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So a friend of mine calls me in November. "I know someone selling a '70 Cutlass two door hard top. Been stored since the '90s. Interested?" Of course I say I'd like to have a look at it, although I wasn't really planning on adding to the collection at this point.
It was a dark and stormy night...really, it was. Raining, dark, up to a storage unit with no lights inside. But even with just a flashlight it was obvious the car was in fantastic condition even covered in over 20 years of storage grime and drywall paste flaking from the ceiling. Repainted, good brightwork, interior needs the typical refresh but still presentable. Obviously not a 442. But that engine. A 260. Oh dear.
Agreed to a purchase price, then it was home to break the news to my wife. She doesn't really believe me anymore when I say I "probably won't buy an engine...or a car...".
Last edited by VI Cutty; Jan 21, 2017 at 01:59 PM.
Took a battery and air tank out there a couple weeks later and watched the car start coming back to life. Got to see the car with daylight illuminating it, and nosed it out of the storage unit a bit. All the electrics work, engine will crank. Aired up the tires. Then got busy with Christmas stuff.
Went back out today, made the last payment and we spent some time getting the car running. Just took the basics...WD40 in the cylinders, prime the oil pump, clean the points and feed it some new gas...and she fired up. A bit rough initially as expected after a 20+ year slumber but settled down to a nice quiet idle before long.
Just need to top up the brake and transmission fluid and I'll be ready to drive it home next weekend where it will take up residence in the company of my '71 and '72 Cutlass S's. After a good wash, of course.
The bodywork and paint was done not long before the car was put into storage. The original colour is a red according to the cowl tag.
But that 260. Oh dear.
So what's next?
The first time I heard about the '72 I now own, it was being sold attached to a strong running, low mile rebuilt Olds 350. The owner assessed the car as a piece of crap, only value is the engine. Long story short, it turns out to have correct buckets, same white interior as my '71, 1970 GTO wing, disc brakes, solid fenders...and I drove it home. Definitely not a piece of crap. When I struck the deal on the '70 I put the '72 up for sale and had a deal pending. The buyer was unable to close the deal due to some changes in his situation which I don't mind at all. That strong 350 and TH350 with shift kit are going into the '70 now, and the 260 will keep the '72 running when I offer it for sale again (so much for completing the 68-72 collection). The buckets will also find their way into the '70 as well.
Eventually I'll get my 455/TH400 combo cleaned up and installed in the '70 along with the console and limited slip.
Last edited by VI Cutty; Jan 21, 2017 at 02:10 PM.
Oh yeah, I guess I'm now in the market for a nice '70 S grill so I can swap those Supreme ones out. Apparently they were NOS when installed after the paint was done, and will be for sale once I get the correct ones.
Yes, congrats on the new toy! Do you have some Oldsmobile wheels to replace the chevy ones it came with? Once the wife is happy again you can always start saving up for a bigger engine. John
Oops! I went back and read all the posts to see that you've already got plans for the engines. I have to share that for years I only liked the 1970-72 cars... then I found a 1968 that was too good of a deal to pass. Years later I found a 1964 that I just couldn't live without. The hobby just keeps growing and now I appreciate all the years between 1964-72.
Yes, congrats on the new toy! Do you have some Oldsmobile wheels to replace the chevy ones it came with?
Sort of, but not really. I put new rubber on the '71's correct SS2's last summer so they'll get swapped in the short term but eventually they'll need to go back on the '71. The '70 came with three 14 x 6 SS2s so I'll just keep my eyes open locally, or scab the later SS2s off the '72 (14 front, 15 rear).
Once the wife is happy again you can always start saving up for a bigger engine.
I have two 455s right now. One needs a full rebuild but I'm hoping the other one just needs a good cleanup. Longer term project, though.
I have to share that for years I only liked the 1970-72 cars... then I found a 1968 that was too good of a deal to pass. Years later I found a 1964 that I just couldn't live without. The hobby just keeps growing and now I appreciate all the years between 1964-72.
I've flopped back and forth over preferring the 69 over the 70-72 but couldn't decide which I like more. The 68s are great too but I like the front end treatments for the 69-72, especially with an OAI hood. You're right, though. Ultimately they're all nicely styled with each evolution being attractive.
What a great find! This "Hobby" is a sickness. Ha. We always need one more car. Unfortunately, I'm that way with bass guitars and handguns too! My wife is a patient woman.
