I get e-mails from Mecum about 'special' cars in their upcoming auctions. Today I got one for the "Jack Safro Estate Collection", which includes a 1977 Cutlass with a 5 speed manula trans. Here' the link:

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...GROUP_ID=10008

 

Looks like a pretty nice car. I don't see how it fits into the "high performance" auction though. A 260 SBO is even smaller than the 307. Plus, the 5 speed in the late 70s was sort of weak.

 

I get the same email. Definitely an unusual car. I had a friend in high school who had one. Not too many built with 5 speeds. If I remember correctly it was rather leisurely in acceleration.
Still kind off "offbeat" cool, though.

 

Those mid 70's Cutlasses were sharp. My friends mother bought a new 76 with a 350 4 bbl and it was pretty fast. We got it to 120mph but it took quite a stretch of road to do it.

 

Yes, the trans was weak. And that's why it was only available with the 260. It was not intended to be a "high performance" version, but rather a economy offering, as in better gas mileage. Imagine that!