This 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham Coupe was Peak Malaise, but Also The Most Successful
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- Prior videos referenced in this one:
1977 Pontiac Grand Prix:
• This 1977 Pontiac Gran...
1986 Jaguar XJ6:
• Driving The Last Real ...
Other videos pertaining to this car:
1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Commercials:
• 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlas...
• 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlas...
Brougham:
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Sup...
442 commercial:
• 1977 Oldsmobile 442 TV...
Cutlass Salon commercial:
• 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlas...
1976 Cutlass S commercial:
• 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlas...
In 1977, Oldsmobile was riding high. The Cutlass line was pushing them to previously unforeseen heights, with sales records year after year, and a sterling reputation for quality and value. The previous year, the Cutlass was the best selling car in the US. It seems hard to believe that just 25 years later, the brand would be retired by GM, banished to the ash heap of history.
This Cutlass was the most successful of the "Colonnade" cars, a series of coupes, sedans, wagons, and even a pickup-style version released by every GM brand except Cadillac. The Colonnade cars came at a moment of change for GM and the car industry as a whole, when emissions standards, safety requirements, and world events conspired to kill the unrestrained size and power races of the 50s and 60s. The muscle car was dying a slow and painful death, choked by lower compression ratios and catalytic converters. In its place, the personal luxury coupe would fly high throughout the 1970s, and well in to the 1980s before the SUV craze would slowly lay waste to them.
This is an in-depth review of the fourth generation Cutlass, and this final year example is a beautiful specimen with just 19K miles, and all original paint and interior. It is available for sale at Autohaus of Naples, on the web at www.AutohausNaples.com, or by phone at (239) 263-8500.
Great review. As a child of the 1970s, I remember when these were as common on the road as SUVs and crossovers are today.
As always…thanks Bill!!!👌👍
These where the best selling car in america during the 70s and 80s some years it dropped to second but these were a cash cow.
These indeed were ubiquitous, but I could never understand their mass appeal as family cars, with 2 doors only.
@@paulparoma they were quality my great uncle sold oldsmobiles from 1960 through the early 90s, every year when he recieved a bonus my aunt was purchased a brandnew olds of her choice, she still has many of them in his barn, a 67 toronado ,a 1973 98 tiffany edition, a 77 cutlass like this one with a 403 that replaced a( wrecked 76 toronado )and power ever thing, an 85 cutlas brougham with power everything and a 307 and buckets, a 92 trofeo, and her favorite an 83 oldsmobile 98 coupe with power everything leather and sunroof that has 350,000 miles on its 307.
@@ScrotieJohnson Nothing like having car salesman pedigree.
Bill has impeccable taste in rigs. Love it
Back in high school in the early 80's a friend of mine had 77' Cutlass with a 350 4bbl, just flip the air cleaner lid over and the sound of the motor was amazing. I really miss the 2-door comfortable roomy cars.
Yeah, we used to flip that air cleaner lid on the chevy half tons out on the farm, same great motor, same great sound!
@@randolfo1265 The Chevy would have had a Chevy engine - similar but different engines.
Yes flip the lid and instant horsepower! Well probably not actual power increase but the sound of the secondaries opening was the best.
did it
Did anyone else pick up one of these cars (a clapped out, $75 beater) and flog it mercilessly to see just how much abuse it could take? Darn near Indestructible...the good old days of a mis-spent youth.
People don't realize the popularity of Oldsmobile in the 70s and early 80s. Some years they sold a couple million cars. Car with character and distinction, in a way a Camry driver would never understand. Great cars.
Yes I agree Oldsmobile made great cars. I was busy with life & family then suddenly they were gone !! Fricken bean counters screwed them over.
@@almarrs6477 you're right about the bean counters. IMO they should have kept Oldsmobile over Buick. But Buicks are still pretty nice. My retired parents have a 2021 Buick Encore and it's beautiful inside and out. I love that little thing.
Okay old timer..
@@piggy310 I'll definitely take that as a compliment. I am 40 lol
This Cutlass was a best seller throughout the Seventies!
What a gorgeous car! I sure do love these Oldsmobiles...& that color! Beautiful!
