Something about this scene struck me as a real time warp. Yes, there are a few old Cutlasses around. And one does occasionally see a fast speed boat, although much less commonly than a kayak on a Subaru, hereabouts. Nowadays, power boats are invariably hitched behind a big, tall pickup, not a ’68 Cutlass. But this is the kind of rig one would so readily have seen in the early seventies, driven by a guy with big sideburns and longish hair, heading for the lake with a cooler-full of beer and a girl with really serious hair. Even the Cutlass’ ass-high stance is period correct.
The boat trailer is obviously well balanced, given that it seems not to have had much effect on the Cutlass’ rear end. I only hope the boat isn’t balanced too far back and lifting up on the hitch; that’s a recipe for disaster, as I once found out the hard way on the Ventura freeway.
The Cutlass S came standard with a 250hp version of the Olds 350 V8, and a four-barrel high-compression version with 310 was optional (the 250 six could be had too if you really wanted it). In either case, enough to get the job done, although the two-speed Jetaway automatic wouldn’t have done it any favors, especially on hills. What’s under the tarp? Whatever it is, it undoubtedly has a lot more beans than the Cutlass. But then that’s kind of the whole idea, right?
Soon after my father re-married, he and my step-mom picked out a new 68 Cutlass like this, only dark green/black vinyl top/silvery-lime-green interior. Only theirs was the Cutlass Supreme trim with the silver lower-body paint under the chrome strips (that are missing on this car). It had bucket seats, but no console and a column shift automatic.
When it was maybe a year old (and I was about 10), I drove a lawn tractor into the passenger door of the car. The body repair was lousy, and the car looked like hell for the rest of its days. My mom still had our 64 Cutlass hardtop then, and liked pretty much everything about the 64 better than the 68.
Thats an ugly towing set up rear heavy trailer and front heavy car leave it parked.
I think thi scene is about due to make a comeback…. People of CC if you have a hotrod boat you are wanting to sell your time is coming. In my eye into the future I see these boats being towed by lowered muraled boogy vans of days gone by.
Lowered not jacked, that setup wouldnt pull the boat up a launching ramp, ya need traction on the drive wheels.
No different than a pickup. I’m sure it tows better than any modern coupe would.
Nice car but I’d prefer a Torino or Cyclone.
During my misbegotten youth, around ’74 or so, I had a chance to buy a very sanitary ’68 Cutlass 4-door. I ended up purchasing a ’67 Plymouth Satellite (that I’ve mentioned elswhere), mainly on the basis of it being a couple hundred bucks cheaper and with two fewer doors. I sometimes wonder whether I should have gone for the Cutlass instead. Why I even think about that nearly forty years later, I cannot say.
I had a 68 & a 76, both great cars. From what I remember of the 68 is the view over the hood, you couldn’t see the whole hood like the cars from the 70s. My 68 was a plain jane F-85, it had the 350 rocket & 2spd automatic. It sure would lay rubber.
I found out later that a 4spd auto (th2004r) would bolt right in, reusing your driveshaft, cooler lines, & linkage. All you had to do is slide the trans crossmount back to the other holes in the frame & figure out how to control the locking torque converter.
Interesting wording. My parents bought a used ’68 Cutlass S 2-door coupe in the summer of 1973. They paid $750 I think. This was in western New York, and I was ten. It was dark green with a black vinyl roof, full wheel covers, and a black vinyl interior. It was a 2nd car, to replace the ’65 BelAir 2-door sedan that failed inspection due to a rusty chassis. Funny thing was, the Cutlass was freshly painted, and by spring of ’74 no less than 25% of the rear quarters were gone due to rust and a poor bondo job. Dad was furious, but that car helped move us to Florida and lived until ’76 when it was finally junked. I never much cared for it.
I was on my bike (motorcycle) yesterday in pretty heavy commute traffic and noticed a clean ’68 or ’69 Cutlass following me at a safe distance. He then changed lanes to the right and pulled just ahead of me. I think it was a ’69 … vertical tail lights? Just then the traffic in his lane slowed quickly and he jammed on the brakes. Massive dive and smoking rear tires, but he kept it straight and got it stopped. Not a sight one sees as much anymore, with better brakes, tires, suspension and of course ABS everywhere.