Hey all!

We (my wife and myself) have just joined this thread. I have been browsing the forums for a while as we built our '72 Cutlass over the past 2 years. A little info about our build:

Originally, Jessica's (wife) father, Keith owned two cutlass's. One was a '71 supreme and the other was a '72 cutlass s car. The '71 was a car he bought over 16 or 17 years ago after looking into numerous 60's and early 70's muscle cars that he liked.

It came down to either Oldsmobile (Cutlass) or a Super Bee. He settled on the Cutlass. My wife, who has just turned 25, used to cruise around with her dad as a little girl in his Supreme. They would go to cruise ins, and drag races (which she still loves today).

Soon after he found the '72 S car, and due to the better condition of the body/interior, decided to build a custom cutlass. After only getting the body itself primered and some custom dash work completed (and storing tons of information in 3 ring binders on things he wanted to do) he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Fast forward 13 years. My wife's father passed away Oct. 13th, 2004 at only 44 (she was only 20). We inherited the car and for the past 5 years have tried to make his dream a reality.

 

Here's a quick rundown:

When we got the cars the '71 had been sitting for around 9 years, all the while it's condition was slowly deteriorating. I was told that Keith had some engine problems which led him to park the car but as his condition slowly worsened he just never got back to it. There was a plastic cover over the engine, beneath the hood. The '72 car sat on blocks and was basically a completely stripped interior, primered body, no suspension, no drivetrain, frame rails jutting from beneath the firewall with no fenders, bumpers, hood etc.

Now, we have finally completed? the dream he had. Picks to follow:

Specs: 1972 Custom Cutlass
Engine: 1965 425 10.25:1 bored 030 (original engine from '71 Supreme car)
Cam: JM 20-22 .496int/.512exh 266'/274' 110 LSA
Original Heads/ Stipped/cleaned/rebuilt
Original Intake/ Quadrajet 750 carb
All new bearings/freeze plugs/honed block turned and balanced crank
Hooker 1 3/4" Long tube headers/ 2.5" exhaust


Interior: Complete Custom interior. Dash originally completed by Keith was used. White and with blue was used throughout to match custom dyed blue dash and offset ext. paint.
Rally Pack gauges, 4-spoke olds steering wheel.

Exterior: Dodge Viper GTS blue with white hood stripes, including commemorative "In Memory Of" painted into stripes.
All chrome accents around hood, drip rail, trunk, windshield, back glass replaced with new.
Stripped and re-chromed front and rear bumpers. Front bumper is from '72 car but rear bumper from '70 car in keeping with Keith's taste.
Blacked out Grille with Chrome "Oldsmobile" logo and black headlamp surrounds (believe this was a '72 option)
Billet Specialties "Strip" wheels 18"x8" front, 18"x10" rear
BF Goodrich KDW (flame pattern) 245/40 front 305/45 rear

Drivetrain: TH400 Strengthened internally/ 2500+ stall converter/ 3.73 posi 12-bolt chevy rear.

Braking/Suspension: Drop springs and new shocks front and rear/ All new brake lines/ master cylinder/chrome booster. 11" disc brakes front/ drum rear (originally was gonna do ssbc or baer 12" front and rear but had to divert money to other areas)

That's about all I can think of for now. Here are some pics while it was in shop. I do want to thank our good friend Jim, the local Oldsmobile specialist (didn't know if I was allowed to say name of business). Without him none of this could be possible. I will post updated pics in next few days.

 

Here are some pics of the car when it was still in shop getting finished.

 

Welcome to CO! Y'all have done a very nice job on the customization of an Olds! The blue color is brilliant, for lack of a better term. Don't think it's a stock color, makes no difference, looks great! Keep up the good work, and keep the pictures coming!

 

Thanks Aron! We have tried really hard to stay in tune with what Jess' dad would have wanted. Paint is Dodge Viper GTS blue (with a little metal flake added). Just got the car back this week. I will clean it up, prob buff and wax it good then post a but load of pics over next few days.

 

Welcome. That's a great yet touching story and the car looks real nice.
I don't think the Moderators would have a problem with you naming the guy's business who has helped turn your father-inlaw's dream into a posthumous reality.
My car came from Lexington, NC. As you car see from my Avatar it's now a long way from there. Really looking forward to seeing more pics.

 

Probably not. Go ahead and share the name with us. Welcome to CO. Very nice looking car.

 

Welcome to CO. Very good looking car.

 

A very nice ride and welcome
Larry

 

great story.. keep the memories alive

 

Great story and a neat car. That you made it in memory of your wife's dad and his dream was a cool thing to do

 

Welcome to CO. Very nice custom Cutlass

 

Welcome to our site! Nice Olds!!

 

Looks great - ask the paint shop how soon you can wax it, as I believe 60 - 90 days is a minimium - it's gotta cure!!

 

well it has actually been painted for over 4 years now, but we have had it back in the shop for a lot of engine/mechanical work for the past 2 years. I plan on getting it buffed/polished and waxed tomorrow. My main concern visually right now is the freakin high polished aluminum wheels, which I can't seem to get back to the original Almost Chrome look they had when purchased. I will post up some pics after it's cleaned up and maybe even a link to a youtube vid with it running. The shop here is Actually called Classic Olds in Clemmons, NC. Jim, who owns the shop, knew Jessica's dad real well so he's been a blessing to us getting this project completed.

Thanks all for your support and comments! Here is a pic of the hood where we put the commemorative text.

 

Very nice touch.... and I'm not gonna say anything about maybe putting that inscription on the "Phender" (apologies...I couldn't help it)
Mate I only hope one day my sons think as much of their old man to do what you have done. I consider this a special C.O moment looking at that pic. My Dad didn't leave much, just an old 1955 lawnmower which he loved and Mum never had the heart to throw out. So I brought it home and restored it. Even got they original receipt, warranty & books plus this photo of me, Dad & that same mower taken around late 1956.
DadmetheVicta-1.jpg?t=1286867127

 

It's always nice to have something to remember our loved ones by, that's for sure. I think it helps keep them alive within us, even though we have to move on with our lives as well.

On a brighter note, here are some pics I took today. I'll have to find a nice open parking lot/park to take some better pics in. And I'll post some of the engine bay as well. Hope You all enjoy!

 

oh yeh..... Beautiful

 

Great lookin car, enjoy it and send us more pictures, Dan

 

Here are some more pics for everyone:

These are the engine bay:







And here's the custom graphic I made for the air cleaner (since the original decal said "oldsmobile 403".

 

Boy, I love that car! Great story and nice you kept it and finished it.

 

Clean and simple engine bay. Nice job!

 

That is sensational. So will you & Jessica be using the car regularly or just for sunny day cruising & shows? Looks too nice for a daily driver IMO.

 

Looks good. Im from NC as well (away right now) but will be hauling my 72 down from CT shortly. I was hoping you know of some good Olds guys in the area, especially engine builders. Got an extra 455 that needs machining and havnt been down there long enough to really know where to go for it. Hit me up with a PM? John.

 

We will mostly drive 1 day maybe 2 on the weekends, or to cruise-ins. I will probably enter it in some shows, but the paint has some issues (from 5 years ago by a stupid painter) so I don't know if i should. What's funny though, is that we have driven the car about 8 times since getting it back 2 weeks ago, haha.

 

Lotta chrome shining under that hood, lol! She sure is a beauty! I'd enter her in some shows.