BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,152
23,828
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hey everyone, welcome to the documentation of Project "Olds Cool", a(nother) 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais of mine.

First, a little about the name:
In my own quirky way, I have a bit of a soft spot for puns. Everyone thinks they're cheap and low brow humour, but I tend to appreciate the thought and intelligence that goes into a good pun.

I came up with the name "Olds Cool" several years ago out of the blue thinking about the shortened version of Oldsmobile, "Olds".

In case it's not already painfully obvious, "Olds Cool" said quickly sounds like "old school". A perfect reference to the direction and build for this car, not to mention my personal experiences. Being in my mid-forties, I tend to be somewhat "old school" myself!
:rolleyes:

As many of you are already familiar with on here, my pride and joy (and sometimes the bane of my existence) is another 1980 Olds Cutlass, affectionately referred to as "The Juggernaut".
While the 'Naut has and will continue to be the main focus of my automotive passion for the foreseeable future, after 7 or 8 years of having it off the road and missing out on a large part of the hobby, I was jonesing to get back behind the wheel of a G body again.

Browsing through the local online classifieds one evening, I came across an ad for the car. It was a white 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 2 door coupe, and was listed for $1000 CDN obo. The pictures of the car looked remarkably good, so I figured at the very least it beared further investigation for that price.

After contacting and arranging a time to meet the seller, I went to go inspect the car. Not being my first picnic and well aware of the trouble areas on G bodies, I gave it a thorough going over. To be honest, my first impressions were pretty disappointing. While areas like the floor pans and rear framerails were good, the car had been neglected for quite some time.

The car had been poorly repainted at some point in its life, the finish was not only dull and oxidized, but every square in of it was covered in tree sap from being parked in his back yard. The driver's door had the typical sag, the vinyl roof was torn and tattered, the interior was filthy, the carpet faded almost white from the sun, headlights burnt out and so on.

Being an original Calais model tho, the car was extremely well optioned. Buckets, console, rallye pac gauges and steering wheel, air, tilt, cruise, power trunk release etc. The rallye wheels even still had all their trim rings and center caps.

Not wanting to offend the seller by not at least test driving the car, we set out for a spin. Yet more disappointments awaited here. While smooth and reliable during part-throttle cruising, opening of the fours rewarded the me with horrible surging and loud back firing through the carburetor. Hmm. Not good.

Returning to the seller's house, I reluctantly offered him my "best price".
$800, take it or leave it.
I figured I could get at least that back out of it in parts if I had to. Knowing full well that the car needed some work, the seller accepted and the deal was struck. As a bonus however, the seller included a brand new carpet kit still in the box in the trunk. A lovely parting gift I suppose!

Here is the car as it arrived at my garage that afternoon:

IMG_2109.JPG


IMG_2110.JPG


IMG_2111.JPG


IMG_2112.JPG


IMG_2113.JPG


IMG_2114.JPG


Interior:
IMG_2107.JPG


IMG_2106.JPG


The car pretty much screamed "old man's car", with its white wall tires, cheeseball mudflaps, body side impact strips, and fender mounted cornering lamp option. The car wasn't home 10 minutes, and the mudflaps and impact strips were outta there!

"Hmm. Maybe I can work with this "old man's car vibe" in my favour. This might make a great sleeper...!"

In addition to the somewhat rare fender mounted cornering lamp option, this car also had an Astro Roof, the first factory installed one I had ever seen on a G body. Better yet, it still worked and didn't leak!

IMG_2103.JPG


IMG_2105.JPG


That's it for now guys, to be continued...

Donovan
 
  • Like
Reactions: 11 users

85442/86buick

G-Body Guru
Feb 12, 2013
746
1,118
93
Perth Country , Ontario
what a deal for $ 800 CDN. including a new carpet , nice grouping of options.

Dave
 
  • Agree
Reactions: 1 user

Bar50

Royal Smart Person
Jan 1, 2009
1,180
870
113
Tulsa, OK
Looks pretty solid.

Tune up and paint the wheels, call it good? Maybe add some good exhaust... if it were mine anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

pontiacgp

blank
Mar 31, 2006
29,270
20,391
113
Kitchener, Ontario
when you read the title of the thread it sounds like Project Old School which would also be a fitting title ....wondering if you did that on purpose...:p
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Injectedcutty

G body LS mafia
Nov 24, 2014
6,057
22,807
113
Louisville, KY
Looks pretty solid.

Tune up and paint the wheels, call it good? Maybe add some good exhaust... if it were mine anyway.
It doesn't look like that anymore! Donovan is a great story teller and is getting everybody up to speed with how it looks now, which is super clean!

I'm sure once the flames die off from his thumbs he will add more to the saga!

D, I'm tuned in and i know others are as well!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,152
23,828
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
It doesn't look like that anymore! Donovan is a great story teller and is getting everybody up to speed with how it looks now, which is super clean!

I'm sure once the flames die off from his thumbs he will add more to the saga!

D, I'm tuned in and i know others are as well!

Scott is correct!
I'm just getting started on the documentation, the car has already undergone a bit of a transformation. What is posted above is just the introduction and history of purchasing the car, that was roughly 2 years ago as of writing this.

Patience please my friends, the good stuff is still to come!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

O. D. Showtime

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 6, 2009
3,007
3,527
113
Regina Sask. Canada
I'll be watching this one halfheartedly Donovan, when I saw this car listed I was getting things in order to come out to look at it. The 78-80 Cutlass would be my first choice for my next Gbody. When I saw you post that you picked it up my heart sank, this was pretty much everything I wanted in the next car I picked up.

I think it's going to hurt me to watch this one but I'll try.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Informative
Reactions: 2 users

Rktpwrd

Builder of Cool Shjt
Supporting Member
Feb 2, 2015
4,152
23,828
113
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
when you read the title of the thread it sounds like Project Old School which would also be a fitting title ....wondering if you did that on purpose...:p

Yes, that was totally done on purpose Steve. You might want to go back and read the 3rd and 4th paragraphs where I alluded to the intended pun!
;)
 

Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
113
Spring, Texas
Really enjoyed the first post. The car presented itself really well in the pictures. It didn't look nearly as bad as you described. When did you buy it Donovan? Summer of '15?
 

Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
113
Spring, Texas
I'll be watching this one half halfheartedly Donovan, when I saw this car listed I was getting things in order to come out to look at it. The 78-80 Cutlass would be my first choice for my next Gbody. When I saw you post that you picked it up my heart sank, this was pretty much everything I wanted in the next car I picked up.

I think it's going to hurt me to watch this one but I'll try.
At least you know it went to a good home Kevin.
 

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor