This is one of those rare car stories where a husband and wife completely cooperated on the purchase of two classic cars.
This Olds Cutlass was one of them.
Jerry Sutherland
Gary Osbak is a veteran of the car hobby, so he’s scouted for old iron as a routine part of his day. His wife started the ball rolling as Gary explained: “In 2012, my good wife Linda Hohol decided rather impulsively to buy me a car on Ebay. She had seen me watching the ‘73 Olds on the auction site. I often would watch cars get bought and sold just out for interest’s sake to see what classics were going for”.
There was a reason for his enthusiasm: “I was especially interested in the Olds, and no one was bidding on it. I had a ‘69 Cutlass convertible in my 20s so I’ve always liked a nice Olds. While I was at work, she started bidding, within reason of course. When I came home, I mentioned that there was finally some action on the Olds, and she admitted it was her doing the bidding and now someone else was as well”.
The auction game is a roll of the dice on many levels, but this story ended well for Gary as he explained: “To make a long story short, Linda put in her final bid and got the car! Now what? From the US! Sight unseen–we were very lucky”. That’s a happy ending for an online auction.
This was an easy transaction for Gary: “Linda figured out all the transport, border, paperwork etc. and in a few weeks, I had myself the Olds”. That’s a huge bonus because paperwork is the key to success when a car crosses the border.
Gary gives the car just enough exercise to keep it loose and running well. He said it’s a great experience because the Olds “Has long legs with a passing gear nearing 80 miles per hour.
He describes the ride as “very smooth–better than new cars”. Gary said it pulls down around 21 miles per gallon thanks to the highway gears, so this Olds does as well as any large, mid-70s smog era car can do on the open road. Gary thought the mileage was “not bad for a car from that era”.
Gary hasn’t had to do much to his mint Cutlass over the last fourteen years: “The Olds needed a replacement windshield wiper/washer motor, and new brake pads, rotors. wheel bearings and axle seals on the front. But up until now, I haven’t had to do anything”.
That statement speaks volumes about how well this car has been maintained over its 52 years. Gary likes the rumble from the dual exhaust system because it fits the whole experience behind the wheel of a 1973 Oldsmobile.
The key to success in this story is Linda.
This Oldsmobile was entirely her idea—right down to the bidding process. That is what you call a unicorn story in the car hobby.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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