While surfing through Ebay, looking at the old Olds, I found this '72 Cutlass (she's a beauty). But the wheels stump me. They amost look as if they are from one of the last of the 80's Cutlass Supremes. They don't seem quite right on this 72. I don't recall them on any other. What do y'all think:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-...em280208996927

 

I would say you are right. They still used trim rings in '72.

 

Looks like 80's chrome SSIII to me.

That halo vinyl roof is throwing me. I've never seen a 72 with it. At first I thought it was a 70 that had had a nose and taillight job, but the VIN shows a 1972 Fremont car which might explain it. Not saying it couldn't, just that it shouldn't.

 

They're either repainted 80s wheels or repros. I'm also stumped by the halo vinyl top. Obviously this car has been done over, so it's possible the owner used the 70 trim and vinyl pattern.

 

I'm not familiar with the term "halo top" Does that mean it covers the whole roof instead of just the "half top" that I'm used to seeing?

 

I can't tell if they are bolt on caps or not. If they are bolt on and 15" then that would be the 69 hurst rim which was chrome with a argent silver center

 

The vinyl covers the whole top of the car, but does not come down to meet the doors, there is a thin strip of paint between the vinyl and door/ windshield frame. The top looks like it's floating, hence a Halo.

 

Joe,
Why does the top stump you? Did they not offer the Halo top in 72? I once had a 71 with the same vinyl top. Curious.

 

All 72 VT cars were supposed to have the full roof cover, all the way to the drip rails and windshield mouldings.

 

Yes. On every 72 Supreme I've seen with a vinyl top, the vinyl cover runs all the way to the drip rails and windshield chrome. The 70 and 71 cars had this "halo" of paint around the front and sides of the top. This is not to be confused with the half vinyl top used on the 72 H/O, which only went to the middle of the roof.

 

Does this have something to do with it being a Fremont car? Build date is first week of Dec 1971, so is this something that was phased in? It's a mystery to me, but this is clearly a highly documented car. On the other hand, the front bumper doesn't fit particularly well, so something's going on.

 

It's possible it could have been towed with the older tow sling. That would do a job on front bumpers. I have first hand knowledge on that. Nice car though.

 

And notice the gap between the front left fender and the door? The car has had body repair work done I bet.

 

I don't think I've ever owned a 68-72 car that hadn't had at least one of the bumpers tweaked by a tow truck sling. The frustrating thing is that the CSM shows how you should use a piece of wood blocking between the tow sling and the underside of the bumper brackets to prevent this.