Hi nice site, lots of information.. thought Id get an opinion on a car I picked up today before I ruin it. I have a nasty 69cc aluminum headed 455 Im chopping at the bit to put into something and its a 4 speed engine as well....

Question.. Its a 1969 cutlass with a bench seat factory 4 speed no power brakes no power steering no air conditioning and drum brakes.. Yeah where did you find that right? 75k orig miles been sitting for 10 years and only alteration is someone added dual exhaust to the 2 barrel engine. I guess itll be getting a make over but better left to factory specs or hot rodded ?
Considering there is not many out there with these lack of options only the one cool one..I thought Id ask before I ruined a possible rarity vs. desirability kind of thing. Yes I know its mine and can do what I want but any thoughts on what direction I should go. Thanks in advance

 

Being a run of the mill Cutlass, even if it has "rare" options, it's really not worth a ton of cash. Do what you want with the car and have fun.

 

Welcome to C.O. Hey,it's yours,make it where you will enjoy driving it yourself. It's a very straight looking car,and I doubt if anyone would "deduct from the price for you making it drive more comfortably". Larry

 

Welcome to the site, post some more pics of under hood and interior. A 4spd bench seat car is somewhat rare. The nice thing about all your mods is they are bolt in and it would be easy, though improbable to return the car back to stock if wanted in the future. You are doing the same thing that someone in the late 70's or early 80's would do to it.

 

FWIW, it's a Cutlass S.

 

If its a confirmed original 4 speed, 350, two barrel thats rather rare. Im not suggesting high dollar desirable W car rare but its odd rare. That makes it interesting with a cool factor. IMO I would not cut it up. If you must have the 455 in there, which is bad ***, at minimum make it so it can go back together some day with its OEM set up (dont use the OEM 4 speed or rear end get, others to beat). If it was mine Id make it look good, maybe install a 4bbl, and drive it. Dont see many like this. This is the first 69 I can recall.
IMO its more desirable than the same car with an automatic. Bench seat + 4 speed + 2bbl = odd ball sweetness. Great ground level affordable starter muscle.

 

Rare & desirable don't always coincide. While a four speed 2 bbl is rare, a four speed 4 bbl is more desirable. I'd drop that 455 in & have some fun

 

No Question its a factory set up, had a few of these and this one has never been tampered with ever,reverse lock out locking the steering wheel and some t3s.. even the dimmers.. I started it today after a new set of plugs not even changing anything else and after a few puffs of smoke and a backfire.. it smoothed out and ran perfectly, of course with new gas and priming the oil pump. it has all the original stuff under the hood meaning not much, pictures to come, gotta get a rinse, but original hose clamps, wiring, heat riser, etc and none of it looks touched...Lots of dates and mileage written under the hood on stickers and on the drivers side sun visor. It as a 12 bolt rear end yeah 10 bolt with cover (non posi) and hurst shifter. Strange seeing the air cond fake plate across the middle of the dash. It has the painted top not vinyl.. Wire to the rear view mirror for a map light? did they have map lights in 69? It sure looks factory. I pulled the tank, it needs a new sending until and going for a cruise after it comes in after checking out the wheel cylinders. Maybe leaving 350 in, it runs that good swap to a 4 barrel maybe not to beat it, umm ok maybe that means beat it because MAN, I got burn rubber sometimes when my lip quivers. Im drug and alcohol free but not perfect. The cars are my drugs. IF it does fishtail with a little Rs and a pop of the clutch, its all I need but if not the switcharoo is on .. and will keep orig eng off to the side. Not bragging but with 7 muncies sitting here, I can change out the original stuff for beating material...Arent bias plys the best smoke shows in the world? Crimson red.