1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe

With its more formal notchback roofline and standard bucket seats, the Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe could be looked at as the top-of-the-line midsize two-door Cutlass...or else as a budget entry in the burgeoning personal luxury coupe market.

The dual-scoop W25 forced air induction fiberglass hood was not on the option list for the Supreme in '71, being a 442-only option, but judging from the stance, I don't think this guy's going for maximum points at the Concours d'Elegance.

Standard motor in the Holiday Coupe was the four-barrel Olds Rocket 350 V-8 making 260 SAE gross horsepower. As a sign of the times, GM advertising for 1971 also included the new SAE net measurement, which was 200 for the Rocket 350. Optional was the L32 Olds Rocket 455 V-8, which made 320 gross horsepower (250 net) and was only available with the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-matic 400 slushbox.

The 1971 and 1972 models are hard to tell apart in these views. The chrome side trim is a '71 thing, for '72 it was gone, replaced with chrome rocker panel trim. Also the headlight surrounds on the '72 were painted black, while these are still chrome.

This one was photographed in June of 2022 using a Nikon D7100 and 16-80mm f/2.8-4E zoom lens.