What's even more impressive to me is the engine having (so far...?) survived almost a half-century of cold starts in 30-below insanity up there for almost half of each year.
If they crushed that car,it would be a gold mine,for the auto industry. The metal on these cars is not known as tin but as steel. These cars were made really well. That car is a money maker. Little v8 probably gets 20 mpg.
@@johneckert1365 as much as I love those g body cars... They sure aren't made from anything special. No gold, unobtainium, whatever precious metals. Just whatever steel and sheet metal existed at the time.
@@mr.channel6467 I grew up in Chicago from when I was born in 1969 to when we moved to Los Angeles in 1979. There were numerous rusted out buckets (mostly from the 60s) in the 70s. So, it is a bit of an exaggeration to say this war wagon has been rusted out since the early 80s, but I have to say the fact that it is STILL on the road is impressive!
@hububabout quite literally being the most famous beater being seen almost daily around Chicago. It's been a daily driver since the days of time and the legacy has to live on
💯 tested an 84 Oldsmobile super 88 a few weeks ago with almost nothing working except the radio, pouring oil, massive blowby, and countless other issues. Still ran and drove like a top. I know why they put a plane on their logo, I put the petal to the floor on a straight away and it still wanted to take off.
@@pedinhuh16 compared to whatever else was available at the time? Absolutely. K cars would be the first to come to mind. As much as I love fox body cars, those things had the rigidity of cooked spaghetti in stock form. Ever driven a convertible mustang from that era? I learned the hard way you have to put frame ties in them. Some mods and sticky tires on a 91 gt and several launches later the gaps on the hatch were all off and it was extremely hard to close/ latch. When I say it was a mild build, I'm talking about a car that would run low 12's at best.
I’ve seen this car on the streets of Chicago’s northwest side for over 20 years at this point. It’s definitely a neighborhood legend. Crazy to see a RU-vid video on it!
@@taylorebenguard6998 hey that's a great point, I'm still undecided about whether it looks better with the rims or if it should be without rims, then again maybe those rims are the only thing holding the wheels in 🤣
I saw this car in downtown Chicago while I was on vacation about 10 years ago. It looked absolutely ragged back then. I can’t believe it hasn’t completely returned to the earth by now. What an incredible find!
@@ogonbio8145 I bought a 1984 S-15 Jimmy that came out of North Dakota in 1990. Not a speck of rust. After only 6 years of Iowa DOT salt brine spray it was a terminal cancer patient, and I TRIED to wash it all winter long. Out west they don't seem to use so much f$%king salt.
You're an absolute legend, man. Something about this rig seems to have captured the inner spirit of a lot of us car guys. Keeping something alive beyond all possible rationality, in spite of the world and common sense having left it behind. Sheer American tenacity. This thing has so much character, even if it is absolutely roached. I agree that reinforcing and preserving what's left is the best option. Here's to another 400k!
Guys in the very early VW Bus community find Buses in swamps, fields and forests that are in as bad or worse condition. What they often do is all of the structural work. Any new body metal sections are distress painted to Match the worn out originals. New frame rails, rebuild drivetrain, and sometimes a new interior. That is what should happen with this. Either that or scrap it.
@@kennethsouthard6042 The sheet metal for these is sold at the hardware store and you cut and weld it on. Bonus points if you do what the factory did and use a press or sheet metal brake to bend it to shape before welding or bolting it on.
@@johnspecter933 Those buses weren't valuable at the time, that's why they were in swamps, those buses are only valuable because of the VW Bus community
miss the early days when yearly safety inspections werent a thing. Natural selection, just beautiful. Remember seeing so many AMC Eagles in this condition as a child lol.
To all the Southern and Western watchers, this is basically what every car looks like by 15-20 years old up here. My dad bought a brand new Toyota pickup in 87, and it was undriveably rusty by 7 years old. Started and ran perfectly, but was about to break in half.
