No Reserve Survivor: 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Somewhere I recall reading that the 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best-selling Cutlass ever produced and research indicates that there were approximately 632K assembled that year. Add in the fact that Oldsmobile was the number three domestic seller overall for ’77 (1.1M vehicles) and it’s easy to understand how Oldsmobile was such a juggernaut in those days. Fast forward twenty-seven years and Olds would be gone. How’d that happen? Let’s look for clues and check out this ’77 Cutlass Supreme Brougham. It is located in Riverside, California and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $17,100 with twenty-two bids tendered so far.
Just for the record, I’m not a GM hater, I’m just not a GM admirer – and less so as the years have worn on. Talk about a creative and innovative company that had the tiger by the tail for so many years and then, through complacency, frittered it all away. It’s a sad story and I don’t want to opine any further but I will make a recommendation. Two books to review are: J. Patrick Wright, “On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors”, Grosse Point Michigan, Wright Enterprises, 1979 (a recount of John DeLorean’s GM experience) or Bill Vlasic, “Once Upon A Car”, New York, HarperCollins, 2011. Regardless, GM and Oldsmobile had it all going on in ’77 and this Cutlass Supreme Brougham is sound evidence.
Cutlass came in several forms in ’77 starting with the Supreme Brougham, such as our subject car and then moving downwards to the Salon, continuing to the Supreme and finally the Cutlass S. The Salon was only available as a coupe while all others included a four-door sedan too. Throw in a pair of station wagons and the sporting intentioned 442 coupe, and all of the Cutlass bases were covered. And with reasonable mileage, this example has all of its bases covered too as the Medium Green Metallic finish shows as flawless as does the matching green vinyl landau top. Sparkling chrome and trim, combined with color matching rally wheels round out the exterior look and, with that, it’s easy to see from our subject car just how Oldsmobile captured the imagination, and wallets, of 632K Cutlass buyers.
Power is provided by a 170 net HP, 350 CI V8, engine (no Chevymobile in this case) that is tethered to a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller claims that it, “runs like new, no issues“. The underhood appearance is spotless!
The interior…takes some getting used to. The upholstery is claimed as clean, and that’s no surprise but that interior upholstery pattern would, in my case, take some getting-used-to-it-time, assuming that’s even possible. It was referred to as a “Loose Cushion” look, in velour, but looking at it long enough, under the right circumstances, it might be more of a “lose your lunch” look. That interior “treatment” even extends to the door panels. Popular? Probably but the loose cushions, opera windows, landau top, and stand-up hood ornament “look” leaves me behind, completely behind. Regardless, those were the times and tagging anything as a “Brougham” was certainly in vogue and would likely lead to more sales. To cut to the chase, the interior appears to need zero attention, it all shows to be in very good order.
There you have it, this fallen flag is in remarkable condition. The seller refers to it as, “a one owner, barn find“. I get the one owner (not him, whoever sold it to him) designation but the “barn find” tag seems like a misuse of that descriptor. Anyway, 88K miles is nothing for a properly maintained Oldsmobile V8 engine and it seems that you would be hard-pressed to find another ’77 Oldsmobile Cutlass (Supreme Brougham or otherwise) in this fine a condition, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
Times have changed, but if one can mentally place themselves back into the mid 70’s, it is easier to understand the Cutlass Supreme’s amazing sales performance. The most popular body style of its day, stylish and attractive, acceptable performance, lots of available options, some features we now consider over-the-top but popular in the day, reasonable price. I think they still look good, including this example in its period-correct colors and upholstery.
I have both of those books in my library but it has been years since I read them.
Thanks Jim.
Every once in a while something unfashionable makes a big comeback. Like Crocs, for example. Or this car. I can see why this one has a lot of attention. So ugly that it’s cool. 70’s green on green with a unicorn green, brown and gold kaleidoscope interior. I like it
Crocs?? So are you saying the Aztek will make a big comeback? Cause one of the few things I can think of that looks as bad as Crocs is the Aztek.
Though I’d still rather be seen driving an Aztek than wearing Crocs….
I find this Cutlass quite attractive, honestly. Has to be one of the better looking cars of ’77.
I drive an Aztek and wear Crocs. Graduated in 77.
I wear crocs🐊& socks…great
IIRC the cutlass was the best seller 2 or 3 times in the 70’s but the honor in 1977 went to the newly shrunken Chevy Caprice/Impala. Otherwise great piece and a beautiful car. I may be biased on the Colonnade body currently owning a 58K mile 76 LeMans coupe. 😉
It’s a no reserve so this one will sell to the highest bidder. 88k miles is a little much for my taste, but it does look to be in very good condition from what I can see.
