The 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 advertised an “All-new action look” that included Sebring Yellow paint with color-keyed mirrors, bumpers, and wheels.
It had all the right muscle car essentials, including a 350, hood scoops, cold air induction, hood pins, stripes, racing mirrors, and stylish wheels.
However, as the legend goes, it was just “too much yellow.”
Dealers could hardly get rid of them without adding chrome bumpers, new wheels, chrome trim rings, or a vinyl top.
But is that true?
Let’s take a look at the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 to separate fact from fiction, shall we?
Table of Contents
What is a 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350?
1970 was the pinnacle year for appearance and performance during the muscle car era. Every auto manufacturer delivered their most radical American muscle cars yet. Oldsmobile was no exception.
However, new Federal emissions targeting high-compression engines, rising fuel costs, and skyrocketing insurance costs started suffocating high-performance muscle cars.
The writing was on the wall.
While Oldsmobile still produced the high-performance W-30 4-4-2 and W-31 Cutlass, they hedged their bet on the new emissions standards by offering something that was more show than go.
They captured the muscle car spirit without the performance—something everyone would have to get used to once the new Federal emission regulations went into effect in 1975, ending the muscle car era.
Oldsmobile called it the “Rallye 350.”
A one-year-only option, the W45 Rallye 350 package cost $158.98 and was available in three models, including the F-85 Club Coupe, Sports Coupe, and Holiday Coupe.
They were only available in Sebring Yellow with a black interior. A vinyl top was available at dealerships—never from the factory. All were assembled in Lansing, MI.
When the W45 option package was selected, it automatically triggered a host of features, including:
- L74 Rocket 350 V8 / 310 horsepower
- Rochester Quadrajet 4-bbl Carburetor
- Force Air induction with a single snorkel air cleaner
- Special Code 51 Sebring Yellow Paint
- W-25 Fiberglass hood with functional air scoops
- Sport stripes (hood, sides, and rear)
- Eurothane coated bumpers
- Rear bumper specially notched for flared dual exhausts
- Blacked out grille
- Chromed hood tie downs
- Heavy-duty FE2 suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars
- Super wide G70 x 14″ bias-belted black walls
- Styled Sebring Yellow Super Stock II sports wheels (14×7)
- Custom 4-spoke sport steering wheel
- Sports-styled outside mirrors
- Driver’s side remote mirrors
- Rallye 350 decals on the rear quarter panels
- 12-bolt rear axle with a 3.23:1 axle ratio
- 9.5″ Manual drum brakes
“Beneath the gaudy paint and wing lurk bargains in performance and handling.” Car Life Magazine, May 1970
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One didn’t need to settle on the W45 package alone. A host of additional luxury, appearance, safety, and performance options were also available, including:
- W-35 Rear deck spoiler ($75)
- 3-speed automatic transmission
- 4-speed manual transmission (#185)
- Anti-spin axle ($42)
- 3.42:1 or 3.91:1 axle ratio
- Heavy duty radiator ($21)
- Power-assisted brakes
- Power front disc brakes ($64)
- Variable-ratio power steering
- Rally Pac gauges
- AM/FM radio
- Power windows
- Power seats
- Power door locks
- Cruise control (automatic vehicles only)
- Air conditioning (not available on gear ratios higher than 3.23:1)
Engine Specs
| Displacement | 350 V8 |
| Horsepower | 310 @ 4,800 RPM |
| Torque | 390 @ 3,200 RPM |
| Bore & Stroke (Inches) | 4.057 x 3.385 |
| Compression | 10.25:1 |
Transmission Options
The standard transmission was the 3-speed manual. Optional 4-speed M20 wide ratio manual and 3-speed TH350 automatic was available.
Automatics came with the choice of a column shifter or a Hurst Dual-Gate Shifter located in a center console.
Manual shifted transmissions were available with a center console when bucket seats were specified or as a standalone shifter on all bench seat vehicles.
Interior
The interior of a W45 Rallye 350 package wasn’t any different than what was available in a Cutlass, Cutlass S, or Holiday coupe.
Every single Rallye 350 came standard with a black interior with a styled 4-spoke sport steering wheel. The type of black vinyl seats and flooring material depended on which model was ordered.
