1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

This is not your average 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible. It is a rare U Code, Matching Numbers 455/T400 car. It spent most of its life in dry California, and was registered and stored in Redlands, CA (in the Mojave Desert), from 1982 to 2017. If you like Oldsmobiles you know big block 1970-1972 Cutlass & 442 convertibles are rare. They built 2933 442 convertibles in 1970, 1304 in 1971, and 1171 in 1972. They built 693 1970 Supreme SX big block convertibles in 1970, and only 357 in 1971. In 1972 the Olds 442was no longer a separate series with its own specific VIN sequence to identify 442’s vs. Cutlasses. However in 1972, there were letter codes in the VIN to identify drivetrains (H, J, K, M for 350 cars, U for 455 automatic cars, V for 455 4 speed cars, and X for W-30’s – from J. Siedlik, 2015, Oldsmobile 1964 thru 1972 A Bodies. You can also do an internet search for 1972 Oldsmobile VIN codes and find this information. An illustration showing the CA “pink slip” matched to the VIN and license plate is shown in the photos.
The second owner painted this car (badly, rough texture, low gloss, would need a lot of color sanding/buffing to look good) in the original Saturn Gold, and the car was locked up in his garage in California 1986-2017. It shows 71788 miles on the odometer. The general condition of the interior suggests this mileage could be original – however, there is no documentation for this. Since I have owned the car I have gone thru the fuel system (new gas tank, sending unit, fuel pump), cooling system (new HD 4 row radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses), and had a professional 30+ year GM certified mechanic rebuild the brakes completely (new front disc), rebuild the carburetor, and install a new distributor with Pertronix ignition. I have all these receipts in a 3 ring binder and they are listed in Photo 23 ($3900+ in receipts). The motor is extremely clean, appears to have been out and repainted GM “Corporate” blue. Removing the valve covers showed the cylinder heads are extremely clean (see photo). Not sure if the motor was rebuilt, but it certainly had a valve job and was re-gasketed. Has correct W & Z exhaust manifolds and Ga Heads. I have partially detailed the engine compartment in the correct Olds 455 blue. It now runs good and has a great rumble-however, carb has a vacuum leak. All lights, wipers, and turn signals work. Power windows and power top work great, factory AC is not hooked up, horn does not work.
The body and chassis on this car are very clean, and the car was never undercoated. I scuffed and sanded the bottom of the floors, masked off brake lines, etc., and painted the bottom of the floors and part of the frame perimeter. The body is very straight and has good gaps. The old poor quality repaint shows door dings and some “scalloping” where the surface was not sanded properly. The doors were replaced for some reason (beige paint underneath, they are zero rust Supreme doors with the small pegs for mounting the body side moldings). The hood was drilled for hood pins (long gone). I can find NO rust in the quarters, doors, trunk lid, and driver fender. There is one old bondo patch at the bottom of the passenger front fender. Clearly this is a car from a dry climate. Car has correct Super Stock wheels with bolt on chrome caps. Tires are about 10 years old.
Interior needs seat covers and carpet. Great dash pad. Some pull apart of seat fabric, brittle area top of rear seat. Door panels OK for a driver. Missing one rear upholstery side panel above armrest. Top fabric is in tatters with big patches. Needs all weatherstripping. Missing parts: rocker moldings, trunk stainless, one upholstery panel, spare, jack, radio, glove box liner, wheel well moldings. Mechanic says needs tie rod ends, control arm bushings.
Lots of work and mechanical restoration has already been done. Why buy a car with shiny paint that could be hiding a LOT of rust and bondo. You will save a LOT on body work with a nearly rust free car. It is at the point where you can restore to original – or modify to your taste, make a matching numbers 455/442 convertible – or maybe clone a Hurst Olds Pace car. Several 1972 Olds 442 convertibles cloned into 455 cars (VIN codes show they started as 350 cars) recently sold on Ebay for $36K and $39K+ (by the Wisconsin guy). Also see sold cars: face="Calibri"> Viking Blue 72 Olds U Code 442 Convertible, Ram Air, Sold for $99K. Matching numbers, Concours body off restoration. In addition, this 1972 U Code Convertible was just listed for $44.9K
Also published at eBay.com