Q: Do you know how many 1978 Olds Cutlass Supreme two-door models were made? This one has only 36,000 miles on it and has had only one owner — my mother.
A: No problem. In 1978, your Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe was by far the most popular model from the Cutlass line. Olds produced a whopping 240,917 Supreme two-door coupes from a total of 527,606 Cutlass models, which numbered eight overall. The next-highest production model is the Supreme Brougham Coupe, with 117,880, and the third highest drops all the way down to 44,617 for the Cruiser Wagon. The least produced was the Cutlass Salon Brougham Coupe, with 10,741.
Q: I’ve been collecting scale-model cars for years, and I am now in the process of selling most of my collection. Many of my models come from the Danbury and Franklin Mint companies, but I’m disappointed at how little the cars are bringing on the auction sites. I’ve paid more than $100 for most of them, but many sell for half that price on eBay. Have I made a mistake?
A: If you purchased these models solely for appreciation in value, you’ve probably made an error. However, some of the cars were produced in limited edition numbers and command top dollar. Hopefully, you have some of these models. They include the Franklin Mint 1968 Shelby Mustang Cobra and the 1956 and 1961 Lincoln Continentals. A hot Danbury Mint car is the James Bond 007 Aston Martin. The important factor is “limited edition” availability, and thus the current pricing situation with other models. Some models are “retired,” but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee price appreciation.