One Year Only: 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350
The term “rare” gets bandied about so much when referencing old cars that it has become about as meaningful as just saying “old”. And there can be variability around what constitutes rarity but I’d have to say that the seller of this 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 got it right. Let’s examine further and I’ll explain. This Olds is located in San Diego, California and is available, here on craigslist for $15,000. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
According to the Classic Car database, Oldsmobile built about 128K Cutlass/F85/442 two-door models in ’70, the ones on which the Rallye 350 was based. That number excludes the Supreme (different roofline), and four-door hardtops/sedans/station wagons (too many doors). Olds was a big believer in offering both a two-door Holiday Coupe, better known as a hardtop, as well as two-door Sports Coupes, also known as a sedan. Of that 128K total, about 24K were Sports Coupes and as the seller states, just 1,020 of those were Rallye 350s (with the remainder 2,500 or so Rallye 350s being Cutlass Holiday Coupes). So, out of that total Cutlass/F85/442 count of 128K, less than 1% were Rallye 350 Sports Coupes – I’d call that rare.
So, why the Rallye 350? Those pesky insurance companies were jacking up their premiums with surcharges for performance-oriented cars ostensibly because of the volatile combination of big power being helmed by an eighteen-year-old male. They also saw Plymouth’s success with the stripped-down Road Runner so they decided to roll all of that into a less expensive/powerful muscle car and get a bit of what appeared to be a now shrinking market segment. The main motivator chosen was a 310 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine that still provided some go but maybe not of the stump-pulling variety. The seller of this Rallye 350 admits that the original engine has been replaced though it is available with the sale. A Turbo-Hydramatic 350 automatic transmission allows this Olds to “run and drive“.
Some notable features of the Rallye 350 included a Sebring Yellow paint job, W32 functional hood scoops, exhaust cut-out rear bumper, trunk lid spoiler, and no wheel trim rings ala GTO Judge. From an appearance perspective, it was a shot to the eyeballs coming from a normally buttoned-down Oldsmobile. Olds probably figured if Buick could pull off something like the GSX, why not the Rallye 350. The issue with this example is typical GM A-body rust – in the usual places, the fender legs and the quarters behind the rear wheels. Regardless, this is a pretty complete example with the only notable things absent being the trunk lid badge and the trunk lock cylinder (where do they go, they’re always missing?).
The interior is the standard bench-seat configuration, upholstered in black vinyl. Seeing the Indian blanket in place, I’ll run with the assumption that the front seat bottom is kaput. Beyond that, what little else can be spied looks OK. The non-gauge instrument panel, coupled with the column-mounted shift selector flunks in the sportiness department but that’s how the Rallye 350 ran and is in keeping with its budget-minded approach.
The seller adds, “The sale comes with an out-of-state Certificate of Title. The car has never been registered in California and will need the title…” Perhaps that’s the case in California but as we have all learned from our many contributors, a title for a car this old is not required in some states. So, a rare find? Again, I’d say so, and not a bad one as the body corrosion isn’t out of line with what is commonly found on similar era models. The engine may be another matter as the “runs and drives” comment isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. And by stating that it’s not the correct motor does that mean not original, or not the proper spec Olds engine for a Rallye 350? An inquiry will be necessary. What do you think, is the Rallye 350 a reasonable alternative to the pricier 442 or does it miss the mark?
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Comments
Seems to be intact. As a do-it-yourself project,
it could be fun. I wasn’t a fan of these when
new, for the yellow is everywhere… Olds had
its entry-level hot rod for ’70. Love the hood!
Was always a fan of anything Oldsmobile. Have owned four in my life. IMO, they were the best cars GM built. Today, all GM builds is junk. Total junk. Just look at the warranty claims. My dad was a major GM stock holder in the 60s and 70s. He is turning in his grave as I write this. There was one of these yellow cars parked in a gas station garage along Rt 322 near Lewistown, PA in the late 70s. Thanks to a new major highway which does nothing but help PSU football traffic, the car and gas station gone. Glad I was young 40 years ago.
My dad was an Old guy, they were junk then too. It was basically time to trade when the loan was paid off (3-4 years then). Dad bought a Toyota about 1980, drives a Camry today.