Like chocolate.
Great date car, when I was in high school! You were a cool cat, if you had this car. It was a stylin' ride.
The stance on this Supreme is perfect. Beautiful car
I agree even though I had a z28 this color and everybody called it doo doo Brown..man I miss every 70s cars i had and a few were olds cutlass they were so smooth..
This is one of my favorites! Beautiful vehicle, I loved the stock wheels that they used!
Yes sir, Oldsmobile once ruled the car market.
The mid-70s Cutlasses were indeed extremely popular. On our street of seven houses at the time, three homes had at least one Cutlass. We had two, both stations wagons, another home also had two, a wagon and a coupe, and the third had a coupe. They were everywhere.
I can remember a ton of these on the road in the 70s, as well as the Buick Regal, Monte Carlo, and Grand Prix. But the Cutlass was by far the most prevalent. Still an elegant-looking car.
Bill has perfect comedic timing and damn good taste in cars. Two thumbs up 👍👍
True, not to mention an incredible in depth knowledge of the automobile industry. Very informative with a unique delivery.
What a ride!
Imagine arriving to the Discotheque on those wheels on Saturday nights!
Hell yeah, I'd be making out with women in the back seat.
We did!
In the movie Saturday Night Fever they arrived in a '64 Impala.
@@williamwilkins3084 No respecting Brooklyn Guy was driving a 64 Impala to the Discos. Cutlass Supremes and Grand Prix lined up for days all over Brooklyn.
"A mile of cars"
Great Used Cars movie reference.
When it comes to Bill’s videos, as far as I’m concerned, the longer the better!!
I agree! Mostly, because we are the same age, so I can relate to all the things he says, except the Florida weather, because I live in MI.
Same. I just turned 49 and as far as I'm concerned the best years are past us. They weren't that great and now we are just existing and waiting for someone or something to take us out. Bill could/should be a self depreciating comedian.
@@orchids3332 im 43 and feel the same way
@@tripyramidpictures9224 I agree too. I'm 51 and these cars were all over high school parking lots in Iowa when I was growing up. He's right about the Olds 350 too, one hell of a GREAT engine.
I AGREE
Greeting Bill's perfect timing for the rest of my evening. Hope you've been well.
Commentadori! Heh heh heh
Man, I can remember these cars being everywhere in the 70's and 80's. My aunt had a 1976 Cutlass Supreme, light metallic blue with white top and white interior - a very Florida color scheme for an elderly Florida woman. I do recall looking at it once in 1984 and seeing something like 14,000 miles on it before she had to give it up. I was just hitting driving age and didn't want any part of it, though.
Loved those '70s white interiors. Now everything is shade of blah.
I had a 1977 light metallic blue 4dr Cutlass Supreme with navy blue vinyl top. Man I miss that car.
In late '76 ordered out a '77 Gran Prix in mint green with puffy white vinyl half top and white interior and the new Pontiac 301(302") V8 which got about twice the MPG of other emissions slug V8's of the '70's era... gorgeous car, kept it 5 years and let it go when started getting rust spots on quarter panel... still have an ultra rare '77 Pontiac Astre Formula Safari Kammback Station Wagon w/ Iron Duke 4 and 5 speed that gets even a lot better MPG yet... also an '85 Fiero and '87 GTA...
@@BuzzLOLOL Man I know that was beautiful. I have 3 1978 Buick Regal Limited and one is all original mint green factory paint with velour "pillows" with buttons. It's the 40/60 split all electric everything. Cruise and air still works. The other 2 I have over 20K apiece in customizations. One is candy green and the other is candy red. And I REFUSE to put those hideous big rims on them.
@@grandam - Thank you...
