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I wanted to introduce myself and my car to the forum. I have a 1973 Cutlass S, and I'm a broke, inexperienced college student. My dad gave me this car after he got it in some sort of trade deal while I was in high school. Honestly, I thought about selling it for a while, but I've decided to keep it. I realize how expensive it can be to restore and maintain a car like this, but I really like the way it looks, and over the years, I've learned a few things about cars and how they work. I haven't done much work, but I've managed to get it running, which is major progress since it was overheating when I first got it. The picture was taken a few days after I got it, but it doesn't look much different now (aside from the flat tire). Now that I have a little more disposable income and time, I was hoping I could get back to working on it. It's gonna take me a very long time to get this car into a condition I'm happy with. I signed up for this forum since I've been reading some older threads for a while, so I decided to join myself. I hope to make positive updates on my work. Thanks for reading 1973 Cutlass S
Welcome- there are a few of us 73-77 guys on here, along with a ton of info on Olds. list more pics when you can..looks like it's mostly there. parts needed like the mirror can be gotten..place wants under 'parts wanted' as you need them. Brett (Palladin) has a good supply of used for our cars. Good luck .
Welcome. The 73-77 Cutlasses are starting to get some love these days. It looks like a good car to start with. The first thing to do is get it to where it is road worthy and safe to drive. The most important thing is brakes. This can be made into a really nice looking car. There are lots of knowledgeable folks on here who are glad to help. Don't be shy about asking questions. We were all young once (a long time ago for me) and there are no stupid questions. We would love to see more pictures.
I think that paint would buff out and the car would look quite nice then. Driving a car that shines makes me feel good about it, then I want to fix it up even more.
Welcome and so glad to see your interest in the car. The 73-77 Cutlass was possibly the best car of the era, and were extremely dependable, comfortable and stylish transportation. As pointed out in a couple other posts - clean it up (you’ll discover a lot about the car) and make it safe/functional (brakes, electrical, steering & tires) Parts for basic items aren’t too bad and info on the “how to” is easily found and only basic tool are needed. All “A bodies” (Buick, Chevy, Pontiac & Olds midsize) were on the same chassis platform, so many items are the same or very similar. Cleaning can also provide near instant gratification for your hard work as well as stop some further decay. Have fun with it!
Cool you decided to keep it and fix it up. 73 thru 77 have my favorite dashboard with the wrap around design. Preserving a classic is a great thing to do.
Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I'll try to get more pictures soon, but like I said, it looks pretty much the same. Luckily, the overheating was the biggest mechanical issue, and it actually drives pretty well. Most of the issues with this car are cosmetic in nature. Although not visible in the picture, there are many rust spots all over the body. I'm afraid I might have to get a paint job done because the paint is so faded and brittle, it flakes off at certain parts. I hate to disappoint some of you, but I don't think I'll be faithful to the original design. In my opinion, much of the interior is ripped or broken beyond repair, and I don't think I'll be able afford original parts, so I'm going with the DIY route (I might not get far, but I'll try my best). Fortunately, I have at least a little experience with sewing and upholstery. I'm also an electrical engineering student, so I have quite a few tools like oscilloscopes and 3D printers and CAD software at my disposal, which will hopefully help in wiring and building custom parts. I snagged a copy of the Chassis Service Manual on eBay since I couldn't find a free copy online, so I'll have that to help me with my mechanical issues. Again, thank you all for the support. Interior looks rough An older picture of the engine. It now has a shinier water pump
I really like this car. It is very unique, so unique I haven't seen a single other car like it in years. Not in junkyards, on the street, nothing. I'm almost convinced I'm the only person in Phoenix with this car. It's made looking for parts a little exhausting, but thank god for the internet. Those are swivel bucket seats, but the metal beneath the seat is so rusted, they have become regular bucket seats.
I'm also an electrical engineering student, so I have quite a few tools like oscilloscopes and 3D printers and CAD software at my disposal, which will hopefully help in wiring and building custom parts.
I was wondering if your user name had something to do with electronics. All the things you're learning in college are setting the groundwork for what you'll eventually do professionally. I remember learning about flip-flops, MOSFETs, analog electronics, etc. many years ago. Now when Oldsguy learned electronics they had yet to perfect the telephone, so take everything he says with a grain of salt.
The 73-77 Cutlass was a very popular car when new, I think 1977 it was the best selling car. So there were lots around. But now, yeah they are sorta rare. Keep at it! Glad to see a young person getting in the hobby!
I wanted to introduce myself and my car to the forum. I have a 1973 Cutlass S, and I'm a broke, inexperienced college student. My dad gave me this car after he got it in some sort of trade deal while I was in high school. Honestly, I thought about selling it for a while, but I've decided to keep it. I realize how expensive it can be to restore and maintain a car like this, but I really like the way it looks, and over the years, I've learned a few things about cars and how they work. I haven't done much work, but I've managed to get it running, which is major progress since it was overheating when I first got it. The picture was taken a few days after I got it, but it doesn't look much different now (aside from the flat tire). Now that I have a little more disposable income and time, I was hoping I could get back to working on it. It's gonna take me a very long time to get this car into a condition I'm happy with. I signed up for this forum since I've been reading some older threads for a while, so I decided to join myself. I hope to make positive updates on my work. Thanks for reading
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Last edited by ElisabethHowe; Mar 30, 2023 at 12:28 AM.
Hello, everyone
