Good looking car at a decent price...
1971 442 Convertible

 

88 Grand. That's decent? I take it you must have one.

 

I wish, but relatively speaking, it seemed like a decent price...maybe I'm wrong 🤔

 

That was my thought as well.

 

It's funny, for years Olds owners were pissed that other Abody counterparts were bringing stupid money comparatively. Now that the price point on Oldsmobile cars are going up, they complain.

 

I have always complained about 442 prices. I passed on a 1971 442 back in the late 80s because the seller wanted $5500 when a similar Cutlass was selling for much less than that. For some reason people think 442s are made of gold when they’re just a Cutlass with a big block. Many folks have transplanted a 455 into a plain jane Cutlass and totally thrashed 442s on the street and the track.

As you might surmise, I don’t drive a status symbol.

 

Bitter, Kenneth? Although it's very nice, I think $88K is a little rich for a garden-variety 4-4-2.


Now, if it were a Cutlass ...

 

Looks to be a pretty respectable resto performed at a presumably healthy cost, so the pricing attempt is arguably understandable if all is as asserted in the ad.

Just a nit-pick question - should the inner wells have been red if this is a factory 442?

 

Red wells are only w-30 but not all w-30s got them in 71. If this was a 71 w-30 then yeah it would be a decent price.

 

I think what may be holding that car back just a bit is the bench seat? If it was buckets and console it would be a bit more desirable IMO? Small niche of people looking for a bench seat auto but they are out there. You cant deny the provenance and quality of the restoration though, a beautiful car.

 

I just looked at it and got an offer of 79,999. It could be worth it.

You know there's a seat for every ***. Some people don't mind a bench. And the work based on the pics looks to be very top notch. Worth it? To someone it is. Buckets with console would probably be more desirable, but not a dealbreaker for me. The fact I don't need another car to deal with is a major factor for me. If I were looking for a turn-key, I'd probably have offered by now. Love that color.

Also, if someone had a 71 442 convertible in the past, they may find it do-able. Recall they didn't make that many 71 442s as it were, let alone convertibles. Out of over half a million Oldsmobiles made in 71, this is one of 1,304. A shade over 7,500 total 442s were made in 1971, so there's that.

 

You're not going to be able to replicate the quality of this car for $88k, let alone with a convertible with fully documented history and numbers matching... Jason's work is top notch. I've seen this car in person, it's really nice.

 

Considering how painstaking the restoration was to duplicate the factory condition, it's puzzling why the engine is so heavily modified with aftermarket parts. I think he would have been better off leaving it stock since mods rarely bring a return when selling.

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tn-car-178565/

 

Kudos to the restorer for not adding buckets and console. Personally, I LOVE the colors and can tell you from experience…if someone GAVE you a matching numbers ‘71 442 convertible, you couldn’t restore to this level for anywhere near the asking price unless you did everything yourself. If it was a ‘71 W-30 convertible in these colors, in this condition, you’d have to add at least another $50,000 and I doubt you’d hear or see any negative feedback on the price.
Good luck to the seller and whoever gets to own it next.

 

Kudos to the restorer for not adding buckets and console. Personally, I LOVE the colors and can tell you from experience…if someone GAVE you a matching numbers ‘71 442 convertible, you couldn’t restore to this level for anywhere near the asking price unless you did everything yourself. If it was a ‘71 W-30 convertible in these colors, in this condition, you’d have to add at least another $50,000 and I doubt you’d hear or see any negative feedback on the price.
Good luck to the seller and whoever gets to own it next.