Vehicle Description
If you want high-visibility, maximum performance, and plenty of
luxury, all with a side of open-air fun, then this 1969 Oldsmobile
Cutlass 442 Tribute convertible should grab your attention. It's
beautifully finished in Nassau Blue with white stripes, and the
strong-running big block 455 V8 and good list of Oldsmobile comfort
and convenience features make it a great alternative to the usual
A-body choices.
Blue and white stripes on a Cutty convertible just feels right. So
during the restoration this '69 was torn down, smoothed, sanded,
and prepped, then covered back in Code 53 Nassau Blue paint, and
wow, does it look good! The two-stage urethane gives it a fantastic
shine and the white stripes in traditional 442 patterns were
painted on, not decals, then buried under the clear coat so it has
a very smooth, seamless look. The hood bulges practically lend
themselves to the stripe treatment and outlining the wheel arches
with chrome trim and adding white rocker panel stripes makes the
car look even longer and lower than it is. Correct 442 badges have
been placed in all the right spots, so it'll take an expert and a
look under the hood to prove it's not a real 442. Other parts like
the bumpers, the grilles, and the cool Oldsmobile rocket side
marker lights add up to a car that has a lot of visual appeal, even
up close.
The blue interior is obviously a perfect complement for the
exterior and it's also been beautifully maintained, showing off
mostly original, well-preserved parts. Code 943 blue vinyl is the
factory spec inside, and it has an upscale feel that isn't often
found with OEM parts, but Oldsmobile always went the extra mile
when it came to their interiors. Both bench seats are comfortable
and only show slight wear and tear, the door panels are in
similarly good condition, and the blue carpets below are protected
by heavy-duty rubber mats, just like the ones you got from the
dealer. That OEM feeling is reinforced by the cool original
steering wheel and round instrument pods inside the tidy, uncracked
original dash ahead of the driver. The gauge markings are big and
bright and the original gauges are aided by a couple auxiliary
units below the dash, and there's a AM/FM/Cassette stereo head unit
in the center of the dash, which powers speakers installed
throughout the cabin. A nice-looking power white convertible top
offers a glass rear window and the trunk is neatly finished with
what might very well be the original mat and full size spare.
Power comes from a stout 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8, which was
offered for the first time in 1969 in the Cutlass and then quickly
became THE motor to have if you wanted to plant big power. Reported
to have been rebuilt less than 5k miles ago and wearing Oldsmobile
Gold paint and a few dress-up parts, it's a fun, reliable, and
torquey powerplant that suits this ragtop quite well. The engine
bay is very clean, with a lot of newer parts, including the
Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor,
and an aluminum radiator up front keeping the big block nice and
cool. Thanks to a full HEI system it starts with that familiar
Oldsmobile starter chatter and settles into a nice factory idle,
burbling through stock exhaust manifolds that feed the dual exhaust
and factory-style chambered mufflers. It's linked to a
quick-shifting 2004R 3-speed automatic transmission and a
heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end, so the powertrain is reliable and
durable. Very solid, undercoated floors mean this car will last
forever and it sits on color-matched Rallye II wheels with
225/70/14 white-letter performance radials.
If you crave attention, this Olds will deliver. But if you simply
want a fun ragtop with a comfortable interior and plenty of
performance, well, this is also an excellent choice for that.
Either way, you're getting a lot of car for the money. Call
today!