Hey guys, new member here. I am in the Pensacola Fl. area, and have been wanting a true 442, and am not sure how to tell if its the real deal. I also don't know the value of these, and don't want to pay too much. I came across a 1968 442 the other day, and the owner want $3,000 for it, not a penny less. It has the 350, with a 4 speed. He said the motor has been rebuilt, and had the brakes went through. Needs tires, battery and a starter. Interior is in good shape, and all there. Has an aluminum gas tank, so there's no rust there. The body is in real good shape, as well as the floors. Just wanted to know if I would be paying too much at $3,000. Thanks in advance for any input on this, Jason. I have included pics.

 

A 68 442 should have a 400 in it, not a 350. The VIN should also start with 344

 

I will have to go to Photobucket to post pics, I can't post them here for some reason.

 

Oldszzy is correct.

 

If someone would pm me your e-mail, I could send the pics to you, and if you could post them here. I can't seem to get pics on here, or Photobucket. Any help would be appreciated, thanks Jason.

 

Jason, The Advice given is very correct, unless this is a non matching motor that someone just put in because the other engine was gone.

I will tell an old story I bought my Cutlass a long time ago and was told it was a 442, the vin proves otherwise.

3000 dollars is very cheap for a real 442 unless it is a rust bucket, my Cutlass also had a 350 and a 4 speed and they are original to the car, and if you like the car and it is in good shape 3000 dollars for a running 68 cutlass or 442 is a very good price provided it doesn't have huge issues ( like make sure it isn't stolen ;-) ) that the paperwork you get matches the car, there are vin deratives on the engine, tranny frame etc. you can upload your pictures for free at image shack or flickr by the way there are people here whose knowledge base is far far superior to my own...

 

Thanks Eddie, if the car is a real 442, does having the 350 depreciate the car a whole lot?
I will check the win, and post what I find. Thanks for the info.

 

In my humble opinion sight unseen if it is NOT a rust bucket even with a 350 3 k is a good price there could be that in parts alone , it worries me the price is so good? Especially for a real 442 . If you were going to do a concourse restore then it effects the price you can sell it for, it won't be what they call numbers matching, doesn't make it a bad car, just not a museum piece. And the cost of a concours restore may not be worth doing on this car. But again a clean up, paint etc and have fun driving absolutely worth it, see if you can post pics check the vin
number it could be you found gold my friend.

 

As mentioned before if the car is in good shape and no rot 3 grand is a good price. You'll end up putting a 455 in it eventually! Lol

 

Ok, talked further with the owner, and he said it was a cutlass. He also said he does not have a title for it, just a bill of sale. That doesn't completely scare me off, due to the fact I have seen people get titles via family being in Alabama and getting it registered there then bringing It back to Florida. He told me he put this car together with two cars, and there is no bondo on it, other than where he shored up the hood scoop. I wish I could post pics, because it is a pretty nice ride, just don't know if it being a cutlass hurts it. Still looks like a nice ride, and it has the 442 stripes going down the fenders. Any thoughts on the title issue? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to m
ake sure I'm making a good investment. He also said he would drop the price to $2,700 due to me having to do the leg work on the title.

 

If its a clean car the $2700 would be worth it like said before parts value. The title issue is only an issue in some states but a few like AL don't require titles for old car but a bill of sale. To be safe I'd ask for the vin and have it checked before you buy it to makesure wasn't reported stolen. If you are going to make the car your own go for it. Since its not a 442 you can do whatever you want and not worry about destroying value but maybe increase it.

 

Got pics to work in Photobucket

 

I would pass on it.

JMHO

 

Skeeter did you hear this car run? Have you looked carefully at those rear wheel wells? They don't look right from the pics looks like bond , the rockers don't look right, and is that front wheel hitting the arch.

My 69 doesn't have a title it has the registration which is transferable that was the way it was in NY many years ago and is acceptable to get a title in jersey,

There just seems too much wrong for this to be right if that makes sense , you know your own talents and financial as an investment quality I say this isn't it , by the time you get everything right or near right you will be upside down in her, as much as I hate to say, it it might be better to walk away unless your willing to part her, and you don,t really know if the parts need work etc. My humble opinion

 

RUN, don't walk, from that thing.

Put together from 2 cars? Welded frame?

What I see makes me shudder to think what is hidden.

There is SO much wrong even for a Cutlass. No time to list it all.
Taillites are trashed
rear bumper
poor paint, not quite correct stripes
ridiculous hood scoop
W-hy option hood pins
trim missing EVERYWHERE
door panels suck
armrest bases missing
no carpet
probably not originally a MT car
hacked floor pan?
Might be a 1980's manual trans weak sister
And, no title?

RUN!!! there are other Cutlasses with better pedigrees.

 

I would be leary.
There is something strange going on
with that front pass. side wheel well.

 

Well it looks like somebody went to a lot of work a number of years ago.
If the body is somewhat clean, there is a lot of good parts.
If you have the mechanical skills and the finance to work on the car, it looks to be a project.
But as been said, it looks to need suspension work. You need to inspect the frame pretty close. The dash looks good, the wood steer wheel looks factory.
The 4 speed parts are a great start for parting out. Hard to say about the hood, may have tons of bondo, as it has been molded in for the cowl.
The front and rear glass may be somewhat new. The mldgs are installed where as the rest of the chrome is gone. (I have a need for the rear glass mldgs, all three pieces.)
The front buckets look good, I think they are Pontiac. They cut the carpet for the floor shift, the electrical needs much work.
Your call, If your up to the task, offer $2500
But check it out very close.

Gene

 

Might even want to check if its an olds 350.

 

IMO you could find a much nicer car for not much more than that. I'd pay $8-$10K for a decent car rather than $3K for a car that needs $20K worth of work to be right. Made from 2 cars and no title...no thanks. Doesn't matter what you do to it, resale will be a PITA if you ever get tired of it.

 

Thanks alot guys for the info, and opinions, I think the search will continue. Thanks again to all who helped me with this decision. On to the next one.

 

Wise decision. Remember, You gotta kiss alot of frogs to meet a prince.

 

If he gave it to you, you would still go bankrupt if you had to get help finishing it. Doing it yourself, still not good. Without a lot of experience, you would not know exactly what parts are needed and correct.