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Hello all. I’ve been looking for a a 74/75 coupe for a while now and they always seem to slip away.
However I’ve found one and before I send an inspector I just want to make sure and debunk any potential nonsense. I’m not really trusting the dealership (not a classic specialty) but that doesn’t mean they don’t have something here. They’ve sent lots of pictures and some of the
hallmarks of good condition I don’t think could be faked very easily. Paint, under carriage, and wheel wells on the inside of trunk look good. The interior seems a little wild though and I can’t find any references.
Do y’all have suggestions for a good classic car vin check site that I can see as much as possible about this car ?
This one is a lime-ish green (maybe Cypress green) cutlass supreme coupe with a white vinyl full top and white interior with black floors. There is some yellowing of certain plastics but over all looks good.
The back seats have some wild emblems and I can’t seem to find any pics or catalogues that would confirm this was an option in the supremes.
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Not uncommon to not have paperwork. Most people didn't bother saving it. Better that than faked paperwork in my opinion.
Definitely post under carriage and under hood pictures here. There are plenty of people in the know here that will be helpful.
Looks pretty good so far. When you post more, be sure to include lots of shots of the undercarriage.
alright tried this once already, apologies if this posts twice.
they have no lift, I’ll prob have to find one locally and coordinate with dealership and inspector. But here are pics he has sent me of under carriage and engine.
Tbis is not a dedicated classics dealership, they get their vehicles from Auction. They have some bad reviews, some understandable and some super shady like selling cars with corrosion that has been spray painted over and stuff haha. But most of that seems to be from newer cars, maybe flood damaged and such but with a decent appearance.
Seems unlikely with something this old like would be difficult to pull that off with something this old without major signs but what do I know.
I am no expert on these years but I am pretty sure that embossed rear seat is factory. Not sure if the front should match??
Ok yeah I found the original brochure and it seems like the interior checks out in style and color. And I looked again at the photo of the front seat and you can barely see the embossing up there as well, it’s just not unhelpful angle and low quality
Looks like a very nice pretty untouched car to me. Undercarriage and the engine compartment look pretty original. Looks to have been possibly repainted no? Crazy money?
Some body color painted rally wheels would really wake that car up.
Last edited by no1oldsfan; Apr 28, 2023 at 04:29 PM.
As an owner of a 74 supreme and a long time owner of a 74 Salon- The rear seats are factory, and should match the front. I suggest the front seat would not need repair if it were only 25k..my supreme has 105k and original seats with some pulling of the threads but otherwise fine.
Trunk looks good-appears to have the original trunk pad- (repopped but the original material is not available ) G7814 was the correct tire for the spare in a 350 car.
The correct trunk spatter paint is turquoise (dark blue,gray fleck) as opposed to the earlier black/aqua.
Engine compartment- A/C hose foam is either replaced or amazing original. Only thing i see is radiator overflow has been changed to a later one.(I believe 73-74 were the same), and aircleaner hose is the original cloth- typical tear. Master cylinder looks new, but could have been replaced, as well as the lines. The start override relay is original orange.. later ones were different..
Carpet wear/hole by the heel pad usually indicates more miles but..
I'll look through the pics again.. either way, other than the 70's color, looks nice.
You are probably aware that these cars are not that in demand, hence not worth a ton of money.
Good luck .
Looks like a very nice pretty untouched car to me. Undercarriage and the engine compartment look pretty original. Looks to have been possibly repainted no? Crazy money?
Some body color painted rally wheels would really wake that car up.
Yeah the stuff I can confirm from afar is starting line up pretty nicely. I don’t know if it’s been repainted, I’ve seen some re-sprayed cars and I own a 77 Monte Carlo that’s been re-sprayed with the original color and sometimes you can tell, but this one strikes me as familiarly dull. I’ve been able to find a few other snaps of Cutlasses with a similar color and the original color sheet offers something similar called cypress green and sage green. I could be wrong tho but a paint meter ought to help during inspection.
