Cars in Yards: 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442

Golden era Olds. Summer camping trip yields rusty relics and backwoods Olds gold. I found this 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in north Alabama. The sporty, sloped-nosed ’77 Cutlass was wearing a dazzling, black and gold paint combo. The sweeping roof line is also one of my favorites. But a closer look at the boogered sheet metal surrounding the rear window, quarter panels and trunk dampened my enthusiasm. 
  The Oldsmobile Cutlass was everywhere in the mid-to-late 1970s. Everybody owned a Cutlass back then. Your grandma, brother, aunt, uncle, and best friends, all cruised in one of GM’s top-selling, mid-sized Olds. 1973-1977 was the golden era for Oldsmobile. In 1977, Oldsmobile built 673,397 Cutlass in various configurations of the Colonnade platform. Only 11,649 were 442 models. That's less than 2% of the total Cutlass production. In comparison, 9,576 Olds 442 were built during the similar, 1976 model year. 

Good, bad, ugly
  The tail of this 442, and thousands, if not millions, of GM's 1970s mid-sized vehicles have suffered the same fate after decades exposed to the elements. Restored or original, rust-free examples of GM's Colonnade cars should command top dollar – eventually. I hope I can find my own black and gold 4-4-2 beauty before they do.

Know of a car or a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a barn find, car or junkyard?  

Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

 

 

 

1975 Pontiac Firebirds not feathered right in original brochure; fight begins

Color charts are NOT our friends. We love finding vintage automobile literature at swap meets. We especially love Pontiac’s ideas and presentations. Anthony, Jody, and I (Ron) are like 1970’s children poring over the Sears catalog, where antique automotive advertising is concerned. Even to an unhealthy degree, like when Jody and I were ‘tug-o-warring’ a 1975 Firebird brochure into two pieces. Lesson learned. Now, we just don’t show each other our latest vintage ad finds, or Anthony makes us sit in separate sides of the shop.

  The dispute, mentioned above, happened while studying our vault of all things vintage and Pontiac. This beautiful, albeit wrinkled printing (pictured above) of what Pontiac had to offer that year. I fell head-over-heels in love with two things in the 1975 Pontiac brochure. 
  I can hear the remarks, “Just two things?” 
  Well, your right. Probably, more like ten things, but for tonight, I am ready to search the world over for two Firebirds shown in the ’75 brochure (see below).

Ron really wants these two Firebirds. Two problems. It’s not 1975, and Pontiac didn’t offer the paint colors shown on Firebirds or the hub cap combo.

You can’t buy me
  I know what your thinking. These are NOT Trans Ams or our beloved stealthy Formulas. These are plain Jane (sort of) Firebirds without spoilers, and (gasp!) hub caps. I have come to the conclusion that you could not buy them in 1975.
  Why not? They are right there in the brochure. True as that may be, these beautiful Birds are not feathered right. The top image features a Hardtop Coupe in Fire Coral Bronze (drool, drool), which according to the SAME book, is not offered in the Firebird or any other Pontiac that year except the Astre (picture a Vega in Pontiac styling). Also worthy of a mention, the Firebirds are wearing the highly coveted Junkyard Life favorite hub cap of all time. Pontiac called them “Finned Wheel Covers.” Possibly offered on a base Firebird, but not likely. You were more inclined to see those wheel covers on a Grand Prix or Grand Am. In the Chevrolet camp, these hub caps could be had in the late 1960’s on the Corvette and on the Camaro in the early 1970’s. A handsome wheel cover indeed. But even this brochure says it is not gonna happen on the base Firebird.
   

1975 Pontiac exterior finishes paint chart.

  Don’t even get us started on the teaser picture of the gorgeous Esprit on 
the bottom. That color wasn’t even in the book at all for 1975, and those beautiful 15-inch hub caps — at least they were listed as standard on several models, although we have never seen them. They look great on that car. The deluxe interior makes me wonder why anyone would order anything else. A beautiful car in a classy color. I only wish we knew what color it actually is. 