Tom
What a great find! This "Hobby" is a sickness. Ha. We always need one more car. Unfortunately, I'm that way with bass guitars and handguns too! My wife is a patient woman.
Tom
Mine too, thank goodness! My other collection is full size VW Bugs...which still outnumber the Cutlasses at this point.
Some video of the engine running. I should have got some after things settled down and the engine was sounding a lot better. Points are still oxidized and accelerator pump isn't really working, but after initially running gas from a marine tank we found the fuel pump was still working. So here the car is running off fresh gas straight from it's gas tank.
YOUD BE SUPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE LAFF...WHEN I SAY THE SAME THING...
unfortunately, i tell my self the same thing every time i drag a stray project home...i make some room for it..say i'm done and of course..the next one is welcomed to..i just cant stop
YOUD BE SUPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE LAFF...WHEN I SAY THE SAME THING...
unfortunately, i tell my self the same thing every time i drag a stray project home...i make some room for it..say i'm done and of course..the next one is welcomed to..i just cant stop
Neither can I! It's a disease and I'm not interested in a cure!!!
In 2015 I went to the big swap meets in Portland, Oregon. My first time at any swap of that magnitude and still on a very steep Olds learning curve. Before I left, I told my wife that I wouldn't buy any cars and probably wouldn't buy an engine. Well, I didn't buy any cars. Hauled a complete, assembled 455 home in the back of my fairly new Toyota Sienna though!
Nice find. What is the original color? If Twilight blue, the Pearl interior will surely make it pop. Is that the original hood? The 442 emblems are mounted in an interesting way. Does the '72 Cutlass have air conditioning?
Is that the original hood? The 442 emblems are mounted in an interesting way. Does the '72 Cutlass have air conditioning?
I don't know if the hood is original, why do you ask? No idea why they mounted the emblems like that, but makes it easier to spot as a "clone"! That appears to be the only 442 element used anywhere in the car, apart from the disc brakes and some other mechanical parts transferred from a wrecked 442. I do have a replacement tooth with rocket emblem, hopefully I can match the paint.
No A/C cars in my collection, unfortunately.
Last edited by VI Cutty; Jan 22, 2017 at 02:26 PM.
Burgundy Mist is a very nice color, I've only seen a few Cutlass and 442's in this color. The color looks especially nice with the Pearl interior. From the photos, the hood seems to be a different color shade compared to the other paint.
Burgundy Mist is a very nice color, I've only seen a few Cutlass and 442's in this color. The color looks especially nice with the Pearl interior. From the photos, the hood seems to be a different color shade compared to the other paint.
I'll have to look up the Burgandy Mist colour, although it's highly unlikely I'll repaint the car. At least not any time soon.
The colour difference is the hood is still covered with all the settled dust and sediment from years of storage. We wiped the fenders off to minimize scratching while pulling plugs and the distributor. Once I get the car home and cleaned it will all be the same.
Went back to the storage unit this morning, she fired right up. Topped up the brake fluid (they're still pretty soft and fade), added transmission fluid and we were off to the races. Well. No races. Not with that 260 and the flakey brakes.
Drove reasonably well although a bit bumpy due to years on flat tires, but managed a 15 minute drive without issues. Then the first bath in over two decades. Cleaned up real nice. Far from perfect, but very presentable.
Wow, that cleaned up nicely. I see now how the hood matches the rest of the paint. Luckily you have no snow or ice, or is that normal for this time of year out that way?
Wow, that cleaned up nicely. I see now how the hood matches the rest of the paint. Luckily you have no snow or ice, or is that normal for this time of year out that way?
We don't get a lot of snow or sub zero temperatures here, but we do get a lot of grey, overcast and damp days. Today was particularly nice, clear and warm. Couldn't have asked for a better day to bring the car home!
A little bit of rearranging, and thankfully my convertible Beetle was sold and picked up last week! The car has gone from hiding in this inconspicuous storage locker "Yuuuuuuup!" for 20 years to sharing my shop with some close relatives.
Now...I wonder where I can find a '69... :-D
Last edited by VI Cutty; Jan 29, 2017 at 10:39 PM.
Wow, this project has been on the back burner for longer than I thought! I haven't done much to it apart from pulling the 260 and transmission, and switching the rims to SS2s. I decided to pull the gas tank today and was surprised to find the build sheet still intact. Interesting to see although the car has changed a fair bit since first built already, with more changes on the way.
