1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Description

Everyone says they want a Chevelle, but the cars we have the most difficulty keeping in stock are convertibles from the Rocket division like this extremely nice 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass ragtop. Dressed in classic springtime colors and offering the near-perfect blend of performance and luxury, it's no surprise that these are gaining traction as some of the best collector cars to own.

While all the A-bodies shared some underpinnings, somehow the Olds got the most dramatic sheetmetal, with that seductive kick-up behind the doors and a sweeping front end. Finishing it in Bamboo (which is cream to most of us) certainly helps emphasize the car's finer points and the bright color definitely suits the sporty ragtop. The work was finished a few years ago but still looks great today, making this the kind of car that stands out without making a spectacle of itself, and we like the look a lot more than the original code 57 Baroque Gold (which was brown). Twin grilles up front have an intricate egg crate pattern, a theme that is echoed in the taillight lenses, and all the original Cutlass and Oldsmobile badges have been retained, so it looks just about the way GM intended. As an upscale offering, the Olds got a bit more chrome and stainless trim than its corporate cousins, but all that does is make it look expensive and elegant, and the blacked-out grilles add a sporty counterpoint.

If you're going to have a car that's spending a lot of time in the sun, a light-colored interior is a must. Two-tone cloth and vinyl seat covers adorn the front and rear benches, along with matching door panels that were custom made to go with the slightly modified combination. However, to prevent it from being too bright inside with the top up, there are copper-colored carpets on the floor and a brown dash with woodgrained inserts. The gauges should look familiar to anyone who's driven a car from the Rocket division in the '60s and '70s, and this car includes factory options like A/C (needs to be serviced) and an AM/FM/iPod stereo that's a more recent addition. The tan power convertible top folds neatly into the well where it's covered by a matching tan boot. The trunk is correctly finished with spatter paint and a factory mat, as well as a full-sized spare with a custom cover featuring the Rocket logo.

Despite displacing the same 350 cubic inches, this numbers-matching Oldsmobile small block V8 shares virtually nothing with its corporate cousins. Many believe the Oldsmobile V8 is the best of the bunch, offering increased nickel in the block and a robust bottom end that was built to haul luxury cars and stations wagons along the interstate for tens of thousands of miles. Detailed with a gold air cleaner and valve covers, it looks quite authentic and shows few modifications or signs of abuse. Power steering and brakes were, of course, standard equipment, and a TH350 3-speed automatic feeds a set of highway-oriented gears to make this car a relaxed cruiser out on the open road. The suspension is a great compromise between agile handling and a comfortable ride, and with those slick color-matched Rallye II wheels and 245/60/14 BFGoodrich radials, it certainly looks slick.

This '72 Olds offers a lot of fun in the sun, great V8 performance, and a look that will get attention everywhere it goes, all for the fraction of the price of a comparable Chevelle. What's not to love? Call today!