cole9953

Hey guys, new and hoping you can help me put a value on my late grandfathers 1970 442.
He passed last week and I’m worried about the cars future. All I want is for the car to stay in the family but as a grandson I don’t technically have a say in the matter. My grandfather who watched auto actions Berret and mecum all day for years is convinced the car is worth 100-150K. if that is the case the car will probably be sold
The car is a one owner 63k original miles, 100% unrestored. If I had to rate it id say 95% due to minor nicks in the paint, if 100% was show room. I mean this still has original rubbers around doors and windows..
Azure blue with black vinyl top and blue interior. The car is not a w-30 as it has the 2 barrel Rochester and black fender liners.
Story is the car was used by the dealer ship as a drag racing show car, and is tuned up rather hot. This way the dealership could say look the base model is beating the competition. For my grandfather to buy it he had to wave all warranty on the car at time of purchase. I’m not sure if this makes the car more valuable or rare but thought I’d throw it in..
I’m hoping the car is around 20-40 thousand dollars as that will mean its less likely to leave the family…
I’ll have the vin# sometime soon that should help figuring out all the options it has.

Thanks for your time

Any ways pictures!!!
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cole9953

not the best pics but all i had..

allyolds68

If it's a true 442 (the VIN will tell you), in the condition I see in the pics, I'd say around $20k at best.

The things that bring it down are:

Automatic, No OAI, and I can't figure out why it would have a 2 bbl (unless it's not a real 442)

It might bring a little more if you have good documentation. BTW it looks like it's in incredibly good shape for never being restored. If that's true, and you have the docs, it's more desireable

cole9953

it is a true 442. i may be mistaken about the carb. my grandpaw bought it new and its never had any work other than normal maininance, he has never had a car that wasent 100% stock.

also what does OAI stand for?

72 w29 all green

That appears to be a four-barrel air cleaner.

cole9953

yeah no idea why i thought it was a 2 barrel

allyolds68

The fiberglass "ram air" (not an Olds term) hood. W-29 option. OAI is Outside Air Induction

cole9953

ahh. so great condition all original, unrestored, 60K mile 442s like this go for 20,000?

stevengerard

Its a beautiful car in what looks like awesome original shape. One owner, un-restored 1970 442 all adds to the bottom line. Good news for you is unless someone really really famous raced it (not just the dealership's owner or children) there is no way this car is worth 50k let alone 100-150k).

I'd say at least 20k because of originality, condition, low miles (if original) and the one owner history. It is a low optioned car which to some increases the value to others it lowers the value. OAI (Outside Air Induction) that is the optional fiberglass hood.

No tach, dualgate, OAI hood, AM/FM, 8-track, electric windows, electric door locks, rear defogger, sport wheel etc.

It does have AC which is interesting for a car they supposedly raced. I'd almost say it would be worth even more if had no AC and certainly if it was a 4-speed.

At auction I'd bet it would go for 25-40k if luck was on your side maybe even higher. If it was mine I'd start high asking 30k and hope to get close to 25k. Its a tough market out there and as cool as this car is it means even more to you as it is a family car. Unfortunately grandpa was way off in what he thought the value was.

Also your idea of a 95% car is probably more of my 85% which is to many a 75% car. In other words many folks could most likely pick that car a part in person. If it was in my family I'd be doing what ever I could to keep it in the family - that's the real value and its a great car.

chadman

Looks like a 15-17k car tops to me. Nice but lacking the desireable options and features that bring the value.

vette442

Nice survivors that haven't been messed with have a decent buyer base as nothing's hidden under new paint or a questionable restoration attempt. I'd say $24K-$32K is a realistic ballpark price range in the current market based on what I see in those pics. Nothing appears to be abused/worn out/neglected inside or out. It appears to be a very nice car.

Hope you get to keep it!
Terry

cole9953

hahaha this is all great news to me the lower the cash value the better!

should have the vin sometime today, how well does that VIN decoder at the top work?

allyolds68

The VIN isn't going to tell you much more than you already know (it will tell you what plant it was built at). There will be a little more info on the cowl tag. Get a pic of that and someone will decode it for you

cole9953

ahh it will be a couple weeks before I could get that.car is in Louisiana and I’m in Houston.

GAOldsman

Yes I hope you get to keep the car. I suggest getting an appraisal and then a loan for the family "feuders" to split amongst themselves. Hopefully being your intentions are to keep it in the family maybe they will cut you some slack on the price. If you do procure it BE SURE to get any and all documentation on the car wherever it may be located or scattered. As far as value, from what I see it looks to be a 455 with a 4 bbl, A/C and original interior so I would estimate it at just south of $30k. Just my $ .02 that is.

hurst68olds

I think you hit the value on the head. To be outside this price range there would have to be extreme circumstances not seen in your pics or covered in your description. I see a well kept factory original car with a "middle-of-the-road" OPTION set (which is typical in an unmolested car).

firefrost gold

I really like the blue interior ! what color is the engine ? what is the truck under the cover ? Next question is for who ever , Should a 70 442 have olds script on the hood ?

redoldsman

I am sorry about your losing your grandfather. That is normal for all of us at some point in our lives but it still hurts. It is a very nice original car. They are only original once. Keep it that way. I am no expert but I think the value is in the $25,000 - $30,000 range.

stevengerard

part # 399094 oldsmobile script for 4400 except 35W25 & 30

so according to the assembly manual yes it should

cole9953

under the cover is my grate grandfathers(he bought it new)49. that my grandfather just finished a ten year frame off nut and bolt restoration to original well everything but the alternator..... original block, carb (thriftmaster straight 6) and everything. I was waiting on him to get out of the hospital so i could drive down and help put a new harmonic balancer on. but in a few weeks it will be safe and sound in my dads garage about 5 minuts from me. that. the truck my dad learned to drive on. 3 on the tree FTW!!!

