1 Year Only: 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350
With an additional cost of just over $150, adding the Rallye 350 option package to your Cutlass back in 1970 seems like a no-brainer, which makes it surprising that Olds only produced 3,547 such-equipped cars. But 1970 was sort of an odd year in the auto industry anyway, with insurance companies beginning to grow tired of paying out on muscle car claims combined with growing interest of customers leaning toward more economical offerings. That all kind of makes it stranger that the Rallye 350 didn’t enjoy a higher level of success, as no big block was available which was sure to please your insurance agent more than telling him you’re buying a 4-4-2 plus the base price was around $3,250 back in the day, a bit less than a Road Runner with similar features. Nowadays, these cars are getting some recognition and they’re kind of rare yet still relatively affordable, with this 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 here on Facebook Marketplace coming with a price tag of $26,000. The Olds is in Hubertus, Wisconsin, if you’re wanting to go take a look.
Tim Peam, thanks a lot for your excellent tip here! For fans of yellow, cars didn’t get much better than the Rallye 350, as not only was Sebring Yellow the one available color but it was everywhere outside, including the wheels, trunk spoiler, and both bumpers. This particular Cutlass is a Holiday Coupe model and wears a paint job that is said to date back to the mid-eighties. Overall, the body is looking reasonably straight with the exception of the front, which seems like the bumper might be just a bit crumpled, especially on the driver’s side. It’s probably not a major issue and perhaps not all that expensive to repair, should the next owner decide to address it.
The Rallye 350 got buyers a 310 horsepower Olds V8 engine known as the L74 with, you guessed it, 350 cubic inches, plus the car also came with the W25 fiberglass hood. A choice of three transmissions included both a 3-Speed and 4-Speed manual along with an automatic, the latter of which can be found in this Rallye with a shift kit also installed. I’m not sure about the story on the rear end, as these came from the factory 3.23:1 gears standard, with 3.42 and 3.91 Anti-Spins also available. The seller says his car has 4:10.1 gearing, which sounds like a blast around town but may be less suitable for too much highway driving.
I’ve probably mentioned before that the brushed aluminum 4-Spoke Oldsmobile N34 steering wheel is one of my favorites ever on any GM, which came with the Rallye package. The interior here seems quite decent for a driver, with an aftermarket Stereo installed and a trio of gauges under the dash to keep an eye on things under the hood. This was also an A/C car but unfortunately, the compressor is MIA. We don’t get to view any photos of the undercarriage other than the bottom of the gas tank, but the floors are claimed to be solid, so hopefully the components down below are all in good working order. I’m thinking for the time period Oldsmobile hit their target with the Rallye 350, all things considered. How about you?
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Comments
I really think these are pretty cool as is. I get what you’re driving at with the chrome (make it flashier). The think the small block when big blocks were still considered the high performance standard, and the fact that Olds was more of a luxury brand is why these cars didn’t become more iconic
My mom bought one in 1970 new just like this she named it yellow bird then she gave it to me when I was 20 I loved this car was bought new in bogulsa Louisiana wish I still had it
Man that color..banana.yellow..and ugh..those yellow wheels..stick with the 1970 ss396 chevelle. In red and black top and cowl induction hood with ss wheels.and black stripes..Chevy ruled in 1970…ss chevelle
I can see you never drove a W30 or a GS Stage 1.
I love the early 70s vibe – color keyed wheels, the bumpers. Sorta charmingly awkward.
Hi Michelle, too young to remember “Dr. Oldsmobile”? Dr. Oldsmobile was an ad gimmick in the late 60s, and this was one of the cars they promoted as such. It was a goofy ad campaign, suggesting, some “DOCTOR”, doctors being the most revered of all people, conjured up these W series cars in a spooky lab somewhere, and threw every gee-gaw they had into it.
We all poo-pooed the yellow Riv a while back, and yellow did look okay on certain cars,like here, but not on a classic Riv. By 1970, muscle cars were fading for more appearance than guts, and “Dr. Oldsmobile” had a hit,,,for a while.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/vintage-ads-and-brochures/vintage-ad-1970-oldsmobile-rallye-350-turns-out-painted-bumpers-werent-quite-as-cool-as-dr-oldsmobile-thought/
Muscle car hit the high water mark for performance in 1970 from there on it was down hill
I read every engine was hand built back in the early 80s & of course wanted one for my 1975 Cutlass but soon realized finding one in a junk yard with only 3 thousand ever made & my buddy snickered with me at the odds of that but after seeing at least 10 of these around maybe I gave up too easy! Never say never Kids !
