Restored Magazine Featured Rallye 350 350 V8 4 Speed Manual 3.42 Axle Factory AC

SUMMARY

* Awarded Best of Class at the 1995 Oldsmobile Club of America Nationals
* Featured in the September, 1998 issue of Muscle Car Review Magazine
* Original 350 cubic inch Rocket V8 / Professionally rebuilt
* Correct Rallye suspension / Powder-coated chassis
* Correct Sebring Yellow paint / Correct Styled Steel II wheels
* Correct Black interior / Factory Frigidaire air conditioning
* Sale includes restoration receipts and a copy of the car's Muscle Car Review feature article
* Muncie 4-speed manual transmission
* 12-bolt rear axle / Limited-slip differential / 3.42 gears
* Factory power steering / Factory power front disc and rear drum brakes

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Given the long-term popularity of GM A-bodies, it's hard to find a factory-correct example that truly stands out. Sure, you can go the LS5 or LS6 Chevelle route, but the best bowties will set you back a small house or two. And the same goes for the most desirable members of Buick's GS family and Pontiac's GTO line. Well, what if we said you could take home a magazine-featured, national award-winning example of a limited production A-body, which many GM enthusiasts aren't even aware of, for under $40K? That's probably enough to get your undivided attention, right? In addition to being a loud, broad-shouldered hunk of the rocket division's best metal, this Oldsmobile is 1 of just 3,547 Cutlass Rallye 350s ever produced. Restored with an acute attention to detail, the car features a roster of correct parts that range from an original engine all the way down to a sorted FE2 suspension. And best of all, these qualities exist within a balanced, fun-to-drive classic that doesn't require a second mortgage!

HISTORY/CREATION

Historically, the Rallye 350 is a pretty interesting piece. The Big Three seemed to understand that the muscle-car era was a bubble that would eventually be popped by rising insurance costs and increased government regulation. And in the case of Oldsmobile, prolonging the inevitable meant creating a fun, affordable car that was capable of turning heads using a rather conservative small block.

To ramp up appeal, Olds compiled various trim pieces into a unique visual package that's highlighted by Sebring Yellow paint and very aggressive striping. Up front, a black, silver-trimmed grille, borrowed from the Cutlass S, rides between a urethane-coated bumper and pinned 442 W25 hood. Styled Steel II wheels join painted sport mirrors and trumpeted exhaust tips to mix a little function into form. And out back, a 442 W35 wing floats over black-trimmed taillights and a second urethane-coated bumper. The end result is a brand of visual punch that's simply unmatched by anything this side of Chrysler's brightest Hi Impact pastels. And, in reality, the package might've been a bit too risqué for Olds' traditionally conservative buyer base, resulting in relatively low production numbers and a high level of exclusivity.

BODYWORK

During a 4.5-year restoration that was completed in early 1995, this solid Cutlass was thoroughly stripped, carefully disassembled and treated to entirely new body panels with the exception of its floors, roof and driver's door. After hours of hard work, the car's clean profile presented itself as an excellent foundation for correct Sebring Yellow 2-stage. And today, one close look at our high-resolution photos reveals a handsome payoff in the form of one of the coolest looking muscle cars on the planet!

ENGINE

When this Olds' restorer found his new project listed deep in the classifieds, it had been upfitted with a 455 cubic inch big block. Fortunately, the seller had retained the car's original L74 Rocket 350 and was willing to include it with the sale. Hoist the fiberglass hood and you'll find that original mill proudly displaying a correct 395558 casting number in front of a matching partial VIN. At the top of the nickel-infused block, a big Quadrajet 4-barrel mixes juice from leak-free fuel lines with wind that's supplied by a correct, low-restriction air cleaner. That air/fuel mixture travels in to a high performance intake that's anchored by a traditional points distributor. That distributor feeds fire through proven Packard TV R Suppression Cables, which snake around correct “6” heads that are equipped with hardened valve seats and 3-angle valve jobs. Below those heads, forged, .030 over pistons shoot charred dinosaurs into cast iron exhaust manifolds and big, true-dual pipes. Aesthetically, the car's Satin Black fenders and snazzy gold block look fantastic against its bright yellow paint. Thanks to the pros at Wallingford, Connecticut's East Coast Machine & Performance, the stout powerplant is all day reliable. And the entire set up flat out rocks, from its vintage decals and Frigidaire AC compressor all the way to its re-cored radiator and tagged Delco Energizer battery.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

The bottom of this awesome Cutlass is completely solid and, thanks to a fully powder-coated chassis, shows no signs of undue wear or question-inducing battle scars. The aforementioned Rocket 350 fronts a rugged Muncie 4-speed that's much more fun than the car's original Turbo-Hydramatic 350. That proven transmission sends power to a stout 12-bolt that's equipped with a limited-slip differential and moderate, 3.42 gears. That driveline hangs in a correct FE2 Rallye suspension, which includes better shocks, thicker coil springs, reinforced control arms and a mandatory rear sway bar. Power-assisted discs and drums provide braking, while turns come courtesy of factory power steering. At the center of the car, aluminized pipes funnel spent gases through buff DynoMax Super Turbo mufflers. And at the corners of the car, color-keyed Styled Steel IIs spin G70-14 Firestone Wide Oval Super Sports around stainless trim rings and rocket-branded center caps.

INTERIOR

For what was meant be a somewhat stripped-down Cutlass, the Rallye 350's interior offers plenty of visual niceties that give it a much more upscale feel. Open the doors to find sophisticated side panels that are accented with bright stainless and rich wood applique. Step past the Fisher Body sill plates and you'll find clean black carpet that's plush and fade-free. A nicely finished combination of bucket and bench seats mixes a stylish pattern with plenty of support. Between those seats, a factory console frames a long Hurst shifter. Above that console, an ornate dash hangs full telemetry over a standard AM/FM radio. The driver stays connected to the road through a correct Custom Sport steering wheel. And the passengers stow their essentials next to a fifth Styled Steel II/Firestone Wide Oval combination that's housed in a fully restored trunk.

AWARDS/FEATURES

* Awarded Best of Class in the 1968-72 Stock Class at the 1995 Olds Club of America Nationals
* Featured in the September, 1998 issue of Muscle Car Review Magazine

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

* Vintage marketing materials
* Vintage Rallye 350 literature
* Restoration receipts
* A copy of the car's Muscle Car Review feature

So there you have it – a first-class, numbers-matching A-body for under $40K. It looks right, feels right, and certainly isn't lacking in the appearance department. If you're ready to collect some serious trophies with one of the coolest Oldsmobiles around, don't miss the chance to take home this sweet Rallye 350!