Good car for someone who drives very little. It would last them a long time.
I hope they drive very little! This thing will get about 13 MPG and cost about $110 to fill up right now, and probably more in the future. And will accelerate slower than any new car or SUV you can buy. One aspect of the era people may have forgotten! I like these but this may be hard to sell in 5 years.
If you drove this 10,000 miles/year, your annual fuel bill at today’s prices would be about $3,850 per year. LOL!!
Bick: My 76 Cutlass 4 door, 350 engine-4 barrel (& 350 trans) got 19 mpg consistently when commuting, about a third of trip local streets & I drove 80 miles per hour on the highway. I didn’t drive like a granny locally, I floored the gas every stop I could (didn’t speed locally). But I didn’t brake on the highway either, like many people do because they aren’t anticipating the flow of traffic, had timing slightly advanced & 35 lbs of air in front tires. Quarters rusted out so took it off the road & left at friends scrap yard, still ran well, didn’t burn oil or leak, & had 250k miles.
Love the Colonnades. 198 percent better looking than anything made today. I too am biased. Owned 76 Monte with swivel seats, 76 Cutlass Salon every option including Hurst Hatches and every option 77 Grand Prix with Hurst Hatches. Sold that in 2006 to buy a 73 Corvette. Today, the Corvette is worth zilch, the Grand Prix like $25,000.
The ’73 “Corvette is worth zilch”?
I have some zilch, can I buy a few 73 Corvettes?
Is that a new cryptocurrency?
@19sixty5 – Yeah me too…
@chuck – Good on Chuck!
The upholstery may not be to everyone’s liking, but I’d gladly take it over today’s endless sea of gray, tan, and black “leather” that does its best to look like a cheap imitation.
Another good book on the rise and fall of GM is “Rude Awakening,” by Maryann Keller.
I should buy this car, because I can never leave anything alone, I always want to put my twist on it and change something. There is nothing to do to this car, but enjoy it just the way it is. It is a statement for the era it was built and that’s the end of the story.
I think it’s beautiful, inside and out. I don’t recall that pattern on the seats but it’s uniqueness makes it desirable IMO.
My ‘rents had a couple 70’s Cutlass cars and I basically learned to drive in the ’77 Cutlass Salon (and a ’77 Bronco) until I bought my first car- a ’73 Beetle.
The Cutlass had a 350 CI v-8 with limited slip / posi. We lived in the county on top of a hill…. with some bags of salt in the back for weight, that car could handle most any snowfalls.
Good times. Simpler times.
First and foremost, yeah Jim you do come off as a GM hater. My first car was a 68 Cutlass “Supreme’ 4-door I bought in 82 when I was 16 And yeah Oldsmobile scored big with the Cutlass brand, even the ugly in my opinion the 78-80 Salon model sold okay. Back in the 80’s a neighbor of mine had a 76 Cutlass coupe red white interior with the console shift. Very nice Brougham, I’ve owned several Olds in my lifetime, I’ll always miss and remember GM’s Oldsmobile division dearly.
I have owned a ’65 Malibu SS, a 1967 SS396 Chevelle, a 1977 Camaro Z28, both ’66 and ’68 Impala SS convertibles, a ’69 non-descript Impala along with 2008 and 2012 Impala sedans; probably others that I don’t remember or have blocked out – sound like a GM hater to you?
I’ve been objective; GM? Not so much so over the years.
JO
Yes you still sound like a GM hater..With all those GM products you’ve owned you sound like you quit..But what do I know?…
Not enough apparently. I didn’t quit, just moved them along over time and still own one.
JO
I suppose you could call me a GM hater because I don’t generally buy them unless its a screaming deal on the price. I like GM cars and trucks most of the time I like how they look and ride but everyone I have owed over the years or driven even when I rented them has given me problems so I have come to the conclusion that GM vehicles hate me so I only buy them to flip them.
Troy: Curious to what GM’s you had problems with. I know about the 50’s & 60’s small blocks burning oil & 307/305 cam problems, the Vega & downgraded automatics in the 70’s. I’ve owned & still own Chevy’s & Oldsmobile’s from the 60’s, up to 1977. Are you talking about later than this?
These were EVERYWHERE when I was young. Then on the 1980’s, they were still everywhere, but they were all missing rear bumpers. They all fell off lol. I called them “Buttless Cutlass”.
