Most people studying this text know concerning the American basic muscle automobile period. Briefly, the famed time interval largely started in 1964, when Pontiac launched the GTO. All through the years following, practically all American automakers produced a minimum of one muscle-bound mannequin. Even manufacturers you would not contemplate sporty right this moment, like Buick or Mercury, received in on the motion.
Oldsmobile was in on it, too. The now-defunct Basic Motors subsidiary produced 442 muscle automobile, based mostly on the Cutlass. The 442 wasn’t as fashionable as different big-name muscle automobiles, such because the GTO or Chevrolet Chevelle SS, however its goal demographic wasn’t precisely the identical. As an alternative of being flashy and in-your-face, the 442 was oriented extra in the direction of older people with a bit extra money to spend who did not need everybody to know that they had a 365-horsepower muscle automobile.
Nevertheless, the 442 was, nonetheless, a muscle automobile, which means its insurance coverage premium was costly on the time. So, in an effort to try to draw a youthful, less-affluent crowd to the model, Oldsmobile created a weight loss program model of the 442 referred to as the Rallye 350.
Yellow-Clad Muscle With A Younger Soul
Oldsmobile Rallye 350 Key Factors
- Produced for the 1970 mannequin yr solely
- Boasted a 350 CID V8
- Carried a decrease insurance coverage premium
- Meant to imitate the look of a supercar
- Carried the interior choice code “W45”
As soon as the 1964 Pontiac GTO was launched, insurance coverage corporations discovered simply how recklessly a strong, light-weight automobile may very well be pushed by younger individuals, the premiums started to creep larger for efficiency fashions. By the late Sixties, a median insurance coverage premium for a muscle automobile was as much as thrice dearer yearly than a traditional automobile. In fact, since younger individuals sometimes have much less cash, many weren’t in a position to afford to insure a full-blooded muscle automobile.
To fight this, a handful of manufacturers started constructing muscle-bound fashions that had a bit much less horsepower, a minimum of on paper. Pontiac launched the LeMans GT-37, and Oldsmobile launched the Rallye 350. Nevertheless, not like the Pontiac GT-37, which provided a selection between three engines at most, the Olds solely boasted a single 350 CID mill. Nevertheless, whereas its engine could have been smaller than some others on the time, the Rallye 350 made up for this in different methods.
Upon its launch, the Olds Rallye 350 sported a beginning worth of about $3,252, or about $27,792 in right this moment’s cash. Its sticker worth was about $100 lower than the full-bodied 442 muscle automobile, which actually is not an enormous distinction. Nevertheless, due to its smaller engine, it match right into a a lot decrease insurance coverage bracket and, as we stated earlier than, this meant Rallye 350 homeowners who occurred to be below the age of 30 would save a boatload of money yearly on insurance coverage.
One of many key hallmarks of the Oldsmobile Rallye 350’s youthful attraction was its styling. Whereas all different Oldsmobile Cutlass-derived fashions, together with the 442, sported a wholesome dose of chrome, the Rallye 350 ditched all of that shininess for a smattering of yellow paint on its bumpers and trim. A set of Tremendous Inventory II rally wheels was included with the Rallye 350 bundle, together with varied decals and striping particular to the mannequin.
Oldsmobile’s thought behind the particular paint and decal job was to make the Rallye 350 look extra performance-oriented in an effort to additional entice younger males to purchase one. Whether or not that selection truly made the mannequin appear like a muscle machine is as much as you to resolve.
The Oldsmobile Rallye 350’s Mechanical Make-Up
The Rallye 350 boasted a single engine choice, a 350 cubic-inch Oldsmobile V8. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the run-of-the-mill Olds V8 present in common fashions just like the 88. As an alternative, it was an L74-coded high-compression iteration of the 350 CID V8, boasting upgraded cylinder heads milled barely shorter to extend compression. A four-barrel Rochester carburetor sat atop the L74’s consumption manifold, and it additionally boasted a sealed air consumption that was fed a wholesome dose of wind from the Rallye 350’s purposeful pair of hood scoops.
Additional enhancing its efficiency potential was an upgraded suspension, which Oldsmobile coined Rallye-Sport Suspension. A part of the bundle, which was additionally recognized by its manufacturing unit choice code FE2, was a set of industrial quality springs on all 4 corners, together with a pair of stabilizer bars meant to extend rigidity and reduce physique roll below laborious cornering. Nevertheless, Oldsmobile additionally designed the FE2 suspension to be comfy on the highway, as properly.
We lay out the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350’s detailed engine and efficiency specs within the desk under:
Engine Particulars | 350 CID (5.7L) NA V8 |
|---|---|
Horsepower | 310 hp |
Torque | 390 lb-ft |
0-60 MPH Time | 7.0 seconds |
1/4 Mile Time @ MPH | 15.3 seconds @ 94.3 mph |
Curb Weight | 3,521 lbs |
*Specs courtesy of Hemmings
Inside, the Rallye 350 was a bit extra discreet in its styling, however there have been nonetheless a few sporty upgrades to choose from, corresponding to a sport steering wheel. A flat bench seat was commonplace, however you can go along with a pair of bucket seats with a console shifter up entrance. Air con was non-obligatory, as properly, together with an AM/FM radio with a built-in eight-track participant. Oldsmobile’s Tic-Toc Tac was additionally non-obligatory, which added a tachometer to the inset analog clock.
Present Pricing
Whereas the Rallye 350 is not as highly effective or sought-after because the Oldsmobile 442, it is nonetheless an older mannequin value your consideration, particularly if you happen to’ve received a delicate spot for American efficiency fashions. As a result of there have been solely about 3,500 examples produced, the Rallye 350 is on the rarer facet, however you may nonetheless discover a good instance on the market once in a while. Based on Hagerty.com, a Good-condition 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 with matching numbers fetches a median worth of about $31,900.
The Rallye 350 Wasn’t Lengthy For This World
Regardless of its in-your-face styling and distinctive mixture of choices, the Oldsmobile Rallye 350 did not do very properly by way of gross sales. Based on archival data, Oldsmobile managed to shift simply 3,547 Rallye 350s in the course of the 1970 mannequin yr. For distinction, the Rallye 350’s huge brother, the 442, managed to maneuver 22,877 items in 1970. Which means the Rallye 350 was not, in reality, attracting practically sufficient younger individuals, as most have been prepared to pay the elevated insurance coverage premiums for the 442’s 455 CID V8, boasting a big improve in energy.
One other fly within the Rallye 350’s ointment was its styling. It is reported that many would-be consumers thought the automobile was a lot too flashy for what it was, a child muscle automobile with a small-block V8 below its hood, hardly something to boast too strongly about. Pontiac’s child muscle automobile, the ’71 LeMans GT-37, was far more discreet trying, and offered practically twice as a lot because the Oldsmobile Rallye 350 did in 1970, doubtless resulting from its understated appears and non-obligatory 455 cubic-inch engine.
In the long run, it appears Oldsmobile’s try to attraction to the youthful crowd was a bit too heavy-handed. Once you consider what younger males would need, you could consider issues like flashy paint and fewer chrome. Nevertheless, in actuality, most of these consumers would in all probability relatively be taken significantly, and it is laborious to take a giant, yellow Oldsmobile with a great deal of decals and yellow wheels significantly.
Sources: Hemmings, Hagerty, AutoEvolution.com, Muscle Vehicles Illustrated
