1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass - Unconditional Love

 

 

 

 

  

It's hard to understand the appeal of two door cars today. That's a dyed in the vinyl interior, unconditional lover of coupes, "coupe guy" saying that too. If they were just fashion statements and sold in small numbers it would be somewhat fathomable to comprehend their appeal but coupes, actually, two door sedans, sold in tremendous numbers forty, fifty years ago. So much so that in many instances they out sold their much more practical but much less stylish (opinion) four door versions.

 

 

What's the appeal of coupes? I grew up with them so it's all I know and love, again, unconditionally. I just think they're cool. People are fickle, though and automobiles are expensive to develop; when a particular type of  automobile sells well, manufacturers have a tendency to keep selling that type of vehicle long after that fashion trend boat has sailed. GM built this same car, literally and figuratively through 1997. A time when foreign competition had kicked the beans out of GM and the sedan and SUV had surpassed coupes as acceptable fashion statements.

 

 

I love these cars in all the iterations even if some of their updates, like the 1973 model here, weren't as attractive, as some say, as others. That's my unconditional love shining through again right there. The shrink wrap was being peeled off this now much maligned, bigger in every way you can think of 1973 Cutlass (made through 1977) as our featured '72 was driven off the assembly line.

In 1972, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was one of the best selling nameplates in America; it's easy to see why when we put on our Archie Bunker era, rose colored glasses. Striking good looks and value blended together with a fair amount of prestige. Not too much prestige, mind you. Just enough to impresses the Joneses without them thinking you've lost your financial good sense that got you in the position to afford an Oldsmobile in the first place. This is an Oldsmobile after all, not a Cadillac.

 

  

The takeaway on this particular car is its general sad condition. It looks like it needs everything. From the looks of it I wouldn't hold my breath that it runs any better than it looks too. If it runs like a top there's a certain cache to it; you have to love a rat rod. However, what's with this front end on this thing? 

 

 

After much work to decipher why the hood appears to go in one direction while the grill goes in another, I've determined that this car has been in an accident and someone found disparate parts of Cutlass' and attempted to bolt it altogether and hope for the best. If it fits, it works, right!? At least someone went through the effort to repair what ever it was that was wrong with this car. Even if the grill is from a '69 and the hood from a '71. I think it looks just fine but then again I love this car unconditionally.