That was a sharp car when it was new and someone went for some options back in the day as I spot a lot of optional equipment: C60 air conditioning, N33 tilt wheel, CD4 delay wipers, K30 cruise control, A90 power deck release, A31 power windows, AU3 power locks, among others. I'd be curious to know which plant assembled it. Being that it was from Chicago, IL, I'm going to say possibly Framingham, in which case, the VIN will be a "G". The VIN goes something like this: 3 for Oldsmobile, M for Cutlass Supreme Brougham, 47 for two door, F for 260 CID V8 with two-barrel, aka "The Little Engine that Could", 8 for 1978 model year, possibly G for Framingham, MA assembly or maybe M for Flint, MI assembly (among other possibilties), and the rest is the production sequence. The 260 V8 is in the Oldsmobile lineage of V8s that will run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run and run some more. They are nearly bulletproof. Exterior paint is (or was.....) code 44 Light Green. There's a lot more good parts on this car than you think. There are some pieces and parts that would help another "A" or "G" body live on. Correct, it is an "A" body in 1978. I had a 1979 Cutlass Supreme as well. One of the best cars we had in my family. I wouldn't doubt it has that kind of mileage, as the 260 V8 is known to run forever. They were usually 14" wheels, check the door jamb decal (which appears to be original) for the original tire size---probably something like P195/75R14. Nope, keep the "patina" and make it a safe runner. Parts are cheap and easy to get for this, even 45+ years later. Yup, that car has a few parts from other cars, as the left tail light looks to be an original (or one from another 1978) as 1978 had the "Rocket band" with the Oldsmobile rocket between the lenses, whereas other years typically did not. I'd guess the RH light is from a 1979. I'd be interested to know the VIN---just leave out the last six digits, as those are unique to the vehicle and have no bearing on decoding.
I have a 1994 9c1 caprice but someone covered the rpo codes with dynamat. Is there another way I can get my codes ? Is there anyway to tell what police department my car was from?
@@cantstanddogs4776 Yes. Any GM dealer parts department can run the VIN and print out the RPO codes from their system---1994 should be new enough that it's still in the system. That will confirm it was a 9C1 vehicle originally and also what options it was built with. As to which department ordered it, yes, sometimes that was embedded in the RPO code listing, especially if a certain paint scheme/combination was specified. But don't count on that. If they ordered a standard issue (say black and white), just about any department may have ordered it that way.
Awesome! I have a Cutlass Supreme Brougham like this although mine is a Diesel! Only 40k original miles, the interior still smells new. It's loaded with everything including rarely seen cornering lamps, fiber optics, lighted vanity mirrors, 8 Track Stereo, Cruise, power windows, locks, antenna, trunk, leather interior with both driver and passenger power seats which I never seen on another Cutlass before and two tone factory paint with no vinyl top. I'm proud of my car as you can tell. 😊 I think your Cutlass is great!
@@De19thKingJulion It's too bad they didn't keep making that 4.3 V8 diesel. Once they had all the bugs worked out, it would've been great in these little mid-size cars.
This is awesome, im glad you saved this from the crusher. I have an 81 Cutlass 4 door that has been a daily driver since new. Yes, the 260 is slow, but a reliable V8 means more to me than speed. Mine has close to 400,000 miles right now, and the damn thing is responsible for my 18 years of perfect attendance at work. Mine is mostly original, block has never been opened up, but the TH350 gave out right at 300k. I look forward to following your progress. Subscribing now.
Just get her structurally sound as you can and preserve it. Derek Vice Grip Garage got the Independence Chevelle half way solid.with some crafty welding and sketchy patchwork.
My first car was a 4 door 1977 Cutlass Supreme and I regret selling it almost every time I see another old Cutlass Supreme. It was a V8 and had a cracked block but still ran. I love that yours is still going. I do think it needs some love.
My mother had one of these when I was a kid. It had 15x10 inch cragars on the back with air shocks so it wouldn't rub. My brother took a spoiler off a 3rd gen firebird and put on the trunk looked pretty good. Really good reliable cars they were. May the Chicago cutlass keep battling the worst modern society has to offer.
I picked up a 1988 Olds 98 Regency Brougham from the original owner last year with 120,000 original miles. Thing is in mint condition and now that I’ve done some work it cruises down the street just like it would’ve back in the 80s. It’s worth it to resto once you’re sitting pretty riding that big boat like an absolute baller. Trust me. Thing turns heads everywhere because there’s hardly any of these around and the ones that are will usually be falling apart.
Happy to see and hear from you John! Been outta the loop since my FB got hacked nearly a year ago. This is Olivier Chamberlin BTW. Of course you of all people you aquired the Chicago Cutlass!
