26k Mile Survivor? 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
The Cutlass Supreme would dominate Oldsmobile’s lineup for some 30 years. At one point it would be the company’s best-selling automobile as well as the sales leader in its class. This 1973 edition may only have 26,000 miles and looks like a beautiful survivor. Located in Sedro Woolley, Washington, this mid-size Oldsmobile from the Colonnade styling era is available here on craigslist for $10,500. Another fine tip from Rocco B.!
Largely due to assumptions about future safety standards, General Motors redesigned its intermediates in 1973. The goal was to eliminate true hardtops to provide greater roof stability. The design, referred to as “Colonnade,” focused on fixed center pillars. Two of the cars that benefitted the most in terms of demand were the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Olds Cutlass Supreme (like the seller’s car). By the second year (1974), the Supreme accounted for nearly half of the GM division’s showroom traffic.
Nearly 220,000 Cutlass Supreme coupes were delivered in 1973 and the 350 cubic-inch “Rocket V8” was standard equipment (with a 4-barrel carburetor). That appears to be what resides under the hood of this car, along with the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that most of them were built with. We’re told this vehicle runs and drives well with an odometer reading of 26,000 miles (the car looks too nice for it to have turned over). The prior owner agrees with that number as he/she got it from an elderly couple who kept it garaged for many years.
The body, paint, vinyl top, and interior all look quite solid. Though not photographed, the seller has a set of upgraded wheels that came with the car that have given way to regular wheels with aluminum covers. The seller has managed to end up with too many vehicles and seldom uses this one, so perhaps the Olds here is “the odd man out.” If this era of Oldsmobile is your thing, this might be one of the nicest ones left.
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Comments
This is my favorite 70s GM color. But usually im turned off because a green exterior means a really poorly matched eclectic combo of faded green interior pieces that match nothing else on the car. Green carpet that doesnt match a green dash that doesnt match the dyed doorskins. Thanks to a black interior this is the BEST possible combo, in my opinion. Love it!
AC compressor MIA?
One of my favorite features of the ’73 Cutlasses are the recessed taillights. I believe the ’73 Monte Carlos were similar.
Yep that’s 100K mi plus car. Do believe that was one owner car. Just don’t pull off an A/C compressor and brackets with that kind of low mileage. It’s clean and not a bad buy with the prices continually climbing.
Ben, for some reason I can’t directly reply to you. But the car may have not been ordered with Air Conditioning.
It’s got the evaporator core box mounted to the firewall and the alternator on the drivers side of the engine. Definitely was a factory AC car.
Poopy, this was not an AC car. I worked building these, 72-74. Alternators were lower and driven by a different belt, The evaporator core box was mounted regardless because dealers could easily install AC if it was already on the firewall.
Above reply was to Terry, below. OandOMJ: A few points: GM never so much as put any accessory wiring harnesses in they didn’t need to “just in case” a customer wanted a dealer to add an option later. I certainly can’t see them putting in an expensive evaporator coil “just in case” when the car wasn’t equipped with AC. That makes zero sense at all. Lastly, they would never load the water pump bearing to one side so much by putting the alternator and power steering pump on the same side of the engine unless there was an AC compressor on the other side to balance the forces.
Too dirty under the hood to be a low mileage car. 73s are my least favorite year for Olds, the noses with those extended bumpers all have a sad look about them. The craigslist ad is gone, so without additional pictures, I believe this is an A/C car and the compressor was removed.
I don’t know this seller but don’t believe mileage claim in the least. NO WAY !!!
It also Appears to me to be a repaint. Still a nice car
That is a factory A/C car with the compressor missing. The evaporator case is not on the car if it comes without A/C.
A/C car, the receiver-dryer is right there along with the refrigerant lines and A/C box.
Love the 73s, buy why remove a/c compressor with supposedly low mileage. Buyer beware.
I loved the GM intermediates back in the 1970s (Cutlass, Grand Prix, LeMans). The styling still looks nice a half century later. This car appeared to be in great condition from the photos. I really appreciated the comments on this one. Sharp eyed posters spotted the lack of an air conditioner compressor which is a deal killer for driving to summer car shows. As noted, the listing has been deleted making further review of the Oldsmobile a moot point.