SO I found a 78 calais with a factory 5 speed and the 260 in a garage for 300 bucks so I bought it. Now Im wondering,is this car rare? I havent been able to find any info on the internet about it.I decided to come ask the experts about this car. I also got all the original paperwork plus the window sticker and I am the second owner of this car!

Thanks guy for any assistance you can give me.

 

Production of the '78 Cutlass Calais Coupe (it came only as a coupe) was 40,842. That's low compared to the number of Cutlass Supreme Coupes made that year, 240,917, or about six times as many. There were 117,800 Cutlass Supreme Brougham Coupes built. Various versions and flavors of Cutlass Salons were available as well.

I don't know how many Calais' came with the 260, the 5-speed, or both. I don't know if those kinds of records are available.

Please post some photos of this $300 car. We'd love to see it.

 

I JUST uploaded some photos to my Album on here.Thanks for the numbers,it helps a little bit.

 

I did just find that about 80% of all 1978 Cutlasses came with the 260 V8, so at least that aspect of it isn't rare. The figures weren't broken down by what type of Cutlass (Calais, Supreme, Salon).

 

I just saw the photos of your car. For $300, it could look like crap and still be a good deal. Your car looks great and a real buy at $300. I'm guessing the person you bought it from just wanted it gone.

You'll have a lot of fun with it.

 

Yeah hes moving and said I either buy it or hes calling the scrap yard,I didnt have to think twice.
80% huh. Well that narrows it down a lot more.

 

I'd say you did pretty well buying it for $300. Having that 5 speed vs the TH200 probably makes it a bit quicker. Good luck

 

While I don't have numbers, the five speed is pretty rare. In fact, a manual trans in any 1978-1988 A/G-body car is pretty rare. Note that the five speed is extremely weak and was not available with any engine other than the V6 or the weak-kneed 260.

 

Great Find....

 

300 for that, it's a steal.

Keeping the 260 or dropping a 350?

 

Eventually pulling the 260 and the trans plus the diff and putting those in plastic wrap. Then I want to find a 350 and I have a really nice built turbo 375 trans.Want to put in a 373 posi rear end in it.

For a little 260 and having a weak sauce trans it moves out real decent. Car drives like brand new,seeing as how it has only 29,600 on it.

 

Hey guys,

I a newbie to the site, but my mom was a devout Cutlass owner starting with a brand new black 74 Supreme 2-door she got a few months before I was born. She had a '77 Brougham 2-door (bought used from my cousin in 1980) then a new '86 Supreme 2-door that she special-ordered in late 1985. I learned to drive in a Cutlass, took my driving test in a Cutlass, went on my first 'real' date in a Cutlass....and had a few other memorable experiences in (the BACK seat) of a Cutlass! =)

I'm posting on this thread because I actually have a road test of a '78 Cutlass Supreme 2-door with the 260/5-speed manual in an old Motor Trend or Car & Driver magazine. I went on a kick about 10 years ago trying to collect every issue of both magazines all the way back to the month I was born (Feb '75) and I distinctly remember that article/test! I knew about the 260, but until I read that article I never had a clue that the Cutlass was available with a 5-speed manual. I have it boxed up somewhere in the attic, but I'll try to find and scan it here for you guys!

 

What deal. I wouldn't have hesitated to buy it either.

 

$300 , great score! Oh and welcome.

 

Welcome aboard!
Gee I must have had one of the even more rare 78 Calais' with a 305 4bbl, console c/w rallye upgrade and trim. Burgundy padded vinyl over silver. Chevy power in an Olds body straight out of the factory.

Good deal for 300 bucks. First year of the 'downsized' models. It was an 'ok' car, but nothing really spectacular.

Mine was like this only with silver SSIII wheels