The guy wants $18,995 for it which is not crazy for something in good shape, but with no original paperwork or history and a non functioning AC I wouldn’t pay that. I’m in Texas I would drive it straight to my mechanic to get the AC going again. I’ve seen other nice ones, maybe not this nice go for 13k -15k with everything working and paperwork.
I’ve got some money to spend and I was def thinking about those body matching olds rally wheels. I love those rims.
If y’all want to see my Monte let me know if it’s not a sacrilege haha and I’ll post a pic.
Agree. I see traces of what looks like factory undercoat. The trunk pan looks like it may have had new splatter at some point, so have a real good look in there. The upholstery presents as new -- possible kit? Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Everything else looks solid at a glance.
Two things: 1) How far away from you is the car? Will it be possible for you to see it in person? 2) As #1 mentioned, do they want a lot of money? These cars have a limited following and as a rule don't command very high prices.
Also keep in mind that parts for '73-7s can be very difficult to find.
the pattern on those seats is not available in reproduction, to my knowledge.. have not seen the correct splatter paint available either.
Agree is a lot for that car, even in good shape. Several years ago I spoke to a 74 Supreme owner at OCA Nats in Cincy I believe- he had the 1st non-Hurst 74 I'd seen at nats other than mine..said he bought it for $2500.00 not long before the show, with iirc 53k miles on it. It was the less than wonderful brown, but still.
Some publications are saying the 73-77s are gaining in popularity.. but how much? Unless it's a Hurst, not a ton of value..
the pattern on those seats is not available in reproduction, to my knowledge.. have not seen the correct splatter paint available either.
Agree is a lot for that car, even in good shape. Several years ago I spoke to a 74 Supreme owner at OCA Nats in Cincy I believe- he had the 1st non-Hurst 74 I'd seen at nats other than mine..said he bought it for $2500.00 not long before the show, with iirc 53k miles on it. It was the less than wonderful brown, but still.
Some publications are saying the 73-77s are gaining in popularity.. but how much? Unless it's a Hurst, not a ton of value..
Yeah seems like a few years back you could have gotten 3 nice cars for that haha. There’s a lot of cars that everyone wants that so nothing for me but I absolutely love this one. I’d rather have something different that I like than just another one that everyone wants. I’m in Austin and there’s so much money here, lots of classic restoration mods that look amazing but they’re just boring if you ask me. Classic broncos and all the rest 🥱
what’s the story with this textured hardtop that these come with. What is that?
I'm a little concerned about the discoloration on the rear arm rests. I asked the guy if those were some sort of plastic which would explain it not aging well which is no big deal (but he’s left for the day), HOWEVER there is a rotted out supreme near my shop and I went and peaked in the widows and it looks like it might be carpet there. And one explanation for that color if it were carpet would be rust trickling down from the opera windows (this one is rusted out and exposed to the elements). I know that the vinyl roofs pretty much all need to be redone at some point and the welds finished out and painted but I don’t know about these
here is a pic of the rusted out one with the textured hard top removed.
As an owner of a 74 supreme and a long time owner of a 74 Salon- The rear seats are factory, and should match the front. I suggest the front seat would not need repair if it were only 25k..my supreme has 105k and original seats with some pulling of the threads but otherwise fine.
Trunk looks good-appears to have the original trunk pad- (repopped but the original material is not available ) G7814 was the correct tire for the spare in a 350 car.
The correct trunk spatter paint is turquoise (dark blue,gray fleck) as opposed to the earlier black/aqua.
Engine compartment- A/C hose foam is either replaced or amazing original. Only thing i see is radiator overflow has been changed to a later one.(I believe 73-74 were the same), and aircleaner hose is the original cloth- typical tear. Master cylinder looks new, but could have been replaced, as well as the lines. The start override relay is original orange.. later ones were different..
Carpet wear/hole by the heel pad usually indicates more miles but..
I'll look through the pics again.. either way, other than the 70's color, looks nice.