A Buccaneer Red Formula and Sterling Silver Trans Am were worthy of a full-page spread in the brochure. No doubt those colors sold well in 1975.

Oops!
  I guess these things happen. Often times a brochure would go to print, only 
to show options and colors that were canceled at the last minute. Such mishaps required a lot of awkward conversations between salesmen and disappointed buyers. 
  If Pontiac only knew, that decades later, their swanky brochures would be subject to Junkyard Life scrutiny. That doesn’t help me now. I really, really want both of those cars as pictured. Imagine us in 1975 throwing a tantrum on the dealership floor. 
  “But it’s in the book!”

 Ron Kidd
– Junkyard Life

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  

Send emails to Ron at Kidd403@bellsouth.net or Jody at junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Barn find: 1978 Camaro Z28, original-owner with big dollar dream and a for sale sign

Almost perfect. Sometimes my automotive enthusiasm gets the best of me. Finding this original-owner Z28 for sale and my hunger to finally own a drive-able Camaro sent me over the edge. Everything seemed right. The color, wheels, original condition, and the possibility that I could get this baby running in short order. Only one thing that could stop me from owning this second generation Z28 – the price.

Found this: One-owner 1978 Camaro Z28 parked in a barn for 17 years. Does not run, needs some work.

1978: First job, first car
  The owner, Ginger, mid-50-ish and well-dressed, led me to the barn that housed her Z28. Ginger bought the Camaro after she landed her first, full-time job in Birmingham, Alabama. A girlfriend, also a coworker of hers, owned a new, red Camaro. 
  “It was a lot of fun,” said Ginger. “I wanted one, too.” 
  Ginger bought her Bright Blue Z28 with light blue cloth interior. A 350-V8 engine and automatic transmission spun the flashy, new for 1978, turbine wheels. Power windows, power locks, and A/C made this a comfy cruiser.
  Imagine that dynamic duo back in the day. New blue and red 1978 Camaro Z28s sitting next to each other in the company parking lot. 

Barn find 1978 Camaro Z28 with standard blue cloth interior, power windows, locks and A/C.

Kicking the tires
  I liked what I saw. Beneath the dirt and grime was an unmolested Z28. Interior complete and not ratty. Sticky steering wheel, found on all 1970s GM models. Straight body with original blue paint. Four, flat tires. Original, turbine wheels (15x7 YJ8 option), all accounted for. Unfortunately, one of the aluminum, turbine wheels, wearing the result of a blown tire, was located in the water-filled trunk. 
  The swimming pool feature or trunk water, depends on how you look at it, was the result of a poorly patched hole in the barn’s roof and the Camaro’s predisposition to trunk water. More on fishing inside a Camaro later.

1978 Camaro Z28 shows off its 170-hp, 350-cubic inch V8.

 Under the hood
  Red flag. Replacement 350 GM engine. Why is the original engine not residing under the hood of this all-original Z28. What gives?
  Ginger reluctantly told me that the original engine went kaput around 60,000 miles. Her dad worked out a deal to get a replacement installed in the mid-1980s. Everything else under the hood is in place, including all hoses, brackets, compressor, and QuadraJet carburetor. 
  Two engines in 127,000 miles. A quick odometer reading and a bit of math tell me that the replacement engine has operated just over 60,000 miles.

Replacement GM engine almost looks original to the 1978 Camaro Z28.

  
Getting down to brass tacks
  I liked the Camaro, just not as much as Ginger. Her asking price for the 1978 Z28 was $8,300. I made my case but I knew it was falling on deaf ears. This was her car, her memories and worth every bit of $8,300 — to her.
  I couldn’t justify spending that much on a non-running car that needs a top-to-bottom refurbishing, just to make it roadworthy. 
  I did make her an offer. She didn’t accept. It was too high for me and too low for her. We parted ways, unhappy but each better off.

