1969 cutless S. Convitable
#2
The number of 1969 "Cutless S. convitables" on the road today is zero, I can guarantee you that.
The number of 1969 Cutlass S convertibles (no period after the "S" as it's not an initial, just a letter) with V-8 engines produced was, as you say, very close to 13,500 (13,498, to be exact). There is no way to determine exactly how many are left. Survival rates, according to government statistics, are very roughly 1% after 25 years. This is for all cars and doesn't account for the fact that convertibles tended to be better preserved because of their desirability and perceived long-term value.
One percent of 13,498 is 135. But I would guess that there are more than 135 V-8 Cutlass S convertibles still in existence today. Probably several times more. Who knows. 500? 1000? Probably somewhere between those two values.
The number of 1969 Cutlass S convertibles (no period after the "S" as it's not an initial, just a letter) with V-8 engines produced was, as you say, very close to 13,500 (13,498, to be exact). There is no way to determine exactly how many are left. Survival rates, according to government statistics, are very roughly 1% after 25 years. This is for all cars and doesn't account for the fact that convertibles tended to be better preserved because of their desirability and perceived long-term value.
One percent of 13,498 is 135. But I would guess that there are more than 135 V-8 Cutlass S convertibles still in existence today. Probably several times more. Who knows. 500? 1000? Probably somewhere between those two values.
#3
Rob
#4
Setting the Pace lists production of 1969 Cutlass S convertibles with 6-cylinder engines at 236 (so there's probably not more than a handful or two left today), Cutlass S with 8 cylinder engines at the 13,498 value given earlier, and 4,295 442s. That's just over 18,000 A-body convertibles for 1969.
For '68, production of the three models was very similar at 410, 13,667, and 5,142 for a total of 19,219. These values are the high-water mark of the '68-'72 style and actually for the entire '64-'72 "collectible Cutlass" era. For '70, total A-body convertible production was 14,287, for '71 it was 11,559, and for '72 it was 11,571. Going back earlier, for '64, there were 12,822 Cutlass convertibles made, for '65 it was 12,628, for '66 it was 12,154, and for '67, it was 15,241.
It's interesting how production stayed very consistent at around 11,000 to 12,000 per year during these years except for the bump in the middle ('67 to '69).
For '68, production of the three models was very similar at 410, 13,667, and 5,142 for a total of 19,219. These values are the high-water mark of the '68-'72 style and actually for the entire '64-'72 "collectible Cutlass" era. For '70, total A-body convertible production was 14,287, for '71 it was 11,559, and for '72 it was 11,571. Going back earlier, for '64, there were 12,822 Cutlass convertibles made, for '65 it was 12,628, for '66 it was 12,154, and for '67, it was 15,241.
It's interesting how production stayed very consistent at around 11,000 to 12,000 per year during these years except for the bump in the middle ('67 to '69).
#9
This kind of information doesn't really tell you anything about overall survival rate, unless you can count up every '69 Cutlass convertible owned by a club member or a restorer everywhere in the country. You would expect that, by now, most '69 Cutlass convertibles would be in the hands of collectors.
In fact, I would guess that, by now, 95% or more, or maybe even 99% or more, of all surviving 1969 Cutlass convertibles would owned by collectors who are either restoring them or have restored them. Few, if any, are being used as daily drivers. But what this means is that they're not dying off any more, or, if they are, it's very slowly, as the ones that survive are being purposely preserved.
This would be true of any of the collectible cars from this or any era.
In fact, I would guess that, by now, 95% or more, or maybe even 99% or more, of all surviving 1969 Cutlass convertibles would owned by collectors who are either restoring them or have restored them. Few, if any, are being used as daily drivers. But what this means is that they're not dying off any more, or, if they are, it's very slowly, as the ones that survive are being purposely preserved.
This would be true of any of the collectible cars from this or any era.
#12
69 442 conv. here. I think the survival rate for my model may be around 15-20%. Being its a 442 and a conv. That would leave around 700 still in existence. Does this sound crazy! I Would also agree that the survival rate for the cutlass conv might be around 7-10%. Just a guess, wish there was a way to find out for sure.
Last edited by Beob; November 5th, 2010 at 05:11 PM.
#13
#14
is there any way other than the build sheet to determine what number the car was off the assembly line? Where can i find (most likely spot) the build sheet? i havent ripped the car apart yet. Lol
#15
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
EDIT: If you want to know the body number of the car, look at your cowl tag
#18
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
#19
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
It did?
According the CSM and AM for 72? All plants:
Lansing, Fremont, Framingham and Arlington used starting serial number 100001.
WAIT, Sorry I forgot this was for 1969 cars. So I went to the CSM and AM for 69
Shocker! These plants all started with serial numbers and plant codes listed below.
Lansing 100001 M
Linden 100001 C
Fairfax 100001 X
Freemont 100001 Z
Southgate 100001 E
Doraville 100001 D
Oshawa 100001 1
To determine the sequence the car was produced means you needed to know what plant it was born from. The only part about 1,2,3 that makes any sense is that out of each production line, there would be 100001, 100002, 100003 etc at the start of the yearly production run.
I think you meant each plant was designated a specific LETTER (except Oshawa - that was always 1) to put in the VIN plate, right?
According the CSM and AM for 72? All plants:
Lansing, Fremont, Framingham and Arlington used starting serial number 100001.
WAIT, Sorry I forgot this was for 1969 cars. So I went to the CSM and AM for 69
Shocker! These plants all started with serial numbers and plant codes listed below.
Lansing 100001 M
Linden 100001 C
Fairfax 100001 X
Freemont 100001 Z
Southgate 100001 E
Doraville 100001 D
Oshawa 100001 1
To determine the sequence the car was produced means you needed to know what plant it was born from. The only part about 1,2,3 that makes any sense is that out of each production line, there would be 100001, 100002, 100003 etc at the start of the yearly production run.
I think you meant each plant was designated a specific LETTER (except Oshawa - that was always 1) to put in the VIN plate, right?
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