You are probably aware that these cars are not that in demand, hence not worth a ton of money.
Good luck .
Wow thanks that’s all great info!! Everything helps
Yes I know they’re not worth a lot of money, but they also don’t seem to pop up in good condition as often as I’d like, so what to do?
Agree. I see traces of what looks like factory undercoat. The trunk pan looks like it may have had new splatter at some point, so have a real good look in there. The upholstery presents as new -- possible kit? Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Everything else looks solid at a glance.
Two things: 1) How far away from you is the car? Will it be possible for you to see it in person? 2) As #1 mentioned, do they want a lot of money? These cars have a limited following and as a rule don't command very high prices.
Also keep in mind that parts for '73-7s can be very difficult to find.
Appreciate all this, good to know.
This thing is very far from me, I’m in Austin and it’s way up in Washington somewhere.
No worries, but you might want to disregard my comment about re-pop upholstery. I don't believe any kits are available for colonnade cars, so it must be very good original. Bonus points
yes- tends to be lots of rust under there- typically around the opera windows as shown, and in the corners of the back window.. you can tell if you run your fingers along it-may be a depression, or you'll feel/hear the rust underneath. Some people remove the vinyl and paint the top.. (different trim moldings though)
The inside panels should be the same color as the rest of the interior. my supreme has 'off white' interior, and not much difference in color...my understanding is that some of the pieces were a different type of plastic that reacted with light to change color.. the pieces at the rear bumper may be slightly different colors as well..
my supreme has MAJOR rust along the rear window..not sure if it's reparable...
yes- tends to be lots of rust under there- typically around the opera windows as shown, and in the corners of the back window.. you can tell if you run your fingers along it-may be a depression, or you'll feel/hear the rust underneath. Some people remove the vinyl and paint the top.. (different trim moldings though)
The inside panels should be the same color as the rest of the interior. my supreme has 'off white' interior, and not much difference in color...my understanding is that some of the pieces were a different type of plastic that reacted with light to change color.. the pieces at the rear bumper may be slightly different colors as well..
my supreme has MAJOR rust along the rear window..not sure if it's reparable...
Aha, thanks for the info. What is the top cover made of? Doesn’t seem like it’s vinyl. I know how to feel for rust under vinyl and if it’s hard I don’t know what to tell the inspector. The rusted out one near me still had some and it was hard, didn’t seem like vinyl.
I feel you on the rust I’m getting some repaired
on my 1991 Dodge D150, the from of the roof had rusted out above the windshield and drip rail, pretty much from one end to another. I thought it might be fatal but the estimate was much lower than I expected to it’s getting done.
The top is vinyl- a different pattern from the earlier years, iirc. I think I have that info somewhere but won't get to it tonight.
I would expect a little rust in the back corners where the vinyl seams are.. even garaged cars tended to rust there.
The top is vinyl- a different pattern from the earlier years, iirc. I think I have that info somewhere but won't get to it tonight.
I would expect a little rust in the back corners where the vinyl seams are.. even garaged cars tended to rust there.
Ok cool. Yeah my Monte has a tiny bit right there and under the opera windows. I need to get it removed painted and redone
Oh yeah that would be cool man, I could pay for gas and coffee haha
You could start a new thread and title it "Help From CO Members in Washington State". Washington State isn't too small, so maybe include nearest city or county too.
You could start a new thread and title it "Help From CO Members in Washington State". Washington State isn't too small, so maybe include nearest city or county too.
That’s a great idea I’ll do that. Thanks for the suggestion!!
By the way. Post your Monte. Plenty of Monte fans here.
It’s gettin a stereo right now and I can’t find pics of the interior or under the hood or under carriage, but it’s a 77 Landau with the 305, 77k very clean all over except for a few small instances of bubbling in the typical places which I’ll get fixed.
It’s been repainted with the original Firethorne Red, not a $12k paint job but very good and the interior is red on red on red on red. Also has all the original bill of sale, in a binder with all or most original paperwork.
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