Phil & Sue Harrison’s retirement bucket list included getting a classic car, and their 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was the ride that fit the bill
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 four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts running through a Turbo Hydra-Matic 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 trophies 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.”
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Keyword: Eye Candy: 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme