Albertsjma

I have a 81 cutlass diesel with t tops.
this is probably the last one around..
I believe only 200 were produced with the diesel motor and factory t tops

Olds64

Very cool!

There's some info on our website about those diesel dogs. Here's someplace to start.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-350-a-112541/

Is it a 5.7l or 4.3l diesel? Does it run? If you haven't already you MUST install a water separator (at least if you want to keep driving it). Here's the one I use on my Ford IDI.

https://www.dutton-lainson.com/produ...gaArxtEALw_wcB

Albertsjma

It has the 5.7..I went thru motor and did several uprades..eliminated egr..injection pump..
change fuel filter every 10k miles plus use Schaeffer fuel additive

Olds64

Did you rebuild the injection pump or find a replacement somewhere?

Albertsjma

Had rebuilt at diesel shop with stanadyne upgrade stainless components..

vintagepne

A very unique car, post some more photos

Albertsjma

It is under car cover now, getting new shoes for it and gonna stretch its legs

olds_freak

Now that's a crazy combo. A diesel with T-tops!

Albertsjma

I had it rebuilt with stanadyne updates..

Albertsjma

I would love to know what it is worth..

joe_padavano

Yet another example of why rarity does not equate to valuable.

Olds64

You can use the Hagerty valuation tool to find a starting price.

https://www.hagerty.com/insurance/cl...-insurance-ppc

Having a diesel engine might hurt the value, unless someone specifically wants a diesel. Make sure your glow plugs work and it starts effortlessly if you want to sell it.

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joe_padavano

As with any published price guide, temper any numbers with the reality that there is even a statistically valid database of sale prices to set value. Unless the car is something like a Camaro, Mustang, or Corvette, there probably aren't enough of them to develop a useful value.

69HO43

Nice straight car.

I'm sure there wasn't that many Calais diesels in 81. They only made like 4700 1981 Calais as it was.

But I'm still left trying to figure out how anyone knows how many "t-top" or "moon/sunroof" versions of anything was compiled in the 80s. GM sure didn't do it except for body styles and mainly drivetrain and color options. They normally never kept track of such trivial things like "how many with posi" or "how many with T-tops".

I hope it was parked in a garage for its lifetime. If not, check under that vinyl for crunchy bits as well as under those T-top plates. They did hardly ANY rust prevention underneath those T-tops. A quick check is the floorboards and A-pillars. If it's solid, you're miles ahead.

joe_padavano

Actually 4105 Calais coupes in 1981. Of course Olds also made over 270,000 of the essentially identical Supreme and Supreme Brougham coupes. And I'm sure Olds kept track of options sold year-over-year in order to do production planning for the next year. Unfortunately those records probably haven't survived because there was no need to store them after a year or two.

Albertsjma

It has been stored in climate control garage entire life

Olds64

A G-body, t-top Oldsmobile is quite desirable. Who did you have rebuild the injection pump?

69HO43

True. It makes sense GM kept internal records for planning purposes. They'd be stupid if they didn't. But they weren't in the business of restorations or car values 40-60 years later, either. They just never archived it for public consumption. That's the point. I would surmise someone knew what happened to all those records. But they were good about hiding them.

I know for sure for 1985, they ditched all the build-record paperwork after the model year was over by September 1985. They only "officially" archived the body styles and major drivetrain options. Stuff like CC1, CF5, and G80, U75, et al, wasn't part of that retention. Unless someone was hoarding the info somewhere and didn't tell anyone. At least for Cutlasses built in Arlington that's what they did. Can't speak for other body styles. So far, nobody's been able to point to any GM paperwork delineating how many roof options for Cutlasses were made in a single year for any of them. Probably filed next to the Lansing build sheets. By 2002, I know for sure GM didn't publicly release production breakdown records past color, body style (to include special edition RPOs), engine and transmission choices for the most part because I knew one of the guys that was involved in it. Couldn't even get him to tell me how many 2002 Camaros with remote CD players were made, other than "not many". I was able to get another build sheet for my car from him, though, before they closed the plant. Things that changed the VIN or was included in the VIN obviously were automatically archived.

Albertsjma

Magiera diesel service..Crown Point indiana

dgmeadows

I dont think the rarity of the diesel adds any value. I bought a 1979 Cutlass Calais with factory T-Tops & 260 diesel engine in 2021 with only 39,000 miles. I bought it because of the fantastic condition of the body and interior, not because it was a rare diesel. I'm certain the diesel deterred a few people from buying it, as it had been advertised a few months at a higher price and I found it just when the seller lowered the asking price to $6,800. In Covid time, prices were getting a bit crazy, but I was willing to pay that for a rust free car with all trim in place and near perfect interior. My intention was to do a resto-mod, so the diesel engine didn't matter to me. Except for that one possible diesel lover out there, the value of your car will probably be more tied to body & interior condition.

Destructor

One of the benefits of a diesel is the wonderful aroma from the exhaust and that unmistakable diesel sound.

69CSHC

And when it comes to GMs 350 diesel those negatives are the good points.

Cadillac was forever tarnished by the 350 Diesel, 368 CID, and last but not least the HT4100. In sports 3 Championships in close succession makes you a dynasty. GM had 3 colossal failures in close succession, an absolute debacle. Cadillac lost their stronghold in the luxury car market because of it, and have never regained their footing. For those saying the import market had something to do with it, Lincoln gained what Cadillac lost in the same time period... Why... because Lincoln had one of the greatest engines ever manufactured leading their brand, the 302. 1968-2000 every iteration of it was cause for celebration.

Luxury car market share.
1980 Cadillac= 31.3 %
1990 Cadillac= 22 %
2019 Cadillac= 7 %

Yes a T Top G-body in good shape has automatic intrinsic value. The diesel engine negates it. Unless 1, you have limited knowledge of automotive history. 2 you are interested in the fiasco for sentimental reasons. 3 an immediate engine swap is scheduled. Etc ...

P.S. I had a 1979 Eldorado with the 350 diesel. Even fueling it was a pain in the ***, basically none of the stations (several) I frequented carried diesel (NYC mid 2000s). Can only imagine what that was like 25 years prior. (I seem to remember in the glove box some factory paperwork pertaining to diesel station locations...)

69CSHC

Just to bring it home with a sledgehammer.