Vehicle Description
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham
Throughout history, the Oldsmobile story has inspired many
automotive historians with its rich and celebrated heritage which
started right in Michigan's capital city of Lansing. I remember a
particularly exciting year in 1978 when Oldsmobile introduced their
new line of vehicles and automotive catalogues to the buying
public. My first impression was that Oldsmobile was using 1978 to
create a family-oriented lineup of new cars. The company used its
advertising and marketing to highlight many traditional family
values along with luxury and engineering to sell their new
products. For example, during the late 1970s, the Oldsmobile
Cutlass models became very popular among the motoring public. I
remember several family members at the time who had purchased a new
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Many of them were very satisfied and
excited. The Cutlass Supreme model offered the consumer a classic
formal roofline design, although engineers had completely
redesigned the mid-size Cutlass for 1978. The new Cutlass offered
more fuel-efficient mileage for the driver and excellent riding
comfort and handling for the passengers when traveling. The
Oldsmobile Cutlass was a completely redesigned intermediate model
that became the centerpiece for the division's lineup for 1978.
For consignment, an all original, 2 owner, 68,758 title verified
actual mile example of the 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme Brougham. It
is presented in the factory applied light green and is a Landau
topped version. The car was purchased from the original owner, a
doctor, who kept it garaged most of the time and comes with not
only the original pink slip but a set of 4 Oldsmobile Super Stock
II wheels should you want to give the car a more muscular look.
Exterior
Bathed in the factory applied light green, we note some light
overall fading to the finish but no rust is seen on the body,
including the lowers. It uses the chrome for the split waterfall
grilles and a shiny chrome bumper with a black rub strip resides
below. Rectangular headlamps flank the grille and are within chrome
pods that also house the signal lights. A gun sighted Olds badged
header panel butts up the the centrally peaked hood as it leads
back to the rearward raked windshield. Clean and shiny stainless
trimmings encase the glass allaround and a matchy matchy light
green vinyl Landau top graces the rear 1/3rd of the roof. A slight
pinstripe makes an appearance in darker green that nicely follows
the undulating body belt line. Lighter Light Green takes over for
the slab sided square and rectangle steel with well minded gaps on
this wonderfully preserved example. Standard issue ventilated and
polished wheel covers in 14-inch format are wrapped in like new
thin whitewall radials and our consignor notes that a set of 4 Olds
Super Stock II wheels are included with the purchase, but will
needto be painted to match the body.
Interior
More matching green is the color for the interior and it
encompasses not only the seats and carpet but the dash, door
panels, and headliner. A combination of light and dark green
broadcloth draws your eyes to the seating which are pillow top
buckets up front and a rear full bench, all of which have virtually
no marks or stains and certainly no rips or tears. Dark green
buttoned pillow style padding makes up the inserts and a lighter
green smooth broadcloth covers the bolsters and central folding
armrest. The door panels are very clean vinyl and dark green
broadcloth coverings with all working toggles for the power
windows, locks and for the exterior mirror. A medium green vinyl
padded dash covers the top and helps to create the rectangle pod
that holds the factory silver face gauges and warning lamps within
an applique field. Dash central holds twin square pods with more
applique around the rear defogger switch as well as and the factory
AM/FM radio and heater/AC slides. A standard GM Oldsmobile steering
wheel fronts the dash. Original dark green carpet, showing very
well, floats the all original interior and a sagged green
broadcloth headliner is above all this originality.
Drivetrain
Taking a gaze into the engine bay one sees the factory installed
engine under a litany of hoses, ducting and wiring. This is a 260ci
V8 engine with a single 2-barrel carburetor on top. GM corporate
blue dresses the block,heads, intake and valve covers and a black
single snout air cleaner gives some nice contrast. A 350 Turbo
3-speed automatic transmission is on back and a 10-bolt 2.29 rear
axle finishes the drivetrain up nicely. The engine is well detailed
and just a slight bit of dust and some minor corrosion can be seen
throughout.
Undercarriage
Up on the lift we can see the meat of the operation from underside,
we note power steering, power front disc brakes along with power
drums on the rear. Single exhaust with a stock style muffler along
with the usual suspects having some surface rust. The frame is
sturdy, as are rockers and floor pans. Independent suspension with
coil springs provide the ride in front, and a 4 link with coil
springs have the rear covered.
Drive-Ability
I love test driving malaise era cars, mainly due to growing up with
these all around me on the road, and this one left me with a smile
on my face. It fired right up, idled smoothly, and offered up a
very smooth ride with nice acceleration and decent handling. All
functions, with the exception of the AC blowing warm and the brake
pedal being a bit soft were indeed...functioning.
The 1978 Cutlass Supreme is easily the nicest A-Body car that
General Motors ever produced due to it not looking like anything
else on the road. This example with all its originality puts you in
the position where you could not ask for anything else...well...you
could, for it to be in your garage. An almost new 45-year-old car,
now that's something to be said.
3M47F82490503
3-Oldsmobile
M-Cutlass Supreme Brougham
47-2 Door Notchback Hardtop Coupe
F-260ci 2bbl V8
8-1978
2=St. Therese, Quebec, Canada Assy Plant
490503-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
