A friend of mine is considering this car - any thoughts as to the owner's description? Specifically the "J-57" and "U-Code" reference? Is that a real W-27 or just a cover?

Seems like a nice car but I'm not sure about it.

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/5064933613.html

Good, bad, or indifferent - let me know what you think

Thanks

 

That's an aftermarket cover only, no W27 option offered in 72.......

 

"J57" refers to the second, third, and fourth characters of the VIN, which for 1972 means that the car is a Cutlass Supreme (the "J") Holiday Coupe (the "57"). That's neither rare nor anything you couldn't tell by looking at the car.

The "U" refers to the fifth character of the VIN, which tells you that this car was factory equipped with the 455 and TH400 trans. That is relatively rare in 1972.

HOWEVER, for a "numbers matching" car, it has the incorrect 1971 442 grilles, an aftermarket steering wheel, and aftermarket chrome wheels. I can't tell if that's an aftermarket intake or a repro W-30 intake, but neither would be correct on a "numbers matching" car.

The W-27 cover is also probably a repro, and it is definitely a cover only. The real aluminum W-27 housings were based on the Type O axle that used a 12-bolt cover. This axle only has ten bolts, so it's likely the original "corporate" axle that the car was born with. Olds did offer the W-27 cover with ten bolts, but they are readily available from the repro market also.

The car is rust free and looks nice, but it apparently as been apart (the oil pan is too clean and blue for the engine not to have been out). And the " Factory Built to 442 Performance Specs" is BS. That 250 HP L75 455 is the same engine that was optionally available in every car in the Cutlass line that year, from the F-85 to the Vista Cruiser. The price is not unreasonable if it really is as nice as it looks.

 

the car looks high in the back like new springs of the wrong specs were added.

Its been on and off CL since at least last year at or around that price.

 

I kinda like the stance, could be springs or airshocks. Looks like it needs some paint work.

 

The ad says it was built in September of '72. I thought they would have been building '73s by then?? Wasn't the switch over sometime in July/August??

 

Correct - a '72 Cutlass would not have been built that late. It could have been on the lot as a new car in September 1972, but certainly not built then!

Randy C.

 

I'm guessing that he saw "09" on the cowl tag for the build date and assumed Sept 1972. It really means Sept 1971.

 

I thought that also but then the seat belt bezel on the dash shouldn't be there? Obviously it has the rally pack & that dash bezel was implemented after Jan of '72? Some confusion somewhere.

 

The knowledge here at CO is impressive.

 

That's one of the better built cars I have seen on Craigslist. I like the fact that it looks clean and not tacky. No crazy chrome anywhere. IOM the Cragers and the lifted rear end just date the car. It looks like a car built in the either the seventies or early eighties.

IOM it needs two things. The steering wheel needs to be replaced with a sport wheel ($300.00 deduction) and for $16,000 I'd expect a better paint job ($5000.00 deduction).
IOM that's a $10,000 to $11,500 car but please check the NADA value below for more info.

Retail Low Average High
Base Price $3,258 $3,250 $9,950 $17,100
Options: (change)
455/275 HP V8 Engine L-75 25% 25% 25%
Air Conditioning 5% 5% 5%
TOTAL PRICE: $3,258 $4,224 $12,934 $22,230


But I like this car. I like it a lot.

 

Good catch! So the Sept 72 must be the sale date, not the build date.