Vintage Cars: 1970 oldsmobile cutlass convertible, mid size cars, oldsmobile cutlass

Question
I was interested in knowing how many 1970 or 71 oldsmobile cutlass convertibles with the 455 engine were made and how much one would be worth today?  Thanks

Answer
In my research I couldn't come up with any precise figures.  I think part of the problem is that they didn't necessarily keep track of data at such an acute level in those years.  I can tell you that all of the '70 and '71 4-4-2 models had a 455 under the hood, and darn few 4-4-2s were built those 2 years.  About 19,000 4-4-2s were built in 1970, and only 7500 for '71.  How many non-442s had the 455 is anyone's guess.

As to value, that can be a tough one.  It seems everyone wants a Malibu SS or a GTO, and that drives their value up, yet the better GM mid-size cars were built by Olds and Buick.  Condition is the key to value, and those close to pristine value can bring incredible numbers at the right auction.  A decent '70/'71 convertible should bring an easy $10,000, while flawless originals are approaching 10 times that.