*Bear*

Hello all,

My name is Bear.. I was wondering if anyone knows this car or if the owner is a member here???

His online Ad: 1971 Cutlass Supreme frame off restoration. FACTORY W/30 455. Fresh engine & transmission & rearend. Aprox. 400 miles on total driveline. Needs interior to be perfect. Have lotts of spares. Repainted the OEM color (Saphire Blue) w/blue interior. $8500



He's located in Indiana... We are thinking about a trade... I have a modified '00 Jeep Wrangler & we are asking just about the same price. It looks like a very nice car, but I'm not well informed about the A-Body cars.. I need an A-Body schoolin'

Thanks,
Bear

vette442

Lots of misinformation and B.S. in his ad. It's not a factory 70-72 color, it's not a W-30 455 from the factory and whatever 455 may be in it now probably wasn't born a a W-30, it has non-stock grilles (repro 442), 1972 headlight bezels, not sure what the mirror is from, it's missing the stainless side trim and I'm not digging those rims at all. Lots of things that would make me look real close at the attention to detail everywhere else.

Just my experienced two cents....

Terry

GAOldsman

I don't know who the owner is but it has '72 headlight bezels and '71 442 grilles. Still looks sharp though.

my72vert

How can you tell it has 72 headlight bezels and a 71 grill? I thought those 2 pieces were the same between 71 and 72.

*Bear*

Man... Too good to be true... I was really looking forward to getting a Cutlass....Thank you VERY much for the info.... Here are a few other pics he sent me..

Oldsmaniac

There are hundreds of Cutlass cars out there for good prices. This is prob not one of them as already mentioned. Engine looks like a small block to me, no w30, no 455. It is also a Cutlass supreme and the 442 was never built on this body style only a conv..... at least he did not claim it was a 442. Car is missing wheelwell chrome and who knows what else.

*Bear*

Thanks again guys... I guess my search continues...

BTW.. Here is one if his CL ads...
http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/2408370028.html

GAOldsman

The '71 headlight bezels are chrome and the '72's are black
The '71 442 only has the blacked out grilles and the '72 W-29 appearance pkg grilles are silver.

That being said they will fit but not correct, being a '71 it would need '71 headlight bezels and a '71 Cutlass Supreme Grille

'71 Cutlass Supreme



'72 Cutlass Supreme



'71 442



'72 442

my72vert

GAOldsman, Thanks for the clarification and pictures. I'm always amazed at the members on this site and their wealth of knowledge. I have a 72 Cutlass supreme convertible and have been toying around with possibly turning her into a 442 clone but I would need it to be completely correct. That being said, Your info gives me more knowledge if I deceide to pursue a clone project.

GAOldsman

No problem, I don't want someone to buy a car that is passed off for what it is not. As for a 442 clone, I have no problems with them. It's just when people try to make more money on a sale knowing it is a clone and not disclosing it to the buyer. I could tell by simply looking at the VIN on a '71. Yours would start out 34267 and a true '71 442 convert's VIN would be 34467. That being said, it takes more than grilles and emblems to make it an authentic "looking" clone.

In '72 the 442 became an option and not it's own line, W-29 and it is hard to tell without documentation such as a buildsheet or a window sticker etc. There are other ways to tell as well but that is well, rather lengthy.

1969w3155

That is a 2 bbl air cleaner.

Oldsmaniac

There is a chance the car was a Cutlass Sx and did come with a 455 but not a W 30. If so it could have a 2bbl carb but I dont think it has a 455. The engine does not look wide enough. Also I think the 455 would have come with an internal voltage regulator, at least the 455 442 did in 71. if the emission sticker is still on top of the radiator plate it would give engine size. The 71 455 should have G letter heads.

coltsneckbob

I am no where near an expert as some of these guys, but I would like to throw my 2 cents in.........and perhaps I might also learn something new from responses.

1) I am wondering where the AC compressor is? Based on the alternator position and some of the hoses I "think" the compressor is missing

2) I find it unusual that a "clamped" hose would travel OVER the air filter's intake like that.

1969w3155

I gotta agree, the compressor is missing, along with the filter dryer. I would say that the heater hose was spliced where they hooked up a fitting to flush the coolant...like the prestone type.

*Bear*

He sent me this email during the week...

"No frame repairs, no mudd either. No rust starting.The interior is complete, the front seat has some ripps & carpet is stained, the usual for old cars. Interior is blue also. Rearend is a 8 1/2 possi. 2brl carb. Engine, tranny, & rearend have right at 400miles on them. The paint is good. I have quit a few extras with it also. It is a factory air car also. Evaporator is new and so is condensor. Pump has been rebuilt, but I haven't gotten arou.d to outgo.g it back on yet. Heater core is new also."

1969w3155

So why is he claiming it to be a W30? I mean a Supreme ragtop, with a 2bbl, incorrect grilles, headlight bezels for the year etc. Claiming that it is something that it obviously is not. Buyer beware.

coltsneckbob

A 2bbl on a 455? Isn't that like breathing through a straw?

It also looks like the fuel line to carb is rubber. Again, while not as knowledgeable about every nut and bolt as some here at CO I thought those lines from the pump were always metal.

IMHO $8500 is not a terrible big risk if you like the car otherwise. Perhaps you can get it down a thou or 2. I think you might find more "accurate" cars of that type in that general price range, but such cars would probably need more work to look nice and might even require some $$ poured into the mechanics.

If it were me however I would pass. In fact a "true" car that needed work is, at least to me, a better investment financially and also (as important) emotionally. I say emotionally because to fix it up is one way I derive satisfaction from ownership.