Possible New Project - Seeking Input

[V8TV]

Came across a pretty neat car for sale down the street... before we take the plunge, I though we'd gauge a little interest on this one. If we elected to build the car, we'd do a complete build on our show and website.

1971 Olds Cutlass S
350 4 Barrel
FACTORY 4 Speed (M20) - I guess there aren't many of these... does anyone know?
Disc brakes
3:42 posi
FE2 suspension, sway bars, etc.
Buckets
No console
Factory 'glass ram air hood, with factory air filter assembly

The car's a little crusty, but it's in all original paint, never been wrecked, with minimal rust. It's being sold by the original owner... he's got all the receipts and stroies. We'd work him into the show.

Sound like a cool project?

[PRRC]

Sounds like a great project.I like to see cars that are little out of the main stream. Gives you something fresh to look at. :thumbsup:

[ProStreet R/T]

Very cool project. As much as I love them it's nice to see something that isn't a 1st gen camaro or E-body mopar.

If you're gonna do it, I'd say you have to go all the way, at least in the suspension/wheel department. If the PT look is what you're after, it needs to be full bore.



Hey you're getting off easy. A buddy of mine wants me to help him PT out a 65' Lincoln continental. :lol: 2 1/2 tons of luxo barge on 345's and coil overs, it should be interesting :willy:

[JayR]

They've done a few of those to great success on Overhaulin' so I say start cutting and if you need a designer to help you see it's true potential, drop me a line!
The 19s and 20s on the most recently Overhauled one last week fit perfectly in those big round wheelwells and there's tons of great aftermarket stuff for GM A-bodies.

[Hdesign]

I've always thought that the Cutlass was the better looking, (somewhat) unsung hero of the GM intermediate bodies. After project XBreed (70 Nova) is done I may have to tear into a nice 71 'vert. It has the best nose of the 70-72 body IMO. Talk about a nice clean white sheet of paper to start with!

[XcYZ]

The 19s and 20s on the most recently Overhauled one last week fit perfectly in those big round wheelwells and there's tons of great aftermarket stuff for GM A-bodies.

I'm with Jason. :thumbsup:

[T Bell]

Well, you know my answer. But I wouldn't use that genuine Rally Sport sterring wheel. I'd selling to me. :willy: What motor you thinking about?

[V8TV]

Well T,

Here's the dilemma.

A '71 S with a 350 / M20 is not really that spectacular of a car, but this one is so original that it makes me wonder. If it were a 442 / 455 / M22 ragtop, than the car deserves the respect of staying true to original form. If it were a base Cutlass with a 350 2bbl and a bench, than I'd say gut it and go whole hog. But this one is sorta 1/2 way between.

The only things that are not original on the car are the carburator, (replacement Q-Jet installed in the early '80's), the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points, condensor, belts, hoses, brake pads, and tires. It's got the original alternator, water pump, and everything it's supposed to have. It's even got the original clutch in the car.

Now I'm not really into concourse correct cars, but I've also never had the opportunity to own anything that was as unmolested as this car.

So I'm thinking that I'd like to do some cool mods, but keep the car in a condition that could be fairly easily returned to perfect original.

For example:

Shelve the original control arms, sway bars, springs, brakes, wheels, and rear end. We'd even restore all those parts. Then, we'd install all new tubular upgraded goodies, Baers, bigger bars, wheels, etc. These bolt-ons are a no-brainer. All could be easily switched back to stock in a weekend.

Next, I'm thinking we'll pull the motor and throw a little internal technology at it. It runs really nice now, so I'm reluctant to mess with it, but it's undoubtadly ready for a rebuild. So perhaps we add a hydraulic roller cam, aluminum intake, some mild headwork, MSD billet electronic ignition, balancer, carb, etc. to the original 350. Keep it pretty clean and stock appearing, but up the power level.

Inside, maybe we add some gauges - it's hard to tell in the photo, but the original owner built a gauge box back in '71... it's plexiglass, and it's lit from the perimeter aircraft-style. He's in to HAM radios and stuff. It's actually a neat old artifact. We'd probably keep the car pretty close to stock inside, maybe swap the seats for something a little more supportive, and have them stiched to match the originals.

We'd keep the color scheme and the hood, and we'd restore the vacuum operated air filter housing.

Just a clean, tight car. I'm up to my a** in EFI and electronics right now, so a carb'd 4-speed lo-tech combo is appealing for its simplicity. Maybe it gets a 5 speed for the OD.

I'm also unsure of wheels for the car... any thoughts?

