What I am looking for:

• 1972 cutlass supreme
• convertible
• summer weekend driver is the goal
• 350 engine (stock Oldsmobile)
• automatic transmission
• clear title (not salvaged)
• straight frame - good rust free chassis. normal surface rust is okay, but nothing deep. car must be solid.
• not a rust-bucket - i.e. i would rather need to make motor repairs than do major bodywork
• prefer red exterior, but if paint is poor enough to need repainting, then another color might be OK
• prefer white interior, but black would also be OK. tan (saddle?) would not be OK
• prefer white top, but black would also be OK
• no crazy modifications.

Are there any other variables that I have left out, or things that I should be thinking about ?

.

 

Have to be a 72 or would a 71 / 70 work? What price range? I will keep an eye open around here?

 

great, thank you very much

72 is what i want
71 is a maybe
70 is probably not

not trying to waffle, but price range is fair market.
though i would, of course, love a steal, i don't really believe that there is any "free lunch"
as another poster in this forum wrote "What it is worth. The better it is the more it is worth."
this seems like a starting point:
http://collectorcarmarket.com/menus/.../72olcume.html
do you agree?

this one just came up:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3389502163.html
hard to tell from only those 4 photos (and none of the engine or undercarriage)
i emailed the seller for more photos, but have not heard back.

.

 

You should be all over that red one in your craigslist link. Won't last long at that price as it looks like its been very well taken care of and meets your criteria!

 

Sadly, I don't think it is a real ad - imagine that on Craigslist ;-) - or it was sold and the person hasn't pulled down the ad.

I have left messages and emails and have heard nothing. Bummer.

Appreciate people keeping their eyes open....

 

interesting many folks prefer the 70 over the 71/72s but I myself like the details of a 72 as well. Any reason for the 72 and the "probably not" of the 70? Just thinking that there seems to be more 70s available than the other years.

 

Purely personal aesthetics on some of the small details. Nothing logical ;-)

I would think there would be more '72s, as "In its final year, it was the best-selling convertible in the U.S., with 11,571 sold, or 16% of the market, beating the Fleetwood Eldorado and Corvette." (according to Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1960-1972 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004), p.864.)

.

 

Shame about the red car ... looks pretty good.

In regards to the 70-71 vs 72 debate ...

While I certainly wouldn't kick a 72 out of my garage if I woke up next to one ....

My preference is for the 70-71 cars.

I really love the extra stainless trim on the sides.

I think it's about perfect ... not too thick (tall) nor too thin.

 

This car keeps popping up

It is currently for sale in Michigan:
http://www.oldride.com/classic_cars/172471.html

It sold on this Texas site in October:
http://classiccarliquidators.com/cla.../3J67K2M147984

Before that, it sold on this Illinois site:
http://www.howardlautosales.com/clas...ar.php?CID=128

Clearly it is priced too high (though to be fair, it is a dealer who needs to cover overhead). But does that fact that it is bouncing around from dealer to dealer raise a red flag to those of you with more experience in these matters?

Seems odd to me....

.

 

Great car for $10k...not sure about $15 though. As for why it keeps popping up for sale don't know. But it can't be a good thing!

 

One dealer trading stale inventory to another dealer for a "fresh" car. Happens a lot.

 

This one just popped up on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-...785ac64a#v4-42

• Does the front front grill look amiss, suggesting a twist - or is that just a funky camera angle?
• Does the paint overspray in the trunk suggest sloppy paint? (thought it looks like it needs new paint anyway)
• Does the rust on the spare lead to concern about other rust, even though the description say it is rust free?
• Interior looks pretty beat (maybe original?)
• Am trying to get photos of engine...

Any thoughts?

Anybody in the Scottsdale area able to take a peek?

 

Not exactly what you are looking for but this is what I have...

1971 Cutlass Supreme Convertable
Nordic Blue (painted by a member of these forums)
Non-numbers matching 455 (rebuilt by a member of these forums)
TH350 Transmission
Black top (needs replacing)
Bare interior (needs completely redone)
All metal work on the body was completed (by a member of these forums)
Paint is an 8-9 out of 10. Nice job, but two small runs in the clear.
Rear bumper has a small dent in it, but for the right price I can include a decent used one...
Column shift, non-tilt, but I have a tilt one I could include also for the right price.

I tried to buy this car off ebay from a member here back in February, but was out-bid at the last second. The guy that did buy it really didn't want it as he rebuilds 66-67 Impalas, so I bought it from him for what he paid in March.

On the trip back to Louisiana, I managed to hurt my back, and, long story short, underwent Spine-fusion surgery in June. My plan was that after recovering from the surgery, I would redo the interior and top and have a nice weekend car. However, I am now faced with the bills from that surgery and will not be able to complete the car. It drives real nice, but could use some stiffer springs in the front and new shocks.

I have done very little to the car since I had it, but as long as he doesn't object, I will get you in contact with the guy who did all the work prior to selling it originally.

The car is currently in a locked garage in Houston, where I work. Email me at btrbill@yahoo.com if you are interested and we can talk specifics.

 

thanks btrbill
that is indeed an interesting car
i am sure you will find the right person for that
as my hunt is still young, i think i will keep looking for '72 with a 350 in it before moving to a '70 or '71....
best of luck

 

I found one and just got it today!

It will need a bit of work, but it appears to have a solid body (what I was looking for).

Going into storage for the Winter - will post pictures when I get it out in the Spring.

Many thanks to all who offered words of wisdom and assisted me on the search.

Moderator, you can close the thread...