If you are a lover of Oldsmobiles, then you likely know the popularity of the Cutlass S hardtop versus the Cutlass Supreme. Some call this the “fastback” body style, versus the “formal” body style of the Cutlass Supreme. It is certainly has a much more sporty appearance.
I highly doubt this car was chosen for its sport appearance. It was likely chosen because it was on the lot too long. I feel both the color and the limited options would cause this car to hang around the Oldsmobile dealership just too long in 1971. We know it was purchased by older folks and I suspect the Dealer discounted it deeply.
The color is Sandlewood. Would you call it a yellowish tan? Similar to the color of bamboo? To top it off, the upholstery is the same color. This color combination would not have garnered much attention in 1971.
The lack of bucket seats and air conditioning would also hold many from purchasing this car when it was new. It only has the AM radio and just a front speaker. It has manual windows and locks. In its defense, it does have Soft Ray tinted windshield, bright drip rail moldings and bright body reveal moldings. And it has full wheel covers, or discs, as they were called. It does have power steering and brakes as well as Deluxe seat belts.
This car has its original powertrain. The engine is the 350 Rocket with a 2 barrel carburetor. It has the Turbo Hydramatic 350 three speed automatic transmission and on open differential with 2.56 gears.
Now, fast forward to 2021. The colors are now popular. They are reminiscent of the earth tones of the early 70’s. It is going to grab attention due to the fact that it is different from most cars of the muscle car era. It will remind most that it was likely a “Grandma” car, which it was. And it has survived wonderfully.
What drew me to this car was the ultra-low mileage of 41,539 and the fact that it is pretty much ALL ORIGINAL! The paint is completely original with the exception of the hood and tops of the front fenders. I was told the paint faded due to the sun beaming in the garage through a window. It certainly had no damage and it is evident that this is an original hood. The underside of the hood tells that story. The rest of the car has never been repainted.
The originality of this car continues to impress me. I am quite convinced that the moldings, glass and weather seals are all original. And they are nice! The original hose clamps are in place. The original jack set and trunk mat are in place. The wheels have never been repainted and have original wheel covers installed.
The interior is completely original. The upholstery, door panels, carpet, dash and headliner are easily identified as original. All are in great condition with only minimal wear showing. The top of the rear seat and the package tray are in excellent condition. The floor mats are period correct and have been in the car for most of its life.
There are a few things that are not original. The passenger side mirror was added years ago. The original windshield washer bottle and exhaust system were still present when I bought the car, but they were just not worthy of retention. We installed a new washer reservoir and had my favorite muffler shop properly bend the new single exhaust system. The tires were probably the second set since new. They were bias ply and had flat spots from years of sitting in the garage. We had them replaced with new proper sized radial versions.
This car is now a drivable Survivor. It appears to be very, very original and correct. The few things that needed to be replaced for safety reasons have been tended to. All features function properly with exception of the radio. It lights, but doesn’t emit sound. There are two sets of keys. This car will be admired by all.
The paint shows just a few blemishes, most of which are small scratches. There are none of the typical blemishes caused by bugs or stones. There is no rust anywhere on this car. There is no body repair or body filler.
The originality is evident. The low mileage is obvious. This car came from Oklahoma, so the climate was perfect for preservation. It was certainly garage-kept, otherwise the sun would have ravaged the paint and exposed interior parts. The owner must have offered it great care. They didn’t ever rub the side of the garage door opening!
I would call this a very desirable car at this stage in its life. Very original and now it is seen as rare and sporty!
