Fate can be a cruel mistress. One day you have a cherry 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The next day, there is a sizable tree laying across what was a cherry Oldsmobile Cutlass. That’s just the way things go sometimes…it’s nobody’s fault, things were out of your control, but now what? Do you let the insurance company cut you a check and haul the remains away, or do you scratch your head for a minute, then cut the tree off of the car, wheel what’s left into the shop, and get to work building something that never did exist? The owner of this Cutlass decided on the latter, and using the bed and roof of an Chevrolet El Camino, turned the trashed Oldsmobile into treasure.
This isn’t as easy as it looks. On the G-body El Camino, changing the brand is simple: swap the nose cones and interior trim and you pretty much nail it. In the 1960s the A-bodies may have had the same bones underneath, but on the surface they had shapes, lines and creases that were not shared with the other cars. You have to do more just to make a swap happen, and to pull it off as well as this converted ute, you must have an eye for the detail. Look at the little things, like the taillights, the badging, and so on. You could tell someone that this was a GM experiment that escaped the crusher and chances are good that they would believe you. Instead, this bright red machine is a rolling testament to making lemonade out of lemons…nothing more.
eBay Link: 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass, coupe-utility conversion and 442 tribute
I might not be a GM guy, but I have huge respect for the craftsmanship here. Bravo!
Very well executed.
Pitch the steering wheel and air cleaner and you’ve got a bitchin’ car!
This is awesome! The builder’s skill is evident in that it actually looks like it came from the factory. I just hope that when the tornado season hits your shores there isn’t hundreds of wannabe mechanics standing under trees with their beaters hoping for mother nature to save them the work of chopping the body…
Its rare to see a conversion like this look like the builder gave a shit. This guy clearly cares.
That looks fantastic … well done!