Hello,

I am all the way new to this, so I have many questions. First, thanks in advance for answering my questions and dealing with my lack of knowledge in this restoration project I am about to tackle.
A little background on myself. I live in the Sacramento area and have worked very hard for the last 10 years to finally have the funds and time to start this project. I have found a 69 Cutlass Supreme for sale and before i pull the trigger and buy this puppy, I am looking for any last minute advice. Like, What should I pay close attention to? The body is definately straight and seems to be in good shape. There are 3 spots with rust areas, the worst being located under the back window. Interior is in ok shape. The exterior of the car is missing all the trim, almost as if someone had started the project, taken the mouldings off to prep the body and then sold it without giving them to the person????? How hard are these parts to come across?
Anyway, any advice would be helpful. Also, does anyone know of any local places in the Sac area to accomodate restoration.

By the way, the car needs new suspension, brakes and exhaust. It is running and is listed for 4k or best offer. Does this sound like a good deal? What do I look for on the vin# to identify the car?

Thanks

 

Take a fridge magnet when you go look at the car. If the magnet won't stick, it has been repaired with bondo somehwhere. lower quarters, and lower front fenders are the first place I'd look.

Never fall in love with a car, you'll pay too much for it.

 

If the back window is rusted. Pull everything out of the trunck and check.
Larry

 

Thanks for the advice! Magnet haha. Thanks

I will attempt to check the trunk, however he stated that he could not open the trunk?

I will let you know.

 

I'm a little worried at what you might be getting into. I guess the first question is, are you looking to restore a vehicle? And are you able to do so or willing to learn? I had one of THE most rusted out 442's I've seen (a '68) and the back window had very little rust. Now, I'm not saying that certain cars won't or don't rust differently, but from what you've described, it sounds like there might be a little more rust than what is showing.

Second question is, is this a CA car? If it's a life-long CA car, then you might be ok and there will be minimal rust in other places. If you can, get under the car and look at not only the floor boards, but also the cross braces. Bring a flashlight with you and get under there.

Also, unless you're willing to entertain the possibility of replacing an entire trunk floor and braces, I would not buy that car with out opening the trunk.

I'm just trying to save you a ton of wasted money and time. All I know is, I will never buy a car with a good amount of rust again, and I'm also very wary as to what might be hiding under a new paint job.

I guess in the end, if you're getting the car for cheap and willing to put time and money into it, it might be worth it.

 

You will absolutely want to get that trunk open before buying, the trim is not impossible to find and not crazy expensive either if you take your time looking for bargains, you will usually end up buying the cast metal pieces like the emblems new anyway as the original pieces are usually pitted. I'm not sure about prices out on the wc but judging from your description I'd offer 2k and see what he says, but thats MHO. Post the vin or better yet the trim tag info and it can be broken down for you.

One more thing it wouldn't hurt to check places like craigs list, e-bay, and other webites classifieds like 442.com just to get a feel for the going rate for these cars right now it's a soft market and there are deals to be had, you can never be too well informed, good luck.

 

I agree with Eric. Based on what that car needs, I'd say 4K is kind of high. If it was a 442, then I might say go for it.

Also, I'm not sure about the '69, but the chrome trim parts for a '68 ARE actually expensive. Decent shape wheel well moldings almost always go for $70 and up each, as there are no repops.

 

X2

Heck, some of the trim may be in the trunk.

 

If I may add to this...
This is exactly the same as the car I bought, 1969 Cutlass Supreme. If it is indeed a "Supreme" and not an "S", because I see this mistake made way too often, people that think because the car has "Cutlass S" on the fender, that it means it is a "Cutlass Supreme".
If what you've bought is indeed a Supreme, and it is missing all of the stainless trim, then you will have a long search for every little piece of it. The lower body (for '68 and '69) trim alone has somewhere around 22 different pieces. I have most for my car, but would like to replace some of it. Especially the cast pieces at the wheel corners.
Anyway, back on topic. I would say listen close to what these guys are all saying about it. Get that trunk opened up first. The trim could all be in there as Jamesbo said, and there could/probably will be rust in there if the lower rear window sill was rusted out. I had the same rust issue with mine, (look for me on cardomain.com, It is shown there how I fixed that same rust problem) unfortunately there is no re-popped part for that. You'd need to find a donor piece, or hand fab it like I had to.
Check it out at http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3238442
I think I may have some extras in the way of the trim though. I'll have to look and see what all is there. I know I have the trim for the rear window, I'll see what else I may have.
Duane

 

If nothing else go through the back seat to undo the latch, but get into that trunk before you buy.

 

Welcome to our site and be very careful about this car before you buy it. We are all about the Oldsmobile for sure but we hate to see a new owner get into something too deep and then get soured on the whole idea of an Oldsmobile. Good luck and be patient and careful and let us know...

 

Welcome to the site. I second all of the advice offered by all before me. Good luck

 

i would keep looking. if you have to get into the trunk, you can take the back seat out and use a 7/16 socket with about 4 foot of extentions put together to reach the latch on the floor side and remove the two bolts and the trunk will open. i can't remember but it may be a 1/2 inch.