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Hi everyone new here and to be honest I don't know anything about cars so please bear with me... this was my grandfather's car he passed away left the car to my dad and a few years ago he passed away and left the car to me, the car has been sitting in the garage for 15 years and hasn't moved I don't have the time or money to invest into the car I'm hoping someone here can give me a rough idea what it might possibly be worth and my best route to take in selling it.. I did a little research and if I'm correct there was only 113 produced which is pretty crazy to me.. the car is not in the best shape theres some scratches and marks in the paint but no dents or rust anywhere except a little bit on the driver and passenger side at the bottom between the door and the tires, the interior is in good shape there's no cracks or marks in the leather seats no cracks or discoloring in the dash all the gauges and instruments look nice, it's been 15 years since it was on the road but the last time it was out it was driving fine there were no mechanical problems with it my dad just got sick life fell apart the car got parked and hasn't moved since.. my grandfather was the second owner he bought the car in 1978 it's a 4 speed manual with 65k miles .. if you have any questions or need more information I'll do my best to answer your questions.. I uploaded a couple videos to YouTube if that helps more then the pictures, here's the links
https://youtu.be/fVVvmhSy348
https://youtu.be/ehTkcUlKX6o
Your dad and grandpa looked after you, though. The 'X' in the 5th position of the VIN reveals that you potentially have quite a valuable car.
To begin with, JD Power is not really the go-to for valuing such cars. For your own edification, you could start by researching auction results (R-M, Mecum, Silver and Barrett-Jackson) and researching online collector classifieds like Hemmings, Barn Finds, Old Ride or Bring a Trailer. In the meantime, post up here with as many detailed pictures (inside, outside, underneath -- and include anything that looks like a potential problem) as you can and we'll try to give you an idea about the condition of the car. It actually looks pretty good.
Also, if you haven't done so already, go on a treasure hunt for every scrap of paper associated with the car that you can find. The Protect-o-Plate shown is excellent documentation and in conjunction with the VIN pretty much authenticates the car, but the more history of the car you can dig up, the more value is added. Anything you can find from the original selling dealer or that shows service and maintenance history is gold. Old photos are great too. Once you find all this stuff, put it in a safe place, along with that P-O-P.
Is there any chance the car was originally sold in Canada? I ask because if it was, you can obtain records of how it was originally delivered to the dealer which can be very helpful.
That should be enough to get you started. Soon, I'm sure other members will chime in with some good ideas to help you figure out what your next move will be.
Your dad and grandpa looked after you, though. The 'X' in the 5th position of the VIN reveals that you potentially have quite a valuable car.
Is there any chance the car was originally sold in Canada? I ask because if it was, you can obtain records of how it was originally delivered to the dealer which can be very helpful.
POP indicates sold in Olds Sales Zone 10. Wonder if 10-359 is in TK-65's dealer database?
You've gotten a tentative offer and value sight unseen from a well-known and respected Oldsmobile performance car guy. Yes, you have an interesting and valuable car.
Terry, with one post he may not be able to do PMs yet.
I will say this is one of the most astonishing cars I've ever seen on here.
Elijah15, were your dad and grandpa ever involved in the Oldsmobile Club of America or the W-Machines groups? Maybe we can track the car thru those. Or it may be the unknown jewel nobody knew existed.
Delete this thread.people in here are trying to sell your car before buying it from u.
He's right. I'd leave the thread up ... you may still get some useful information. But don't take any action based on internet BS. Instead, take some time, assemble all the info you can get and then proceed deliberately.
It is a valuable car and you come off as a little bit naive. That's a combination that brings out the sharks
Your dad and grandpa looked after you, though. The 'X' in the 5th position of the VIN reveals that you potentially have quite a valuable car.
To begin with, JD Power is not really the go-to for valuing such cars. For your own edification, you could start by researching auction results (R-M, Mecum, Silver and Barrett-Jackson) and researching online collector classifieds like Hemmings, Barn Finds, Old Ride or Bring a Trailer. In the meantime, post up here with as many detailed pictures (inside, outside, underneath -- and include anything that looks like a potential problem) as you can and we'll try to give you an idea about the condition of the car. It actually looks pretty good.
Also, if you haven't done so already, go on a treasure hunt for every scrap of paper associated with the car that you can find. The Protect-o-Plate shown is excellent documentation and in conjunction with the VIN pretty much authenticates the car, but the more history of the car you can dig up, the more value is added. Anything you can find from the original selling dealer or that shows service and maintenance history is gold. Old photos are great too. Once you find all this stuff, put it in a safe place, along with that P-O-P.
Is there any chance the car was originally sold in Canada? I ask because if it was, you can obtain records of how it was originally delivered to the dealer which can be very helpful.
That should be enough to get you started. Soon, I'm sure other members will chime in with some good ideas to help you figure out what your next move will be.
thanks for your reply appreciate you taking time to give your thoughts.. got lots of old photographs from the '70s and '80s of the car couldn't find a window sticker or very much paperwork but I did find the owner's manual the vehicle warranty booklet and a few other things..
POP indicates sold in Olds Sales Zone 10. Wonder if 10-359 is in TK-65's dealer database?
