Vehicle Description
There's still a lot more bang for your buck with an Oldsmobile, as
this gorgeous 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible so ably
demonstrates. There's a healthy 350 Rocket V8 topped with an
upgraded fuel-injection setup under the hood, incredible styling
that neatly bridges sporty and luxurious, and a long list of
features that make it an awesome choice over the more common (and
expensive) Chevelles and GTOs. Super-clean Cutlass droptop don't
come surface all that often, and when they do, they quickly change
hands. So, read quickly, or this Saddle Bronze desert-dweller will
be gone before you even get a chance to fall in love with it.
How can you not love the way this classic muscle car looks? If
you've outgrown your boy-racer image, this Olds neatly captures
top-down fun in a sporting A-body without going over the top with
it. The Code 63 Saddle Bronze paint is bright and distinctive, and
it grabs your attention without resorting to obnoxious stripes and
gaudy spoilers to do it. The paint was finished to a very high
standard not terribly long ago by the looks of things, and it's
obviously been impeccably cared-for ever since, boasting a deep
finish, elegant luster, and bright shine that seems to dance with
the lights in our photo-booth. Upon closer examination there are
certainly some minor signs of use and age, but this droptop was
always meant to be a higher-end driver, and despite some of those
imperfections, it still looks top-class in that elegant bronze
finish. It's clean and simple, which is how most of the cars were
delivered when new, and we like the relatively unadorned look,
which is a nice contrast to most of the other muscle cars of the
period, particularly the more luxurious Oldsmobiles. Nice shiny
chrome bumpers, a pair of egg-crate grilles in excellent shape, and
familiar two-element, triple-sectioned taillights give this Olds a
period-perfect look that will never go out of style. The lower body
molding and wheel arch trim that runs from end-to-end breaks up the
sophisticated bronze paint just enough to make things interesting,
and whether the top is up or down, the profile of this Cutlass is
downright amazing.
Inside the doors sits a nicely appointed interior in its proper
Saddle color that's retained its factory appearance, with a bench
seat up front and a bench seat in back - all nicely padded and
upholstered in period-perfect vinyl hides that show little-to-no
wear. The dash area has been thoroughly restored and really
presents well - the woodgrain accents appear to have been recently
installed, or exceptionally well-protected, it's free of the
evidence of UV damage you so often encounter with convertibles, and
the pad running across its top shows no splits or warpage (thanks
to the protective carpet cover laid on top). Look closely and
you'll see the dash was upgraded in a clever way so as not to stray
too far from the stock look, leaving the original Olds stereo in
place while hiding an aftermarket AM/FM/AUX head unit in the old
ashtray slot to manage the upgraded speakers stashed throughout the
cabin, and the original gauge package has been neatly augmented
with a SunPro tachometer inside the far right pod (mounted ahead of
the original clock) along with a trio of white-faced auxiliary unit
stashed underneath the dash inside a color-matched bezel. As far
overall size is concerned, this Cutlass really strikes a nice
balance - it's compact enough to convey an athletic, agile
appearance but still carries plenty of space inside. Climb in and
you'll find lots of shoulder room on hand and your backseat
passengers will have no trouble getting comfortable, although if
you're a taller driver the front bench was bolted 5-inches back to
accommodate. The factory air conditioning was upgraded with modern
hardware and blows cold, seatbelts fore and aft provide safety,
while the power convertible top seals up the cabin in seconds. Even
the trunk is clean and very honest, sporting a rubber Oldsmobile
mat and spare tire.
Oldsmobile's 350 cubic inch "Rocket" V8 shared only its
displacement with Chevy's small block, but it has a distinctly
different personality. With a very precise-sounding mechanical
whir, it rumbles to life easily and idles happily without complaint
and with a broad torque curve, you'll forget about your big block
aspirations pretty quickly. Topped with a FiTech fuel-injection
system that vastly improves reliability and performance, the engine
bay still looks fairly original, complete with the Gold enamel on
the block and valve covers and black snorkeled air cleaner
outfitted with correct decals. Backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic
and a 10-bolt rear end, the powertrain is rugged and easy to
service, and with swaybars fitted fore and aft and power steering
and power front disc brakes firmly in tow, this Cutlass is an
absolute dream to drive. A newer DynoMax dual exhaust system makes
a throaty yet distinctly Oldsmobile sound that's quite pleasing and
Mag wheels wrapped in 225/70/15 BFGoodrich whiteletter radials
really add a sporty look.
For a nice summer cruiser, this Cutlass droptop's combination of
performance, looks, and price-range are going to be very hard to
beat. And with a low ownership history and good provenance that
includes the car's original window sticker, warranty card, owner's
manual, and maintenance records, this Cutlass droptop is quite a
special find. Call today!