More Camaro to come
  My desire to own an icon from the second generation Camaros did not lessen after I left this Z28. One week later I bought my new daily driver. A blue 1980 Camaro Z28. Stay tuned.

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life 

The original Edwards Chevrolet emblem mounted on Z28’s rear spoiler.

Original QuadraJet four barrel carburetor hasn’t mixed fuel and air on the Z28 in more than 17 years.

1978 was the first year of the urethane front and rear bumpers on Camaros. Big rack on wall for the hunters out there.

Lower grill piece is missing but otherwise this 1978 Camaro is a complete time machine from the Jimmy Carter and disco era.

A rope-style wrapped steering wheel was exclusive to Z28 in 1978. Model car on dash was not.

1978 was first year for the gills on the Second Generation Camaro. Style of Z28 fender for on all 1978-1979 models. The finned turbine wheels complement the fender vents.

127,040 miles on this original, barn find Camaro Z28 from 1978.

1978 Camaro Z28 MSRP was $5,603. 54,907 buyers signed the dotted line for a Z28 that year.

Groovy Z28 emblem recall 1960s pop art vibe. Non-functional teardrop hoods scoop was all 1970s flash.

Dash pad is not cracked. This may be the only 1978 Camaro with a surviving, albeit wavy, dash pad.

Check out the lines. The ridge atop the quarter panel is distinctive to the Camaro. You won’t find that on a Trans Am.

Tri-color tail lights were new for 1978 Camaro.

Some funky business in the back seat. Not sure about the tan side panel.

Bright Blue paint code 24 may be my favorite color on a Camaro.

A damp barn may not be the best place to store a 1978 Camaro Z28. You’ve been warned.

Know of a car or a junkyard I need to visit or want to send me photos and info about a barn find, car or junkyard?  

Send emails to junkyardbull@gmail.com.

1972 Datsun 240Z breaks bank, hearts in hybrid z fail that claims 2004 Pontiac GTO

Dream killer Z. First generation Datsun 240Z fans hide your eyes. This 1972 Datsun 240Z found its way to the parts pile after a failed restoration consumed $30,000 of the original-owner’s money. Time, money, and a 2004 Pontiac GTO were used (some may say abused) by the builder until the owner tossed in the towel on their hybrid Z plans. 
  The sight of a much-loved, rusting ’72 Datsun was more than they could stand. The owner sold what was left of the 240Z, along with a stash of new and used parts, and the remains of a ’04 GTO for a few hundred bucks. This fortunate junkyard scavenger scooped up the deal, now I’m dishing out the details. 

1972 Datsun 240Z project car tumbles into parts car disaster.

14-inch wheel tubs, boxed frame and ladder suspension surround the GM 10-bolt posi rear end.

Restoration woes
  Most failed, project car restorations fall into one-of-three categories. 
    1. Ran out of money
    2. Ran out of time
    3. Ran out of talent 
  Inexperience claimed this 240Z. Money flowed into the project to revive the orange Datsun that the original owner’s had dated in 40 years earlier. Plans were to make the rejuvenated Datsun a family heirloom. A car to be kept in the family and handed down to the next generation. This would be money worth spending, or so they thought. 
  The owners continued to write checks and the ’72 240Z project total climbed higher and higher. Finally, unsatisfied with the amount of work that had been completed by the builder, the owner cut the life line on the build. A sickening amount of money had been spent on what looked like a disaster. Checks piled up totaling $25,000 in parts and labor on the Z project, combined with another $5,000 spent on a wrecked 2004 GTO, for its LS1/6-speed drivetrain. The naked, gutted shell of the 240Z looked much worse that it did before the project began.
  Needless to say, the car owner and 240Z builder are not on speaking terms.

Fabricated twin snorkel scoops in the 240Z hood prove the builder had skill.