You've gotten a tentative offer and value sight unseen from a well-known and respected Oldsmobile performance car guy. Yes, you have an interesting and valuable car.
Sorry I missed the question about the Canada thing earlier, the first owner lived in Illinois (Chicago land area) the second and final owner also lived in the Chicagoland area, I don't know exactly what city the first owner actually purchased the car from, I'm guessing at least somewhere in the state of Illinois
71-72 were interesting years. I had no idea you could get a 455 Cutlass until I joined this website. One of my brother's knew this girl/lady who's Dad worked for Oldsmobile. She had a black black interior white convertible top 72 455 ragtop car. I was a kid so didn't know how rare that car was.
Last edited by no1oldsfan; June 26th, 2023 at 02:14 AM.
X as 5th character in vin, unless vin plate is tampered with, is basically bulletproof documentation for W30 in ‘72. Striping and badging, not so much.
X as 5th character in vin, unless vin plate is tampered with, is basically bulletproof documentation for W30 in ‘72. Striping and badging, not so much.
So help me out. A 455 Cutlass in 71-72 had what letter to identify it as a 455 car? Could you get a 455 Cutlass other than an SX in 71?
So help me out. A 455 Cutlass in 71-72 had what letter to identify it as a 455 car? Could you get a 455 Cutlass other than an SX in 71?
The VIN did not identify the engine size until 1972. So to answer your question, in 1971 there was no letter to identify the car having a 455 in the VIN. If the VIN in 70 or 71 starts with 344 then you would obviously have a 455 as those 3 numbers identify the car as a 442. Beyond that, you need paperwork to know for sure what 455 and what trans was in the car. For 72, the 5th position of the VIN was designated as identifiying the motor. The 455 codes for 1972 were U, V, and X. The U was the 455 mated to an auto trans. The V identified a 455 married to a 4 speed. The X designated the W30 455 with no distinction between 4 speed and automatic. Since the W30 was only available in a 442, the X in the vin is also a sure way to tell the car is a 442. So, as stated above, unless the VIN on this car has been swapped, the X proves that it IS a 442 W30. This is one of the reasons that many beleive the 72 W30 is a severely undervalued car as it is the only year that the VIN tells you clearly that you have a W30.
There is nothing more sentimental than having your grandfather's and father's car. Your going to kick yourself for selling it and may never forgive yourself. I still have my dad's 87 Mustang that he bought new..... It's a 2.3 auto that I dropped a 5.0 T5 in a couple years ago. If I had to make a choice between keeping my 68 442 4 speed convertible and the Mustang, I'd choose the Mustang in a second....
I can agree with that. I still have my grandfather's Monte Carlo. It is nice to drive, but not particularly sporty. It's got enough power. I would not want to sell it.
Sorry I missed the question about the Canada thing earlier, the first owner lived in Illinois (Chicago land area) the second and final owner also lived in the Chicagoland area, I don't know exactly what city the first owner actually purchased the car from, I'm guessing at least somewhere in the state of Illinois
Deciphering the zip on the warranty booklet if I have it right, 60456, it puts the original owner probably in Hometown, IL which I'll toss a guess it was Jack Thompson Oldsmobile in Oak Lawn, IL... original owner could have been within walking distance of the dealership.
There is nothing more sentimental than having your grandfather's and father's car. Your going to kick yourself for selling it and may never forgive yourself. I still have my dad's 87 Mustang that he bought new...
Originally Posted by Koda
I can agree with that. I still have my grandfather's Monte Carlo. It is nice to drive, but not particularly sporty. It's got enough power. I would not want to sell it.
Commendable, but I would just note that nobody's about to offer either of you guys 150 large for your car, making the decision to hold onto it an easy one.
Maybe OP has other ways of remembering his dad and grandpa.
Elijah, it sounds like you’re going through much right now, best wishes with everything. On top of the 45 year family history, you have a very rare and desirable car. If you’re able to maintain it another 3 or 5 or 10 years in that garage, you may find life’s changes may allow you to enjoy it.
Almost 40 years after selling my 1972 V code 442, I wish I never did. But at the time I thought it was the right thing to do. Many on this website feel the same way regarding their decisions to sell a car they now wish they had. Take the information gleaned from this wonderful forum, and discuss it with your family, and prayerfully consider all your options.
Take your time if you’re able, the value of the car should not decline anytime soon, and best of luck.
Last edited by vCode442; June 26th, 2023 at 08:50 AM.
Based on the condition and where it's from I would say the car has almost definitely been re-painted
Well, OP has lots of old pictures, so if he posts them, maybe we'll be able to tell.
Sorry, didn't mean to ruffle any feathers with my comment above -- just wanted to give a little perspective. OP is likely at a different point in his life than most CO subscribers and that car might well represent a down payment on a nice house, which is a pretty good legacy from Dad and Grandpa.
Commendable, but I would just note that nobody's about to offer either of you guys 150 large for your car, making the decision to hold onto it an easy one.
Maybe OP has other ways of remembering his dad and grandpa.
June 24th, 2023, 09:16 PM
