future 77 cutlass owner

[68ford72chevy88amc]

Hello everyone,

Like most of you here I eat, sleep and breath cars. For some time now I've had my sights set on getting a 73 nova...that is, until I saw a picture of a 1977 Oldsmobile. I gotta have one. I probably would've known about this car had I been born at the right time, but I came into the world in 82...and have to live the rest of my life knowing that the coolest cars were before my time. Anyway here's my problem - I don't know anything about these 77 oldsmobiles. Specifically, did the Cutlass come in a fastback style or was it just the 442? Given the history of the 4-4-2, you'd think a car nut would prefer it for its heritage, but honestly the slanted nose doesn't do it for me. I much prefer the Cutlass front-end, but would like to get one with the fastback roofline. I've only found one picture on the internet of what I'm talking about, which makes me wonder if someone just put a Cutlass front end on a 442...here's the pic:

http://i28.tinypic.com/f3bakn.jpg

What is the above car's specific model name? Is it some special sport package or something? I just can't get into the traditional notchback roof look. Help me out if you have any info and thanks for you time!!:)

-Nick

[76oldswarrior]

Just check out the registry. theres all the different models of the Cutlass. That should help you out.

[68ford72chevy88amc]

Just check out the registry. theres all the different models of the Cutlass. That should help you out.

Ah, thanks - browsing through it right now...looks like the model I am looking for is the "Cutlass S" model...since all the other have the 442 package.

[ragz442]

That looks just like a member here's car sledhead [Dave]. He just had it painted and added a ram air hood. Like you, he prefers the waterfall [Supreme] header. The '76 S and 442 had the slanted header, in '77 only the 442 had it with different grills [horizontal] and the S had the waterfall grills. Hope that's not too confusing. Anyway, welcome to the site.

Here's a pic of his car [77 S] with the hood, it's sweeet.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/2664000-2664999/2664350_11_full.jpg

[brad442]

Welcome to the site Nick. If you love the mid 70's Cutlass/442, you are at the right place!

The photo above is a correct photo. The body style you are looking for is the Cutlass 'S' body style. It is the same style used for the 442. There is a really sharp '77 on eBay right now that fits the description you are looking for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fse arch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D 250217136408%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=250217136408

Good Luck!

[68ford72chevy88amc]

Welcome to the site Nick. If you love the mid 70's Cutlass/442, you are at the right place!

The photo above is a correct photo. The body style you are looking for is the Cutlass 'S' body style. It is the same style used for the 442. There is a really sharp '77 on eBay right now that fits the description you are looking for.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fse arch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D 250217136408%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=250217136408

Good Luck!

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Brad, I see that car has the fastback roofline that I'm looking for, but I can't go for those smaller opera-style rear windows. haha, I'm probably sounding really picky right now. That was cool of you to bring that car to my attention though.

Aside from that, I'd snap that one up if it were closer to me...I make it a rule to never ever ever buy a car sight-unseen though. In my case that limits me to the Illinois/Indiana/Michigan/Ohio area which makes it hard to find rust free cars, but contrary to popular belief, they do exist around here.

I'll probably be asking all kinds of questions about these cars before making my purchase. I always try to become familiar with the car beforehand. I signed up on the first generation monte carlo forum months before I bought my 72 Monte Carlo. When I bought my 88 AMC, I had already been a member of the Eagle Nest Forum for a year before that.

Well, don't hesitate to give me a heads up if anyone comes across one for sale in my area. I'm sure some of you, like me, can easily spend hours on the internet looking for good deals on these old school cars and with so many people keeping an eye out, hopefully I will be an owner sooner than later. Thanks again!

[sledhead2]

Yea Todd I thought that car in photo reminded me of a car I am familiar with.:) :)

68ford72chevy88amc how much you looking to spend? I might be able to find you one. Click my cardomin link.

[68ford72chevy88amc]

Yea Todd I thought that car in photo reminded me of a car I am familiar with.:) :)

68ford72chevy88amc how much you looking to spend? I might be able to find you one. Click my cardomin link.

