new member-please help with advice

[drtdobber]

I have been wanting a classic olds 442 for a while and have found one locally. It is a 1972 with a 455. It looks really good from about 10 yards away and the interior is almost new. The vin # on the car matches then Vin # on the engine. There is about a dime size paint bubble under back window but it is the only sign I see anywhere of possible rust.It leaks power steering fluid but drives and runs well. It had ac but it had been taken off the car. It is automatic with his and hers shifter. It seems to shift smooth. This would be my first olds to purchase and I really don't know that much about these cars but I know I like it. I just don't want to make a mistake and pay more than these 1972 models are worth. It is 10,500 firm. Please let me know what you think. Thank you!!!

[texasred]

442 was an option in 1972, not a seperate model. If he does not have a build sheet, there is no way to tell it is a true 442 unless it is a W-30 which has a 'X' in the VIN for engine.

There are some things that every 442 with a 455 should have:
cutout bumper, dual exhausts and chrome tips
special hood, body-side and deck-lid striping
Heavy-Duty Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars
Boxed rear lower control arms

Common rust spots are around the rear fender wells, between the front fender well and the door (especially on the passenger side) and the bottom of the rear glass.

Depending on where you live, that sounds a little on the high side of reasonable...but not crazy.

C.J.

[mwmjr]

There are a couple of places that I looked at for the value of classic cars. One of them was called the goldbook and their website is http://www.manheimgold.com and the other one was nada guide and their website is nadaguides.com.

I just looked at the gold book and it looks like in 1972 the only 442's were a hurst and a w29 which are both worth alot of money. My guess is this car may be just a cutlass with a 455 engine?

Good luck!
Mike

[texasred]

Originally Posted by mwmjr

There are a couple of places that I looked at for the value of classic cars. One of them was called the goldbook and their website is http://www.manheimgold.com and the other one was nada guide and their website is nadaguides.com.

I just looked at the gold book and it looks like in 1972 the only 442's were a hurst and a w29 which are both worth alot of money. My guess is this car may be just a cutlass with a 455 engine?

Good luck!
Mike

Mike,

Nice guides, but the point was that you still can't verify a 442 (W-29) for 1972 without a build sheet. So with badging and som aftermarket items, I can call almost any '72 Cutlass a 442.

The only exception was a W30, which had an 'X' in the VIN. Hurst/Olds is not a 442.

C.J.

[mwmjr]

Check out my other post to this gentleman, I pasted vin decode information. Also here is what manheingold.com says regarding 442's in 1972
1972 OLDSMOBILE HURST/OLDS 4-4-2 Dsp/HP Eng Fair Good Exc Show Loan
2D HARDTOP (499 mfd) 455/300 V8 15,000 28,000 54,000 61,000 H 25,000
2D CONVERTIBLE (130 mfg) 455/300 V8 21,000 36,000 72,000 83,000 H 32,500

Shows a W29 and hurst/olds 442 as available models

[texasred]

Mike,

I'm really not trying to start a p!ssing contest over this.

No matter what manheimgold.com says, an H/O (W-45) is not a 442 (W-29) and a '72 442 is not verifiable without documentation. The VIN will not verify a 442 (in '72) unless it was a W-30. Not being able to verify the car certainly has an impact on the value. Anybody can "badge up" a '72 Cutlass, call it a 442 and you can't prove differently.

I noticed they don't show a 442 with a 350 for that year, which was certainly available. Doesn't say anything about options, 4 speed or auto... It may be a good tool to guestimate value, but it is certainly lacking in information.

And I believe he was asking about the trim tag...although he may have meant the VIN.

C.J.

[70Wcars]

C.J is correct ...the Hurst was not a 442 model...also the 350 was the base engine in '72 442's...by 1972 the 442 was an option model, and they are not coded in the VIN ...unless a W-30...even the Q-jets for '72 are only unique to the 4-speed cars...

[mwmjr]

No problem at all CJ The only reason I added to the thread is not to argue about right and wrong but just provide a reference for the information.

I'm definately a rookie and I don't want to come off as an "expert"

Thanks!
Mike

[2blu442]

If you like the car and have the money go for it! If you keep looking you probably can find something for less, but this one is there right now. If you watch ebay close you might save some money. But you may have to travel to another state and hope that it's as good as the ad said. This one you can crawl over/under and test drive before buying it. I tell others about the collector value of my old cars, but the bottom line is I just like to drive them! And I enjoy turning wrenches too