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Greetings all. I recently purchased and began restoration of a 69 Cutlass S convertible 4 speed. This is the first Olds I've owned in 40 years. Looking forward to the comraderie and banter with fellow Olds owners about these awesome cars. Best Wishes, Brad
Welcome. There are lots of helpful folks here with lots of knowledge. That is a neat car you bought. How about sharing some pictures. Everybody here loves pictures.
Thanks for the reply, I'll send some pics as soon as I figure out how. It is a non-console car with the tall Hurst shifter. Appears original. I guess the S model was available with the Hurst 4 speed, but could have been added later. Has a 350
Welcome! About 45 yrs ago My wife’s first car was a 68 cutlass S hardtop, 4 speed, posi, 350 4 barrel. The base of the shifter had a large H stamped on it. The car was all original. It was not a ram rod car.
Welcome! About 45 yrs ago My wife’s first car was a 68 cutlass S hardtop, 4 speed, posi, 350 4 barrel. The base of the shifter had a large H stamped on it. The car was all original. It was not a ram rod car.
Really, that is exactly like this one. It is a non-console model with the big H on the side. I'm wondering if it's original
Thanks for your replies. The cowl plate shows it as originally a 50 A which I guess is cameo white and originally a white top. And blue vinyl interior. I really wonder about this 4 speed whether it's original or not. There's no gear indicator on the Speedo gauge and dash looks original. Steering column with no sign of auto shift attachment on column looks original
I just saw the picture of your white 68. I wish I could say mine is in the condition yours is! I love the black vertical stripe. was that factory back in the day?
The black vertical stripe was an option (W36) for the 4-4-2 in '68. Mine is original to the car and not many had them back then. What you see nowadays, though, is that many now have them but, during restoration, they didn't move the numbers to the correct location for the stripe. For the stripe, the 4-4-2 numbers are actually located further aft and down from the position of the numbers on cars that didn't originally come with the stripe. You will see pictures of '68 4-4-2 cars with the stripe that doesn't look centered between the back part of the wheel opening in the fender and the back edge of the fender - it appears too far forward - and those stripes have been added without repositioning the numbers.
Welcome aboard. Four speed cars in '69 got an anti-theft back-drive system that most people refer to as 'reverse lock out'. It was a linkage which tied the steering column to the trans forcing you to put the transmission in reverse in order to turn the key to the off position and remove it from the column. The gear selector was then locked in the reverse position while the car was not running. Does your car have this feature? It's entirely possible some of the parts were disconnected or removed over the years so the absence of it doesn't necessarily prove your car wasn't an original 4-speed.
I havent had a chance to delve into the steering column but here is a picture of the floorboard when we had the body off the frame to do some rust repair. Does the opening for the shifter look the way it would for the factory non-console Hurst install? Or converted later from a floor shift automatic
Welcome aboard. Four speed cars in '69 got an anti-theft back-drive system that most people refer to as 'reverse lock out'. It was a linkage which tied the steering column to the trans forcing you to put the transmission in reverse in order to turn the key to the off position and remove it from the column. The gear selector was then locked in the reverse position while the car was not running. Does your car have this feature? It's entirely possible some of the parts were disconnected or removed over the years so the absence of it doesn't necessarily prove your car wasn't an original 4-speed.
Thanks for your info I appreciate it. I sent a picture of the floorboard on the thread. Did you happen to see it? Can you tell from the picture if that might have been an original manual trans in the car. Or maybe it was converted from an automatic on the floor
if original to your car, there will be a vin derivative on the left side of the trans case. With a non console manual floor shift, the only gear indicators will be on the shift ball, which was black only. But a lot of guys like the white ball, and changed them over the years, so that is no indication of it being original or not. Youe steering wheel is from 1972/73.
Thanks for the info you provided earlier. Here is the floorboard when we had the body off the frame for some rust repair. Does the opening for the non-console hurst shifter appear original? I was told for the non-console manual there was no shift hump. Any insight is appreciated
Thanks for the info you provided earlier. Here is the floorboard when we had the body off the frame for some rust repair. Does the opening for the non-console hurst shifter appear original? I was told for the non-console manual there was no shift hump. Any insight is appreciated
There is just something too cool about the floor hole on a factory four speed car.
Thanks no 1. I was told by my classic car expert buddy that it was not original because it didn't have the "hump". But then was told from a different source that with the non console car it could be original. Who cares it's a 4 speed now! By the way do you have an Olds now?
I don't. My life has been crazy busy 24/7 for too long. I have kids and grandkids. More on the way. I really really want a 70 Supreme. I sold my wagon to my brother because I just have no time or space. I am an Oldsmobile fan from day one. I Will get the car I want. Just too busy right now. Grandbaby coming in October.
Congrats on the grandbaby on the way! Yes I heard you love the 70 sx. Those were beautiful cars. The peak of olds styling if you ask me. Best Wishes. Brad
Thanks no 1. I was told by my classic car expert buddy that it was not original because it didn't have the "hump". But then was told from a different source that with the non console car it could be original. Who cares it's a 4 speed now! By the way do you have an Olds now?
That's definitely an original 69 MT hump (pre 70 MT cars had a very shallow hump). I'm not sure what the notch in it is, that isn't original. Maybe someone put a different shifter bracket in it at some point. It was never a console car because it doesn't have any console brackets or any sign that it ever had them. A 69 MT non-console and console car got the same hump. If you look under the car the actual hole in the floor below the hump looks like it was cut with a torch. FWIW it looks like someone added bucket seat brackets. I don't remember the originals having sealer around them. The cowl tag will tell you if it's an original bucket seat interior
I see someone has done the "cage nut access trick" by taking a hole saw to the floor above it. I had to do the same thing with mine.
FWIW your car also could have started it's life as a 3 speed MT. The VIN derivative on the trans will tell you for sure
Last edited by allyolds68; August 29th, 2023 at 11:50 AM.
thanks for that analysys. The trim code does indicate a blue vinyl interior with bucket seats. Also as a point of interest there is no PRNDL indicator on the dash and no sign of a steering column conversion from an automatic. Dash, brake and clutch pedals all seem to have beat up patina you would expect from a 50 year old car. Interestingly it does have a 70 steering wheel. And the steering column is black in a blue interior. Do you know if that would have been blue originally in a blue interior? It has the Hurst shifter with large H on the side
..... It has the Hurst shifter with large H on the side
Which is correct for a non-442 car. The same shifter was used in 69 for console or no console. I don't have a 69 assembly manual but for 68 the shifter ball should have the shift pattern (3 or 4 speed) on it for a non-console car. 69 is likely the same except it may say "lock" over the R in reverse (backdrive linkage was added in 69)
Last edited by allyolds68; August 30th, 2023 at 05:15 AM.
Doesn't have reverse lockout. Thanks again for the info. By the way that is a beautiful 68 convertible. If you don't mind me asking why the rip better it than me on the other cutlass
April 8th, 2023, 08:58 AM
