Have a friend who is thinking about selling his car but is not sure what it is worth. I told him what I think its worth and he wasn't too happy so I thought I would get you guys feedback.
1971 cutlass, odometer says 46,000 and I would believe it to be original judging by the shape the car is in. I took a bunch of pictures of it today and some things I noticed: 350 two bbl, #7 heads, Auto, bench seat, AM radio, factory rear defroster (I thought came out in 72?) Its been painted, original color is antique jade and now is more like palm green. It has 70 fenders and looking underneath it looks like patch panels. The doors and trunk are real nice along with floors. Around the windshield A-pillar there is a little rust and small pin hole. The grill is 72. The car is really clean other than those things. I have an idea its worth but what do you guys think?

 

More pix

 

Looks pretty nice. 100K miles would make a big difference. If they are original, I would guess somewhere between 11-13K. If not, I would say 7500-9500 but I'm far from an expert but I do try and keep up with the market. Any indication of having been hit in the front other than the 70 fenders and wrong grille? Maybe the fenders could be original if an early build? But that's just an swag. Nice clean Cutlass either way. Any documentation or original paperwork? Color change, non-ac and 2bbl/single exhaust probably the biggest negatives that I see. I'm in the market so let me know what he decides. Thanks!

 

Yes, compared to some cars Ive seen this is really clean. The underneath looks real clean and straight. I think maybe bottoms of fenders were patched and a little bubbling on bottom of left quarter but that is all I can see and whatever else may be there can't be that bad?
I really think the mileage may be original and the title says so also BTW.
He has never taken car apart so I don't know about build sheet or broadcast card, could still be there? Built in framingham MA.

 

 

I'd agree with the above, start at $15k and go from there.

 

He is thinking around 13 I said maybe 11-12 but I wasn't real sure so thats why Im sharing. Not a whole lot for desirability as far as options but a real clean car.

 

I think $10K-$11K would be a fair price for both buyer & seller

 

 

If anyone is interested I think this car could be purchased for 11k. PM me and I will give you contact info and answer any questions I can about it. He hasn't advertised it yet.

 

You said $11k to $12k and he thinks $13k and that makes him unhappy? That's hardly any difference at all! That was enough to make him upset? What a dink this guy is.

I could see him getting upset if he thinks 10 and you said 5, but 11 or 12 versus 13? C'mon! These are all just guesses, anyway

 

X2...petty..

 

Since you came up with a price I moves the thread to the cars for sale section and changed the title to 1971 Cutlass..

 

Looks like the grills and non-louvered hood may be from a '72 Supreme. Is the radiator support a '71 or '72?

 

 

The grills are from a 72 Cutlass Supreme, but fitted to the rad support. The rad support is a 71.
1971 rad support



1972 radiator support had elevated ridges to accommodate the forward set grills. This isn't the best picture, but you get the idea



The hood is correct for 71. All the Cutlass steel hoods had rear cowl vents, only the Cutlass S had the 'faux' louvered hood.

 

Thought non- A/C 1972 cars built before 1/1/1972 still had the rear vents in the hood. Either way, shouldn't this car have a louvered hood?

From the photo it seemed the radiator support had the two ridges for the '72 type grills. Looking again, maybe it is a '71 radiator support.

Always amazed me that Oldsmobile retooled the radiator support just to better fit the taller and protruding '72 'S' and Supreme grills. Would had thought less costly to simply have new grills fit the existing '71 radiator support. But then again, Pontiac retooled the fenders for air extractors and 'duck tail' spoiler for their '72 A-body.

 

All 1971 Cutlass models with steel hoods had rear cowl vents. Only in 72 did the change come in where non AC cars had them. The AC cars didn't have rear cowl vents. The rad support is definitely from 71, as stated above and that makes sense since this is a 71 Cutlass S.

You are correct that this car should have a hood with 'faux' louvers. Then again, it also has 1970 fenders on it. No telling whether it was repaired or built incorrectly. Stranger things have happened in factories when a supply of parts ran out.

If you get up close and personal to a 72 set of grills and rad support, you'll see why the retooling makes sense. I believe the fitment of those grills in the 71 pictured by the OP was custom and not direct bolt in.

 

Nice clean Cutlass, unusual to have flat ridge fenders on a car built the last week of May 71, but being a Framingham car perhaps it took alot longer to use up the old style fenders. I thought my Arlington built December build was fairly late for still having the flat fenders.
Someone will have a nice car. 71 is the first year for the electric rear defroster.

 

Is there just surface rust or rot holes in the A-pillars and other locations? Are the lower fender braces complete, with just outer sheet metal patches installed? Does the Cutlass have disc brakes and power steering?

 

I noticed that there was a small pin hole around A pillar and a little rust coming through around bottom of back window (typical spots) Since its been repainted it is hard to tell but judging the condition of the rest of the car, I find it hard to believe its that bad, but it is there. I didn't check the braces or I couldn't see them. It has PS but Ill try and find out about brakes but I would guess yes.

 

Owner of this car is motivated to sell. $8,500 it can be had.

 

That's a heck of a good deal for a car in that condition.

 

Good deal for someone. That's pretty much the ballpark number I had in mind as a gut feel. If he could get $11-12K out of that very decent but bare bones car, I was going to have to jack up the asking price on both of my high-option Supremes if I were to sell them, especially the west coast survivor car.
Terry

 

It is solid and I wish I owned it but I would want to put too many upgrades in it and probably get buried ie.. 455, trans, diff, buckets, column, console, gauges, radio, redo interior, OAI, cut out bumper, grilles, dual exhaust etc...

 

Wow, is the seller angry? Early on in this thread you said he "wasn't too happy" when you had the temerity to suggest that his car might be worth 11 or 12K when he thought it was worth 13. If he's now come all the way down to 8.5, he must be downright livid!

 

I think when he bought it he thought he stole it and was worth around 12. Now time comes to sell he finds out maybe not that quick to find a buyer at that price. I believe he needs money for house stuff and that motivates him. I don't think he is livid just not too happy about the whole thing?

 

Does his current asking price mean he'd be selling it at a loss?

 

Yes, I believe so.

 

 

Bellingham MA. Where are you?

 

So, to put it in plain English, your friend thought he could flip it, and it backfired on him.

 

 

Not sure what he was thinking but I think he thought it was a good deal?

 

I pm'd you with my phone#

 

This looks like a hell of a deal for a pretty decent car. The best body style too.

 

Non-air is a plus for me, I hate all that non working power robbing junk in the way, 72 Supreme Grilles and being a green car turns me off.
So its really not what the car is but if someone is interested in the way its set up.