Out of sight
  Feeling regret and the sting of investing with their heart, the owners were too pained to look at their once-proud 1972 240Z. The reclaimed remains of the Z project and the GTO were hauled from the "restoration" shop. 
  The Datsun, with half the body stripped of paint was stored at another location for two years. Unfortunately, it was stored uncovered. Outside. The exposed, bare metal on the Z turned orange with rust. Cardboard boxes filled with 240Z parts were stashed inside the GTO, where field mice soon found shelter. 
  Storing cars outdoors never ends well.

The Datsun was built with an LS1 engine and 6-speed transmission from the red 2004 GTO in mind.

Out of mind
  The project Z and GTO needed a new home after 2 years of outdoor storage. I found myself in position to make an offer, one that I thought would help the two parties involved. Buying the cars would remove the burden from the dejected owner and get the cars moved off the third party’s property. Everyone wins!
  A deal was made and the 240Z and GTO soon landed in my driveway. My plan was to turn this 240Z project into some fast cash. 

Who knew modern GTO parts were so expensive? $900 fenders – Outrageous!

GTO’s seats and speakers were gone but everything else remained intact on the interior – except what the mice might have chewed.

GTO goes fast
  I'm sure you’ve heard the expression, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." That does not apply to cars. I quickly learned, after I sold the GTO, that I could have made more money by parting the car out. I sold it too cheap.
  I listed the GTO for sale on craigslist.com. Soon after, a paint and body professional showed up at my door to make the purchase. The buyer informed me, as he loaded up my GTO, that a 2004-06 fender fetches $900 and up, based on insurance repair estimates. He said parts are sky high because you can’t get new factory GTO parts.
  He also surmised that insurance companies would rather "total out" all wrecked GTOs because they are too expensive to repair. 
  I wish I had kept the GTO or been more diligent about parting it out.

It is easier than you think to remove the bumper cover on an ’04 Pontiac GTO. Moving the car was a chore since the independent rear end was long gone.

Original 240Z horn buttons must be rare judging by the amount of calls.

Finding the Datsun 240Z buyer 
  I found plenty of 240Z parts buyers online. Several buyers showed up to pick the 240Z apart. First the bumpers, then fenders, struts, dash, steering wheel and column with key. I had a few boxes of new parts (rubber, emblems, handles) but found myself dealing with guys who wanted to bundle items based on the total price I was asking. The best parts went first. 
  One guy loaded up my 240Z’s fenders and headlight buckets into his 1975 Z car and drove away. There was little room left for him to shift gears.
  As the parts selling process continued to drag on, I decided to let it all go. Just one problem. Not much was left. All the removable parts are gone.  
  Who wants the shell of a butchered 240Z? It could be yours, if the price is right.

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life

Rusty junk 240Z had a 5-lug swap all around. One guy showed up just to look at how it was done.

My ad for the 1972 Datsun 240Z did mention that it needed work. Floorpans would have been a good place to start.

Who loves Oldsmobile rally wheels on their Datsun 240Z?

Parts went on the 240Z for photos and back off when items sold.

Surprisingly, the body of the 240Z has very little rot despite the glaze of surface rust.

The Datsun and GTO filled up a large corner of my driveway.

Solid rockers on the hot rod hybrid Z make it hard to haul the stripped shell to the scrap yard.

These two cars will return to the road one part at a time.

Do you have a Project Car horror story? Know of a unique junkyard? Tell us about your finds at junkyardbull@gmail.com

 

1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler spins heads, stops heart after glance into overgrown yard

The perfect storm. “Unlikely” is what we thought when we found this hidden treasure. Jody and I traded phrases like, “No way!” and “You gotta be kidding me!” We had spotted an elusive 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler in the wild. 
  These redesigned street bullies, offered in 1970 and 1971, blazed the blacktop at the height of the muscle car wars. The bare-fist, horsepower brawl fought in Detroit went into a full-tilt, glory grab for 1970. This recently unearthed ’70 Mercury Cyclone was equipped with all the necessary armor for street battle. A cagey buyer checked off the right boxes to build this unique looking Baton Le Yellow (Alabama speak for yellow stick). So, for those not so familiar with Mercury’s weapon of choice, it breaks down like this: 
   Mercury wanted an eye popping muscle machine to compete with everyone. Nascar, NHRA, and anyone else located in Red Light, USA. And the new, for 1970, 429-cubic-inch monster would do it.

