Thinking of selling some of my cars, years ago I started the quest to own one example of each 1970 Oldsmobile A-body produced, from F-85 to a W30 convertible. Fortunately I started backwards with a W30 convertible first, then a Rallye 350, vista cruiser, Cutass S, Cutlass convertible, SX and a hardtop W30. But I have come to the conclusion for the foreseeable future that I won't have the time to work on all of these cars. Along with these I have a few other cars from the Ford family that I enjoy as well. I suspect I will get rid of 2 Oldsmobiles and at least one of the Fords. I have been thinking about this for over 6 months and just can not pull the trigger on which ones to let go.

Presently I own the two W30s, SX, convertible and a '72 Cutlass convertible, 2000 Town car, 2004 Marauder and 2019 Mustang GT convertible. All have their pros and cons. What's your thoughts? Here are mine.

1970 W30 Convertible: Not going anywhere, clearly the car worth the most and probably the dumbest thing to do is not sell it. But its been with me for almost 3 decades, it is a highly optioned car and I still enjoy driving it more than any of the cars. I can always find something on it to work on. Its been refurbished numerous times in my ownership so I have a lot into it and its just a special car to me. I already have a list of people in line for this car if I ever were to sell it.

1970 W30 Hartop: Needs a full restoration but is what so many people would call a true barn find. Its been sitting for years, I used to drive it a lot and it gets more attention than any of my cars, because of the wind warn paint job, you can see the primer on the roof. Always makes be laugh as it gets more attention than my W30 convertible. Special order color and I have the original order form for it, neat piece of documentation. Most of the W parts are there but I don't know if I'll ever get around to fixing it up.

1970 SX: barely runs but one of the most solid bodies of all the cars. Needs total restoration. If it was a convertible I wouldn't even think of getting rid of it, needs total restoration but does come with some documentation

1970 Cutlass Convertible: Nothing special really just an AC car with buckets, 8-track and a fake OAI hood, but the car is a blast to drive and is so simple to maintain with the 350/350 set up. Sherwood green was painted over white, but its a nice looking car white on dark green. Probably the easiest decision to keep since it needs the least amount of work out of all my cars.

1972 Cutlass Convertible: Needs body work, I have all the parts for it (fenders, quarters, floor pans just a ton pf parts). needs probably the most body work but the engine has had some R&R, all new brakes, gas tank and fuel lines, suspension, tires etc. The car drives like a couch on a cloud. Its actually the car I take on long trips (anything over 50 miles) as it is the most reliable, cruises at 75 mph easily most comfortable with its cushy bench seat and I don't have to worry about rock chips or parking lot dings. I still park it far away etc. but its nice not having to be paranoid. leaning towards selling this and the parts with it

2000 Lincoln Town Car: The car all the family drives as the first choice when my wife's Fusion is not available. It only has 50,000 miles on it and is in mint condition. easy to drive, safe, has some conveniences and as mentioned everyone in the family is ok driving it, though no matter what, we all look 40 years older when in this car.

2004 Mercury Marauder: One of my favorite cars to drive, very rare to see one on the road lately. I've done a lot of work to this car, part of the fun (~500 RWHP) but it is also older and now very temperamental. its supercharged, 4.10 gears, headers, 3500 stall converter, 14 inch brakes etc. No one in my family will drive it except for me and one daughter (who now has her own Fusion) so its just another car barely used and always needs work. To sell this car would pain me the most and its one of the craziest cars I have and just really unique. I see less marauders than I do 442s now.

2019 Mustang: This is the car that has helped make me decide to sell some of these other cars. It has been a long time since I had a "new" car for myself. These modern cars are crazy, easy to drive, faster than heck, conveniences that I thought I would never need but really enjoy, safety items that take a bit for us older guys to get used to but have come to appreciate. This and the W30 are the cars for sure staying

 

Easy: get rid of the car(s) that are the biggest hassles to maintain.

 

Id get rid of everything but the 70 W30 convertible, and the 2019 mustang.

 

Are you my wife?

 

Also get rid of the ones that would give you the most money back in your pocket.

 

Where do I send the money for the Marauder? You are right ,you do not see them. I see more "442" s now, then I ever did in the 70's. Correction, More than were made in the 70's

 

That would be the W30 convert, that's what I mean by the dumbest thing would be not to sell it, but I'd probably regret that decision the most.

 

Yeah, that's what is so enjoyable about the car. It wasn't nearly as fast as it should have been from the factory but its a cool stealth car with lots of room, comfy and rare. With the mods I've done to it its fun, but do admit its loud. I can't even hear myself think at a stop sign. I also have a huge collection of all the Marauder only parts (bumpers, interior, consoles etc.). I'm the original owner (another reason it makes it hard to let go), I even have the window sticker and the leather jacket that came with it.

 

a buddy of mine has that exact same marauder he bought his new also.

 

Your 1970 W-30 442 convertible looks beautiful. The car appears to be twilightblue with white interior and a white convertible top??
Listen to your wife and sell the W-30 which will yield the most cash.
I would sell the twilightblue 442 with white interior and a white convertible top to the member with the handle of twilightblue28A!! Eric and/or Joe Padavano may have to involve themselves in this discussion to clarify if the paint code 28 is twilightblue and A designates a white convertible top. Both have more expertise than I'll ever have.
If Eric and/or Joe Padavano confirm the paint and top codes, I strongly recommend selling the twilightblue 442 to the member with that handle.
That member would more than likely care for your car and cherish owning the car.
Maybe other members can offer their opinions.........

 

And the car that yields the most cash. My opinion is sell the W-30 convertible. The OP will yield the greatest cash for the twilightblue, white convertible 442-W30.

