ch3098

I would like help putting a value on my 1971 Cutlass S post coupe, 350 Rocket, auto trans, PS, PB, A/C, 82k original miles. The car is a true survivor, with all original body panels, original 42 Palm Green paint, original interior and all numbers match. The car has most if not all of its original documentation, protecto plate, owner’s manual and owner history. The car is not perfect, but considering the age and originality it is exceptionally nice. The car runs and drives extremely nice and all the options work well with the exception of the A/C. The body lines are near perfect as well as the glass and all the stain less trim. The bumpers have small pitting but still shine well. The vinyl top does have a little rust and the passenger side rear quarter has a small rust hole about ˝ dollar size. The interior is nice but the seats and carpets are showing their age.

I purchased the car with no real intentions of resale, however there is a guy in my neighborhood that really wants the car. I am struggling to find any comparable cars to help me set a fair price. Any help with the value would be greatly appreciated. Also does the post coupe help or hurt the value?

Thanks,
Clayton

ch3098

Additional Pics

ch3098

Additional Pics 2

BangScreech4-4-2

Looks like a solid car in decent survivor condition. Needs a little attention, but what 44-year-old car doesn't? You don't see too many '71-2 post cars around anymore, either.


Thing is, the market for these cars varies wildly, and depends entirely on how bad somebody wants it. If your neighbor is really hot for it, you might be able to sell it to him for $12K, but if you wait until you really feel like selling, you might struggle to get $5K for it.

So, I guess the key is, how bad does this guy want it and how bad do you want to keep it?

oldcutlass

Probably around $5-6k in the condition it's in.

Olds442redberet

First off: That's a great looking car. So please take my comments as only trying to help with determining a value.

As a potential buyer I would be questioning the milage. By looking at the seats and the way they are wearing where the driver slides in and out of the car would lead be to believe the odometer has rolled over. Not always the case, but something to consider. Especially with the worn look of the vinyl roof, paint, engine compartment etc.

The worn out seat covers, vinyl roof, paint, and the way the engine compartment looks leads me to believe any potential buyer will want to refresh these things, diminishing any surviver status the car has.

Other issues are the color (which I actually like), bench seat column shift, and base model status.

Positives: It appears to be all original, it's a post car and it's really solid. It's a great candidate to restore as a daily driver.

Pictures of the pedals and the rust issues would greatly help in determining a value.

My first thought is: low $5000 to a high of $7000

Destructor

Nice, I have a 70 post coupe, also with the trim down the body which is somewhat rare, at least for a 70.

ch3098

Thanks for all replies! I thought I would update the post with some mileage information. I am pretty certain the mileage is actual based on the service records and the fact that the previous owner owned the car for 42 years. I think the seat wear maybe a result of the previous owner only having one leg. Thanks again for all the replies. I definitely will be keeping the car if my neighbor is only looking to spend $5K. I have over $1500 in the 15" rallies and wide oval tires!
Thanks again!
Clayton

71rocket

My '71 coupe was the same color, I do miss her. But like was said, maybe 5k as is.

oldcutlass

And... if we may ask out of curiosity. What do you think it's worth?

marxjunk

no freakin WAY $5K....ive been looking for a post car pretty hard..$4500 to $6k buys a solid car..not rust free.....with ugly or no paint, trashed interior and a junk motor or a hot rod motor with the a/c taken apart....etc...

when i looked at all the pics...the first thing that went thru my head was $12k is probably what its worth...but who knows if it will bring that...

if it where me..get it appraised but first..get the guy that sold it to you sign a statement on the milage and how long he owned it..don't BS the form just be specific..the milage and the ownership..and get it notarized..find a reputable appraiser..get it appraised..get all the paper work in order in a photo album and organized with all the records...you will have to prove the milage...and thats the value

then..take it to a good upholstery shop..see if they can do something with the seat...they might be able...while its out..put carpet in it, just the piece it needs...keep all the leftovers and offer them to the next buyer..dont over do it...dont detail it etc...leave it alone..dont buff it..dont detail the engine..when a person does that, it takes the credibility away thats its a low mile orig car...it looks messed with and that scares people...

if the upholstery shop cant fix the seat..leave it alone...dont buy covers etc..leave it original its rare to find an original car anymore

then find a classic car lot..consign it...tell them exactly what you want for it....find one with a good reputation....and let them get you the $12k or what ever you want for it...survivor type cars are hot right now....real hot..the car lot has something to offer you cant..Financing...

i wouldnt even consider $10k as an offer if it where mine..im not sure if it where mine id take $11k...good clean..orig cars are tuff to get..almost impossible in 2015

kjr442

9,000.00 to 12,000.00

droldsmorland

If this was a desert dry car with zero rust, 12K all day....If there is any rot under the roof, in the floors or under the windshield or anywhere else critical, Id be hard pressed to pay 5K. It would depend on the extent of the rot damage. ~7500-8500 if its just in the lower quarters and the frame/floors/trunk has zero scale. If the latter is true, very nice survivor indeed. All depends on who is looking for a base 71 post coupe(cool) in green. Now if it was a 3 on the tree....

Joffroi

Check out what other 1971 Cutlass Ss have been going for. I've seen about 40 posted around in the past couple years. I'm getting an average selling price of about 9k. Of course, these are all people's asking prices.
https://www.oldsmobilecentral.com/to...&color=all&s=1

You can put your mouse over the data points and see thumbnails of the cars. You can also click on them to see more detail. I hope that helps.

