1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass Holiday Coupe: A Well-Documented Survivor Seeking a New Home

Oldsmobile’s Cutlass nameplate has a story that predates its production run. The badge first appeared on a 1954 show car styled by Irv Rybicki, a jet-age design exercise complete with a canopy-style roof, bullet-shaped instruments, and pronounced tail fins. The name itself was borrowed from the Vought F7U Cutlass, a swept-wing Navy fighter. That concept car set the tone for what became one of the most enduring nameplates in American motoring, eventually moving from Oldsmobile’s compact Y-platform to intermediate size and, by the 1970s, becoming the country’s best-selling car for several consecutive years.

This particular example is a second-generation survivor listed for sale in Granite Falls, Washington, with an asking price of $12,500. Under the hood sits a 330-cubic-inch “Jetfire Rocket” V8, rated between 250 and 320 horsepower depending on how it’s fed. Backing it is Oldsmobile’s two-speed “Jetaway” automatic with a column shifter. Front disc brakes weren’t yet available in 1966, so drums handle stopping duties. The odometer reads just 68,000 miles, and the seller reports the car runs and drives well on fresh tires.

Inside, the seller describes the cabin as “like new,” though a closer look suggests room for improvement: the upholstery and vinyl armrests could use a thorough cleaning, the rear parcel shelf has damage, and both the dashboard and steering wheel show cracks. Still, the features that set the Cutlass apart from its rivals remain intact, including optional bucket seats, deep-pile carpeting, and color-keyed trim throughout. The car also retains its original manuals and Protect-O-Plate, which adds meaningful provenance for a buyer who values documentation.

For 1966, the sheet metal received a modest refresh: sharper creases, squared-off headlamp bezels, and a tunneled rear window gave the car a more contemporary look, helping push sales beyond 90,000 units. This one’s paint has faded, with yellowing near the front of the hood, assorted chips and scrapes, primer peeking through, and some questionable work along the rocker panel behind the passenger-side front wheel. While tidy convertibles in this generation can command $25,000 to$30,000, this coupe drew a high bid of $11,251 without meeting reserve. Buyers will likely want a discount from the asking price before taking it home.