Those 85mph Carter speedmeters are classic. Love how they just go past 85 and travel off into the twilight zone
When we hit 88 mph , you gonna see some serious sh*t
Indeed
lol. Actually, that speedometer was worked into the car before Carter took office. The 1977 models were often available in September or October 1976. The election was in November and Carter assumed office Jan 20, 1977. The automakers themselves were fixated on reducing the numbers on their speedometers during the beginning of the malaise era. Bill did a test drive of a 1974 Cadillac. The 1974 Caddy, on the market in late 73 already had the corporate (for a couple of years) 100 mph speedometer. I'm not sure what I would have thought about that as a car buyer. In many cars, the speedometers read 85 mph by 1977. The Ford Thunderbird, the large LTD models, the Olds Cutlass, the Cadillac Seville, and many others for some reason had these before they became mandatory in the 1979 model year through FMVSS 127. FMVSS 127 would not allow the speedometers to drift above 85 like this one. That FMVSS was rescinded by the Reagan Administration in late 1981 to be effective for 1983 model year cars. I remember seeing the first new 1983 model Hondas with 100 and 110 mph speedometers. I was pleasantly surprised.
@@henrystowe6217 thanks for the info! Always good to learn something.
@leibermuster2399 youre welcome. Interesting, history isnt it?
There was a time when these were everywhere
That was the best car I ever owned and my favorite. I had over 380k miles on it everything original when it got stolen. A water pump, and and a/c compressor is all it ever needed. I’m almost tempted to come buy it.
Treat yourself.
I always wanted one, but settled for a Regal that was very similar. It was probably my favorite. I just loved the styling.
@@scooterdover2771 I did make the mistake of getting the 260. It was a gas miser,reliable,durable and slow as a dead dog. It could only go 105 mph across Nevada.Lol
380k miles. Was it manual
@@TraveladvRajanSRai no,but it never towed a trailer,mostly highway and serviced every 30k. I remember now something minor did happen to it,but it never came out of the car or rebuilt.
This guy is great I love listening to him and his stories
Bill is the King of Content.
Oldsmobile really was the car of the American middle class in the 70's and 80's. I miss that.
Good evening Bill from Manchester, our weather it cooler than last week when it was 25C. Sorry your weather is muggy glad the animals are leaving you alone. Superb review of a fantastic car
My brother had one of these. Sky blue, white bucket seats, with a 403 CID. What a fast car. I almost wrecked it. But those disc brakes saved me. To much power for a 16 year old at the time.
I love how you go over the things that happened the year that the car was new. Please keep doing that.
If there was another classic old car I'd buy again. This is it. My dad had one back in the 80's. Light blue. Love those Oldsmobiles. Built like tanks.
Back in '78, every 3rd or 4th car on the expressway was either a Cutlass Supreme, a Grand Prix, a Monte Carlo, or a Buick Regal.
Man I like that car. I also like seeing the speedo pinned. Lol. Great review as always Bill.
Bill I love the wheels and the sport mirrors on the Cutlass.
Does it surprise you I have a distant relative that died in the supper club fire in Lexington. I literally can’t believe you brought that up I’ve never heard of another soul in my entire life outside of my family discuss that fateful evening. The story goes one family member was holding the other family members hand and they got separated between two crowds going out to different doors one lived , one died. Damn
Yup. i was a 12 year old growing up in Louisville at the time and though I didn't lose any family members I remember that tragedy all too well, along with most the other stuff he covered! As an aside, for those living in Louisville, April 3, 1974 was also one very memorable date....
I’m from Lexington my with family around every part of Kentucky I definitely remember and your right it’s rare to hear someone make mention
I really enjoy your reviews. Thank-you and please keep doing what you do. It is so much fun entertainment.
I had a 77 cutlass salon I loved that car I was 16 when I got it.Wish I had it now
Another memorable event (for me) in ‘77 was the NYC blackout.
Free Pontiacs!
I was sitting at home by my stereo listening to 77 WABC at the very instant that happened. I remember the DJ saying "Hey, the lights are going dim"..then I lost them.
@@williamwilkins3084 I think the DJ on at the time was George Michael.
@@bobwigg761 Yeah, I guess it was. WABC was a high powered clear channel station and I was listening all the way from Tennessee.
Plenty of these in the parking lot of my high school in the mid 80s.
1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, KY. My friends and I watched it burn from an adjacent hillside. The sky was darkened by the amount of ash raining down. My mom a nurse for the VA at the time was called in to work the temporary morgue that had been set up at the Armory which was literally right across the street from our house. To this day nothing has built on the grounds where the supper club once stood. Definitely a night I’ll never forget.
