Yes i tried searching first

What does supreme mean? i occasionally see a 71- 72 "cutlass supreme" that is a fast back. Is this confusion on the owners part, or were some supreme's fast backs?

looking for an answer becuase im looking for a project and specifically want a 71-72 fast back coupe. Just found one listed for 1300 obo that "needs restoration" Im assuming its a rust bucket, but i've got my fingers crossed....

delemma is that im stuck to 3 options....


1- trade for a C4 I have even up ( no project fun/pride cause not much extra money)

2- trade for a low dollar project plus cash 9 unlikely to find someone to trade that is currently looking to sell to get money in thier own pocket..)

3- sell the vette and then start looking. - listed no but priced a little high. dont want to loose my shirt selling it and find out i dont have a project or driver by next spring...


Well that sort of dragged on...
Wish me luck!

 

Supreme is a body style with the notchback....and interestingly, convertibles were also made in the Supreme body style so that convertible trunklids and quarters were interchangeable with the notchback panels.

fastbacks would be the Cutlass S or 442.

 

Yes, if it is really a supreme, it will be a notchback. Alot of times less knowledgeable sellers will have a Cutlass S and assume the S stands for Supreme and sell it as that. Just like taco bell. Are you just going to buy a burrito or are you going to get the burrito SUPREME?(this is hypothetical... we already know the answer)

 

70-72 the Supreme was its own body style, which is the notch back. 442 and S models are fast back. I see this when looking for parts or parts cars people are uninformed and don't know what the "S" in Cutlass S stands for.

Best thing to do when looking for a car on the net look at everything that comes up. Do searches not for just Cutlass, but also Oldsmobile.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/6971danolds/71OldsPics This is a '71 Supreme, this style was used from 1970-1972. The colonade stlye that came out in 1973 also had a notchback and fastback rooflines. 1969 and earlier used one body style for both the Supreme and S, and 442 models. There were trim options for the Supreme that set it apart. Of course the 442 had it's own VIN derivative from '68-71.

 

I was confused about what was what and Sandy told me about the ID guide on the inside of the back cover of the Fusick catalog.
I don't think the Supreme is really a "notchback" like the cars were called with near vertical rear windows and short rear decks, it's just not a fastback??
The Chebby Vega sedan was called a notchback, who wants to be in that company.

 

OK, back up. Cutlass Supreme is a model designation that was offered in 2dr HT, convertible, and 4dr versions. Prior to the 1970 model year, the Supremes used the same sheet metal as lesser Cutlii. Starting with the 1970 models, Supreme 2dr hardtop models got the unique notchback roof (XX57 body style in Fisher Body-speak). There were NO Supremes built after the 1969 model year with a fastback roofline. Anyone who says so is wrong. The VIN will be different for a Supreme vs. a Cutlass or Cutlass S.

 

Thanks guys... Looks like he must have a Cutlass S....
This is what i suspected and What i want

hard to answer this one, but any feeling for value?

72 numbers matching Cutlass S with 70k on the clock.
turns over but does not run.
seller says "needs restoration"
assuming it has some of the typical rust in the bottom corners of the quarter and fenders... ( i'm hoping it's clean but trying to be realistic)
assuming I have to gut the interior and buy a kit for 2k or so..

 

impossible to gauge without seeing pics, so either post or use the Old Car Price Guide as a general reference...sounds like a condition 4 or worse.

without seeing, my guess is the very most it could be worth is $2000 as you describe it.

To the others...could an S have come with a 6 cyl ?

 

Its a 350 engine but I'd want to swap in a 455 down the road...
Prob put the original in storage if its really numbers matching.

Attached a pic but its not detailed enough to see much...

 

In prior years, yes, but Olds did not offer a six cylinder engine in the 1972 model year.

 

An "S" was available with the six. Chevy 250 ci straight 6, not sure when they discountinued it.

 

Joe, ya fast typer!

 

TJ...not to stray too much from your question, but IMO it's not always "numbers matching" that optimizes value. That's why people make clones.

An all-original 6 cylinder Dodge Dart isn't worth what ait would be if someone put a 383 in it.

With a base Cutlass like in your pic, which isn't rare and has the base motor, there may not be a reason to hold onto to the orig motor.

Sorry to get off-topic, but your point about saving the 350 struck me as odd.

 

The "S" stands for the same as the "S" in Ulysses S Grant's name...."S".

 

...not to nitpick, but 442's came in fastback and convertible...just to clarify a couple earlier posts....

 

The Fusick catalog guide doesn't mention the Cutlass Salon. I had a 75 Salon when I was a kid. It had the more formal roofline style like the Supreme. It was a bit of a struggle given the weight of the car, but the 350 could push it past 100 if you had enough space!

 

Earlier in this thread there was mention of interchangeability between Cutlass Supreme convertible and hardtop decklids. Hardtop decklids are unique. The Cutlass Supreme convertible and the 4 door Cutlass have the same decklid from 70-72. The upper corners of the hardtop comes to a point. Some people have rounded off those corners to use on a convertible.

Chevelle's and Skylarks from the same era use a common to each other decklid too.

 

Viking,
I get your point. I was just thinking if there was any benefit I may as well keep it. Otherwise if that is the consensus, I'd probaby try to get it running and sell it to help fund the project!
TJ

 

6 - i never heard that. can someone corroborate ? A Supreme convertible (or 442 convertible) trunk lid isn't the same as a Supreme hardtop trunklid ?

if the other panels are the same, wouldn't the trunklid need to be the same too ?

 

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IMG_2463.jpg

 

Actually it looks like your pictures prove the supreme hard top and supreme convertible dont have the same lid. The top picture notchback has a hard corner on the trunk lid near the base of the rear window. The convertible middle pic has a rounded corner.

Interestingly the convertibhle and fast back look liek they both have the rounded corner ( but I imagine the shape toward the bumper is different)

 

The car you are referring to as a fastback is actually a Cutlass Town Sedan. Same decklid as convertibles from 1970-72.

 

Based on what i see in that pic, i'd offer $1k... maybe less.

It doesn't run, and i'd assume the worst as far as hidden stuff you cannot see that will be wrong down the road as you start to restore it- its been sitting out in the weather a long time.

For $3k-$5k you could buy a fairly nice running & driving cutlass S.

It may not take much to get that car running & driving, or it could nickle and dime you to death. Every car is different... Set your offering bid accordingly.

A car that can be driven home by a buyer is always going to be worth more than a car that has to be towed home.

If you can get a screaming deal on it- go for it. If the seller wants to beleive he's sitting on gold, then let it go. there are a lot of these cars out there in the price range you are looking at.

My $.02

for comparison, MY car (see sig) was $4500 a year and a half ago(minus the wheels & tires shown). and I've been driving it since then with only working on projects i wanted to. it really didn't NEED anything. It has some minor rust, and other issues, its not perfect- but a great 10foot driver class car.

There are lots of deals out there in that class.

 

Doh... missed the 4 doors. thought the shape was different than i remembered.

Thanks for the advice. if i get this car its going to be for a grand or less... I'm in a situation where its either trade for a 5-7k car ( if i can find someone) or buy one real cheap that i can get outright and sell my car after the fact.

i've decided one thing... i do want to do a restoration. of course the advice I've gotten is get something you can drive, but I'm thinking I'm gonna disassemble it anyway and on top of that, if I'm gonna replace the engine anyway, then why not buy one thats not running that i can get a deal on. same with interior. id almost like it to be crap so I can replace it and have it be fresh.... biggest thing I don't want ( like everyone of course) is major rust....

Tj