Exterior
Repainted in its original color of Matador Red, the paint is looking good with its body contour following painted on pinstriping, but does have a few issues on the lower panels. Here we note a few runs, inclusions, evidence of prior body work and a few areas of invasive rust peeking through the finish. A perfectly aligned split grille and dual headlights with a pristine bumper below which continues the grille opening and houses round signal/running lights is below. Shiny trimmings show up all over this car and work in conjunction with the pinstripe to accentuate the forward moving form of this car. These include wheel well trim, rocker trim, lower beltline spear and window trimmings are all looking great. Steel panels are straight save for the aforementioned issues and have well minded gaps. Covering the expansive roof is a clean and crisp white vinyl roof with B-pillar C/S emblems all looking showroom fresh. Bringing up the rear is a beautiful V formed rear bumper with a series of 6 square inset tail lights on each side. Newer Hankook thin white wall tires wrap 14 inch turbine style wheel covers which have raised centers to emulate a rocket tail. "And now we see not just another pretty car."
Interior
Opening the large well balanced doors we shake hands with a wonderful door panel on either side these have white vinyl surrounding an island of wood applique which houses the leather door pull and just below are white armrests which have the door actuator. Offsetting the white is a strip of black carpeting just below. Slipping inside we get behind the original wheel which fronts a very clean and original dash. This presents to us in black and is loaded with plenty of wood applique for the gauge cluster. Fronting this dash is a wonderfully clean split back bench front seat which is tuck and roll white vinyl and has a central fold up and down armrest. The back has an equally beautiful and clean rear bench, and these all float in a sea of black flawless carpeting. A shout out to the trunk with its wonderful plaid mat, vinyl spare tire cover and speckle finished sides. Sit back and turn on the factory AM radio with an 8-track player and breathe in the 1972 design you are now surrounded by! "Nothing to watch but the road.."
Drivetrain
A pop of the hood which has new insulation on the underside and you will be in numbers matching 350ci V8 Rocket engine gold painted heaven! There is a 4-barrel Rochester carb atop and a numbers matching TH350 automatic transmission on back. And lest we forget it has a 10-bolt rear with a 2.73 gear ratio. "The power of intelligent engineering."
Undercarriage
Nice and straight with some undercoating and bits of surface rust on the usual suspects, but the frame and flooring is strong and sturdy. Power drum brakes are seen all around and providing the quality Oldsmobile ride is an independent coil sprung front suspension and a 4 link and coil spring arrangement in the rear. Handling the exhale is a single exhaust system that remains solid as its snakes its way rearward from the Rocket mill.
Drive-Ability
As it looks, it performs and this car was a pleasure to drive and experience. All buttoned up and a quick warm up and I gently pushed the accelerator to the floor and took off with rocket like acceleration. Smooth shifting, bias free panic stopping and a comfy cruise without even breaking a sweat, and the only issue that crept up was a non working clock. "In man's search for a new measure of excellence..."
An extremely nice example from the year 1972. Cared for and garaged, a very clean car with a great Matador Red outside and black and white inside with most surfaces in very nice condition. Nearly like a new penny, turn the key and start enjoying 1972 all over again.
3J57K2M177606
3-Oldsmobile
J-Cutlass Standard
57-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
K-350ci V8 4bbl
2-1972
M-Lansing, MI Assy Plant
177606-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 72 34257-1972 Cutlass Supreme 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY LAN374253-Lansing Body #
TR 977-White Vinyl Split Bench
PNT 75A-Matador Red, White Top
02B-2nd Week February
A65-Spit Bench Seat
B85-Chrome Door Sill Moldings