25 Under Cover: 1969 Olds Cutlass Convertible
This 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible makes for a forlorn sight in its current state. It has been sitting under a cover for the past 25 years, but the seller has decided that it is now time to part with it. You will find it listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Canadensis, Pennsylvania, it is listed with a clear title. Bidding is currently sitting at $730.
It’s hard to know where you would start with this Cutlass. Time and the storage circumstances have not been kind to it. There is a fair amount of rust for the new owner to deal with. The seller states that there is rust in the fender bottoms and around the rear wheels. He also says that he can’t get the trunk open, but that the new owner should probably expect the worst there. Given how moisture damaged the interior appears to be, I would be expecting the floors to be a pretty ugly sight. There are also a few external trim pieces missing, and items like the bumpers will require fresh chrome plating.
When I look at the state of the interior the first thing that I noticed was that the dash and pad look to be in quite good condition. The rest of the interior is pretty awful, and virtually everything will require replacement. The seats look like they’ve seen their share of dampness, so I suspect that the padding on the seats will be somewhat pungent, so new padding and covers will be the order of the day. Like I said, it looks like a case of starting virtually from scratch.
The engine is the 350ci V8 backed by an automatic transmission. The condition of the engine is an unknown factor as the seller has not attempted to turn it to confirm whether or not it is locked. The car was fitted with air conditioning, so that’s a positive to salvage from this, and all of the components appear to be intact. The amount of corrosion present on under-hood components leads me to believe that the new owner is facing a very long list of tasks to be completed before the car moves under its own power.
Nice Cutlass Convertibles of this vintage are currently fetching prices in excess of $20,000. This Cutlass has a way to go before it reaches those lofty heights. Without knowing how the car has been affected structurally by corrosion these past 25 years, it is impossible to determine whether we are looking at a potential project car, or if it’s a parts car. If the bidding stays low and it is beyond redemption, there are still plenty of usable parts that could justify buying this if you already have a Cutlass Convertible project on the go.
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Comments
These are the kinds of cars I would buy when I was young.
The search and purchase was the exciting part plus getting to register it and get it current again.
I am glad to see the price is in line with its condition.
If you consider the price to be in line with the condition then I am waaaay behind the price curve. Unless there’s something I am missing this car needs everything. Period. To me the condition makes it worth around 1500 bucks..and he would have to deliver it. Its just a generic Olds convertible……….
Mountain, when I posted I saw this in the write up.
“Bidding is currently sitting at $730”
That price is in line.
I believe he is going by the current price of $730 that is shown? If so I’m my opinion that is in line. $500 would be nicer. LoL.. But personally I believe that if you buy the car for $1000 or less you will be ok. Yeah $1000 is A lot for it in it’s condition. But I would give $700 – $800 in a heart beat for it and be tickled. So I’m not going to let $200 make me say “damn I wish I had” 5yes down the line. So id give $1k but no more. And you could pull a nice build off for $20k do a lot of your own work, barter, use parts you already have. And have a ride you could sell for $15-$18k or have a lot of fun in it for $20k and someday give it to your kids/grandkids Then they could have a free car that might be worth $40-$50k in 20 years. Or you can drop $30-$40 in it and have a really nice built to your specs muscle car that you can sell for $25-$30k.. But that’s just hot roddng. Its always cheaper to buy something already done and tweak it to your taste than it is to build from basket case up. But SOMEBODY has to do that inital restoration/rebuild…..
I love the ’68 and ’69 Cutlass. I hope this one can be saved…
” Is it for sale?” naaah! I am gonna fix it someday” fast forward to present day, OMG look how much WORK is needed! Lessee how much I can get for it
I had a ’69 coupe in this color. Loved that car. This one is missing the wheel arch trim, right rear fender peak trim, the trunk key, and about 800 pounds of steel that’s been transformed into iron oxide.
Miguel is right – it was worth about $730.
After the new owner sinks about $35,000 into it he’ll have a really nice $20,000 ride.
What strikes me in the write up is that the seller had it under cover for 25 years and now that it’s rotted away has decided to sell it. You’re taking something that once was a viable restoration candidate and slowly turning it into crusher fodder. That’s not a car enthusiast, that’s a churlish moron. JMO
???? 68-72 convert frame worth a grand all day? No???68-72 convert top frame worth 250( even this sounds low)
I agree with the above, why let it rot away and then it’s worth little to nothing in parts? Leaving it outside on the dirt, is it’s condition gonna get better over the years???
It angers me to see what was once a prime candidate for restoration left out for ol mother nature to do her deed on. This car seems it was complete and savable at one point. Shame…i love the 68 and 69 bodies. Just a lot of capital needs to be invested here to make it sweet again.