Looking for 1978-1980 Cutlass Calais

[dgmeadows]

My plans to get another like my first car got sidetracked due to teenage kids financial needs coming first, but I am now back in the hunt.

I am looking for a 1978-1980 Cutlass Calais (my avatar pic is my original 1979).

Hoping for T-Tops, but will consider non-T-top cars. Running is not critical, as I would intend to upgrade engine & transmission anyway. A nice rust free non-running car stored in a dark dry environment would be ideal (yeah, I know, dream on.)

I am in Georgia, but don't mind paying to ship the right car at the right price.

 

[LeftLaneOnly]

waited 8 years for this one bought it Oct31 2020 there out there

 

[L.A.X-RATED]

Rust free original 1978 1 of 168 ttop,v8,console,bucket,floor shift CALAIS with 69k original miles on 261/powerglide---7k shipped.pm if ready to buy.

 

[dgmeadows]

Rust free original 1978 1 of 168 ttop,v8,console,bucket,floor shift CALAIS with 69k original miles on 261/powerglide---7k shipped.pm if ready to buy.

PM sent, please shoot me some pics, sounds like a good possibility.

 

[dgmeadows]

I never received any pics or response, so still looking.

 

[dgmeadows]

I found one !

 

[Rktpwrd]

Congratulations! Looks like you’ve found a nice clean example. I have a soft spot for these cars, I own 2 1980’s myself.

 

[dgmeadows]

Congratulations! Looks like you’ve found a nice clean example. I have a soft spot for these cars, I own 2 1980’s myself.

After looking for several months, I was finding few units in very good condition, and those that were the sellers tended to be very optimistic in their pricing - like the $15K asking price on a black 79 Calais that has been on Ebay for months. I was very lucky to catch this one on the day it was posted on Craigslist - 39,000 miles, dry stored for the last 30+ years. She's not perfect, paint will need some TLC and touch up, but frame is great and interior is extremely good, except for droopy half-headliner behind the T-Tops. I am going to tick off some purists by changing drivetrain on a 39,000 mile survivor, but the diesel is a slug. Given that even the Hurst Olds in 79 only had 190 HP, I had already decided that I was looking for best structural condition first and foremost - no frame rust, then body condition, then interior condition, and drivetrain was last as I intended to change it anyway. Thankfully, I found this one that checks all boxes, is a color I like, even has T-Tops, and the seller was another Olds guy who had a reasonable perspective on the price. I am hoping to have it in for engine & trans swap by the end of this month.

 

[83StreetMachine]

Awesome car! Definitely start a build thread with lots of pics.

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that a diesel?

 

[dgmeadows]

Awesome car! Definitely start a build thread with lots of pics.

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that a diesel?

Yep, it's a diesel, but not for much longer.