On the Cutlass and Cutlass-S, bucket seats with carpet were standard. The F-85 came standard with a bench seat and rubber floor liners.
Too Much Yellow?
Virtually every article on the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 mentions the legend of dealerships and customers adding chrome bumpers, chrome trim rings, and other measures to diminish the yellow.
However, they never actually demonstrate this was anything more than a myth that is passed on from author to author.
That is, until now.
Jeremiah Brazil’s 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350
This Rallye 350 was purchased from the original owner and perfectly illustrates the lengths Oldsmobile dealers and car owners would go to reduce the volume of Sebring Yellow paint.
This is 1 of 1020 F-85 Club Coupes (pillar coupe) equipped with the Rally 350 package. It is equipped with air conditioning, disc brakes, a rear wing, and an AM radio.
This Rallye 350 was originally purchased at Merry Oldsmobile in San Jose, CA. Somewhere along the line it changed its name to Phelps Oldsmobile as the front license plate indicates.
Merry Oldsmobile was the dealership responsible for swapping the yellow bumpers for chrome and adding the black vinyl top to move it off the lot.
Once the new owner got it home, they proceeded to upgrade the wheels with aluminum slotted wheels and white wall tires. They also removed the rear spoiler and put it in the rafters.
Jeremiah Brazil now owns this specimen and purchased it from the original owner in May 2019 after responding to a Craigslist ad. It had been parked for 34 years with only 71,000 miles on the odometer.
According to Brazil, the previous owner told him that he saved up his money and purchased it while in high school. He was only 17 years old at the time.
When Brazil picked it up, two of the original Super Stock II wheels had chrome trim rings. The dealership likely added these given the original owner switched to day two wheels shortly after purchase.
This Rallye wasn’t parked because of an accident or mechanical failure. He simply switched his attention to foreign cars and put his Rallye away for safekeeping.
After acquiring the vehicle, Brazil added a new fuel tank and pump, battery, hoses, master cylinder, wheel cylinder, front brake lines, and a basic tune-up.
That’s it.
It started right up after 34 years!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 Were Produced?
Oldsmobile produced a total of 3,547 Rallye 350s, split out between three different models. The rarest of the bunch is the Sport coupes with only 160 examples rolling off the assembly line.
- F-85 Club coupe 1,020
- Cutlass Sport coupe 160
- Cutlass S Holiday coupe 2,367
How Fast Was a 1970 Rallye 350 in the Quarter Mile?
The 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 was more show than go. In the May 1970 issue of Car Life magazine, a Rallye 350 with a 4-speed manual transmission and a 3.42:1 axle ratio jogged the quarter mile in 15.27 seconds, traveling 94 miles per hour.
What is a 1970 Rallye 350 worth?
According to Hagerty*, the value of a 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 is between $22,100 to $68,200 depending on its condition.
- #1 (Concours condition) = $68,200
- #2 (Excellent condition) = $49,700
- #3 (Good condition) = $33,600
- #4 (Fair condition) = $22,100
*As of 11/9/22.
Can you verify a 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 by its VIN?
The vehicle identification number (VIN) tells you the motor division, series, body style, model year, assembly plant, and production number.
Unfortunately, the Rallye 350 wasn’t a stand-alone model. This package was optioned on top of a Club, Sport, or Holiday Coupe base so you can’t authenticate one through its VIN.
Unless you have original documents like a window sticker, build sheet or original sales receipt from the dealership, genuine Rallye 350s are challenging to authenticate.
Well, there you have the scoop on the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350. Do you have any stories to share? Have you ever owned one? Did you sell one and regret it? Let us know below!
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Ryan
Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.
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hI, IN JANUARY OF 1970 WE WERE COMING BACK FROM class trip in nyc,,, going south on nj turnpike we spied a car carrier going north with 6 yes six of these cars NEW whole school bus went nuts us gear heads and what a sight to see
I believe that any person who orders a yellow car simply loves yellow. Yellow has not been my first colour (I’m Canadian, hence the “u”) choice, but the colour is quite rare and when I see a yellow car on the street, it turns my head no matter what the make or model. I really do like yellow. To finish my point, if a person orders a yellow car it’s because they love the colour. To car enthusiasts like that, no, THEY can never have too much yellow and that’s all that matters.