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another car to be sold will be this 57 bellair stunningly perfect condition but no family ties... my grandpaw went to a car show about 4 years ago, it one first place, he bought it and drove it home... though an amazing car it would not bother me to see it go.
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hahaha here is my grandfather my fiance and I about to go for a ride.
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stevengerard

your fiance has hairy arms - oh wait that must be grandpa - wow looks like your dad got himself a really great truck, that's an awesome story same family for three, hopefully four generations - that should be in a magazine article.

cole9953

i forget where but the truck has been in a magazine and recently a movie... a small indi movie of some sort. but yeah 3 and hopefully 4 and 5 generations!

redoldsman

The truck is a neat story. The 57 is going to bring some serious money. What part of Louisiana are they in?

cole9953

near lafayette

cole9953

Got the Vin#
344870M125850
According to this site http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/of442.htm#442 1970

should “Have 344... Fisher body tags”



Sports Coupe model
344770 Vin
1688 Units
Hardtop Coupe
344870
14709
Convertible
2933
Rallye 350
3547

stevengerard

yep its a 442 made in lansing. What is that probably a September or October build? the cars started with vin 100001 so this was the 25,850 car down that line (or around there anyway)

cole9953

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cole9953

thank you photo bucket edit
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allyolds68

That adds a few grand to the value

cole9953

just that we still have it, or is that telling you something about the car?

my gandpaw never threw anything away if it was about the car. im sure he has every document regarding that car in a file.

halfmoontrail

Very cool car, and I agree it is worth in the 20-30's. Definitely not 100+. The collectors who concentrate on low miles cars typically are interested in <1000 miles. I'm curious why the broadcast card would add any value to this car? VIN and underhood confirm it's a 442 with AC.
Steve

1969w3155

Beautiful vehicles, I would look for a professional appraiser, go to Hagerty's website or others and ask for a referral for your area.

allyolds68

With the Broadcast card and the fact that his grandfather owned it so long I just think it appeals to more people. I'm guessing he has a lot more paperwork around too.

cole9953

Im sure a professional appraiser is in the near future. But something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it…
I know my grandfather has turned down 2 or 3 90k offers before. Hopefully a professional appraiser will have a different opinion.

droldsmorland

I'd say your right in the ball park with your 20-40K estimate 40 being a little high. If it was mine Id have it professionally appraised by someone who knows Muscle Cars (key phrase here). Ill bet it appraises out at 25-30K Depending how clean the under body, engine bay and chassis are. Clean and detail it before appraisal. Don't mess with any original stuff like markings and tags etc...Let us all know.
We will all face this sooner then later or more precisely our families will because we are only the guardians of our cars until its our time.That's why its so important to make sure our wills are in order so the lawyers and money issues don't muck it up when were gone. Condolences by the way and welcome to the site.

chrismcgurk

to give you an idea,a 100 point base 442 sold for 28k at a major auction house

car has excellent history and condition,but that color hurts the value a LOT

20k maximum

getting an appraisal is throwing money away

most appraisers are car dealers who don't know a damn thing about these cars

MDchanic

To agree with everyone above:

CollectorCarMarket gives a value of $17,775 for #3 condition to $25,600 for #4 condition.

Most nice original cars are in #3 condition, though a few are in #4, so the value is likely closer to the $18,000 than to the $25,000 figure.

This ain't a hundred-grand car.

- Eric

chadman

As an old car guy I know used to say "that was the day two fools met, the one who made the offer and the other who didn't take it". He was referring to an offer he turned down on his '61 Vette.

MDchanic

I won't even go into the written offer for our house that we refused, about a month before the real estate market crashed...

- Eric

coldwar

The professional you secure will likely offer several values, insurance, market, replacement and 'estate purposes'. That last one is the ticklish variable as I well know in my field. You as the appraiser can find yourself under subpoena and then in the position of establishing your basis for the value and your credentials before a judge or magistrate charged with divvying the pie for disgruntled heirs. My charge would reflect that in a estate situation, with disclaimers in place. Wait and see what happens if your fellow heirs have to start facing tax liabilities chopping their proceeds, no doubt then one or all will want to backtrack and settle it over a sit down supper but too late then.

We find ourselves in a place where one of the top considerations of the car hobby and ownership/enjoyment is value, with thumbs in suspenders as it were. Thank the auctions and other TV shows for that, I don't care to enjoy the use of certain cars at this time because anywhere you end up the second or third sentence always is about what it is worth, and the identical example the other guy had and gave away 40 years ago. I'm sick of it. The classic car guys sure want to talk about the cash value of their cars, trouble is, no one wants to listen any longer in their segment of the hobby.

Your car looks in your pics very much like cars we used to buy 25-30 years ago, bring back to the rust belt, and flip. Just a good older honest appearing car, not a mutt, but no restored thoroughbred either. Pray for a low valuation, buy it, then drive the hell out of it even to ruin. You only live once, and your grandpa left vehicles meant for enjoyment, not greedy bickering.