Phantom197

So I was looking on the old CL today and found this 1970 Olds Cutlass supreme for $500. 350 rocket that leaks oil, holes in the floor and the quarters look to be junk. But it's $500! I love cutlasses, but have never done any true restoration work. What do you guys think? I think if the rust is limited to the floor and quarters I may even come out decent compared to buying a car already not rusty? Pics below
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4speed455

The mirrors and steering wheel are worth the asking price so I don’t think you could go wrong even if you parted it out. Also the 1970 only fenders if they are good are worth it. I say go for it.

scottv442

sport wheel and 8-track player alone are worth the $500 asking price.
go for it, u won't loose.

Phantom197

I understand in parts it's a great car, but as a restoration project? These cars aren't getting any cheaper, but at the same time, it is much easier to get a car with good floors and decent/good quarters and pay more. I guess if I needed quarters and floors that's a few grand, and another car is 4-6 as a driver.

tru-blue 442

Agreed with above. Heck the spear and the hood tooth, another $150. Go for it!

oldcutlass

If you do most of the mechanical work yourself and farm out the paint/interior. Your looking at well over $20K to make it just a driver quality resto. I think its more of a parts car than resto material.

Phantom197

I'm not talking concours here, just fix the rust right and paint. I was thinking it would be more like a few grand for metal work, do prepping for paint with my uncle (runs a classic body shop) and paint at a reduced cost.

Also, to me let's say if there was less rust, and the seat wasn't ripped, this would be considered daily driver quality. At least in MN

oldcutlass

Then the interior, engine/trans repairs, front end/suspension, brakes, rear end/suspension, body bushings, etc...

droptopron

Nothing is more expensive to fix than rust. As a resto candidate you are better off finding a cleaner car.

droldsmorland

Whats the trunk floors, inner & outer rear wheel houses, steel behind the windshield dash cowl area, rear window channel and the frame look like? I've seen cars with rotted floors and holes in the outer sheet metal be solid as hell and well worth saving.
A friend pulled a 67 6 cyl. Chevelle out of a boneyard with sheet metal holes(front n rear quarters and door seams and a trashed interior) BUT the frame, chassis core support etc... was ridiculously clean & solid...high up in in the rust belt to boot.
Pays to look especially at 500 bux.

Phantom197

Waiting on more pictures which I will post here. Owner said the frame is good and the holes are limited to by the driver's feet.

droptopron

The guy might not intentionally be trying to be dishonest, but that is highly unlikely. Take a real good look for yourself

RandyS

Visible rust almost always leads to lots of hidden rust.......... unless you are willing to work your A$$ off, and learn a lot, or have very deep pockets, buy it for a parts car

Phantom197

Thanks for the suggestions and all guys. Only a real good look will truly tell if it's worth fixing up. We'll see... if not, I'll probably pass it up. I know I could double my money through parts, but that's a lot of work getting a trailer and all. We'll see...

Phantom197

Well, Just after I logged on here, I got an email from the seller, already sold. The search continues... I sure do seem to be striking out lately. Found a very nice condition 1973 Gran Torino sport for sale, 1 owner in a shed/barn, owner ended up pulling it on the grounds of "wasn't sure what it's worth." Before that was a very nice 1971/2 LTD, and before that it was a Winch bumper for my 86 F250.

Koda

It's very rare to get a steal of a deal. Yes, you would've paid 500 bucks, but you would've paid ten times that in body work, and 20 times that in paint.

marxjunk

Personally I would pay a Grand for a car like that..... At 500 I wouldn't even ask questions the trailer would have been hooked up and I have been in his yard... Once it's home you can decide if it's buildable or partible... Good deals like that are hard to get most of them got crushed in the past years

zeeke

X2. I would have told the guy I'll be right over. Paid him then gone back to get the gear to tow it. We have one up here that doesn't have half the parts that one has and the guy want almost 3K for it. He's also been sitting on it for about a year. Reality hasn't hit him yet.

oldcutlass

No one said it wasn't worth the asking price as a parts car. The issue was whether it would make a good project.