My dad bought this exact model, which when he upgraded to a 98 sedan, I then inherited it in 1980….pretty cool car for a high school driver
We always “leap” right into a car and then spend at least 20 minutes on several different side tracks that all require rambling only to end up with a 40 minute video... but that’s why I keep coming back!
I had this car when I was 17 it was a rocket 350 motor luxurious smooth ride
Bill mentioned John Davidson, he also co-hosted "That's Incredible" , stories about regular people and special talents, human interest topics. 1979-84
My aunt and uncle had one of these. Soo comfortable!
Complain away as much as you like Bill! I love it! I love hearing your weather descriptions! And that is one good looking car! This is when one has to admit that many of these 70s designs are as good if not better than what we have now.
Your weather report is great. Thx
Love the "years history" rundown at the start of your displays :)
Speaking of 5mph bumper... The volvos with actual gas struts in the bumpers to absorb multiple 5mph hits and bounce back, hahaha! Talk about overdoing a law people hated. But i love that boxyness... Just got to find a mint one.
i think subaru did too
When you were on the interstate I fell asleep at my desk with my earbuds in and I think I had a flash back to sleeping in backseat when I was a kid.
I think the Olds 350 sounded the best out of the bunch - Olds, Chevy, Buick, and Pontiac. It had a certain timbre to it that I can hear in my head but cannot put into words.
Absolutely love your reviews. 39 minutes is barely enough for my daily dose...
Not even loaded and I immediately liked.
My friend's parents growing up had several 70s era Olds products. This really took me back. Great Stuff!
love your videos, You are Hilarious in your descriptions of things that happened in '77, I was 14 in '77 and remember all of that stuff said, lol, Thanks again for your great videos.
Born in 1973 to parents with a 1970 Cutlass Supreme, I was destined to be an Oldsmobile fanatic. Models from 1975 to 1977, were the epitome of the nameplate. We rented one like this in the video for vacation in 77. Same color and too. Thanks for this video
“1977 was a good year for serial killers.” 😂💀
Movies, music and television too.
@@firstnamelastname6171 It’s just how he puts it. Bill is an excellent wordsmith.
My wife owned a white 76 Model with T Tops and wire wheels when we meet is 87.
The car also had a beautiful dark blue velour button tuffed pillow seats.
Drove it from L.A. to Medford, Oregan once. It was such a pleasure to operate.
This exact car in green was my older brother's first used car in the 80's....It remains an icon in my mind. Thank you. Its beautiful.
Love the voice
Love the storys
Love the animal topic
Love the cars
Thanks dude.
Great job on showcasing this Olds. As usual, your videos are excellent. Thank you.
When Bill reviewing any car , im feeling like 1+ years younger appreciate it
My first car was a 1965 Oldsmobile F 85 convertible that my grandmother had bought new, but I got it in 1987. It was stolen in 1988, and I replaced it with a secondhand 1976 cutlass supreme just like the one that Bill is demonstrating in this video. My car however, was in rough shape and had a tendency to overheat.
I had a 64 Oldsmobile F85 convertible. Baby blue. 330 4bbl. I put Flowmasters Series 40 mufflers on it. I loved that car.
What a great car! My uncle had a 77 back in the day. Red with a white quarter top and white leather interior. I loved it! My first car was a 78 Cutlass Supreme in the same brown/tan combo. I kick myself for getting rid of it.
Very first car was 76 version…I remember the gas gauge moving as I floored it constantly, just like this one. LOL. Thanks Bill,
The gauge in my '77 98 used to bounce all over the place; unless it was filled completely, you had to watch it for a second to guess how full the tank was. That car also had the worst climate control system I've ever seen on a car; it either roasted or froze you and no tweaking of the "thermostat" slider would find anything in between. The manual AC controls were far superior. The only decent automatic controls GM offered in those years were the electronic ones on the Cadillacs.
My grandparents had a 76 olds cutlass supreme - wonderful car with smooth ride and ample power- well built and never any issues- i would love to own one
4:08 “”We’re going to leap right into this thing, immediately dive into it.” Lol!
