Hi everyone, we were looking for a project car for my son and found a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in a nearby town. It was stuck in the mud under a tree, and the seller had to run around to first find a battery and then gas before he could start up the engine. We had to prime the carburetor a little...and then it started! The sound of that rocket engine running brought tears to my eyes, so I told my husband we had to buy it, nevermind what the body looked like. I grew up in my dad's garage where he and my brother were always tinkering on our old cars. ( I sat quietly in the corner, probably getting high on the fumes while I patiently washed the little parts in gasoline - which was all I was allowed to do as a girl. Of course I didn't know I was getting high at the time - it was the 70's and I just liked the smell of gas!) Anyway, now the Olds is in our garage and our cars sleep outside in the snow It runs, but it looks BAD. It has almost no rust, but someone did a horrible paint job on it, the inside is in very rough shape and you have to STAND on the brakes to stop. The engine runs OK, but definitely needs a lot of work - enough to teach my son a lot about engines. There is no choke attached either. Should we just ecourage him to work on the engine for now or is it worth the trouble and money to work on the body?

 

hey did someone sell you my car ???

haha welcome to classic olds

 

This is probably one of the situations that the first thing a wrench or a screwdriver hits it will lead to all the adjoining items. Me, I would tackle the items that will make it road worthy and safe! Start with the drivetrain, electrical, frontend, brakes, and then cosmetics.

 

Getting it going is good getting it to stop is better. Once those issues are handled you have a running project car. Then the body work and interior can be done as funds allow.

 

You are so right! We have already taken care of the electrical - all lights, indicators, etc. work now. Also put new winter tyres on got the steering column fixed. Brakes are next, I think. I drove my son to school yesterday and I literally had to stand on them. Will try to post some pics sometime. Thanks for your input! I think we will learn a lot on these forums.

 

you. are. awesome. usually this is the other way around and alot of times the wife says no!

 

Thank you, gentlemen. We'll follow your advice. @ DreWRoolZ : If a woman understands a man's relationship with his car/bike/boat/truck, she knows a little about that man. Sometimes a man's relationship with his car/bike/boat/truck outlasts his relationship with his girlfriend/wife and women should know that. Some cars are just vehicles, but others are characters like the one we acquired. It has had a long life and has clearly been abused, neglected and patched together and now it was unwanted too. The seller took it as payment for a dirtbike and wanted to get some $ for it and get it off his yard. When that engine started up, I knew it had to be rescued. I am sure my son will get it to run well in automotive class and then we'll see what can be done about the cosmetics next summer if funds allow

 

WELCOME TO CO, OLDSOWNER! Wow! You are quite a Mom, and quite a Wife, also. I put Juju (my wife) in that category, by the way! In particular your son is going to benefit for all your "highs" on that gasoline from your younger days. Don't ever let him sell it. And there will always be "light at the end of the tunnel"! Once again, WELCOME! Now, after all that, pictures, please.

 

Awesome story!!! Welcome to CO!

 

Welcome to our site! This is the best place to be - my guys here are sooooo helpful! They are the best!!! I love the 72 Cutlass and I'm so glad to hear you're gonna restore her! Like the guys say, start with the safety items first. That's most important. The rest will come with time. You'll get a "mightaswell" list going that will be a mile long, lol!! But we know places to get parts and such.

It willl be a great project for your son. I truly believe that kids today missed out on the experiences we had as children, that were good experiences - you can't really work on today's cars like you could the old ones. I too used to help my brothers when I was little, and growing up and even still today, I help my nephew if I'm in his area and he's working on something. I like grease, lol! Anyhow, I hope all goes well with the project! Keep us posted. And we like pics, if you have some to post!

 

How quickly 18 months pass. My son took the Olds to the school shop for him and his buddies to work on in auto class. The engine starts easily and runs well now and it is safe to drive, but it still needs a LOT of work. He's going off to university in the fall and we don't have a place to store it indoors this winter (and it is NEVER going to sleep outside again if I can help it), so it's up for sale. Lots of interest so far, but no firm offers yet. Maybe we'll drop the price. Asking $5,000 as that is what it cost us so far. ($3000 purchase price plus tires, parts and some professional work done).
I finally attach some pics. The interior is pretty rough. Front seats are not original and the back seat is in very bad shape. The foam is fine, but the leather (vinyl) cannot be saved. The trunk is rust free. There are a few holes in the floorboards on the driver and passenger sides. There is one bad dent on the passenger side fender.
PS: tried to attach some pics but upload failed. Any idea what I had done wrong?

 

Your photo size may be too big.