Sledhead2,

Well, what matters most to me is that the car is rust free. In the end I'm looking to spend around $5,000-$6,000 for a 77...don't know what that will do for me though. Must be in good mechanical condition, I only say that because my Monte just got a serious heart transplant (350 - approx 400HP) and I simply cannot afford to buy another car AND have the burden of engine rebuild/replacement on top of the initial expense. But if I happen across a 77 in rust free condition with a blown engine, I suppose I can bargain the price down to the point where I might be able to dump some money into engine work.

Other than that, its just the usual stuff I look for in a car:
-no accidents
-no floods/hail damage
-frame rails must be straight and rust free - surface rust is no biggy...as long as its just that
-no vinyl top - if I find a vinyl top car, there can't be alot of bubbles underneath...the top would come off anyway, but I wouldn't want to spend forever patching up a roof.
-wiring must be in place and functional
-interior is not a big deal to me, must be presentable...universal seat covers work wonders



Usually, I can tell whether or not I'm going to buy a car within the first couple minutes. So, really I'm looking for a solid driver...I don't believe in that once-a-week Saturday night cruise - my cars are all pulling daily driving duty (well not in this weather, but they will in April when I take them out of storage).

here are my current cars - I made this page for the AMC Eagle forum so just ignore all the Eagle pics up top and go straight to the bottom. For the most part, that's the kind of condition I'm looking for:

DIAL UP WARNING - LOTS OF BIG CAR PICS

http://the.alternative.3.googlepages.com/1988amceagle4x4

[68ford72chevy88amc]

I forgot to add that I realistically won't be ready for a new car until at least May or beginning of June...I'll spend the next couple months reading as much as I can and researching the car before actively pursuing my next ride...then again I know they are rare so if I have to deviate from my plan then that's what I'll have to do.

[ragz442]

Hey Dave, how's it going? I see you got a new pic in your avatar, can you put some big ones up?

68, I'll keep my eyes open also. You can add a '76 S to your criteria, just put a Supreme header on it, they're pretty easy to find.

[sledhead2]

Todd I tried to put a big one up, no luck for me

68ford72chevy88amc the car i was thinking about is all done. It is mine I was fishing. If some one were to offer me the right number I would sell it. there is a nice car in Maine I would love to have Notdads442 is selling.

You might be intrested in it here is the link http://www.73-77olds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=872

[68ford72chevy88amc]

Dave,

I checked out your 77 - very very nice - is that the one you were offering up or did you have a second one you are fixing? I see you are in Michigan, not too far from me.

PM me if/when you get a chance and we'll talk details - (what are the "right numbers" for a quick sale)?

-Nick

[76Dave]

68 et al

This car is here in western NY, 20 miles west of Rochester:

http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/545257273.html.

It has been for sale for some time now. My son and I looked at it back in late October.

It is not in bad shape, although the original motor has been replaced with a 403 and other performance enhancing goodies. We passed on it because I preferred that he get one more or less un-molested. He still thinks we should buy it for so we each have a '76 Cutlass to drive

[ragz442]

68 et al

This car is here in western NY, 20 miles west of Rochester:

http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/545257273.html.

It has been for sale for some time now. My son and I looked at it back in late October.

It is not in bad shape, although the original motor has been replaced with a 403 and other performance enhancing goodies. We passed on it because I preferred that he get one more or less un-molested. He still thinks we should buy it for so we each have a '76 Cutlass to drive

Dave, that looks like a nice car for the price. Are the quarters rusted/bondo-ed?

[sledhead2]

that looks like a good deal

[76oldswarrior]

Hey Dave, The hood looks good. Was it hard to line up with the header and fenders? Did you have to do alot of adjusting? Looks like you have it nice and even all the way around

[texxas8902]

68 et al

This car is here in western NY, 20 miles west of Rochester:

http://rochester.craigslist.org/car/545257273.html.

It has been for sale for some time now. My son and I looked at it back in late October.

It is not in bad shape, although the original motor has been replaced with a 403 and other performance enhancing goodies. We passed on it because I preferred that he get one more or less un-molested. He still thinks we should buy it for so we each have a '76 Cutlass to drive

I'm with your son, for 2 grand that's a hell of a deal, if it looks half as good in person as it does in the pictures. Offer $1600, pay $1800 and take it home.

[damaged442]

That's funny, I got a bud of mine that lives in Rochester. He sent me the link to that car about 3 weeks ago! I told him the same thing. It seems like a hell of a deal! :D