This is a nice car. I never owned one of this year, but always liked and wanted one.
I remember this upholstery. I would accept it, but not my favorite.
For some reason the Buick Regal rear bumpers didn’t rust away as fast as the Cutlass bumpers did. I put one on my 76 Cutlass back in the day.
The reason many of those lost their bumpers was in an effort to reduce car’s weight, many of the Olds went to aluminum beam supports behind the chrome steel bumper. Electrolytic corrosion between the aluminum and the steel brackets deteriorated the aluminum until they gave way. Manufacturerers later learned how to insulate the dissimilar metals to stop this corrosion.
The bumpers on the 76/77cutlass 2 doors were the worst, they had more factory holes in the backing beam than the earlier ones (I’ve owned both) & a thin coat of black paint; so salt, dirt & water went in big time. These inner beams & chrome outer beam were both steel.
I totally forgot about the bumpers until I read that and i had a flashback of every old cutlass in the 80s bombing around with a 2×6 for a back bumper lol them and the little civics with a 2×4 bumper
And it was only the redesigned 76 and 77 Cutlass and Regal coupes ; the sedans still used the 1973 up bodies and the rear bumpers were different and wouldn’t mount up. We used to get calls daily at the junkyard I was working at in the mid 1980s . The redesigned coupe bodies were really prone to rusting too , the bottoms of the doors and the tops of the rear quarter panels would really dissolve , where the older design just had the usual lower quarter rust every car seemed to get in New England
that happened to my 78 Cutlass offf came the rear bumper
I had this identical car, but in Firethorne Red with white top. This was in 88. It had about 150k on it and clean as a pin. Those seats are super comfy by the way and all of those style cars drove like a dream!
I had a ‘76 Cutlass Supreme, silver/burgundy Landau top and burgundy velour interior but it didn’t have this ‘disco design’ interior. Drove like a dream and I’d buy it again if I found one in above average condition. This one will make someone proud.
I love it in so many ways.
Give me a good old black with black vinyl and it will be mine if its got low miles
THIS is what all the rich kids in high school drove, back in the day.
This car was on my love it list untill I saw the color and interior. Not to hard to change the exterior color but the interior ouch.
I had this exact car in white with a black interior in the early 80s…the black Brougham with stipes looked really sharp.
This green Cutlass is a beauty!
Great looking Cutlass! Still at $17,100 and a day to go. The sharp maroon ’77 Malibu with 31k miles on it (from an earlier feature) is still listed for $7900, I don’t get it. Is the value of an Oldsmobile that much more than the Chevy because they (Olds) aren’t around anymore?
Oldsmoble a lot better quality & features than a malibu. Like comparing a 70’s lincoln to a 70’s fairllane. Maroon not a popular color, green more popular. Also this car is a Brougham, with high end Cadillac-ish upholstery.
Thanks Joe, makes sense from a collector’s view. I was comparing them as basic transportation, I guess. This is a very unique Cutlass, never seen one in this color or with this kind of interior, I really like it! Still at $17,100 with 3 hrs left. Someone is getting a very nice ride.
SOLD for $17,100.
Beautiful looking car. I find it more attractive to look at than most cars of the Colonnade style, with the exception the 1975 Chevy Monte Carlo.
I custom colored ordered one like this only with the dark metallic green body and wire wheel covers. Same vinyl top, interior, engine and transmission. One of the best looking cars I owned back in the day. I certainly was studly in it. Unfortunately, it was also the worst car that I ever owned. I forever swore off GM cars newer than 1972 as a result.
Jerry: Curious to what problems you had, I’ve owned a dozen 73-77 Cutlass cars, been the best I’ve ever owned.
I live in central Indiana.
1. Rust next to the Landau top.
2. Dash split near the left entrance area in the first winter that I had it..
3. Carburetor float fell apart.
4. The radiator core had to be replaced.
5. Could not keep it aligned, two sets of tires in the 50,000 miles I put on it.
6. It arrived with rust in the trunk lid.
7. It arrived with the driver side power window switch inside the door.
8 The door closer strap on the driver side door broke.
The only car that I customed ordered. Paid $6300.
My uncle bought one after I bought mine and it required the replacement of the front end.
They sold so many that they skipped any quality control effort.
I traded mine for a new Datsun 210 SL at 3 years and 50,000 miles. I saved enough money on gas to pay for it. Paid $6300.
The one here is certainly nice.
I have a 1940 Ford pickup resto-mod and a 2021 Ford Ranger FX 4 by 4 noq9ew-. My wife has a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.