So after three years I'm thinking of selling my 442. It's, as far as I can tell, a 'factory' 442. i know all the debate back and forth, blah blah, but all signs point to this thing being born a 442. I have no documentation though. Here are some pics, please tell me your thoughts. Runs and drives great. Radio/8 track is inop but was working fine a year ago. Heavy duty suspension and sway bar, boxed frame rails, correct exhaust, corerect shifter etc etc. Also has very rare dealer-option external temp gauge. Gas gauge is inop, prolly just the fuel sending unit. Had the A/C converted three years ago. needs to be recharged. I have the numbers matching 350 in a crate, 455 in it currently. i know the 442 badge on the glove box is inaccurate, the guy i bought it from said he just liked the look of that better. I have the original 'cutlass supreme' badge in the GM resto parts bag that the 44 badge came it. I'd love to hear any feedback.IMG_2387.jpg

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more pics

 

The 442 badge on the glovebox is incorrect. just kidding. Nice car. What are you looking to get out of it?

 

LOL. Well, that's why I'm here, trying to get feedback on what it's worth. Low NADA RETAIL IS $31K, AVERAGE IS $46K. The car has been repainted, not sure when, and it's a '20 footer' for sure. That being said, it's heavily optioned car which is rare, and is numbers matching which is rarer. With only 1041 Cutlass Supreme verts were built in 72 and an unknown number were 442s. This car might be one of 100 or one of 400, it's hard to say. I can say that my buddy who goes to Hot August Nights in Reno every year for 12 years has told me he's never seen the like. So I'd have to think it's worth close to or over Avg Retail NADA. but she's only worth what someone's willing to pay for it, right?

 

And thanks, I love the car and am loath to get rid of it, but my wife wants a Jeep. Happy wife, happy life, am I right?

 

I cant help w actual value on this one but I feel if you could get the low NADA retail of $31k you would be doing better than most and should take that money quick.

I think w no Docs you have a 350 ci 72 vert 442 clone in nice shape, that said 12-20k depending on location and timing.

 

depends on who the boss is

 

 

The number of 442 convertibles built IS known. Your prices are a pipe dream. Good luck with the sale just the same but you need to have a reality check before you start trying to sell.

 

And thats why I'm here, to get feedback on what this car is worth. And as I said, the number IS known, it's 1041. Unknown is the number of 442s the factory spit out. and yes, I'm aware that my initial numbers are sky-high...I'm looking for some feedback guys, I'm not offering it for sale here....

 

In my humble opinion, an asking price is just that. Pick a number that would make you happy, ask a bit more, and then settle for what you think is fair. I assure you if the price is too high, it won't sell. All it takes is one person to fall in love and stroke a check.

 

Why are you continuing to say that the # of 442s built is an unknown number when it is known how many hardtop & convertible 442s were built?

 

1972 442 production: (based on model). This includes W29 and W30 production
Cutlass - 751
Cutlass S (3377 - Post model) - 123
Cutlass S (3387 - Hardtop model) - 7800
Cutlass Supreme (4267 - convertible) - 1041

There you have it. Your car is one of 9715 factory produced (whether Lansing, Arlington, Framingham or Freemont) in 1972.

Since you have the original 350 the car came with - it's obviously not a W30 car even though it has the cutout rear bumper and trumpet exhausts (which were for the 455 W30 442's) I know you say it has the correct VIN for a dual exhaust, but that would be the N10 dual exhaust with turned down ends. Engine code is M? It does show the correct W29 hood stripes. Can you post a picture of the side of the car?

Not sure what you're looking at with NADA, but I just looked and your car is listed as an average price of 25,800 and a average of 38,000.00. The HIGH end retail is 58,00.00. Thats not anywhere close to the numbers you're posting. You're basing your estimate on it having a 455. The 455 it needs to have is the correct L75 VIN matched engine to get those numbers though. Based on my guestimate of what's said and I've seen on your other posts I think you're way high on your ask.

 

Heavily optioned is one thing. But your car is NOT numbers matching since you obviously have a different engine in it than what came from the factory. The engine has a VIN derivative stamped onto it (so does the transmission and frame BTW) that links it to the original car VIN.

Ok, here's where your facts are all twisted. This excerpt is from total Oldsmobile Production stats. As you can clearly see there were significantly more convertibles made than what you state, and what you 'think' is unknown 442 production is completely wrong. I posted the actual 442 production numbers for 72 above. There were 11,571 verts produced that year




He may not have seen the like, but means nothing. Just because your buddy goes to car shows doesn't make him an expert on cars or in this case, Oldsmobiles.

This is what a 442 convertible line sheet looks like from 1972.



If you look carefully (even in a Lansing car like yours) you'll find a Fisher Broadcast card or 2. I found 3 in my car. A W29 in Box 12 will authenticate your car if the body number matches the one on the card. As you know the letter code for engine authenticates the power team (engine/trans)

 

Allan, where would I look for the broadcast card?

 

Pull the back seat & look under the seat base behind the support springs. I have found many there. Also look under the front seats & under the carpet. There is no set location for where to find one.

 

^^ What Dave said. I found the 3 of mine
- under the front seat tucked into a spring
- under the rear seat bottom
- under the front carpet on top of the trans hump.

I have also heard of them being stuffed behind kickpanels, under the parcel shelf and up behind the dash.

Does your car have stainless rocker panel moldings? Post a side profile pic?