‘MERRY OLD OLDSMOBILE’ CAN’T WAIT FOR SUMMER
’71 Cutlass Supreme a bucket-list dream for married retirees
Phil & Sue Harrison: Wheels readers Occupation: Happily retired The car: 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible One of our bucket-list dreams was to own a classic car.
After retirement, we bought our first 1971 Cutlass Convertible and started a project to restore and rebuild it. With no previous experience or the skills to do a lot of the work to finish it, we took a different approach and found what we wanted in a completely finished car that we could maintain and enjoy.
We found the car of our dreams in May of 2009. It had been imported from North Carolina in 1991, and the restoration was completed in 1999. Built in Lansing, Mich., it was typical of a car sold in the U.S. at that time, coming equipped with lots of optional features, including power windows, locks and steering, front disc brakes and air conditioning.
Other special options include a 442 rear bumper, tilt custom sport steering wheel, electric trunk release, interior-operated hood lock, electric clock, an AM/FM radio, and the instrument cluster with rally package gauges.
Our bucket-seated beauty is powered by a 350 Rocket V8 with a fourbarrel carburetor and dual exhausts running through a Turbo HydraMatic automatic transmission.
Finished in Matador Red with black trim and Oldsmobile Super Stock wheels, it’s a real eye-catcher, drawing lots of attention at car shows we have attended throughout South Western and Central Ontario.
We have also travelled to shows in Syracuse, N.Y., Frankenmuth and Lansing, Mich.
In 2009, we attended the Oldsmobile Club of Canada annual show where cars were professionally judged and ours took first place in our category.
Even though it is an older restoration, we have received several tro- phies over the years, including Best in Class at the Otterville Mill Classic Car Show, in June of 2017.
It is a fun summer driver and very comfortable to cruise in anywhere, all summer long. We can’t wait for summer to come again so we can be back on the road with our “Merry Old Oldsmobile.” Show us your candy: Got a cool custom or vintage car? Send us high-res pictures (at least 1 MB, and horizontal shots are best) of you and your family or friends with your beauty, and your story. We like photos — the more the better — of the interior, trim, wheels, emblems. Email wheels@thestar.ca and type “Eye Candy” in the subject line. Google “Toronto Star Eye Candy” to see classic cars featured in the past.