This car is a true 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350 F85 sport coupe with a VIN to back it up.
By 1970, American muscle cars had fully matured with such rides as the high horsepower Chevy Chevelle, GTO Judge and Hemi ’Cuda.By this time, insurance companies had started to realize that these “race-ready” machines coming from Detroit didn’t jive with the low premiums that they were charging. All of that changed quickly and the future new emissions standards and required unleaded fuel slowed any more development of the big-block V-8 powered American muscle car.To skirt the new higher insurance premiums, Detroit decided to build smaller, less powerful muscle cars. These new cars included the Dodge Dart 340, Pontiac GTO, and the fully dressed-up, 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350 with its eye-popping Sebring Yellow paint from front to rear.
This new Oldsmobile Cutlass was designed to compete with other performance appearance packages added to intermediate priced cars and was introduced February 18, 1970 at the Chicago Auto Show.
The 350 Rallye model consisted of an option package with Goodyear G70-14 Polyglas blackwall tires wrapped around 14×7 inch factory Super Stock II Rallye wheels, a fiberglass hood with dual working scoops, a blacked-out grille, a custom rallye sport steering wheel, custom rallye sport mirrors, heavy-duty FE2 Rallye suspension with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, a dual exhaust system, and a rear deck air spoiler, all included in a real Rallye 350 such as this very special example.
Also included was a special high-compression 350 small-block V-8 engine making 310hp with a Ram Air Induction system, a four-barrel carburetor, heavy-duty radiator, a heavy-duty Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission with a floor-mounted shifter, an anti-spin limited-slip differential with 3.91 gears, variable-ratio power steering, and power drum brakes at each corner. No air conditioning was allowed when ordering the car with the 3.91 ratio.
This car is a true 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Rallye 350 F85 sport coupe with a VIN to back it up. Stuart Goldberg, the owner, purchased the car on eBay. It was shipped from Chicago to his home in South Florida. The car was originally purchased in Waco, Texas.
This genuine Oldsmobile Cutlass 350 Rallye has all of the matching numbers that are seen on the rear side window and the order sheet that Stuart provided. After he received the car, he had Cruisers Motor Works & Body Shop in Delray Beach, Florida, do a full restoration. Pinstriping was beautifully executed by Phoenix Graphics.
Just like on the outside and under the skin, the interior is factory original, but Stuart switched out the factory radio for a more modern AM-FM radio unit, and changed the gauges by installing a tachometer with a clock to the right on the instrument cluster. The seats are the originals from the factory. Cruisers replaced the front and rear lamps by fabricating new units. Most of the replacement pieces were sourced from Parts Place in Chicago.
One other notable item is the Waldron Variable Sound System for the dual exhaust that Stuart asked Cruisers to install. This system allows the driver to vary the sound of the exhaust note by pulling a stainless steel thumbscrew up or down. It is located just to the right of the emergency brake release handle.
Stuart had the car appraised for insurance purposes and it was appraised as a “#1” car. The appraiser, with many years of experience, said it was “one of the cleanest ones he has ever seen.” He then appraised it for $68,000.
What a wild ride!
