I am the proud new owner of a 1964 Cutlass and probably the only 64 Cutlass in Thailand. Since I do not think this will be a major build I will post here. The first photo below is my starting point. Since the photo was taken i have installed a new motor as it came with a 2.5 litre turbocharged Toyota 6 cylinder engine which is a standard engine swap in Thailand. To import a crate 350 would cost about $7000 USD as apposed to about $1500 for the Toyota. But since I must have a V-8 we did a swap with a 4.3 litre V-8 Lexus engine (in the 2nd photo). The engine has 32 valves, 4 overhead cams (a friend said it looks a little like a Ford cammer), fuel injection, variable valve timming and about 300hp. If you are wondering what are those things directly in fron of the valve covers they are distributor covers as the engine has dual distributors, one for each bank. The cost of the engine and all fabrication was $1,100 and the 6 cylinder engine. The paint is a few years old so I will keep it until I get tired of it and the interior is new so i will keep it for awhile. The bumpers are now out getting chromed as I do not like the painted bumper look and next will be the suspension as the car sits too low for my taste. I think you need to see all the tire in a wheel well. Please let me know what you think and remember it is Thailand not the US of A.
Thanks,
RD
P.S. I haven't got a chance to detail the engine compartment yet.

 

Nice car and a interesting conversion. Sure saved you a ton of money. Bet the header build was interesting. How does it perform?

 

Cool car ! Thats a great example of hot rodding . At least its not chevy powered Looks like 65 side trim to me ?
I love the fact its 2 -tone . Very original .

 

Hot Rodding is about using what you have to make what you want. Someone spent a lot of time and effort before you got it, and obviously you have a boatload of effort and creativity invested as well. Two thumbs up man! Hot Rodding at its finest.
Now if in the future you want to use another engine in that girl...say an Olds, we could probably hook you up!

 

Wow I have never cared for that Body style but that Car is damn nice looking and really an excellant job with a really cool paint style. Good Luck with that Car and take Care.

 

Thats a nice car you got. I agree with you on the painted bumpers part its looks kinds funky. Is that a splitter you have on the front bumper? If so can you take a picture of it head on? Also let me thank you for taking out the Toyota engine. That car deserved more then a Toyota in it.

 

Thanks for the nice comments guys. Wasted asked if that is a splitter on the front......yes it is and I am not sure I like it. Once the bumpers are back I will drive it awhile without the splitter and see what I liked better. Here is a photo so you can see the splitter.

 

That is a '65 Cutlass!!!!

I do like the paint scheme.
That is kinda cool engine swap, how does it run?
I'm thinking you used the lexus auto trans?
The stance is just about right, unless the roads are not up to par for the how low the car sits.

Gene

 

Gene, The main roads here are excellent, the problem comes during rainy season (Aug, Sept, Oct) when many of the side roads develope pot holes and they do not repair them until rainy season ends. Since this is my first Olds what is the difference between a 64 and 65? Cars here do not have titles they have "Blue Books" which give the year of car, lists all the owners the car has had and what registration fees have been paid. The blue book says 1964 but that may have been the year of production, late 64 production may have been a 65? Here are a couple more photos which may help identification.
RD

P.S. 64Rocket, the car runs strong and has a Lexus auto trans. I have drag raced many cars and this feels like a mid 13 second car.

 

Yep thats a 65. The difference is the whole front end is slightly longer on the 65 I believe(maybe other way around I can't remember), the bumper and grill also differ, the back tail panel or "burger panel" as some people call it is also different. There some more but these are the bigger differences that I can think of right now after a few drinks.

Heres a shot of a 64 grill
http://media.motortopia.com/files/60...ont-Hoodup.jpg
The splitter is pretty interesting, it kinda has a cool pro tour look to it. But it will probably look way out of place with chrome bumpers.
Either way you have a beautiful car.

 

Thanks Wasted and 64Rocket. After looking at 65 & 65 front ends I do see a difference. Biggest is the 64 has rectangular parking lights and the 65 round. Also the 64 bumper is straight across and the 65 has kind of a curved up middle.
So I guess I am the proud new owner of a 65 Cutlass.

 

what does your title say?

 

I must admit, the Lexus swap is kind of neat...much more interesting than a chevy! I have a '65 Vista Cruiser, so I have a place in my heart for cars like yours!

 

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No titles in Thailand only a log books (called blue books because they are blue) and it says 1964 Oldsmobile. This may not be the original book for this car as this car may have never got a book.. Many cars were imported during the Vietnam era and there was no import tax charged to the GIs but when the GIs left country and the cars needed a Thai license plate the import tax was paid at that time. Some cars never got registered and later on log books from a wrecked car were used on the non wrecked vechile. I have seen Pontiacs with a log book from a Chevy. The Thai officials do not know the difference. Just take the log book to the Transportation office each year, pay our registration fees (which include government car medical insurance), get a sticker to put on your windshild and drive.

 

Nice car, and the Lexus engine does look good in it! Is that Skylark in the background your car too?

 

Not my Skylark. I think it belongs to the previous owner of my car. He has about 30 cars in his collection (all American iron). He has a cherry 66 Olds 88 painted Hot Wheels orange with a Lexus V-8. He also has a cherry 69 Camaro Z/28 all matching numbers I wanted to buy but he won't sell it. Most of his collection are Chevys. He is a good friend, his name is Pow, and he is a special colonel in the Thai army. His unit is in charge of security for the Royal Family.
Here is a photo of the "Bangkok Crew" taken at Pow's house. I am the non Asian guy and Pow is standing next to me. We are all a little older now as this pic is 3 years old. You can just make out his 66 88

 

Is the Lexus motor from Japan or US built? Weird that in the orient, it would have english script on it?

 

Cool ride. The 4.3 will move our LS430's pretty good and they are tanks. I'm sure your 65 scoots down the road.

 

Wow, the paint job gives it a "Dodge Dart" look, with a 65 Cutlass hiding inside of it.
Innovative drive train. I guess you have to run whatcha got handy.
I might have to put a 468, into a Lexus now.
Good job.
Jim

 

That's cool, I like that!! Kinda reminds me of a Chip Foose type paint job. Here's my friend's '65 that I helped him build sparky5.jpg

 

Yes it is a Jap built engine. But English is used by all Jap auto makers as i have a Nissan Cefiro as a daily driver (same as Infiniti J30 in the states) and all the engine script is in English.

 

Great looking 65 and a black plate to boot. I see you are from SoCal, ever take it to Bob's Big Boy on Riverside Drive in Burbank?

 

Just a quick update. Got the bumpers back from the chrome shop and bolted up. I like the chome look better than the painted bumper look. Guess I am just old school. What do you guys think? Chrome or Paint.

rodolds6409.jpg

rodolds6408.jpg
IMGP0172.jpg

IMGP0173.jpg

 

We did take it to Bob's, it's only 25 miles away from us, ain't been there in awhile since he dropped the new motor in, he ran out of money and has yet to complete the exhaust. I like the chrome look myself.

 

I'm Old school as well. I vote for the chrome bumpers

 

Reading this thread makes me glad i live in the U.S. where a Oldsmobile crate engine doesn't cost $7,000. Pretty interesting thread all in all. My vote also goes with the chrome bumpers.

 

X3
On both counts!

 

I like the chrome alot better. Is that a vinyl top on there??

 

Yes that is a vinyl roof and the previous owner sprayed it blue. It has some bubbles under it so it will have to come off. Another thing on the "to do" list