Junkyard Life’s first glance at the 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler – a storm warning was coming our way!

 Cyclones rare in Alabama and everywhere else
   We at Junkyard Life would bet that Mercury only sold 1,631 Cyclone Spoilers because they only built 1,631 of them. Cyclones joined a select few Ford-based engines equipped with a Rochester Quadrajet. A highly-tweakable, four-barrel carburetor that was experiencing great success, with (get this) GM. Cyclones even had a “Ram Air” type air cleaner. (Gear head note: Another option would have been the Super Cobra Jet engine featuring a Holley Carb) 
   To build the Cyclone, Cyclone GT and the featured Cyclone Spoiler, Mercury used many popular, muscle car era, styling cues. In this Cyclone Spoiler, we  spotted design elements from Mercury Montego, the Ford LTD, and seats that reminded us of Chevrolet’s “Houndstooth” pattern. Jody also noted how the tail lights would appeal to the Mopar crowd, Challenger fans specifically. 
  This Cyclone was a winner, all around, but unfortunately, it would not be a hit to many muscle car fans in 1970. Only a few Mercury Cyclones have been seen and enjoyed on the streets. This may be the only one we, at Junkyard Life, have ever seen and it has been off the road for 20 years. 

Houndstooth, black and white seats compliment the ’70 Cyclone Spoiler’s interior.

These unsuspecting clowns, Ron and Jody, studiously examine a 429 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler. That’s putting it nicely. We were dumbfounded, but ready to learn!

Spoiled all over
   Despite my theory that the car was named Cyclone due it being a lot of muscle car cues “whipped up” into one car. That probably wasn’t what Mercury had in mind when they named this car. It was more likely named because a cyclone is a powerful storm that is known to do damage, much like this would do to the ego of the drivers of lesser cars. We do know that the Cyclone Spoiler was named appropriately due to the spoilers on the front chin and rear deck wing, like our feature car.

1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler’s rear spoiler shoves the car down on the road for better stability (in theory) at HCS (High Cyclone Speed).

We spotted power brakes, power steering and an owner added Holley mounted to the 370-hp 429-cubic-inch engine for more throttle-stabbing fun.

Wish I had thought of that 
   The owner of this Mercury, found in Alabama, had a gut feeling that Cyclones would be something to hold onto. The owner did one better than that, he bought every one that he found during the last three decades. He now owns four Cyclones. Two 1970 models and two 1971 models.
   This fantastic Cyclone Spoiler in Competition Yellow also has a Traction-Lok rear with 3.50:1 gears, and an automatic C6 transmission. It is also an air-delete car, with manual windows and an AM radio. It was factory equipped with power brakes and power steering. 
   An air-delete 429 that spins both tires? We know what this car was born to do-hopefully, it will be doing it again soon if we have anything to do with it!
Happy Hunting! 

Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life

“That’s a lot of motor for a guy!” Our dad would have said that.

Competition Yellow paint, body stripes, 429 engine, Ram Air hood along with front and rear spoilers add up to one mean muscle machine circa 1970.

Well-preserved interior features a factory tachometer canted toward the driver, from the center of dash, and a wide sweep speedometer, in front of steering wheel. A lot of divisions had a problem combining the two, but Mercury had no issue giving us what we want. Junkyard Life loves factory tachometers.

One-of-very-few 1970 Cyclone Spoilers seen in the wild.

Ron Kidd moves in for a closer look at the 1970 Cyclone Spoiler. Notice the Mopar-influenced tail lights?

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  

Send emails to Ron at Kidd403@bellsouth.net or Jody at junkyardbull@gmail.com.