Personally think the car is gorgeous
Factor in that 1970 is 53yrs ago and the $150 of which you spoke would be near $1500 today…
I think a W-31 option in these would’ve been great.
Interesting story that not many people are aware of is that the Rallye 350 was SUPPOSED T BE the Hurst Olds car for 1970/ Huurst submitted the design for the Rallye 350, which was to be almost as you see one today ECEPT that it was to have a balanced and blueprinted engine (like the W31) and I believe the pinstripe was supposed to be purple and black, instead of orange and black (I stand to be corrected). One thing for sure, if you look at the order form for ordering the Rallye 350, which I believe was the #45 option, which in all other years signified the Hurst Olds option. Sadly, Oldsmobile decided that the cst of including a B&B motor was cost prohibitive and rejected Hurst’s proposal and decided to offer the car as we see it now.
Yes, I am a Rallye 350 owner. It is a Cutlass Hilday coupe with bucket seats (pulled the original drive train and dropped in a period correct W30 455:) ). I have had 3 Ralleys the last 15 years (Holiday Coupe 3 speed, Holiday coup dual gate and F85 bench with 4 speed) and my biggest regret is not buying one I saw back in 2009 which the seller said it was ALL original but it had chrome bumpers and I thought he was full of it! Well, after I learned about these cars, I found that in fact you probably could have bought one off the dealership floor with chrome bumpers because they weren’t selling well so dealers were putting pulling off the painted bumpers and putting on chrome bumpers on and chrome trim rings on the wheels to spruce them up to make them more attractive (bling ! bling!)
Could have brought one in the late 80s for less than a thousand dollars it was kind of ruff but one my biggest car mistakes I ever made
I think the lack of colors in 70 hurt this car. This yellow was not that pleasing in 70. You could get a Cutlass in other colors without stripes for less dollars. I remember how people commenting how ugly a color these were.
I’m a long time Oldsmobile owner, I won’t own any car newer than 1972 and only an Oldsmobile. Since 1969 I’ve owned 11 Oldsmobile’s 56 Super 88, 2-1962 Starfire Conv., 1966 442 4-speed conv., 1968 Cutlass Crash car, 1970 442 4-speed conv.,1970 442 4-speed W-30 Post Coupe, and 3 1971 Vista Cruiser’s, 1 of the 3 Vista Cruiser’s now is my daily driver.
Oldsmobile’s from the Factory would Never install any posi rear lower than 3:23.1 with A/C, in order for this A/C car to 410, Olds never had a 410, but did have a 4:11, the Dealer had to install it, The Rallye 350 all came with the wing as part of the W-45 package, No chrome rings on SS II Yellow painted wheels, only Olds that had painted wheels to match car until after 1973 other wise they were Grey, I am also very good friends with a Machinist who worked on only W-Machine Division for 35 years. He was my Mentor. My 3rd Vista Cruiser was a special order2, Engine code QP, 350 4mc, Dual Exhaust, 308.1 Anti-Slip, Rear Sway Bay. Numbers Matching, Unrestored Most people that try to sell these cars knows little or nothing about them. When I go to look at an Olds, I always look at the VIN, and Paint Plate Paint Plate also has Time Date & Plant, another thing all Rallye 350’s, W-30’s, W-31’s Hurst Olds, Vista Cruisers were all made in the Michigan Plant only VIN has M in middle, Vista Cruiser’s in 1964 were the Platform for the 442, so all Vista Cruiser’s came factory with the FE Suspension, and 1968-1972 came factory with A/C, and power Front Disk Brakes.
I believe some were W-31’s.
Shhh!..(Ix-nay on the W-31 Rallye 350) Better hope Joe P. doesn’t see your comment.
Nope, only the 310 hp version.
I have been repeatedly told no w31 Ralley350s. These were reputable people who stated these comments. I currently own a F85 post Rallye . Bench seat,4speed , positrac and power front disc brakes. I hope to get to it soon.
Of course you can get a W31 cam, and have the bigger W31valves in it and large harmonic balancer on it. Would probably be pretty close to a W31.
You are 100% right as there was NEVER a Rallye produced at the plant with a W31 motor. It’s just an old wives tale! They SHOULD have had W31 motors but GM cheaped out :(
Isn’t this a rerun?
1976 Olds Starfire had similar steering wheel. I believe the steering wheel was the only part from the Oldsmobile parts bin on that bastard Vega.
Yes, the ’70s Starfires had a similar wheel but they were a smaller diameter and the molded rims were also offered in colors other than black.