bucknailer

there is a 1970 cutlass rally 350 for sale in my town with a asking price of 14,900 or best offer. The car is supposedly all oringanel , no rust some miner dings and scratch,looks like the oringnel paint job has 350 4 barrel -- yellow all over over including bumpers, wheels etc. the person selling it has several classic cars -just starting up a classic car lot here in my area. He says that if you put 5 grand in new paint you'll have a 30 grand car supposedly only year made , was gonna be a hurst car for oldsmobile but fell thru so its a special addition. don't hold me to all the details on that relating his story thru memory
anyway I have a '69 cutlass convertable 350, 2 barrel and would like 2 look in too trading up to a more desirable car.

is this 1970 rally 350 really so desirable? is his asking price of 14,900 realistic? cheap? exspensive?
he and I dicussed a potential trade for my'69 convertable and 9 or 10 grand - honestly to me a average car owner my convertable seems cooler even if it has the kiss of death color combonation -- yellow body , green interior -- according to him.


I'm happy with convertable that I inherited but willing to trade up with some cash for a car that potentially I can make some money on, but not really interested in giving up my car + 9 grand + 5 grand to get this car painted unless its really a desirable car

thanks for any responses I know pictures and mileage would be helpful,asking in general ball park terms not specifics

Eightupman

It's only worth what you are willing to pay for it. Your car is worth what you are willing to sell/trade it for. I think convertables are more desireable period, and it was willed to you.

bucknailer

thks for the reply eightup typed the post when I just got home from looking at the cars he had -- had temporary car fever lol -- you know you see sevaral nice muscle cars and you think " damn I want one" but as you have said the convertable was free too me with the exception of the cash I have put in it. The bottom line for me is I need too stay away from gun shops as well as random classic cars on the side of the road.

2blu442

Both sound like nice cars, but if your looking for an investment I would look a little longer before paying $15,000 for a car you'd want to spend another $5,000 on. I used to have a Rallye 350 and wish I still had it as they are desirable cars, but so is a 1969 convertible! For the Rallye to bring top dollar everything would have to be numbers matching and correct, drivetrain, interior, etc. Does it have all the ram air cleaner componets? How is the hood? If the car needs help with those items that can drain your bank account pretty fast. Is the factory rubberized paint still good on the bumpers? Does he have any paperwork to prove it came from the factory as a Rallye 350 instead of someone building a clone out of a Cutlass? I don't think there was anything in the vin number to prove it's a Rallye 350. I do know they came with the full range of no frills to fully loaded, automatics or 4 speeds, buckets or bench. How it's setup can also impact the value. I'd do a little more research before giving up the car you already have, knowing it's something special. My 2 cents! John

69ho aurora

Rallye 350s are uncommon, and they do have a following, but I don't know that I would put them in the "desireable" category. They aren't run-of-the-mill cars, but they aren't 442s or W-31 Cutlasses either. Those are generally more desireable. I owned one once upon a time. I don't recall anything other than a black interior being available, but you never know. The rest of his comments are about right (one year only, could have become the 70 H/O). The final intention of the car was to be a hip looking car that wouldn't kill the owner with high insurance bills.

I think it really is a matter of what you think you would enjoy more. I doubt that it would be a 30k car when done unless it were really exceptional. If it were, it would be something you would be afraid to drive. Personally, I would prefer a convertible Cutlass over a Rallye. I also owned a number of 68 442 convertibles at one point and had picked up a 69 Cutlass convert that I was going to redo right before I got married. That took care of that project as my cars fell down the priority list. Converts are always going to be popular, while some people love, and other people hate Rallyes...

2blu442

Mine was a factory 4 speed, 325 hp 350 engine with a 3.42 posi rear. Add that to the Sebring Yellow paint dipped look, decals, functional ram air hood, wing on the trunk, black bucket seat interior and it turned heads. It was a mid-year limited production. I used to know how many were made but am not sure now, the figure 3,500 sticks in my head though. It was fun to drive and got as much attention as the 1970 442 4 speed car I'm driving right now. It's all in the eye of the beholder, but in production the 1970 Rallye 350 and SX models are more rare than 442's. But rare doesn't always mean $$, it still comes down to how it was optioned and how much demand there is for it. I think they're really cool cars, but so are convertibles, 442's, W30's, Hurst Olds and many other cars that we could choose to own!!! John

bucknailer

2blu
the seller told me 3 thousand were made and this car has the options yours did - wing, rallye 350 decals on sides near rear,black buckets, as for horsepower numbers and real end ratios I have no idea. he also had a 1970 dodge dart 340 for 14,900 as well that was supposedly a all oringinal car and that one was sharp looking -- already fixed up in terms of being super clean, motor nice and painted -- hell I don't know what I'm looking at really but know I'm a sucker for cool stuff like that. he said that the dart was nice but if you took both of them to a car show the rallye 350 one would draw more attention even tho it was'nt restored as far as the dart. all I know is I don't need either one and I have a cool convertable already so I'm gonna just be happy with what I have-- altho you can safely bet I be looking as I drive by to see if he has anything new on his lot -- looking and dreaming are free.

thanks for everyones responses

redoldsman

Sounds like you like the convertilbe. I have a 72 Cutlass convertible that I have had for 13 years. It is time for a redo. There is a difference in investing in a car and enjoying a car. I don't think a redone Rallye 350 will bring $30,000. Check them on ebay. I think the Rallye 350 is a neat car and have watched them on ebay. I think the only way it would bring $30,000 is if it was a very low mileage original. My suggestion, spend the $5,000 on your convertible. You can change to a 4 brl carb and a set of twin turbos (if you haven't already) and it will give it muscle car personality. Go with a set of SSII wheels and a nice set of tires. You still have money left to get rid of the green interior if you want. For most of us, cars are to enjoy. Ain't nothing like having the top down and every other car that pulls up by you telling you what a cool car you have. That is just my 2 cents.

dusty

"Rallye 350s are uncommon, and they do have a following, but I don't know that I would put them in the "desireable" category. They aren't run-of-the-mill cars, but they aren't 442s or W-31 Cutlasses either."

Huh?

1970 Make/Model Perf.

0-60 seconds Elapsed Time 1/4 Mile Speed mph Engines
Cubic Inches/Horsepower *Model Production TOP Speed

Olds Cutlass 4-4-2 base 455/365 * 19,330 3,312
Olds Cutlass 4-4-2 W30 5.7 13.88 98.8 455/370 test 1 2,874 3,682
Olds Cutlass 4-4-2 W30 5.7 14.20 100.0 455/370 test 2 3,682
Olds Cutlass 4-4-2 W30 5.7 14.40 100.0 455/370 test 3 3,682
Olds Cutlass 4-4-2 W30 13.98 100.7 455/370 test 4 3,682
Olds Cutlass/F85 W31 14.62 96.1 350/325 1,352 3,373
Olds Cutlass/F85 Rallye 350 7.0 13.70 101.2 350/310 3,547 3,163

The 442s are faster from 0-60. The Rallye 350 beats all of them in 1/4 mile. Not desirable? Don't get me wrong. 442's are cool as all get out cars, but so are the Rallye 350's.