Hi. So this is my grandfathers car he bought new in 73. He stopped driving it in 75 and garage kept it all these years it only has 20k on it. So we decided recently to restore it. I’m new to the car game so I don’t know anything about it or the rareity of it. We have had numerous people try to buy it from us . We were told because of the way my grandpa ordered it made it rare. So if anyone could help me out to understand more of this car that would be awesome. He claims it’s all original that he special ordered it in 73 and waited a few months to get it .

 

The "V" in the fifth position of the VIN indicates that this is a factory-built 455 four speed car. These were extremely rare when new and are pretty much non-existent now. Clean that thing up, get it running, and drive the wheels off of it.

 

I agree, a 455/4spd in that year would be extremely rare especially with the low miles. What's with the front bumper, has it been in an accident?

 

A friend of mine in college had a V-code 1973 442. The car was much quicker than it had any right to be for a heavy, smogged out colonnade car. I did not appreciate then (late 1970s) how rare that car was.

 

4 speed, 455, factory air!! Very rare.

 

Nice color combination on a well optioned car with power windows, power trunk, A/C and rallye suspension. Crazy how the AM/FM stereo with tape cost about the same as the 455 4 barrel, 4 speed and anti spin combined.

 

Anti-spin, PW, power trunk, HD cooling, tilt wheel, stereo tape player. This car is awesome.

 

Its been a great time bonding with the gramps restoring it. We got a lot of work to do since it’s been sitting awhile before she’s road ready! But it will be worth it . As something mentioned yes it’s got a little cosmetic damage nothing major. Before it got put away the gramps hit a deer . So if anyone knows where I could get the lower turn signal housing for passenger side , headlight bezel and grills that would be awesome!

 

You have a hellacious rare Oldsmobile there. Most V-codes were 442. Yer grandpa knew what he was doing with the order sheet, and even a Hurst/Olds couldn't have a 4-speed.

I'd like to see the actual factory window sticker, because I think it will tell more than that dealer sales label does. Things like what rear gearing is in it. Pretty sure 3.23 was the lowest available with A/C, but you never know.

Yup. Definitely worth saving. Just be aware Colonnade cars don't have the aftermarket and reproduction support 68-72 cars do.

 

Post a parts wanted ad here. The 73-77 cars are not popular to restore so there are few reproduction parts available. Good used may be your only option.

 

I just realized that this car is a Supreme, not a Cutlass S. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of V-code 1973 Supremes made is in double digits. Terry Devillbis (user vette442 here) might be of help with production numbers.

 

Great car, the quickest Olds money could buy new in 1973.

Factory "triple" black without the vinyl roof is gold standard in the car guy world.

Your grandpa must of really appreciated performance. 270 HP 4 speed and limited slip in 73 is awesome.

As Joe P mentioned I would clean it up and enjoy it. Otherwise sell it as is. Formerly restoring her is going to be a costly risky endeavor. Cars are only truly original once. If its done half *** you are going to wish you left it alone. And if its done correctly you will never get back what you spent. Unless someone truly uninformed buys it. 1973 Oldsmobile and forward are 2nd tier collectables... Usually purchased because someone couldn't get their hands on a 68-72.

As is cleaned up and in running condition. I would think its worth a few times what grandpa paid for her...

P.S. interesting that Oldsmobile thought so little of the 442 by then they slapped the sticker on any air cleaner...

 

Correct. The SPECS booklet shows 3.42 available but N/A with C60.

 

Why do you think that decal came from the factory? You could buy those over the counter in 1973. I did.

 

Used for 2 years and sitting ever since ...

Maybe it's the New Yorker in me... but fine yes anything is possible.

That's in reference to the sticker not the cars authenticity.

 

Picture of the park light damage, please. You might get into fiberglass work depending how much damage to the valance panel.

The parts will HAVE to come from another 1973 Supreme or Salon. The Cutlass/S/442/Hurst/Olds front end is completely different and don't interchange. Depending when the car was built, Supreme grilles can be chrome or argent silver.

I can furnish part numbers if you want to try and find NOS parts.

 

My then girlfriend either had a '73 or '74, I can't remember whether or not she had a "T" Top roof. Were "T" Tops an available option in the '73/'74 model year?

 

You need these. An old original beat-up copy is fine, and preferable to a reprint or digital copy which will ALWAYS lose details.

 

Hurst/Hatch was first offered in 1975 and only on 57 bodystyles.

