Hey guys, brand new here. I’ve been looking for a classic to drive/ restore and I found a 64 cutlass that caught my eye.

I’m not trying to restore to factory correct EVERYTHING but overall want to keep the stock look. Had a friend check this car out because I’m away at work and can’t go personally yet. He says that it has a fair amount of bondo, some of it probably needs to be redone but overall it’s a pretty solid car. It runs and drives but dies at idle. (I’m thinking probably needs carb adjusted) Has original 330 motor and power glide transmission.

im wondering if some of you guys that know these cars better can tell me about some things to look for. Floors are good with very little rust and trunk has some surface rust but not too bad. I think it can be bought for less than $6k let me know what y’all think!

 

How much research have you done ? Whats it worth to you ? Sorta looks like a 65 front end to me. I am sure others could chime in on the subject.

 

I think you’re right after looking at pics of 65’s. Just going off of what the guy had listed. All I’ve researched is parts and it seems like most of what I need are available. Might have trouble finding sheet metal but that’s why I had a friend check it out and he says it’s solid.

 

That car has a '65 front end, from the doors forward, glommed onto a '64 Cutlass. You can see in the first photo how the left front fender doesn't align that with the driver's door. If it were me, I'd pass on the car and keep looking.

 

See this is why I joined the group! Looking at the front end and rear end and looking at pics online y’all are absolutely right... so other than it not being ‘correct’, what would be the problem with that? No different than buying a new fender for a wrecked car right? Again I haven’t even seen the car for myself, so I might see it up close and want to pass anyway. But as for just having a cool old car I wouldn’t really care if it wasn’t like it came in 64.

 

It's all personal taste. This car is what would be called "modified," which is anything done to it that wasn't available from the factory. Some people like this sort of thing, others prefer original. To me, the car is a frankencar, a little bit of this year, a little bit of that year. It reminds me of the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time."

 

I was thinking about that same song when you first said that but as long as I could get everything to line up right I wouldn’t care of it were 3-4 different years pieced together.
This car is already lowered with oversized torque thrust wheels and low profile tires so it looks pretty different from stock anyway and I dig it. Would probably even have it sprayed flat black after doing whatever body work it needs because I like the look like it is, just a little too unfinished right now.

Thanks for the input so far and keep it coming!

 

Its really a $3500-4k car in my opinion, it needs a lot of work. You can dump $10k into one pretty quick just as a driver. By the way the transmission is a Jetaway (st300) not a powerglide.

 

Man! It’s mighty hard to find ANYTHING desirable for under $5000 around here that’s not a total rust bucket.

And thanks for the info, learning all the time. I thought all gm 2 speed autos back then were power glides.

 

JMO but unless your heart is set on building something you'd be $$ ahead to buy a nicer car to begin with. Nice 64-67 Cutlass (not 442) can be had in mid-teens

https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...lass/101084299

 

I found that car when I was comparing what I was getting into. This is exactly what I wanted was input from some people who’ve done it before... so y’all really see that much work involved in that car? I see a little body work and paint and some interior panels... but again I’ve never done this before so that’s why I’m here

 

Oh and I should say I’m not trying to restore to anywhere near show quality. Just looking to have a decent driver for around town

 

Since you are determined to buy it, Good Luck

 

Since it has been modified in the past, are you sure the engine is a 330? All small block Olds motors look identical. And that is not a 330 oil filler cap.

 

You’ve gotten some good inputs so far...I’d recommend looking at the car in person....crawl all over it....verify the vin matches the title...and go from there. In the end the car is worth what you are willing to pay. I’d be tight fisted above 3K...every 100.00 over that you should have a good reason why it’s worth more.

 

No I’m not sure of anything, just what the seller has told me. And now that I look back he did say it was an st-300 trans. I’ll check the vin against the block numbers but there’s no title, just a bill of sale. Apparently in Alabama cars over 35 years old don’t need titles.

So if the block numbers aren't legible I probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the 330 and any generic 350? Guess I should research some distinguishing features to look for.

Thanks for the $ value input. Thanks to you guys I’ll have some bargaining points to bring up. I’m not sure it’ll matter because the guy traded a fox body mustang he was trying to sell for $5500 so I couldn’t see him taking much less than that. But at least now I know from people who know what the car is actually worth!

 

Mine before, bought for $5k


After another $12k, engine, trans, wheels/ tires, all new body bushings, suspension and steering, interior, and a driver quality paint job. Still not done with it.

 

Looks like a very nice car! Looked pretty nice before! Not much chance of finding something that looks close to as as good as that first picture for $5000 around here. At least not listed for sale anyway. Seems like cars in north MS and AL are either already restored or a pile of rust in a pasture. Or maybe hiding in a garage until the owner dies and passes them down. Even the ones rusting away are selling for $2000-3000!!! Not just listed and staying for months, actually selling for that much!!

 

It was a 20 footer, the interior was dry rotted and splitting, and everything else was flat worn out. I gave too much for it, started out as a father and son project that didn't work out.

 

up here in iowa it's just as bad.saw a 66 chevelle on craigslist last nite.no motor trans interior had major trunk rust etc wants 3750.

 

An asking price is just that. The longer a car remains for sale the chance for a lower price increase.

 

One thing to keep in mind with this is that there isn't as much available aftermarket for 64-67 as there are for 68-72, or really 70-72.
Take an inventory of everything you'll need to buy (while acknowledging never every piece of trim that's missing has to go back on for what you want to do) and add up what it will cost.

 

Well I pulled the trigger. The body does look good and straight. There’s a few places that need some patching before it ready for paint but for now it’s more than ok. They guy really had no idea what he had. Thought it was a 1964 88 block numbers say it’s an olds 350 from 68. Gonna get it running and reliable first and then work on the interior and body issues. Thanks for y’alls input!

 

Well the fun starts now....enjoy the adventure.

 

Good luck with it. Make sure you measure twice & cut once. Plan as best you can along the way