first say that without a doubt I am no expert.

There are some places in the paint that look like there are some imperfections, but at 10 feet away it probably looks pretty good. You can tell better if you actually see it in person vs. in pictures. There seems to be a lot of 442 and W30 elements that are done right (but again I am no expert) but it is still a clone. I thought it was expensive for what it is (cloned from a Cutlass to 442 W30). They've already lowered the price though so maybe there it room to negotiate. I'm not in a position to buy it right now because of a house I'm selling (that would fund my next car deal) the buyer backed out on so its back on the market, but if I was in a position to buy it, it looks nice but I'd have to feel the seller out to see if there was room on the price before I made a serious effort or a trip to see it. Then would have to also get a lot more information on what's in the motor and how the suspension and other less obvious things were handled in the build.

But that's just my opinion.
Jack

 

Hmm. Ill give an opinion. I think any clean A-body convertible has a good value. Im guessing this car was green cutlass supreme convertible. The green interior is tough unless its real nice. This interior needs some attention. Does ac work? The new paint would concern me as to whats underneath. The frame pic shows a lot of undercoat which can hide a lot and it shows a little visible rust. I dont know how it runs or who rebuilt the motor but I would want some info. How does it shift? How does it brake? Does it run cool?
Its got some appeal especially from 20' away but up close things may look different.Hows the top? what color? does it go up and down? does it leak? Does anything leak? I would check inside of trunk on top of wheel wells for rust along with floors, main trunk area, torque boxes. Try to feel under lip of wheel openings and bottom of fenders for repairs. It has all the eye catching goodies that a 442 is known for without the worry of something getting damaged. An Olds enthusiast can pick this car apart but as long as its not being falsley represented then nobody gets hurt.
I think this car would be meant to enjoy but at that price you shouldn't have to do much and it needs some attention. If you buy this car right, you could just drive and enjoy and then sell maybe for close to what you paid when you needed. If you buy at asking price I think it might be hard to sell close to that. I look at these cars as investments that can hold value at minimum.
I think that car is worth more around $20k maybe looking from here. JMO

 

Hi TomD. If you like the car and it checks off all the boxes for you, and you fully vetted it cosmetically / mechanically etc. - then by all means buy it. But realize the value of a 1971 Cutlass convertible is substantially less than the value of a 1971 442 convertible. For instance, on a number 2 condition car there is almost a $30k difference in value - keep that in mind when negotiating with the seller - and good luck!

 

I agree that the price is quite high for a Cutlass Supreme convertible.

Interesting that there are no pictures with the top up. Makes me wonder if the top condition matches the interior condition?

The lug nuts looked odd in the wheel close up pics. Maybe it's just the paint missing around the holes in the wheels (and how did someone manage to do all that to the wheel paint? Dannnnng.)

 

Nope...

 

Under side of car is questionable,doesnt look like any of the suspension has been rebuilt, just painted over. As mentioned, stripes are incorrect(too wide). Too much undercoat, I would want to see the car on a lift to check floors, also check fenders and quarters for bondo. Engine doesnt appear to have any W30 parts. Probably a $25K car if its not a bondo buggy.

Car also has a T350 trans instead of a T400, so unless it has been beefed up, it may be questionable behind a 455

 

This is a dealer and obviously you'll pay a dealership penalty, but that price still seems high. This interior shot doesn't impress me. For $33K I'd expect the seat plastic to be sprayed to match the upholstery and the chrome bead on the dash pad to be attached.




But wait, here's the real problem. That motor is a 350. Zoom in in the casting number, That is a "2" at the end, not an "F". Look closely at the intake runner just in front of the carb and it says Performer 350 Olds. They're lying about the engine, or else they are uninformed, but it makes you wonder about all the other claims.

 

I think that car is $20k not much more. Lots of little things to change that will cost $$

 

I thought it looked a little small in there but I couldn't get any clear indications

 

TomD, considering all the very informed critical thinking on this thread (and website) I would call this Cutlass a number three+, and offer not much more than 16K for It.

Sadly when emotions take charge, buyers remorse typically follows relatively quickly.

 

Nice catch on the motor Joe i didnt see that the first time around .Theres no way this is a 33,000 dollar car.Looks like alot of stuff was masked off before painting ,the weather shipping around the door is shot.I would guess a good looking over in person would reveal a multitude of sins.

 

How about those high water wheel well moldings?

 

my dad had a 71 green w the same interior. The seat backs and console were a reasonably good color match. The ones in this car are not even close.

ugh the kick panels are blue too

I think $10k is on the high end !!!

not only is the engine a 350 its painted poncho blue and not 455 blue....

 

and 73-77 style auto shifter

 

And the fuel gauge is pointing way past FULL. Most of us know what that means.

 

Well, they don't look so bad when you have the wide Supreme trim on the car.

 

It absolutely has its issues, as all of (us and) our cars do. I’m of the opinion that if a potential buyer understands what he’s getting in to, and likes what he sees, has properly vetted, and the price is appropriate - then buy it, drive it and enjoy it!

This Cutlass was obviously (poorly) cloned for a reason, and the seller is asking almost twice what the car is really worth. And yes all the little things mentioned - and some big ones - would drive me crazy, as it would any Oldsmobile enthusiast. However, purchased at the right price - many are easily rectified, some may not be.

As always - buyer beware, but there is certainly value in every 1971 cutlass convertible.

 

That's funny, Joe!

 

Thanks everyone!! Yeah, there were some red flags for me too, but like I said in my OP, i'm no expert... Just love the color combo mostly. I'll not even bother looking at it.

 

dye the seat backs console and kick panels and enjoy if you like it.

 

That's the thing, 100% agree that the car can be enjoyed and presented a lot better with g a few touch ups here & there. Not every car needs to be 100% perfect and some aren't worth the effort to make them 100% perfect. With that being said, this one is priced too high for what it is, and being a dealer, you prob can't get it for the right number.

 

The issue isn't whether or not the car can be enjoyed as-is. The issues are 1) the asking price is significantly over market value and 2) the seller is either lying or mis-informed. Erring on an easy-to-verify claim like engine size makes one wonder about all the other claims made about the car. At $17K-20K, it's a reasonable buy. At $33K it isn't, at least not in my opinion.

 

One can spot dozens of flaws just by the pics. The reality is that there will be PLENTY more of hacks, butchered electrical, bad mechanical, suspension, etc that are hidden and not seen easily.

If the seller doesn't know the difference between a 350 and 455 engine. One should run, not walk, from this seller.

A poorly put together vehicle is WORSE than an original unrestored vehicle. There could be serious safety issues with this vehicle that can leave you stranded (minimum) or seriously injured or killed.

The interior color reminds me a pea green soup. Hideous