1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham

Throughout history, the Oldsmobile story has inspired many automotive historians with its rich and celebrated heritage which started right in Michigan's capital city of Lansing.  I remember a particularly exciting year in 1978 when Oldsmobile introduced their new line of vehicles and automotive catalogues to the buying public.  My first impression was that Oldsmobile was using 1978 to create a family-oriented lineup of new cars.  The company used its advertising and marketing to highlight many traditional family values along with luxury and engineering to sell their new products.  For example, during the late 1970s, the Oldsmobile Cutlass models became very popular among the motoring public. I remember several family members at the time who had purchased a new 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Many of them were very satisfied and excited.  The Cutlass Supreme model offered the consumer a classic formal roofline design, although engineers had completely redesigned the mid-size Cutlass for 1978. The new Cutlass offered more fuel-efficient mileage for the driver and excellent riding comfort and handling for the passengers when traveling.  The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a completely redesigned intermediate model that became the centerpiece for the division's lineup for 1978.

For consignment, an all original, 2 owner, 68,758 title verified actual mile example of the 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme Brougham.  It is presented in the factory applied light green and is a Landau topped version.  The car was purchased from the original owner, a doctor, who kept it garaged most of the time and comes with not only the original pink slip but a set of 4 Oldsmobile Super Stock II wheels should you want to give the car a more muscular look.  

Exterior
Bathed in the factory applied light green, we note some light overall fading to the finish but no rust is seen on the body, including the lowers.  It uses the chrome for the split waterfall grilles and a shiny chrome bumper with a black rub strip resides below.   Rectangular headlamps flank the grille and are within chrome pods that also house the signal lights.  A gun sighted Olds badged header panel butts up the the centrally peaked hood as it leads back to the rearward raked windshield.  Clean and shiny stainless trimmings encase the glass all around and a matchy matchy light green vinyl Landau top graces the rear 1/3rd of the roof.  A slight pinstripe makes an appearance in darker green that nicely follows the undulating body belt line.  Lighter Light Green takes over for the slab sided square and rectangle steel with well minded gaps on this wonderfully preserved example.  Standard issue ventilated and polished wheel covers in 14-inch format  are wrapped in like new thin whitewall radials and our consignor notes that a set of 4 Olds Super Stock II wheels are included with the purchase, but will need to be painted to match the body.  

Interior
More matching green is the color for the interior and it encompasses not only the seats and carpet but the dash, door panels, and headliner.   A combination of light and dark green broadcloth draws your eyes to the seating which are pillow top buckets up front and a rear full bench, all of which have virtually no marks or stains and certainly no rips or tears.  Dark green buttoned pillow style padding makes up the inserts and a lighter green smooth broadcloth covers the bolsters and central folding armrest.  The door panels are very clean vinyl and dark green broadcloth coverings with all working toggles for the power windows, locks and for the exterior mirror.  A  medium green vinyl padded dash covers the top and helps to create the rectangle pod that holds the factory silver face gauges and warning lamps within an applique field.  Dash central holds twin square pods with more applique around the rear defogger switch as well as and the factory AM/FM radio and heater/AC slides.  A standard GM Oldsmobile steering wheel fronts the dash.  Original dark green carpet, showing very well, floats the all original interior and a sagged green broadcloth headliner is above all this originality.

Drivetrain
Taking a gaze into the engine bay one sees the factory installed engine under a litany of hoses, ducting and wiring.  This is a 260ci V8 engine with a single 2-barrel carburetor on top.  GM corporate blue dresses the block, heads, intake and valve covers and a black single snout air cleaner gives some nice contrast.  A 350 Turbo 3-speed automatic transmission is on back and a 10-bolt 2.29 rear axle finishes the drivetrain up nicely.  The engine is well detailed and just a slight bit of dust and some minor corrosion can be seen throughout.

Undercarriage
Up on the lift we can see the meat of the operation from underside, we note power steering, power front disc brakes along with power drums on the rear.  Single exhaust with a stock style muffler along with the usual suspects having some surface rust.  The frame is sturdy, as are rockers and floor pans.  Independent suspension with coil springs provide the ride in front, and a 4 link with coil springs have the rear covered.

Drive-Ability
I love test driving malaise era cars, mainly due to growing up with these all around me on the road, and this one left me with a smile on my face.  It fired right up, idled smoothly, and offered up a very smooth ride with nice acceleration and decent handling.  All functions, with the exception of the AC blowing warm and the brake pedal being a bit soft were indeed…functioning.  

The 1978 Cutlass Supreme is easily the nicest A-Body car that General Motors ever produced due to it not looking like anything else on the road.  This example with all its originality puts you in the position where you could not ask for anything else…well…you could, for it to be in your garage.   An almost new 45-year-old car, now that's something to be said.

3M47F82490503

3-Oldsmobile
M-Cutlass Supreme Brougham
47-2 Door Notchback Hardtop Coupe
F-260ci 2bbl V8
8-1978
2=St. Therese, Quebec, Canada Assy Plant
490503-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.