A seller identifying their location in Nevada is advertising a low reserve 1972 442, 23,000 mile,beige convertible, white convertible top and brown bucket seats with a floor console.
I drove the car about a year ago at a West Chester, PA dealer.
The car's transmission is not original to the car.
Just an FYI.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-Oldsmobile-442/163431898646?hash=item260d4cde16:g:V9YAAOSwrAFcFBE 4

 

Can't speak to the mileage, but the car does look legit as an unmolested 442 (well, except for the fact that the cutout bumper and trumpets were added, since no 350 car came with them). For example, no sign of the Supreme rocker moldings. The VIN K motor was the L34 350 4bbl single exhaust motor rated at 180 HP net for 1972. Dual exhaust (which has been added to this car) bumped that to 200 HP net.

 

I had a very similar car. The color is called Covert Beige I believe. Typically this body color on a convertible came with a matching Covert Beige color top. That color top was never available aftermarket. Most people used a tan or white top for a replacement. Does the seller claim the top is the original?

 

Joe,
The beige convertible that I drove in West Chester, PA displayed an odometer reading of 23K. The car drove well and looked great. Engine was a 350 4 bbl.with an open rear. Even had 442 stripes!!! The car was an original, unmolested car. The only reason that I didn't buy the car was that the transmission was not original to the car.
The car is really a nice car.
​​​​​

 

You are correct. The car is covert beige. I would have to look at the trim plate to see whether or not the car was an A top. I do know the top was in great condition and operated perfectly.
The only issue that I found on the car, seperate from the transmission not being original to the car, was that the ignition buzzer didn't operate and the flashers worked intermittently
As I expressed earlier, I would have bought the car if the transmission was numbers matching.
Also, I'm assuming the car I drove and the car advertised currently is the same car. The only way to positively verify, either way, is to look at the Nevada car and check the transmission.

 

I watched the car on Ebay when it was at the Pa. dealer. Sold my very similar car in 1998, and still miss it. I bought mine in 1980 and quite by accident I found out the milage was rolled back. Unless you have the complete service records from day one, I just don't trust any low milage claims.

 

I checked the trim tag. The car is a 50 A car. (Covert beige with a white convertible top)

 

I was under the apprehension that the L vin motor was required (at least) with the 442 package simply for the duals. I appear to be incorrect, per Joe, above.

 

I' posted to provide a "heads up" to anyone bidding on the car that the West Chester, PA car that I drove did not have a transmission original to the car. Please look at the Nevada car to verify whether or not the car is or is not the same car.

 

It's always hard to tell colors on a monitor, but the car in the ebay ad looks more like Bamboo (81) than Covert Beige (50). Of course, a glance at the cowl tag will tell you which it is. The 1972 PIM recommends white, black, tan, green, and beige tops with Covert Beige, and all of those except green for Bamboo. None are shown as preferred.

 

Joe,
I have my notes when I looked at the car in Pennsylvania if it's the same car. The trim tag is a 50 A car. Harry

 

There's no L VIN-code engine in 1972 - H are J are 350 two barrel (single and dual exhaust) and K and M are the four barrel 350s (single and dual exhaust). Any of those four could be in a '72 W29 car.

Terry

 

As I said, every monitor renders colors differently.

In any case, I always thought the name "Covert Beige" was an oxymoron...

 

^^^THIS. The W29 package was available independent of drivetrain choice. For those who denigrate the VIN 9 307 cars with 180 HP, keep in mind that for the 1972 model year you could get a VIN H 350 2bbl single exhaust 442 with a pavement ripping 160 HP.

 

This is a photograph of the trim tag for the car that I drove in West Chester, PA. I didn't buy the car because the transmission was not original to the car and, therefore, did not match.
The car looks like the identical car listed on Ebay and currently located in Nevada.
I am providing this information as a heads up, so that you will know what you are buying.
You have always been fair and reasonable with me, so I felt I would return a favor.

 

Looks like a nice car, too bad about the trans not being numbers matching though. Probably best just to part it out now, what a shame.

 

my brother in law was given a new 72 442 with that exact combo when he graduated from college.i ended up with it about 20 years ago,the iowa,minnesota chicago rust had eaten it to no end so i parted it out,the only thing i have left of that car is the original th350 trans.