SEMA 2022 – 1970 Cutlass SX 455

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Cameron Tunstall

Brought to us by T&D Motorsports this extremely rare 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass SX 455 convertible is something I would have expected to find at our local Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction.

Originally ordered by Rice Oldsmobile in Fort Wayne, IN this piece of classic Detroit design was purchased by Tim Leffler for $4,283.00 and he has owned it ever since. It still features the original drivetrain and has only 32,000 miles on the odometer.

The SX is a small footnote in Oldsmobile history. Essentially you could order a Cutlass that contained some of what made the 442 great with the impressive torque of the 455 cubic inch Olds mill. What kept it from being a true 442? No four-speed transmission, instead optioning with the automatic and a lesser ring and pinion set in the rear. You also sadly gave up the four-barrel carburetor, instead opting for a two-barrel unit. Dual exhaust however remained intact. I guess 232 didn’t have the same marketing oomph that the performance moniker had, and as a result we ended up with “SX”

To someone accustomed to seeing the top performance models showcased at a car show, perhaps an automatic, 2-bbl, convertible Cutlass isn’t ideal performance… But it sure beats the 307 V8 that was found in every RWD Olds product 20 years later.

1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Studebaker Replica

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Trevor Freeman

The thing about special cars is that there are more people in the world who would like to own one than there are cars available. For this reason, a lot of people convert their production cars into a “replica”, “tribute” or “clone” car.

For example, it’s common to see car owners take a base model 1960s Camaro or Chevelle and add the SS trim package, even though the car was not originally built as a Super Sport model. Buying a genuine Super Sport Chevy costs a lot more than a base model, so many aspiring car owners will create their own version. With a few bits of trim, some badges, and the right wheels, an 80s Buick Regal can easily become a T-Type clone, or a 90s Chevy Caprice can become an Impala SS. And generally, I don’t have a problem with that.

What is unusual is for a person to take a vehicle and make it into a tribute to a completely different type of car entirely. That’s what we are featuring today. Continue reading →

Just Hop On The 101

Posted on May 10, 2016 by bryan lusk

While digging around the comment areas of various Facebook groups I have determined that the driver was likely not drunk, just trying to show off, with some of the other cars being ‘spotters’ and not civilian traffic. While it’s still incredibly dangerous it’s somewhat relieving to know that at least few precautions were taken. I’m not sure the benefit/risk ratio would have made it worth my while though.

Barrett-Jackson 2016: 1969 Olds F-85 W31

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Cameron Tunstall

So this is one of those cars where you wonder if at first it could actually be real. The seller attempted to advertise it as a Cutlass/f-85 but really that’s like calling Chevrolet’s platform twin a Chevelle/Malibu. This is an f-85, which was the name for the base model of Oldmobile’s A-body car.

To most people this is just another old muscle car. To the slightly more “initiated”, they might say it’s just another variation of the platform shared by the aforementioned Malibu, the Skylark or the Tempest. For the rest of us, the w-31 emblazoned on the fender says a little bit more.

How much more? How about 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and a factory rated 325hp, same as the 396 BBC found in the Chevelle. Look closely under the bumpers and you’ll see ram air scoops designed to shove cool outside air directly into the engine via snorkel tubes. This a design that is still found on modern cars today.

To find a combination of the base trim car with the high performance motor is really intriguing. More intriguing though is the car itself. Let your eyes be the judge.

1965 Oldsmobile Starfire Hardtop Coupe

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Trevor Freeman

Back in the early 1960s, Oldsmobile wanted to build a full size sports-luxury coupe to compete with the Ford Thunderbird. They came up with the Starfire, which borrowed its name from the Lockheed F-94 airplane of the same name. Known for its tremendous speed, the F-94 was the first US production jet to come with an afterburner.

Oldsmobile’s Starfire was based on the Eighty-Eight and when it went into production in 1961, it was the most powerful and most expensive car they offered. What made this car special was its 425 cubic inch (7.0L) Rocket V8 engine, which was only used in the Starfire and the Jetstar. With a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor, the engine put out an easy 370 horsepower.

Continue reading →