- KO

[Hdesign]

Sounds like a good plan. I was thinking that you should talk to they guys at www.wheelvintiques.com about pioneering a billet set of 18" or 19" of 80's 442/Hurst 15"chrome/black or gold rally wheels. Not the common painted rally ones with beauty rings that are on the car now. See photo:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/dabanj6/rearwheel.jpgThat would be pretty BadA$$.

[Diognes56]

I love the 70's Cutlass's, especially with that hood. I vote you give it to me ;) :rofl: .

David

[ProdigyCustoms]

I love those cars also, but here comes the big but........ If ultimate value plays into the equation at all, you need to know it will be worth no money when it is done no matter which build style you choose. Most muscle car values, except Cudas, Challengers and possibly a few GTOs, Trans Ams with HO's, etc, take a nasty value hit after 1970. And the fact that it is a low horse middle of the road car, means it will have little desirability and value when finished as a stocker, as compared to many other pre 70 muscle cars. And since it cost the same amount, or more, to do this car as a similar other pre 70 car, it is a bad business decision financially. A perfect example is for me, i want to replace my 79 Trans Am I had in school. And since I can do all the work, since it is what we do, my immediate thoughts are to find a project. but in reality, this is a car I need to find finished because at best it would be worth $20k, possibly $25k, and I can hardly even paint and decal one for that.

Now, with that said, I would love to see you say to hell with the value and cut it and make it a cool pro Touring car. Under no circumstances would I be concerned with keeping anything stock. there is nothing stock except some body lines and interior treatments I would want. Hack it up and make it into what you want.

JMO, but you asked for it. And you know what they say about opinions!

BTW, nothing rare about M20s, they are the most common of all Muncies in that time period. It is a nice tranny for a driver though.

[slownova]

If u decide to pass on it let me know and i'll buy it.

[Sales@Dutchboys]

Pro tour...............

[youthpastor]

I agree with Jason- We've dreamed of doing an off-brand A-body. This thing will totally swallow up 19's and 20's. cut the heck out of it. BONUS POINTS for using a big inch Olds motor with FI and a 6-speed-Chris :thumbsup:

[V8TV]

I appreciate the feedback, Frank.

You're right about the M20 being common, I just didn't know if it was common behind a 350 Olds. I've seen a zillion 3-speeds.

And you have the same point I was thinking today. Here's a car that's rare and desirable to a very select few people... probably the most desired by the guy who's selling it. He ordered it new, afterall.

My buddy knows a guy with the Chevy equivelant... it's a Chevelle SS 454 without the 454. 3:31 12 bolt, 4-speed, sway bars, stripes, buckets, gauges, etc... but it's a 350 so nobody cares. It's more rare than the big motor cars, but it only matters to someone with a real passion for oddballs and a museum.

I've talked to a couple Olds fanatics who may want the car, otherwise we'll probably do something cool with it next year. Maybe an Olds turbo... they did it in the early '60's with the Jetfires...

[ProdigyCustoms]

I

And you have the same point I was thinking today. Here's a car that's rare and desirable to a very select few people... probably the most desired by the guy who's selling it. He ordered it new, afterall.
.

And more times then not, the select few people that find it desirable are the people that cannot afford the W30 or even the 442, LOL!

[BC69]

Looks like the voting is a bit one sided on here! Are we suprised!! ;) :D

[oldzzy]

Cool car! There are starting to be more and more Olds' popping up. My guess is that car would be a pretty rare car if the OAI hood was ordered without the W30 package, and a 4 speed to boot!

[T Bell]

Frank is right and brings up a good point about the pre-70 cars. I had a guy offer me more money for the '68 than the '72 and it is in much better shape than the '68. And would even come with an engine and trans. The '68 has my fancy also, though. Go figure.

I say go balls out and build an aluminum blocked 468 Olds twin turbo with the 6 spd. Now that would deserve a six-pack (only if you let me drive it once).

[Derek69SS]

I'm one of the few that says buy it, and just do bolt-on mods only :)

IMHO, stock musclecar interiors are almost always nicer looking than anything custom, and that car has the potential to look very cool "stock" looking, but lowered a bit, and with some nice 17" wheels.

It's too cool of a car in stock form to hack up and build a "trendy" looking car that will undoubtedly look dated in 10 years, which is what happens with nearly all over-the-top custom car builds. The overdone custom interiors and 20"+ wheels will be the velour tuck 'n roll, and Keystone classics of tomorrow :lol:

[V8TV]

Derek's got an interesting point.

It's almost a novelty to see a 4-speed and a carb these days. I'm drawn to the "mechanicalness" of a non-injected car. I think I feel a mix of musclecar simple, better suspension and brakes, updated wheels and tires without the street rod element. I think this one should be a little raw, not Lexus-quiet with leather, DVD, GPS and EFI.

I think we're ready for Pro Touring Unplugged.