I have located a 61 cutlass wagon. I haven't been able to see it in person yet, but I am trying to set up a time to go look. I was told it is a six cylinder with automatic transmission. what are the trouble spots for rust on these cars, I have never looked at one to buy before, and I know very little about these cars.
I think they look cool with the right wheels.

 

These cars were built on a unit body platform, closely related to that of the Corvair, and are referred to as "Y-bodies". As such, they are particularly susceptible to rust, especially of the nasty hidden structural kind.


Where is this car located, and where has it spent its life? A history in a dry, warm salt-free climate will go a long way to insuring its viability.

 

Olds Y bodies NEVER came from the factory with a six cylinder engine. 215 V8 was the only engine

 

PM Joe P - He has two of them, and can give you the best possible information.

- Eric

 

They don't seem to be any worse than any other car, just check the places you normally would. The frames were galvanized, I had one with a severly rotted floor but the "frame" was still completely in tact. They use gaskets for the front and rear windows, which seems to keep window channel rusting to a minimum. I'd say out of the ones I've had floors and rear quarter behind tire and down low has been most common for rust.

 

There is no "frame". These are unibody cars. There are two hat-section reinforcements that are spot welded to the bottom of the floor pan, but the are not a self-supporting frame. The good news is that unlike Camaros and Mustangs, these run the full length from front to back, so you don't need "subframe connectors" as they were "connected" from the factory.

The one thing you need to be aware of is that NOTHING is available in the repro market. Expect to buy a parts car if you need any kind of body or trim parts. The tailgate can rust out at the bottom if the weatherstripping on the window is bad. Buick tailgates interchange. Steele Rubber actually sells all the weatherstripping, including the tailgate gasket. I was amazed.

Brakes, suspension, and rear axle are unique to the 61-63 F-85 and Buick Specials. Nothing else interchanges. Kanter sells brake and suspension parts. The steering parts are unique to the 61-62 cars (there were changes in 63). The Rotohydramatic 5 trans is unique to the 61-63 F-85; Buicks got a Dynaflow. And as noted above, the 215 was the only engine Olds offered in these cars, however many people mistakenly think it's a V6 without actually counting spark plugs. The Buick V6 bolts in, so it's also possible that the motor was swapped.

I love the cars because you never see them. The car always draws a crowd at cruise night.

 

I really appreciate the information. I am going to look next week.
This is new territory for me, so it is just a little on the scary side. I am assuming that when buying one of these cars that any hopes of good resale value is out the window, kind of like the big body cars, but that's a different story for a different thread.
I like that these cars are so different then anything else you see out there.
The lack of parts for this car is a scary thing, but there is a 61 F-85 for cheap on Craig's list right now.

 

Are you looking at this one?

 

No, but I have seen that one. This one is out in the country here in Texas. It will need a hood, I do know that. Someone bent it trying to close it with stuck hinges.

 

Drive shaft parts can be hard to find ,Like the slip joint and the rubber insulator around the center bearing. (It's a two piece shaft) U joints and the actual bearing are available.

 

There was a maroon/ white top 61 wagon at the Nationals. Patina but being a southern car the floors were mint under the flaking undercoat. These are RARE.

 

This one:

 

Very nice. Thanks for the pictures.