Koda

Some people on this site are notorious cheapskates. I was thinking 12 based on the description. With the seats, and the engine bay, and the rust, after seeing the pics, I think 9. All depends on the rust.

RetroRanger

Ill side w lower end 5-6000 here's a similar car

https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/5057573709.html

jensenracing77

I think $8K is a fair price from what I can see. I sold an original paint 72 nicer than this in 2010 for $8000 and felt lucky to get that for it.

oldcutlass

Its a post Cutlass, not a 442. How about taking the time and add up all the things the car needs. This is not a $9-12k car in its current state. Figure paint, top, body bushings, front end/suspension and brakes, minor engine work to include valve guide seals/ possible valve job, timing set, water pump and gaskets, the A/C, front seat covers and at least carpet. Plus any other maw's that crop up, sorry just not feeling it.

71rocket

Paint and interior alone will cost around 5k for a good job, around here anyway. I'm no cheapskate, I just realize what it takes to bring a car up to snuff. You have a nice looking example of a Cutlass but it's still just Cutlass. My '66 is an F-85, a really, really nice F-85, but still just an F-85. Love it for what it is and have fun.

jensenracing77

It's a small world guys.... ch3098 stopped by tonight to get a part from me and as we were talking we figured out that we raced quarter midgets together back in the 80s.

It was good seeing you again after all these years!

kjr442

up to 6500. looks like this car will bring the money.

Olds442redberet

That is if the winning bidder actually follows through with the deal.
I've seen quite a few go high only to be reposted.
But hopefully I am wrong and it does sell. It's a nice car and worth the money IMO

RocketDevo

In my opinion I would say 9k or better. 5-6k is to low. Post cars were rare back when new, as they are now. The newer you go the less chance of finding one. As difficult as it is to find say a 1970 post a 71 or 72 are that much harder. On average 1970 or later post Olds are about 10% of the cars you would see at an all Olds show. This of course does not necessarily translate into more desirability (price), but it does count. The 442 production figures show very few post cars were made relative to the hard tops. I believe this ratio was followed with the Cutlass line. I would say a post model in the rarity department should garner a 20-25% increase over the hard top. ch3098 vehicle, with the 350CI. 2 barrel probably does not grab your attention. But what if it was sporting a 455CI. I think that would completely change your perspective. The adding of a 455CI would not be to difficult nor costly, but the value and desirability of the vehicle would substantially change. In my opinion much higher than the cost of the upgrade, ergo $5-6K would be to low what this car is worth.

RetroRanger

rarity does not equate to value...unless your trying to buy post doors in nice condition lol

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oldsmobile-C...m=231631419588

hopefully the OP follows up at the end of the auction to let us know if the winning bidder actually mans up and pays....

wondering out loud how many ebay car auctions end up w non paying bidders

Destructor

My Post

oldcutlass

It's stuck at $6600

kjr442

I have had my share of buyers with buyers remorse. It makes me mad, but what can you do about it.

kjr442

Possibly stuck, but I watched a 64 GTO, that needed total restoration, jump from 16000.00 to 20,000.00 in the last seconds of the auction.
I do agree that my first assessment was too high, but I could see this car reaching 7,500.00 or even 8,000.00 ???? We will see.

RetroRanger

Rant ebay should do something about it, maybe ban the bidder for a year or non paying bidder must pay seller 10% before they can bid again or something, ive had several non payers and every time i swear off ebay for a year or so, but sometimes despite that its a the best alternative. if ebays policies had some teeth maybe losers wouldnt bid unless they intend to buy /rant

Sporty45

I hate to say it, but the front fender paint doesn't match the door and rear quarter. Looks like something was repainted. Of course, it could have been done by the dealer before the car was ever sold.

Ryan 1969 Chevelle SS396

Sexy Sports Coupe!!

Nice originality!!

Ryan

marxjunk

[QUOTE=Sporty45;843532]I hate to say it, but the front fender paint doesn't match the door and rear quarter. Looks like something was repainted. Of course, it could have been done by the dealer before the car was ever sold.-Quote]

Because the front clips and the body where painted seperatly ..all the high metallics can have a shade diff, and they came together later down the assy line..

one way to tell a real paint survivor...ive own gold cars and the fronts looked like they where from another car...that where 30,xxx mile or less..way back in the 80s

thing is, newer enthusiasts rarely see orig paint thats decent,. and they seldom understand why it happened

i'm not saying it hasnt been painted on, but i like to see the shade diff on survivors


I guess i was optimistic on pricing....what a terrible time of the year to list a car on ebay...in december to february..that car could have made 30-50% more

RetroRanger

I think the ending price reflects the value maybe plus a few K$,

its an original car, but

its in driver no better condition
there is a rust hole in the rear quarter
its a cutlass, not a 442
its a post car

not everyone is enamored w the post cars I undrstand some prefer them but others may be inclined to pass just because of the post.

pogo69

I agree that the post is not as desirable as a sports...based on the limited number of posts sold, but if your a post person this car is nice for 6500.

oldcutlass

The market really has not spoken as no money exchanged hands. That's not to say the seller won't change his mind or try again.

VI Cutty

Perhaps he didn't intend to sell the car on ebay to begin with. He started here seeking opinions on value and indicating that he hadn't really considered selling it originally. Set the reserve high and see how much people are willing to chance with an offer.

Now he has an idea of a price to offer his neighbour...