NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent most of his life racing cars, from his trademark No. 88 Chevrolet to the vehicles he rode growing up in North Carolina.

The two-time Daytona 500 champion loves cars, and he inherited that from his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. But of all the cars he’s collected over the years, there is one the iconic driver called his “oddest.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls his 1977 Cutlass a ‘boat’

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s classic car collection naturally includes vehicles from either before he was born in 1974 or that were popular when he was a child.

The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass is one of those cars. In a 2014 interview with Men’s Journal, the racing legend showed off a black Cutlass and referred to it as a “boat.” However, he also acknowledged its impact on NASCAR’s history.

“Back in ’78, ’79, and 1980, that was the car to have if you wanted to be competitive in the Daytona 500.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

According to Men’s Journal, eight of the top ten starters at the 1980 Daytona 500 drove Cutlasses. Earnhardt admitted he didn’t love the car and how it operated.

What was the Oldsmobile Cutlass?

General Motors introduced the Oldsmobile Cutlass in 1961, over a decade before Earnhardt Jr. entered the world.

A popular muscle car-turned-personal luxury car, the Cutlass remained in for nearly three decades. The Oldsmobile division later introduced several spinoffs, including the Cutlass Calais compact and the Cutlass Cruiser station wagon.

Oldsmobile replaced the Cutlass with the Achieva in 1992. However, the Cutlass name returned in 1997. Two years later, the Cutlass ceased production for good.

Earnhardt has used his sizable net worth on his car collection

Forbes valued Earnhardt Jr.’s career earnings at $410 million, which is more than enough for him to collect as many cars as he wants.

The 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass is only one of those vintage vehicles, which at least hit the open market when Earnhardt was alive. Older cars in Earnhardt’s collection include a 1967 Camaro and a 1976 Laguna. 

The racing legend also owns a 1948 TK pickup truck, one with interesting design choices. The truck’s exterior is teal with signs of rust and what he referred to as “imperfections.” However, a quick glance at the interior shows a vehicle with a rebuilt drivetrain and a new chassis.

If Earnhardt is smart, he’ll make sure the cars are safe and protected from any harm. He won’t want to end up like baseball legend Reggie Jackson, who once lost over 30 classic cars in a warehouse fire.

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