 

I had a 70 Vista Cruiser as my first car bought from Dad for 500bucks. If you have one I would like to hear about it. Lots of stories in that one I had....

 

Now is the time to sell before the markets keep nose diving. Most analysts say we are headed for recession by summer. Classic car sales don't see peak sales pricing during deep recessions.

 

I think the window of opportunity to maximize sale value of most classics has passed us by. European flight restrictions, NBA suspensions may be just the tip of the iceberg. People are worried about their jobs more than the virus.

If you have $$$ stashed, this summer should see GREAT deals on classics. Not to mention new cars / trucks.

 

The two Olds I'd sell are the W30 HT (needs work but would net alot of cash) and the '72 Cutlass 'vert (needs work & meh). The one Ford I'd sell is the Town Car (meh). You'd have to pry a '70 W30 'vert from my cold, dead hands.

 

Put a quiet exhaust on the Marauder and you instantly make it nicer to live with on a daily basis. Either it or the Town Car will have to stay, can't go on without a car to use every day.

 

I agree, car does look beautiful ! And if sold, can only be sold to someone with that handle I know Twilightblue28A would really enjoy and be a great caretaker of this '70 442 W-30 conv!

 

I concur‼️

How could you not sell your twilight blue W30 convertible to a guy on here called twilight blue.

Steven meet Harry,
Harry meet Steven👏

 

Cause my interior is Pearl not White. Harry's looking for Twilght Blue with white top and white interior.

 

I do think the hardtop W30 and 72 convertible are the easy ones to sell. The Marauder is rare and a lot of fun but as you guys know any modified car is overly temperamental. The Town car is a plain jane but all stock with only 50k miles. Maybe I should quiet the exhaust and keep the Marauder though.

The 28A W30 would be so hard to get rid of, just finished an engine rebuild, the car has never run so nice, lots of power, smooth and tuned nicer than ever and the thing is loaded with options. Yet I get it, it would provide the most cash if I sell that and heck seems like a good time to buy stocks. But I'd never be able to afford one again.

 

Harry is more than happy with pearl interior......

 

Well, not that I'm trying to dissuade you from selling the car that would net you the most money, but... right now would be a terrible time to maximize the money you'd make on that car. This silly market panic is going to deflate selling prices on everything. I'll probably be stuck with my Starfire for another year at this rate, unless I get an ad into Hemmings and find an overseas buyer.

 

Were in the middle of downsizing and YES this out of control Corona scare has indeed put a temporary damper on a lot things. I'm down to 2 cars my 64 F-85 Resto-mod and 63 Corvette Convertible. I will list the F-85 later just listed the Corvette this week and had only 1 bite. We already moved into a smaller home and the big house is listed. When this is all said and done we plan on hitting the road in our 03 7k mile Z06. Go on some cruises like Power Tour, Hemmings, Drag Week etc. With all going on we can throttle back and ride it out. No fire sales and will not leave my job and retire. Just my opinion...

 

Nice Vette's. This new Mustang of mine has really made me "woke" on modern cars. I would love to take some long weekends and do some cruises like you are planning, And with these modern cars the trips are easier, safer, more convenient etc. Its hard to believe you would sell the 63, one of my dream cars, but I'm sure the 03 is a crazy great car to do long drives in.

 

Yes sir, the Z is VERY fun! Another item on my bucket list is want to learn how to drive the Z in a much more fun spirited way. I'm going to join : https://www.hookedondriving.com/home We have had the 63 since 69 hardly drive it.( more of an Olds guy) For medium-long cruises at this stage of our lives without A/C especially, it would not as much fun and actually not very safe. My brother up in Paducah recently bought a very low mileage (I think) 04 427 Roush Mustang, He is thinking along the same lines next year as you and I are. I would hang on to the F-85 but my wife prefers the Z, only have room for 1 hot rod so the decision has been made.

 

Nice stable. Wish you had a 72 H/O you wanted gone.

 

I've been mulling this over for a few days to try and give you my best take, so here goes.

First things first, headaches need to go.
All 4 of these above should go bye bye.


The maybe...
This one should only be kept if a kick around old schooler makes sense to you.


Now for the keepers.
This car should be kept. A family man needs a family car...


Recently purchased, this is obviously a keeper.


Lastly but definitely not least. Prized possessions should never be parted with, save for a few special circumstances IMHO.
Only times I would ever consider cutting this car loose would be if financial hardship is a issue, if I was offered a kings ransom, or if I could upgrade.

No way to upgrade on a 1970 W30 so that's that. Its the be all and end all for guys like us. Not sure a kings ransom would work for you, and finances do not seem to be an issue.

 

I appreciate all the feed back from everyone. And definitely appreciate the insight on your reply. Interesting that you mention headache, I actually get migraines so headaches are nothing for me :-) but I guess from a car guys perspective that is all relative. I actually love working on cars and to some people cars are in fact "headaches" to others they are "projects." Though at this point in my life I have to admit they do lean towards headaches.

I also agree with you on the W30 convertible, that is how I feel. It is a prized postilion but sometimes I feel like an idiot not selling it for the dollars it can bring. Believe me after 25+ years of ownership, repairs, multiple restorations, I'm not sure I'd even make a lot off of it (considering the low purchase price years ago) but that's really not the point. It would be hard to replace and I agree, not sure a king's ransom would work either, though it wouldn't hurt.

My older sister has the 70 convertible now and is loving it, found a young guy for the SX, need to figure out a price for the '72 as I have a ton of parts for it. Someone can buy the car and drive as is and have a ball with it and I can sell parts separately or sell it all at once. The W30 hardtop I'm convinced I will sell but need to think about a price. The other tough choice is the Marauder. If I quiet the exhaust maybe the family would drive it more, but the Lincoln has half the miles and is all original so really no headache at all.