 

Nope. The Hurst Hatch was released with the 1975 H/O. There were kits to retrofit them to the Colonnade coupes.

 

Let's look at it in context of 1974-75 timeframe.

We have a deer-damaged car that had the misfortune to be a gas hog in the first collusion-engineered gas crisis. In that time you couldn't give away a two-year old car with a big-block engine. Dealers wouldn't allow jack on a trade in because they couldn't sell such a car, and private sales weren't any better.

So, granddaddy put the car away and saved it. That's a good thing because it ensured the car's survival. How do you think a car like this would have fared if it had gotten into the used car pipeline and into the hands of some mullet-head?

Yeah, I was there.

 

Still sporting that mullet?

 

Did the kit include a sawz-all?

 

They were called Jig saws then and they were corded .... Sawz- alls came later.

Neat Car thanks for posting the questions and grandpas car cool to see it is staying in the family.
Drive on and like Joe P says Drive the wheels off that rig

 

I wish I still had hair enough to sport one!😀 I look more like this now!👴

Has anyone noticed the number of high school and college age boys who have mullets now? The kid at the local hardware store who ordered my lawnmower parts last week is 18 and has one. Curly no less.

We just thought the mullet-head was gone. Course the mullet IS appropriate for a car like this Supreme.

 

Fashion is cyclical.

 

I believe the Salon was new for 73, and only came as a 4dr. So, depending on parts needed, Salon may not work.

 

Please post pics of damage-and/or your list of parts needed for repairs. If you happen to need an entire front (metal in 73) valance, I happen to have one from a 73 Supreme.
Also have an excellent condition 73 chassis manual. Location also might help.

 

The RPO Y79 Salon package was an option only offered on the Supreme. All Salons have Cutlass Supreme VINs. They are Cutlass Supremes.
All 1973 Olds A-body cars use the same front fenders (no matter what body style). All 1973 AJ series cars (Supremes and Vista Cruisers) use the same front bumper. The AJ series cars all use the same filler and lower valance.

 

thanks for the correction Joe..wasn't sure ..

 

Hope to see this one in Bowling Green next year! IMHO, keep it as original as possible, get it roadworthy, drive and enjoy! Family owned since day 1, that alone is worth it all. Here's to hoping a good detail(er) can get that paint looking new again. You just don't see these every day.

 

I have to say this, I don't think I ever have read any of joe's post where he was so excited over a car before .lol
must be something really special

 

Hello
Is THE CAR in minnesota;...?
It would look cool with SSIII
I am selling a set for / from my V CODE
We live in 55369 Osseo

Keep the Shiny Side UP

 

I was thinking the same thing. Even the 3-speed wagon didn't get him this worked up.

 

A colonnade Cutlass with a manual trans with an engine that wasn't a 260? That's a rare beast. I can say I've ever seen one with a 350 let alone a 455. This is the style I grew up with so I always notice them since my first car was a 1976 supreme.

The fact that you have the window sticker will quickly shut down every "expert" who will swear someone swapped the drivetrain.

 

I hate to be pedantic, but the tool named Sawzall, from Milwaukee tool, came out in 1951 and is technically a reciprocating saw. It, and my version from Bosch, have cords, because I want to wreck **** and not worry about batteries when it is time to use it. I have found it is pretty much only useful in demolition, and, so, I agree with you that a jig saw is the way to go.

 

... as will the V in the fifth position of the VIN and the VIN derivative on the engine and trans.

 

For 73 455 V code 442 Sticks:
F37s = 15
G37s = 871
J57s = ??

Non 442 V code L75 Supreme stick...wow very rare.
TERRY! give us a guesstimate on production.
Ya Joe I'm with the double digits, low double digits if not one of.,Triple black power windows trunk defrost block heater! 8 track, 1 of 1. Loaded car.
Ive seen a few 73 V code 442 sticks a few 350 Cutlass and Cutlass S sticks. Never witnessed a big block Supreme stick

Invoice doesn't indicate 14 or 15" SS3?
Do you have the rare 15" SS3 wheels?
This thing will be beautiful once done. It will be almost Hurst like. Way lower production compared to a Hurst. Bet it cost about the same.

Inspect the frame horns. My bet is it will need a gentle tug on a frame rack to align the horn ends.
This car deserves a rotisserie restoration. Make sure you have classic car agreed value insurance on it. Value?

 

This car needs to be professionally cleaned/detailed and shown at MCACN one of these years.

 

Could be wrong, but I think 15" first appeared in 1974 models.