I found a 1969 cutlass convertible that came with a 6cyl and auto trans, also has console and buckets. production for this model was 234, there are superstock 1's on it now but I am unsure if they were an option. Would this be considered rare? If I was to get this car I would leave the six in place.

 

The car is rare but who would want it with the 6? You could put an 8 in there but it would need new heavier springs and some other small mods. It would have a slight cool factor to keep it original. If performance is not a concern keep it original.....my 2 cents. The rocket is king when it comes to these types of cars!

 

what he said......

 

Rare? Yes indeed. Desirable? Possibly. There are more things to change than just the engine and front springs when converting to an 8 cyl. Do yourself a favor and investigate before tearing into it if you decide to "upgrade".

 

Just having the stock low performance L6 in there makes it rare. Most were replaced with V8s by now.

 

Rare? Pontiac Azteks are rare. That doesn't make them desirable or valuable.

 

Not rare enough...

- Eric

 

Joe:
Pontiac Aztecs may be rare, but they are still U-G-L-I!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I would leave it original too, that 6 will get you where you need to go just fine.
Rare and different makes you stand out from the crowd, who cares how much it's worth when it's finished.
Some people directly equate their manhood with their car's engine size and horsepower.
I guarantee that the car would be surrounded by people at every cruise and show with musclecars sitting alone like wallflowers all around it.
Anybody can drop in a V8, that doesn't take any courage.
If you know your cool you don't need more horses to just make you think your cool.

 

there's a lot you can do with a six to make perform pretty good, some interior work: alittle work on the ports, an RV cam (small upgrade) , split exhaust manifold to sound good, will run as good as most V'8's !

 

Leave it bone stock. I can almost guarantee there are less than ten of the original 234 left, if that many.

But I speak as someone who doesn't give a **** about desirable or how much a car is worth. I'm sick of all that nonsense, truth be known. I like my cars AS THE FACTORY BUILT IT AND LEAVE IT ALONE.

Case in point: a 60s Chevrolet with a 6-cylinder is WAY more interesting to me than a big-block example, simply because I'm automatically suspicious of one with a big block. Most are of dubious heritage and started life as a 6 or 283/327.

A 1957 6-cylinder 210 hardtop showed up at a cruise night here this summer and the usual suspects were about to tear the fence down to get at it and stick a 350 in it. One of them as much as said he wanted to buy it and do that. The owner said "It's not for sale, to you. Get away from my car."

I shouldn't have horse-laughed, but I couldn't help it.

Batwood, if you leave the ActionLine in it, you will always have my respect.

 

+1

- Eric

 

My next door neighbor has a '69 F-85 with the inline 6-cyl and 3-speed manual on the column!! Pretty rare combo too. Runs and drives fine (has split manifolds with dual exhaust - talk about old school!). Looks like a lot of Bondo and cheap repaint. I think he said he wants $4000 for it.

 

Please don't put a chevy engine in it. This board goes nuts when somebody does that. Seriously, do not consider that. The six does kind of have a cool factor in the convertible. A slit manifold and twin Smitty's would be pretty cool. If you are bargaining on price, use the six to get the price down by telling the seller nobody wants a six.

Pontiac Aztec's are part of the reason Pontiac no longer exists.

 

Ironically, the 6-cyl in the Cutlass is a Chevy 250 from Oldsmobile

 

that car , or any car, that is 40 or 50 years old, has spent it's life time being original. If you are doing it for an investment, keep it original. If you want it for your self, make it the way you want it. You can change anything in or on the car, put a big block in it , whatever,,, as long as you don't change the basic body so it could be put back original someday by another owner, it will still hold it's value. Then again, it was original for 50 years, go ahead and chop it up, make it what you want !

 

I agree with most of this here.
It's a convertible, it will ALWAYS be cool!!!
You must look at the financial aspect of it, too. You may keep it until YOU die, but then your family will have to deal with it too. Make it worth it for them too, you know. Can the wife, or elder children drive it? Would they want to? It is an asset for all.

It IS a rare car, even without the top engine option.
1 of 234?
My opinion-Cool

Jim

 

I should have said that they are THANKFULLY rare.

 

1 of 234 ? is that just '69 converts? or with the 6 ? Just wondering, cause I got a '69 S convert....rare or not ?

 

Setting the Pace actually puts the production at 236, and that's '69 Cutlass S convertibles with the six-cylinder engine. Production of '69 Cutlass S convertibles with a V-8 was 13,498.

 

thank you

 

Interesting that SCO pegs total 1969 Cutlass 6-cylinder production at 1838 vs 2899 6-cyl F85 sports coupes made.

So a 6-cylinder 1969 Cutlass of any stripe is a pretty rare animal. They got even less common as time went on, disappearing completely from 1972-74 and resurfacing again for 1975-76 before defaulting to the Busix in 1977.

 

I don't know exact numbers, but, just from my own experience, any 64-72 Olds "A" body with a six is rare.
In fact, I think even most of the 61-63 F85/Cutlasses were V8's.

 

Buy it.................beat the shiiiiiit out of it, enjoy it, and then stuff a 455 in it.

Next question.

NS

 

I need one of those for my 69 stable

 

The SSI's were an option on any Cutlass (except for the Vista Cruiser and wagon).
To own a convertible was always my dream. I was looking for one in 1996 and found that a Vista Cruiser was available for a fraction of what coupes and convertibles were going for. Now I have a couple of Vistas and I have the luxury of full flow through ventilation by opening all 5 windows (plus vent windows) without having the sun beat down on my thinning hair.
(but I wouldn't pass up on a ragtop if one happened to be available)

 

3 years ago a friend of mine found a Camaro in Italy under a tree and he brought it home without looking under the hood because it did not open, then at home I was able to open and inside was a six L, he did not know what to do because the v8 is for us the top but there were too many pieces to change and then decided to keep its original engine.
is now happy and well prepared for racing