Naw, it was ten or fifteen years ago either for my 50th college or high school reunion. Just don’t remember. It’s the only one I had on the computer that I could find when car talk changed software again. I just don’t enjoy computers.
I think @ChrisTheTireWhisperer was saying that a 1974 Cutlass is today’s Camry. You could make the above statement about either one, in the appropriate time period. Wasn’t the Cutlass the best selling car of a few years in the 70’s?
Today, for a daily driver I too would prefer the Camry but I would certainly prefer the Cutlass over the Camry for a weekend car. Maybe I’m biased though…as a high school kid my first car was a 77 Cutlass Supreme with the half vinyl top and Olds Rally wheels. I sure beat the ■■■■ out of that car…
2 Likes
I love the old cars and trucks, there is just something about driving one… But I also sure do love my new(er) truck, even more now with the OTT tune, although the gas mileage sucks on Toyota’s line of trucks, they ride and handle so much better as well as are much safer…
I would say old vehicles is like camping (if you like camping), it’s nice to get away and enjoy nature and just relax, go hiking, or whatever floats your boat, but man is it ever good to be back in your own big comfy bed in your home, just like your newer vehicle…
2 Likes
The Colonade Cutlasses were great. Did you. Make it to that mileage with minimal repairs?
Yup, just transmissions and rocker arm pivots.
I hear you
I know my Camry’s boring as heck
But I would only drive the 1974 Cutlass on weekends and to special events. No way I’d drive that car on a daily basis
2 Likes
Fine if somebody likes a ‘74 Cutlass as a hobby car, no problem (I’d prefer a ‘69-’72). But the Camry is a better car in all objective measures. Somebody here is all about presenting the ‘facts’, aren’t they?
1 Like
1976-1979 was when Oldsmobile had the best selling Cutlas.
1 Like
As long as you like oozing down the street. Acceleration was a thing of the past in the mid/late 70s. I do like oozing, but I’d prefer doing it with a car that could accelerate briskly when needed, like a 1964 Cadillac Series 62 hardtop.
2 Likes
Hmmm. 350 cubic inch, 4 v, never seemed to lack acceleration. Too much pedal would squeal the tires from a stop. Didn’t buy it to hot rod though.
1 Like
Yep! They had good power, alot of people on here are not remembering the 70s cars accurately. You said that the engine made it over 200k without trouble. Many on here claim a 1970s engine would need to be overhauled by 60k miles.
The real truth is the 1970s cars racked up 200k just fine, its just the fact that odometer tampering was so prevalent that a vehicle with 90k miles showing actually likely had well over 200k on it! They call it mile busting and almost every dealer did it.
Even the 305 in the late 70’s Malibu/cutlass had 140hp. The 83 Malibu 225v6 had 110hp stock and was ok on the freeway but struggled on the steep hill to get back to the voc tech in 1995, the 90 Celebrity v6 wagon’scwe could borrow barely even boticed the hill by comparison.
I grew up with a 78 VW Rabbit Diesel with 48hp so most cars since then feel quick . If you prayed hard it would di 65mph.
Transmissions with an “s”. I assume that means more than one? Yeah the rocker saddles on Olds was a weak point. They would get noisy, but didn’t affect the way they ran too much. I did replace them on my ‘77 and ‘69 Oldsmobiles.
In college I had a buddy with a Rabbit diesel. One night 5 of us took it to get some food. The acceleration was so slow that at the next red light, one guy got out and was actually able to run faster than the car for the first block.
3 Likes
I actually don’t remember how many overhauls. Maybe just once. The first one was at the dealer where I bought it. They appologized that it went out at only 80,000. I said no, that was 180,000. It had been around once. Maybe that was the only one. The 81 was multiple. Long time ago.
We had to get out one day on a hill in Seattle and walk to the top. Dod have 5 people and luggage in it at the time. Took it on. Ccountless camping trips with a hard cargo carrier on the roof. The typical tent and coleman cooler/stove camping. The 70 510 wagon that was mom’s 1st ever car became dads but only got 20mpg roughly around town.
Same indy shop cared for both from they met him at a gathering in 1979 until he suddenly sold the shop in 1990. Richard was overwhelmed with customers some days, if the druveway qas blocked he needed to catch up. The day the brakes on the Datsun al.ost failed we pulled into his lot and left a note with the key. Did a full brake job for $300 including the failed wheel cylunder. If the Vw was goung to need a warranty repair he’d send us to the dealership.
Our current shop for 32yrs has given us equality good service, and right around the corner from our old shop about 3mi up the road.
In 1984 my girlfriend was driving a International Scout, it got 10 mpg? She called me and said she found a diesel Rabbit, could I test drive it and give me an opinion? I drove it a mile or 2 and thanked the seller.
I called Barb and said: “You don’t want this car, it can’t get out of it’s own way!” A few days later she found a gas Rabbit that she liked. Drove it for many years.