1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais

Description

Throughout the '70s and the early '80s, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the best-selling car in the country. That's easy to understand when you see the awesome combination of style, comfort, and luxury that this 1978 Olds Cutlass Calais offers. Today, these cars are nearly as popular as they were when they were new, making this very original, clean survivor a sure-fire future collectable.

This car is almost entirely original, and with 90,502 miles on the clock, it looks far younger than it is. The gold paint is pure 1970s funky, but the slightly coppery hue is right back in fashion today. There's a soft gloss to the finish that whispers factory enamel and the chiseled bodywork looks as good today as it ever did. Unlike so many cars of the period, the Cutlass has aged well and doesn't look dated, even with all that chrome. Obviously, with original paint, it has never been wrecked or rusty, and even the factory-applied pinstripes along the fenders are in great condition. A tan vinyl half-roof was a popular option and it's rare to find one without it, giving the Calais a formal look that goes well with the nearly vertical rear window. Big chrome bumpers, the vertical grille, and shiny stainless steel rocker moldings really dress the car up and it's all in very good shape.

This particular Calais has a leg up on most of its siblings thanks to the sporting bucket seat interior. The two-tone vinyl buckets are in great shape, suggesting that it's been well-cared-for its entire lire. Likewise for the carpets and door panels, and even the dash pad hasn't been baked by the sun's UV rays. A sporty two-spoke steering wheel frames a rather comprehensive set of gauges, including a tachometer. Other options include factory A/C, power driver's seat, tilt steering column, power windows and locks, cruise control, and a rear defroster and everything seems to be working properly. The factory AM/FM radio remains in the middle of the center stack and a console with T-handle shifter is a rare find in any luxury-oriented Olds. The only notable demerit is a bit of sagging in the headliner, which isn't unusual and is easy to remedy. The trunk is finished with some vivid gold shag carpet that obviously isn't stock, but the factory spare tire and jack assembly are still in place.

This Olds is powered by an H-code 305 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, and in 1978, it was actually a fairly potent powerplant. It's totally original and untouched, and if you're familiar with the 305 Olds, you know it's legendary in its durability. The engine bay is a little dirty, but that doesn't affect how this sucker runs, which is butter-smooth and effortless on the road. It starts easily and pulls smoothly through all three gears in the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. Highway-friendly gears were installed out back, so it's still a great long-distance cruiser and you know this one has led an easy life because the catalytic converter and single exhaust system are still in place. The ride is cushiony soft, as you'd expect, and the sporty Oldsmobile Rally wheels give it a more aggressive demeanor, even wrapped in 195/75/14 whitewall radials.

From single-family ownership, this clean Olds is an easy way to get a cool car for not a lot of scratch. Lots of maintenance records are included, so you can buy with confidence. Call today!