I am looking at 2 cars now both 4 speeds.

1st:
1969 Cutlass S 4 speed. Very clean super straight body no rust issues interior is nice driver. Engine has been rebuilt and pretty under the hood.

2nd:
1968 442 4 speed post car. 34477xxxxx. Does have some rust around the back window and trunk floor pan needs replacing. Tilt column, rear defroster, rally pack gauges. Left front fender has been replaced. Otherwise pretty straight.

 

 

 

Oh and the 442 has factory disc brakes

 

My Vote goes for # 1.

 

Both are cool cars. You'll definitely be having fun driving the Cutlass much sooner and for a lot less grief and $$. I've done it both ways over the past 30 years - pay more, do less (including shipping rust free cars from the west coast) or buy the crusty projects that seem to have promise but eventually get sold off to the next guy to tackle....

Good luck either way.

Terry

 

#1\

What you see of the pinch weld rust on #2 is less than 1/2 of what's there

 

Another vote for #1

 

#1, rust repair sucks.

 

I really like the post car #2, but if you want to avoid a lot of body work then go for #1. But if you have a lot of time in your hands, then go for #2.

 

#1 is for sure the better car but it is a Cutlass and not worth as much as the 442 if both in same condition. Are they the same price? I agree with Jamesbo about the rust around rear window on #2. That is what cars from around here look like- BIG job!! And if you can see that what can't you see??

 

#1 best choice. There is way more rust on the 442 hidden as others have stated.

 

This can be key...


Wow so hard to have a clear cut answer with so limited info. Obviously I am a fan of both. Personally i would need the prices or if you rather not which i totally understand, maybe just a range.
At a bare minimum are they similarly priced ?
How inclined are you to seeing the 442 through to completion ?
Is the 442 a dream car for you ? Or is the S for example... just like your dads car and you have an emotional tie to the model etc... ?

My instinct says go with the S, but the 442 is worth 3 times as much both in mint condition... If your going to pour money into either one it should be the 442.

However for me the 442 would need to be a good deal price wise. Lets say the S is 7k and the 442 is 17k. I would automatically take the S.

 

Couple other things to consider...Do you know the axle ratios? Do you like the front/rear look better on the '68 or the '69? Once you start putting money in the 442 it could become a tidal wave pretty quickly. Assuming both are priced realistically, my vote is for the Cutlass.

 

It really depends on what your looking for. Are you wanting to restore a car back to original or do you want a blank slate for a fun car to toy with. Cars with rot are cash pigs, can you do body work or are you going to farm it out? For me, I would rather enjoy a car, work on it when it breaks and drive it when I can while I improve it as I go. The 69 would be my choice because I hate body work and its a blank slate to a really fun car. Neither car will give you a return on investment.

 

What kind of dollars are we talking about here?
Can you examine the 442 in person? How extensive is the rust? If it's into the inner rear wheel wells, trunk pan, trunk/quarter extensions, pan braces, floor pans etc On the extreme side you better be prepared to spend $100/hour for the metal repair...at a min of 200-300 hours of labor...20-30K in metalwork alone(farmed out)...thats if the frame and rest of the car is ok. If the front dash matches the rear run! Or add another 10K. Thats 30-40K before paint is laid down. Now add another 15-20K...see where this one is going....The restoration price will far outweigh the finished value...unless you do 99% of the work.

Which one is (more) numbers matching?
Which one has a cleaner undercarriage, floor pan, trunk pan, rear wheelhouses?
Which one is a "dry" car? Which one lived in the damp rust belt?

The dry solid car is the one to go with.

Are they both Calif cars? if yes then roll the dice.

The 69 looks dry and solid. And it looks like you could drive it now,

 

I would not buy the the rusty 68 for any price if I had to keep it and fix it.

 

beat me to it! Almost a certainty there is plenty more rust on the window channel, the front windshield channel is probably just as bad. It probably wouldn’t take much effort to remove the glass as is.

 

You can see much more rust at the base of the back window on the post car. Remove the stainless trim and you'll see a lot more. That cross piece under the back window is not reproduced and is difficult to hand-form for a patch panel. This is the same thing I told you on FB.

 

That window rust is major surgery and glass removal. Also that small bore 400 is mostly hated as a performance motor. The 350 if it isn't enough can be upgraded being a large bore motor. Cutlassefi's 4" stroker package for the 350 or a 425/455 swap is also an option. A 455 swap can be done to the 442 but it will no longer be numbers matching. The S sounds like a few hours prep, prime and paint will equal a very nice driver.

 

I guess it depends on which you enjoy more, driving a car or working on one. I purchased a 69 conv a year ago, it needed paint and some cleaning up. The ad said get in it and enjoy driving down the highway with the top down and the radio on. A year later, 10k into repairs and I have yet to drive down the highway and enjoy it. It does look great and I have spent countless hours working on it but I can't say that if I could do it over I might just buy a car finished. I have one or two more things to get right and hopefully I will get that enjoyable ride down the highway. As many people have stated the rust will "no doubt" be much more than what you see and you will invest countless hours and bucks before you get to show it off. Enjoy the ride! Whichever decision you make you are on the best list possible for support.

Good Luck,
Steve

 

So I bought the Cutlass S for my Christmas/birthday present. Here it is next to the convertible

 

My brothers Hellcat

 

Probably the better choice, congrats.