1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S

Oldsmobile Cutlass 1968 Description

At auction is a 1968 Cutlass S.

I bought this car from Ron Susserout ofLong Island in 2005. When I got it, it had a wheezer 350 with a turbo 350 trans and an open rear end. The car was very nice but very boring. In the ensuing 10 years the whole car was changed.

Body: The body is in excellent shape. There is zero rust anywhere. Nothing in the bird's nest area, nothing in the rear quarters. No rust anywhere. The vinyl roof is in excellent shape with no bubbling whatsoever. I think it was replaced before I got the car but it could be original. The paint is a 9 out of 10. It has a faux W-46 stripe in an off green color as seen in the photos. These stripes are notoriously painted on nearly every restored 68 Cutlass or 442. This stripe is an obvious fake with a nod to the original.It was on the car when I got it as well as the RamRod decals that were glossed over. I didn't remove them. They're cool. There is no rust anywhere. Look at the photos.

Chrome: All chrome on the car is in perfect shape. No surface rust or pitting is evident, anywhere. The bumpers are perfect. No dings or dents.

Rims and Tires: The tires have about 1000 miles on them and the rims are perfect with zero nics, scrapes or blemishes. The trim rings are perfect as well as the centercaps. When you look under the car the rims have NO dirt on the inside of them. They are perfect. The rims are painted in the stock gray color available from Oldsmobile.

Plastic and rubber: All plastic parts like the light surrounds and grill are perfect. The rubber that sits on top of the bumpers as well as all the seals on the doors and windows are in excellent shape.

Interior: The interior is perfect as well. New carpeting and sill plates were just installed this summer. Seat vinyl and headliner are excellent. Dash pad, not a crack or blemish.Gauges under the dash are oil, temp, and vacuum and work as good as they look. The dummy lights in the dash work as well providing an added measure of protection. Sun Pro Tach is mounted in the clock position of the dash. Speedo works and tracks correctly.The gauge pods are perfect, original to the car and look great. The steering wheel is in great shape and has zero cracks. All the venting, side ventwindows, heater, defroster, work perfectly. The windows crank flawlessly. The shifter boot is new. The lighter and all interior lights work correctly. The car has a single non stock disc CD changer with AM/FM radio.

Trunk: The trunk is in very, very, nice shape. The splatter paint is in great shape with a new trunk mat (checked). Sharp! What looks like the original spare is in the correct position with the correct jack and base all bolted into the correct spot. The weatherstripping has been replaced within the last 3 years.

Engine Compartment: Nearly flawless. Clean, shiny, painted correctly in all the right places. Look at the pics. Nice.

Suspension: The whole suspension has been replaced. It features Hotchkis lowering springs. 2 inch in the rear and 1 inch in the front. The car had a rake to it I didn't like so I replaced the rears with an extra inch to level the car out. It now sits around and inch or so lowered and looks plain Badass. UMI tubular control arms and A-arms are at the four corners. Hotchkis anti sway bars have been added as well. KYB gas shocks round it out. The anti sway bar in the front is 1 7/8ths. The car handles very well.

Brakes: Brakes are stock disc in front and drum in rear. They are in excellent condition and stop very well. The system was bled last summer with the fluid changed.

Engine: The motor is an Olds 455ci. It has: An Edelbrock head, intake, and cam package that features aluminum heads, Air Gap intake, and .525 lift cam. MSD Billet distributor and MSD 6A box with MSD plug wires. Holley 780 square bore, double pump carb, 7 quart Moroso Oil Pan. The bottom end has: Cast crank, forged rods, forged pistons. Approx 10.5 to 1 comp. Adjustable valve train with poly locks. I have run the motor for 3000 plus miles with no valve adjustment necessary. See the dyno sheet in the attachments. The dyno line is squiggly because the car was breaking the tires loose on the dyno. As for HP and Torque production, take into account the car was measured on a Mustang Dyno. They tend to run on the low side vs a Dynojet. Not making excuses, it just is what it is. Once again, watch the video.

Transmission: The car is running a Tremec 5 Speed purchased as a kit by Keisler Inc. It is an SS600 set up. It comes with a custom trans cross member and driveshaft. It runs an 11 1/2 inch diameter Centerforce Dual Friction clutch with about 3000 miles on it. We needed to modify the trans tunnel but not as you would notice. The trans has a .64 5th gear overdrive that makes it Tach at 2200 RPM at 75 MPH on the highway. This car is truly a driver. Comes off the line hard and quick but can be driven to and from the track on the highway. Remember your old 4.11 geared car? This is the best of both worlds.

Rear End: The car is running a GM 12 Bolt Posi with 3.73 gears. The man who built it for me told me to keep it if I sell the car. It's that stout. It has about 7000 miles on it, and just like the rest of the underside, it is clean x clean.

Cooling:Thiscar has a Be Cool Radiator and twin Spal fans. The car runs at 180 degrees no matter what temperature is outside. I have run the car in 100 degree heat and 10 degree cold. It always runs at 180. There is no threat of overheating which is a common situation with older musclecars. The aluminum radiator is THAT efficient. It runs exactly as you would want it to.

Exhaust: The car has long tube headers of what manufacture I know not. I can't remember who makes them and they're not marked. They are of high quality alumi coat. No rusting or pitting. Between the header and the exhaust I put in the Flowmaster ball/flange connectors. They seal with no leaks and do not use gaskets. Like a new car's exhaust. Same set up.The exhaust has 2 1/2 pipe throughout with Flowmaster 40s and H pipe. Stock chrome exhaust Trumpets exit through the bumper. Tough. Go to the video to hear it.

Underneath the Car: As you can see from the pics, the car is clean x clean. The gas tank looks nearly new and there is zero rust on any of the original floor panels. The frame is in perfect condition with no rust or bends. All suspension components have a couple thousand miles on them and are like new.

OAI Set Up: The car is NOT an original RamRod car. Let me make that very clear. There were I think 602 of them made and this is NOT one of them nor am I trying to pass it off as one. However, the previous owner wanted a clone of one. So he added the RamRod decals on the front fenders and the OAI Set Up. The OAI Set Up is in perfect shape. The scoops are fiberglass and have zero cracks or scrapes. All the bracketry and hoses are perfect. The air cleaner is a repop I purchased last year to replace one that was made from a single snorkel. Perfect condition.

Red Fenderwells? These repopped W-30 fenderwells were on the car when I bought it. They of course don't belong on the car. They should be black. I think they look cool and are a great topic of conversation. Lots of opinions at car shows. Just like the side strip and RamRod decals, I left them alone.

Overall: Take a look at the appraisal and the pictures and watch the videos. This car is nearly perfect. I drove the wheels off it for 12 summers and had a blast with it. It sounds, rides, handles, accelerates, brakes, better than the best 442 ever made. After the car was finished many years ago, all I've had to do is put gas in it and change the oil. Anyone can drive this car. The clutch is not too stiff nor too easy. Everything works like it came from the factory as it should. It has only 70k on it. That is original mileage BTW. The speedo has not rolled over as in 170k. Check it out and if you have questions, message me. You won't be disappointed with this car.