after near completion of my 72 convertible i jumped right into another car today.(gotta be crazy).one owner 1976 cutlass supreme factory 455 turbo 400 trans and posi rear(not sure of the ratio yet)does anyone know much about the production numbers on these cars with the 455? vin 3j57t6m319422.test drove it and went real well .obviously not the power of the early 455's but did run pretty strong .sorry not the best pics took with my phone.

 

There were only 143 built in 1976 which makes it very rare.

vin 3j57t6m319422 translates to:

Year: 1976
Division: Oldsmobile
Series: Cutlass Supreme
Body: Coupe
Engine: 455 (7.5) V8 4BBL
Plant: Lansing, Michigan
Serial Number: 319422

 

Just had a look at the enlarged pics. Nice looking car overall. The belts look like they're ready to come apart, and missing the air intake hose. That's a car worth buying IMO. how much is the ask?

 

Thanks for the help Allan and good catch on the belts im planning on replacing them when i get it home its been sitting awhile.was asking 9500 im worrking on that now.didnt think there were too many 455 models

 

Needs control arm bushings....BAD. At least the front one on the right side is GONE.

 

i suspect much of the front end stuff will have to be gone through when i get it .

 

Even more rare ----factory non air

 

i thought the same thing .

 

143 Built with the 442 package. Production across the board in 1976 cutlass models was higher.

 

Yeah it's not a 442 model .my understanding is it was a special order 76 cutlass supreme it's funny the guy ordered rear window defrost for 70 dollars but opted not to get the sport mirrors .

 

went to buffalo yesterday and brought back the 76 paid 8 grand for it. long ride towing with a dolly but the trip went well.in the coming days ill give it a good going over .the interior in this car is beautiful has all the working factory gauges,and sport steering wheel,bucket seats with center console.

 

Nice. Need a ton of pictures.

 

Been driving the 76 a little bit and it rides and drives very good did replace the belts and noticed trans fluid seepage I suspect a front seal change is forthcoming .will address issues as they arise .

 

Great car, congrats on the purchase. Have always liked the 76-77's.

Don't think I've seen many without the vinyl roof; looks really slick.

 

couple more pics

 

is this a factory stamp?

 

Sure looks factory to me. That car appears to be in exceptional condition! It should have a list of all the RPO's either on the door, or the bottom of the deck lid.

 

Unfortunately the car had a repaint a few years ago and is missing a lot of the original stickers I did get the original sales slip showing the options purchased and a broadcast card .has the original spare in the trunk as well

 

I've not seen that stamp before. Happy that you shared it with us.

A week ago I asked a question about how Olds set up their engines. IE...engine break-in etc. This might include leaks and timing. https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ak-1970-a.html

Seeing "stand F" makes me continue to wonder. How many stands did they have? One might think its at least six.

These employees had to move fast...get er done.

 

Jeff, congrats on your acquisition. Nice Car! I'll add to the comments, if it helps.

When you check the axle, the available 455 (L74) axle and gear ratio options for a Cutlass would be as such....

Limited Slip Differential (Anti-Spin): Code "G80"

Anti-Spin Axle Codes:
"CH" (2.56 ratio)
"CC" (2.73 ratio)
"CD" (3.08 ratio)

Axle Gear Ratios (Codes):
2.56 (GM8)
2.73 (GU2)
3.08 (GU4)

It's worth mentioning, according to '76 Olds literature, the 2.73 and 3.08 gear ratios were not available on cars equipped with California or Canada emissions (Cali. emissions (code NB2) and Canada emissions (code Z95). Leaving the 2.56 gear ratio was the only option for those vehicles.

While your checking, inspect the speedometer connector (driven gear adapter/sleeve) where it connects to the transmission as well. Not saying it's the source of the leak but the seals tend to wear out in that area too.

Yes, it is a factory timing stamp. Out of curiosity, where was the car assembled?

IIRC, there were no RPO or "UPC" code stickers on the door or bottom of the deck lid on the '73-'77 era cars.

A Window Sticker, Build Sheet, and Broadcast Card are the sources for options and codes on your car. The Window Sticker would have a summarized listing of standard & ordered options and codes. The Build Sheet would have that summarized list as well as some of the assembly line option codes the car received as it was going down the assembly line. The Broadcast Card would have the least amount of codes.


If you need to decode some of the information on the Window Sticker and/or Broadcast Card, let Us know.

Cool to have the original spare, what type and size is it?

 

thanks mac .lansing built car with.uniroyal gr-78.15 spare

 

You're welcome, Jeff!

Please pardon my redundant question regarding where your car was built. That answer to the question had been stated in the comments already. I was in "decode" mode and my thoughts took over my fingers as I was typing.

Cool to see that piece of vintage documentation. From what I see, the codes for your original tire(s) and options listed are...

GR78-15 Tire (Code - Tread ID)("QDR - VWDR" White wall or "QCF - VWCF" Black wall)
Tinted Windshield (A01)
Rear Defogger (C49 for Electric Grid)
Power Brakes - Front Disc (JL2)
455 - V8 (L74)
Turbo-Hydramatic 400 (M40)
Custom Steering Wheel (N34)
Super Stock III (N72)
Gauges (Rallye Pack - U21)
AM/FM Stereo (U58)
Anti-Spin (G80)
FE2 Suspension Package (FE2)
Console (D55)

The Trim Tag information decodes as...

ST76 (1976 Model)
3AJ57LAN437539 (3) Oldsmobile (AJ57) Cutlass Supreme (LAN) Assembly Plant (437539) Body Sequence Number)
Trim 19W (Ebony Black interior)
Body Paint (11) White (11U) White Upper
03A (Build Month and Week - (03) March (A) 1st week of March)
A51 (Strato Bucket Seats)
19X (Big 4 trim appointment- Ebony Black)

If you need more info, let me know. I look forward to seeing more photos of your car.

 

nice work!i was wondering about that paint code 11 with the 11u upper would that indicate it had a partial vinyl top originally ?

 

If you blotted out the original owners name, you missed it at the bottom where he signed it.

 

i realized that afterwards. i was just trying to protect his privacy

 

 

I noticed the name too.

Regarding your vinyl top question, not necessarily. The code on the Trim Tag would have been 11T if it had either of the vinyl top options. Those options being the Landau Vinyl "Half" Top (CB4) or Full Rooftop Covering (C09). In your case, based on the 11U code, I'd say the top was painted.

You don't see too many Supreme roof tops without a vinyl top, from the factory per se. Another rarity.

 

thats good to know thanks for checking all that for me .

 

Where'd this production number for the 455-powered 4-4-2 come from?

 

I had a 76 cutlass S 455 v8 4bbl, all white coupe with white buckets seats and green dash/console... I do not have my vin number, I know it starts with 3G37T6D but the serial number I do not know,,, I have been searching for my car for quite a while now .... but haven't seen any like mine anywhere.

 

 

Looks like its been a Buffalo car all its life. Must have been pampered to survive the harsh winter/swampy summers.
You got the L74, FE2, G80 and U21 to boot. Someone wanted a 442 in a Supreme body. Too bad a stick wasn't offered. That'd be a one of one car if so. Ill bet the production number of like cars is low. I see a dual exhaust in your future? If you do that please hide the tail pipes under the bumper with desecrate un-chromed turn downs....cool factor.
Change the soft brakes lines if you have not already.
While your changing ALL of the cars juices, do flush the hell out of the cooling system, flush the heater core separately/gently.
Check your tires born on dates too. Unsafe rubber isnt cool.