"Ok, we are going to dive straight into it! " [ after 4 minutes of griping about the humidity in Florida! ]
When you mentioned Cadillac, it reminded me of this story;
My dad had told me a story about a travailing salesman, Yes... Travailing Salesman.
This salesmen only purchased Cadillac's. When his existing Cady got to sixty thousand miles he would give it to his wife and swap hers for the oldest Cady his children had.
He would research the cost of a new Cadillac (inc. options) and the value of the car he was driving (sons car).
In between sales he would visit nearby Cadillac dealerships to find the Cady optioned as he wanted.
If he found one he would bypass the salesman that greeted him (got his card) and went into the Sales Managers office.
The Cady owner would show the manager a check with a dollar amount he was "going" to pay for the new car and a piece of paper with how much he wanted for his trade-in.
The salesman informed the manager that he was more then willing and had in the past found a Cadillac dealership that would agree to his conditions, adding.
Something to the effect of, "Do you want to sell me that car today?".
Eventually the salesman got his new Cadillac (and have the manager give the sales commission to the salesman who greeted him).
My Dad was getting ready to trade in his ‘67 Oldsmobile Delmont 88, in 1975 and was stuck between an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I can’t remember important things but recall his reciting the Cutlass Supreme’s marketing pitch as the ‘little limousine.’
I could be dead wrong but with the 5 mph impact bumpers, to preserve grill, I think if the bumpers had an impact, the grill would lean backwards to protect it.
He wound up with the Monte Carlo. Always tight with a buck, definitely window cranks and no AC, but he loved that darn car. Being New England, even with babying, rust did manage to eat the bodies eventually.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Bill, awesome once again. Love this car. Beautiful Olds. I’m biased- I own a ‘77 Regal S/R, pretty much the first cousin of this. No landau roof on mine, but I do have T Tops. Always get a bunch of thumbs ups driving it around too. My Grandpa had a 76 Grand Prix. Remember driving in it as a little kid. Love these 73-77 A bodies.
Those were the cars back in the day. I remember seeing those going to the Disco back in 1977. I loved the Grand Prix of that era
The votes are in Bill:
Nobody wants you to edit the videos shorter. Your stories, automobile history, Whiskey, Women, and Wildlife. Just bring it all!
It’s what I want,: bill telling me about the weather, the 1st 10 min are the best
Hey Bill, welcome to hot muggy August!!! I'm sure that all the Canadians have made their way back to Canada. This Oldsmobile Cutlass is a real beauty, years ago my buddy had one & it was great, he kept it forever!! 👍👍🙂
Bill should head to Canada in august.
Looking forward to the Imperial video!
Wow! So glad to see one of these in this condition! I can't believe it only has 17,000 miles on it! I was born in 77 and grew up in the 80s. I remember these Oldsmobiles everywhere you looked. My parents had a 73 Cutlass Salon and later on 83 and 84 Delta 88s. I learned to drive in the 84 Delta. I really enjoyed this video!
I am really glad to see this. At the time, the most popular car in the country. Now rarely seen.
Another excellent video. I well remember these cars, and that they were top-sellers for a time. Would it surprise you to know that my mom (no dad around, the bum bounced) owned a '75 Cutlass Supreme, Burgundy? It ran like butter. Plenty of power. Good-looking, too. Nice on the inside--though no power windows. She once had a well-off boyfriend who owned a second-gen Toronado. I was mesemerized by it, especially the ahead-of-their-time high-mount tail lamps. He came over once and asked me to take it to the car wash. I think he wanted some "alone time" with my mom. I took it to an OG "quarters needed" car wash and lavished it with the best cleaning it ever had. I took so long that when I got back, he jokingly told me he was worried that I had stolen it. #RIP Oldsmobile
That was awesome Bill. I had a 76 Cutlass Salon with the bucket seats and console. Dash was pretty much the same. It did have cloth interior with pwr windows and cruise. 350 engine and I sank the speedo every day just like you did. The car was bullet proof it never left me anywhere. I kept it very nice had dual exhaust also. I was 17 like I said I kept it nice but drove the hell out of it. Most dependable car i have ever owned. Im same age as you now. Super nice car you got there.
