1970 Cutlass Supreme 'vert. 350 auto. The car has been in the family since new. The dad bought it and passed it down to his son who is the current owner. It underwent a complete ground up restoration some years ago, and she still looks fresh....

 

Nice!

 

Sweet looking vert!! Obviously the son loves the car as much as the Dad did. It's gorgeous.

 

Yep..he was very proud of it. And of course we got to chat about my '72 and in the midst of the conversation I was checking out the differences between mine and his...interesting to know what kind of changes were made.

 

Sharp looking rag top....Another example of family Oldsmobile heritage... Hopefully it will be passed down a few more generations to come...

 

Hmmm, I just noticed it's missing the wheel opening trim. Wonder if it got lost during the last re-paint. Those partial height moldings are very hard to find.

 

Oh yeah!

 

I noticed that, as well. Was the Oldsmobile script insignia on the hood standard OE for the CS model in 1970?

 

I mentioned that to the guy, and I also noticed there were no holes along the lip for the trim screws.

 

Actually no. Good catch. The script is typical of the 1969 models. It could be a 1969 hood with a 1970 hood tooth. That would suggest that it's been in a crunch and replaced with available parts instead of correct parts. If you notice the Drivers side grill it has the Oldsmobile script already there.

 

Well that supports the idea that the car had been in a front end crunch. Replacement fenders are not produced with any piercings. Were the fenders flat ridge or crumple ridge? Or did you notice?

 

I was only curious since I generally don't see an Oldsmobile script insignia on the hood of a 1970 CS

 

It's a nice color. I can't recall the name of it. The first car I bought/owned in 1969 was a 1967 4-4-2 and it was nearly the same color - just a tad bit darker than this color I believe.

 

Umm.....I dunno what that means🤔🤔🤔

 

I believe it's Nugget Gold = PNT code 53
Look at your fenders. On the inside lip, you'll see little ridges that are designed to crumple when the car is in a collision. That was mandated as a safety precaution in 1971 model production. The 1970 fenders look like this area:

 

Thanks Allan! I found one. This is exactly the style 4-4-2 I owned w/ the 400 - exactly the same color. What I wouldn't give to have that car in my possession today.

https://www.myclassicgarage.com/vehi...e-442-l-78-400

 

My 71 CS crumpled fenders

 

My dad had a '71 CS convertible like that. He got it the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college and I had a lot of fun with it when I was in my 20s. It started life gold with a white interior and white top but when he restored it, he changed the exterior to an overly sedate cream from an early '80s Cadillac swatch book and put on a black top, neither of which would have been my first choice. For whatever reason, he chose not to pass it down to his firstborn and only son and namesake (me). Instead, my 25-year-old nephew has it and he is really pretty apathetic it. The thing has sat in his step-dad's warehouse space for several years and when I last saw it almost a year ago, the transmission seals had dried up and leaked transmission fluid all over the concrete floor. He's not particularly concerned about getting it fixed, much less driving and enjoying it. Grant me the serenity to accept those things I cannot change, right? That's why I went out and bought my own damn convertible. It may be a mid-'90s W-body, but it's all mine. I got what I could comfortably afford and at 55 years old, it's the only car I've ever bought all by myself with no assistance, interference kibitzing or strings from my late father. Okay, rant over. I'm going out for a drive in MY convertible. After that, I'll feel better. Sorry, I just got a little triggered by the yellow fenders above.

 

Happy to be the impetus for you to go out & drive YOUR convertible.

 

Dunno if his had the crumple fenders or not...he didn't open the hood. If he shows to my car show tomorrow, I'll take a peek.

 

Hey Norm, is that the factory location for the horn relay? I only ask because mine is on the firewall.

 

Yeah. They changed it in model year 1972.

 

Gotcha 👍

 

That's exactly where it's spoda be in 72. The previous years had it like Norms car.

I always wondered why it was on the fender instead of the firewall. Of course I never asked anyone either... Thanks for posting the fender images, they should be exactly the same as Dave's 72. Now if you want to find out if they're original to the car, they have date code stampings on them.

 

They do? You know the location of the stamps?

 

'71 CS Junction Block ASM

 

No biggie if you don't know the location of the fender date code stamps, I'll take a look next time I pop the hood.

 

Also note that it does not have the chrome hood spear. I can't remember if all 1970 Supremes had that or not, though.

 

They're likely in the same place mine are. They will have a letter and number. Letter is the stamp press, number is the month code. On the veritical inside of the fender. The other places you'll see date codes are in the deck lid, and below the A pillar on the cowl brace. My fenders have been replaced but my deck lid, trunk pan and A pillar stamps are all consistent with its build date.

Yup, spot on Kenneth. All Supremes except the OAI verts.

 

So would the date code be closer to the firewall or towards the front? And where would the date code be for the deck lid?

 

Dave, I have pictures of them. Give me a day or so to review my e-files and I'll get back to you on that. They're all stamped in locations that aren't readily visible.

 

is the wide lower side trim a 1971 option only or was it availible on 70 too ?

 

That was standard on the 1970 and 1971 Supreme. The 1972 Supreme had the thin door ding guard trim.

 

Dave, here are some of the pictures of the date stamps.
My body and deck lid are all 11/12th week of 1972 which coincides with my production date of April 7 at FBW. The fenders were bought from GM in 1980 and are OEM. As you likely know, GM was required to produce an inventory of parts for 10 years post production. Anywho, here are the pictures

 

I checked my front fenders.. couldn't see a date code, but they are the crumple fenders. I have two date codes out back...right side near the rear window under the trunk lid is A22, and left side is A23, and I can't quite make it out, but it looks like the trunk lid is A43. And it looks like the cowl brace is W23






Allan, the last pic you posted...where is it on the car?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Dave, three things:

1. What is your date build code on the cowl tag?
2. The last picture is the inside side light protector inside the trunk on the quarter panel.
3. My fenders are also crumple fenders. Look a little closer, I'm sure the stampings are there unless you have repop fenders.

Your deck lid may have been replaced, or the paint build up may be too thick to read A23

 

I wonder if every year had the exact same locations for the stamps. Here is my trunk lid stamp. I have no stamp at the same location as yours on the trunk - only this one: 34257 A27

 

Norm, your deck lid is consistent with other CS models as to the stamping 32467. The A27 is consistent with your cowl tag build date of 07C. Your deck lid would have been produced the week before the car was assembled at FBW Lansing. Did you look at the fenders again, and on the A pillar lower section where the pillars meet the cowl? Look at Daves stampings for the quarter panel stampings and I'd bet they are either A25 or A26

 

Also, I have no idea why your deck lid is stamped 34257 when it's clearly not. The convertible deck lid has a rounded edge towards the rear window, whereas the HT has square corners.

 

Thanks Allan, the first two images are the LH front 1/4 panel, the second image is the RH front quarter panel - to me they do not appear to be number matching & I'm not certain if they are OE - maybe REPOP. I think I'll drift outdoors one more time to see if I can locate a couple more. It's tough to get a glimpse of anything near where the rear windshield meets the body since I have a convertible and I have the convertible top down & the tonneau cover in place. I'll see if I can find a number near the A pillar lower section where it meets the cowl.