I almost bought one of these about 25 years ago, It had a rectangular hole cut in the rf fender where someone pulled the fan motor out rather than removing the inner fender and I couldn’t get past the yellow bumpers. My favorite car was a ’72 Supreme, it had the usual GM issues, tranny rebuild at 100 thou, new rear springs, but it drove and handled well and was a good looking car. I drive Tacomas now and have always ridden HD.
Japanese cars also had huge rust problems back in the day!!
Not that rare, especially with AT:
F-85 Club coupe 1,020
Cutlass Sport coupe 160
Cutlass S Holiday coupe 2,367
Total Production 3,547
The body-colored bumpers were polarizing, even when new. These cars often sat on dealer lots for a while, and some dealers eventually replaced the urethane bumpers with chrome just to move them. The other problem with these cars is that they were the great-grandparents of the decal and paint stripe “musclecars” of the mid-70s. The Rallye was more show than go. The engine was the same L74 350 that came standard in Grandma’s Cutlass Supreme. This is why we got screaming chicken T/As and the King Cobra Mustang II.
I like the yellow color…a ray of sunshine among today’s palate of silver and gray cars. I like the body style. The title drama, the rust, the front seat wear. the swapped engine mystery and Steve’s comment about all Oldsmobiles being junk based on family experience gives me pause. So the car is just like some women..beautiful to look at but lots of trouble to live with. Lol
Trouble to live with? Uh, no. These cars are as reliable as an anvil. Rust is the big problem (along with mistreatment over the last half a century by idiots).
The peak of GM supercars was 1970, mechanically no one else really, so a 350 screaming yellow banana made more noise visually, these Rallye 350’s didn’t get the high winding W-31 350, not that I know of anyways. Now that was a small cube fury!
FYI: know production numbers for the model were low but I saw one of these not long ago. The bright yellow 350 was parked infront of an automotive shop on Correctionville Road in Sioux City, Iowa. I was driving by and found the Oldsmobile to be stunning without visible rust. No “for sale” sign; apparently a customer was getting some service on the vehicle.
A guy owns one in Romeoville Illinois. Unlike this one, his is immaculate.
These cars are awsome, couldn’t see why anybody calling themselves a olds guy, would buy a Toyota over an olds. He either didn’t know anything about oldsmobile or didn’t know how to work on one. Best car gm made period.
I owned one of these cars in about 1980 it was getting rusty. It was fixable without to much work. But i just drove the heck out of it..It was a power house compared to other cutlasses i had owned. I ended up trading it for a newer Camaro. i didn’t know what i had with the old’s. Another one i should have kept by far/.
Had one in 79 to 81 back in the California Bay Area.
Friend of mine owned it and it had some lower end rattles(spun bearings). He just got hired on a new job and needed a daily to get to work.
At the time I was out of work with injuries and had a pretty nice 69 Torino. We swapped straight across and I rebuilt the engine while off work.
That 350 ran really well, 4-speed with 4:10 rear!
Quickest car I had ever driven at that time…
Me being 21/22 at the time sold it to get married!
Ha
$1,500.00 bucks and the guy who bought it blew it up within 2 months.
I’ve only seen 2 of them here in the Phoenix area in 40 years(moved here in 82)
Both automatics with the spoiler and A/C
Mine was a stripper really, no spoiler no A/C.
That induction air cleaner on this car is prolly worth more than I sold mine for back in 81!
Good times though
And that 1st wife is long gone btw…
I had and restored one of these 1970 Rallye 350’s but a loaded Cutlass S version about 25 years ago, and I started with a zero rust California original. Whomever decides to tackle this rust bucket better have deep pockets and low expectations as to ever getting their money back, $15K? Wow….better look up the updated old car price guide, you’ll have at least $50K on top of that in paint and body work, along with interior, engine and drivetrain….
The Oldsmobile Rallye along with the the Pontiac GT-37 and the Heavy Chevy were a return by GM to the more affordable muscle car. I remember when I read my first review of the Olds Rallye when it was first introduced. What has stuck in my head to thos day was that the vent windows couldn’t open since the body colored sport mirrors were included regardless of the body style chosen. This was a great offering and a very well balanced performance car in its day.