Gorgeous, I remember brothers in-law had two; one was a Supreme and the other was a Salon.
I had a 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix as my first car, and a 1976 Cutlass supreme as my second car...
These were absolutely awesome cars.
Thanks for another great deep dive Bill, funnily enough saw one of these parked across the street from my business in Sussex, England! You really don’t see many of these colonnade cars over here, a few El Caminos and plenty of old Mustangs but damn was it a beaut, probably not as nice as this one though. Keep well dude!
Hey brother... we have your August for 5 months of the year in the top of Australia 🇦🇺
These were great cars very well built nice ridding.
Had a white one with black interior and factory T-Roof's, was stolen in 1985, man I still miss that car!!
I love the history lessons I love the classic cars and I could watch you all day and listen to you talk great work Bill!!!!
Dang it, Bill! With every video of yours I see I add another car to the list of cars I want to have. The problem is I need deeper pockets. Keep up the good work.
These videos never get old.
This was my first car. I got it from my grandpa. I was born in 1977. The car was as old as me. I wish I had one now. Lots of room for fun in this car.
My dad bought a new silver '77 Cutlass (roof was silver also...no vinyl) with the 350 and a red interior, and he said he was "the talk" of his small Vermont town for a little while lol. He only held onto it for 6 years though because it was dogshit in those nasty Vermont winters... after that it was a gold Subaru GL wagon with all wheel drive, which then proceeded to completely rust out in 5 years or less... thanks Rusty Jones!
Great video and commentary! I have a black 1977 Cutlass Supreme Brougham with the same color interior and landau vinyl roof. My car was restored about 15 years ago and has about 20,000 miles on it since its restoration which I have put on the car in the last 4 years. I drive it everywhere and love it. Thanks for sharing!
Holy shit, Bill! My very first car was a 350 green version of that love machine. Oh, the weed we smoked in that thing was epic.
I remember when the news broke on TV announcing the death of Elvis. It was right around the time I was watching coverage of NASA's space shuttle Enterprise approach and landing tests. The future of space exploration seemed like it really was going to be awesome. I was 9 at the time and had no idea of how oversold the space shuttle program was and what disasters were to come. The innocence of youth. I also remember when there were a plethora of Olds Cutlasses (and their GM cousins) running the roads of my native East Tennessee. I can't remember the last time I saw one in the wild though.
Thanks for the high speed ride at the end of the vid!!
My cousin had a white one with burgundy interior back in the 80s. Had the typical rust in the rear bumper which eventually fell off. Rode nice all the way to the junkyard...
As always a fine review, love the extra information :-)
You should be a narrator for documentaries. .Your voice is unique and oddly satisfying
Memories, my parents had one just like this, I came home from the hospital in it. Feeling your pain from homestead Florida lol
I’m impressed that the needle was so easily buried at the end of the video. Another home run!
Sister bought a 77 Cutlass Supreme brand new in November 76, with 6 miles on it. Horrible summer weather in SWFL. A very solid car. Alas, the body rot out severely. Spent its entire life directly across the state from you. 257,000 miles when it was given away for $500. Wish it would’ve been kept in the family. Mechanically solid, wish the body hadn’t literally disappeared into rust.
77, a good year for some
And Star Wars before Disney
I would love for you to do a 1971-72 Buick Electra, they're one of my favorite vehicles of the early 1970's.
I used to think you complained about the weather excessively while in the comfort of California weather. Now that I’m living in Florida, I wholeheartedly agree with you that this weather is completely disastrous.
Yup people don't have a clue what the word "humidity" means until they live here in FL!
First! For the love of God... still no Cordoba? Ah well, we will still appreciate this brief, 39 minute masterpiece.
Waiting for the Cordoba on this channel feels like waiting for the G11 on Forgotten Weapons. Maybe for Christmas ;)
@@Rubycon99 ... waiting on the Cordoba is like waiting for a politician to make good on promises.
@@egold2071 Don't say that, I'm sure we'll see the Cordoba someday. :P
Had a 350 '77 Cutlass, extraordinary comfort, Remember it well. Could never get over 13 MPG.