I’ve driven through Twin Falls, Idaho many a time on trips when I was living in Washington. It’s beautiful scenery, and I had seen numerous trucks that were right up my alley, so I decided to look there for a Rough Start car. No kidding, this was the first car on the list when it came up. I love it when things work out like that.
G-body Cutlasses are a great starting point, if for no other reason than there was a good chance that the car was bought by an older person who maintained it and kept it up. All the hotrodding tricks work, and they’re comfortable to drive. This one looks like it’s lead a rather pampered life. I studied these photos for quite some time and the only issues I can find with the car are very minor ones that are typical…small tear in the seat, cracking dash pad, etc. Nothing that would make me walk away at $2500. The sport steering wheel, gauge package and floor shift are nice touches.
The engine isn’t described, but it’s a 50/50 chance of a 305 Chevy or a 307 Olds, neither of which are going to do more than necessary to get the car moving, but given the rest of this car’s condition, I bet it runs like a sewing machine. The one downside to a 1980 Cutlass, versus holding out for a 1984 or newer is the lack of an overdrive trans from the factory. While I’m betting that this car has a rear gear ratio that’s somewhere about a 2.7-ish, there might be a deeper ratio, and that would hurt this car’s Interstate drivability. Just things to think about.
With the other $2500 free, I’d start looking at restoration parts for the interior and parts necessary to get a four-speed automatic under this Cutlass. It’s a nice driver as is, and only needs a couple of custom touches to become a very attractive cruiser.
Click Here to see this Oldsmobile’s Craigslist ad while it is still available
Very nice…….wish I had some extra cash laying around. Probably has the 260. That would have to go eventually. Olds 350 would drop right in nicely. 455 fits with a little persuasion. Love these cars!
I think you’re correct about having the 260 V-8 but they did come with a 5 speed manual!
The oil fill cap just to the driver’s side of the AC compressor indicates an Olds V8. These were still considered A-bodies until about 83 or 84. All Olds V8s use the same motor mounts, so accessory drive brackets would be the only concern, and many were slotted to fit low deck and tall deck blocks (small block and big block for the uninitiated). And I believe it is the Calais model; the Supreme had the ‘waterfall’ grille design.
Yes, they were considered A-bodies until all 78-81 A-bodies became G-bodies when GM played with the designations. So, in 1980, this was an A-body, but today it is a G-body.
I got my 1978 Cutlass in better shape than this with a 350/350 for $1200. Sold the engine and trans for $500 and had a $700 car to stick my 6.0L LQ4 and 4L80E in. Daily driving the sucker now, 800 miles this summer so far.