Canuck's (Paul Martin) "One Adam Twelve"

[Xplantdad]

Oldsmobile Cutlass One Adam 12


By 1998 I had accumulated some significant Olds 442’s in my collection and had sold a few cars as well. Everything I had done was a concours correct restoration.

I had always been intrigued with police car packages as well. I had owned several Chevy’s with the 9C1 police package and was always looking at the Mopar police cars.

Being an avid Olds fan and knowing that the 442 was born out of the B09 police package from 1964 I decided I wanted to “create “an Oldsmobile Cutlass Highway patrol car. The project had a dual purpose-build the ultimate Cutlass Police car; one that would have dominated the highways of North America had Olds been aggressive in perusing this business. Second purpose was to build a car that could compete in some rallying as I had competed in Car and Driver’s “One Lap of America” several times.

I already had many of these parts from various projects from the past 15 years. I needed a good 4 door sedan as a candidate for the project and found one in Seattle WA. In August 1999. I was fortunate to find an intact 72 with air a blue interior and a painted white roof. The car body was rust free with some minor front-end damage. I already knew where there was a low mile 71 Toronado 455 (see the specs, they are close to the w-30) The Toro engine had the deeper pan and baffle, a must for a police cruiser. A local trans shop built a Th400 to specs and built a 3.08 posi from parts I provided. My son and I started the task of replacing every suspension piece with Polygraphite bushings and heavy duty everything. A steering box from an IROC Z Camaro was installed along with the biggest brakes we could fit under 15” wheels

We had the engine/trans/diff in place and the suspension completed by August 2000. Over the following months the tinted glass was installed and the blue interior was cleaned and fitted. The bucket seats were re upholstered in a plain blue vinyl’s was the rear seat. A rubber floor mat was ordered from Auto Custom Carpets. The carpet at the bottom of the door panels was replaced with vinyl to match the doors.

By January 2001 we had a complete rolling body/chassis and installed the front clip. I brought the car to Mark Nicoll of mark of Excellence Restorations, Coombs BC in March 2001 to have the white top repainted and the black paint applied.

Although Mark was quick to get the car ready I was busy getting ready for the Denver Nationals and put the project on hold until August to complete the final assembly.

In knowing that the 442 was an offspring of a police package is probably what attracted me to these cars in 1970. Over the last 30 years I have owned 15 Oldsmobile’s with 12 being 442’s. Of these I have restored 7 of them to show quality standards. Throughout these restorations I have often wondered what a Cutlass police cruiser would have been equipped like. I am sure Olds did provide Cutlasses to Lansing the early 70’s. This is what might have been in your rear view mirror instead of that big Polara.

To date the car has not seen Rally duty but had been to a few shows and entertained the unsuspecting Olds owner.

The One Adam 12 monicker was bestowed by the guys at Fusick Automotive.

Thanks,

Paul

[Seattle Sam]

Paul,
That car looks like a lot of fun!

Just curious - could you get an Olds with a rubber floor mat?
-Sam

[Z-11 396]

+++ PAUL +++ WHAT A //// FUN //// AND <<< FANTASTIC >>> CAR ALL IN ONE... GREAT STORY, AND PICTURES AS WELL, THANKS FOR SHARING.....KASEY .

[Xplantdad]

Paul,

Thanks yet again for sharing another of your cool rides. If you've not had the pleasure of meeting Paul...you are missing out. He's definitely a positive influence to this wonderful hobby that we all share in...

I dig on the spartan interior and the "highway patrol" logo on the air cleaner. The red lights up front are cool, too!

[Postsedan]

Love the rubber mat....surprised to see buckets. Was the car ordered with buckets? Nice Olds!

Dan.

[TimG]

Paul, great car. Being an Olds fan, I love it. It reminds me of some of the great Cutlass based cars that were used in supporting roles at the '72 Indy 500.

[PeteLeathersac]

Wow, VERY cool...being both an Oldsie and Cop-car fan I love this car!.
Personally I'd consider the bumperettes for the full cop-car look...maybe wide steelies w/ dog-dish caps too? .
Is it F41 rear stab-bar equipped? .


~ Pete

[Canuck]

Pete
Its got the rear sway bar and a 1 1/4 front bar.

Everything on this car was available from Oldsmobile in 72. Base F85 Cutlasses had rubber floor mats. The bucket seats, thought not shown on Olds cutlass order form for a 4 door were common place in Cop car offerings in later years to allow for a spot for "police gear" on the floor.

The Super stock whhels I figured were a better application than steelies and dogs due to better ventilation.

I am still looking for an NOS Tim Hortons Donut box!!!

[PeteLeathersac]

All sounds great Paul...love the car! .

WOW on your resto accomplishments over the past few years w/ a busy family life too...amazing! .

Did you give us a sneak peek at the Cutlass a year or so back or was there a similar A-body eBay Cop-Car we were looking at here?.

Good luck on finding a period correct Donut box...it'd be a nice touch! .

~ Pete

[TimG]

Didn't cop cars have a W30 hood?????