What's The Chances or Odds?
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 156
What's The Chances or Odds?
This story I'm about to tell is really hard to believe if one thinks about it hard enough. Obviously anyone on this site who knows their Oldsmobile Cutlasses knows that there were only 886 442's made in 1980. I've read or heard that there are less than 200 of these left in the U.S. and Canada.
For the past 6 years I've been trying to buy a black/gold one 3 miles from where I sit that has been sitting 25 years at a Transmission shop. It has sit outside all that time and was left as a trade in on work completed and never paid. Despite being outside all that time there is NO rot through on the floor boards - behind the rocker chrome - door corners - trunk - rear quarters etc. It's surprisingly solid. The interior is a different story as it looks like a hand grenade was thrown inside and the doors shut. I'm not even sure the the motor is seized or could be get running. Fixing up this car at all would be a chore but I'd really like to have bought it just to get it in the barn so the sun or weather wouldn't hit it for the first time in nearly 3 decades and it was dirt cheap price.
BUT THIS NEXT PART is what is not likely to happen.
I get a call from a guy I've know quite some time - knowing I like 442's - as I've owned 2 79 Hurst Olds and a 88 Cultass Supreme Classic with the euro front clip. He says there is a 1980 442 ten miles away.
I take a trip over and low and beyond an original paint - 1 owner car that had set inside a huge farm hanger for the past 5 years. The original owner installed in a 350 rocket from a 70 Cutlass and new transmission 5 years ago and this car purrs like nobody's business. Paint is faded and tired but again NO RUST THROUGH and interior is not great but manageable and even has the optioned power windows that work. Unfortunately after the mechanical work was done 5 years ago the gentleman passed away shortly after and car was set aside till now.
What are the chances that 2 1980 black/gold 442's are within a 15 mile radius when there are so few left to begin with!!! That being said I bought it on spot being that the terrible conditioned one I wanted to buy is too far gone and this car mechanically basically needs nothing. So I guess I figure what is the odds??????
For the past 6 years I've been trying to buy a black/gold one 3 miles from where I sit that has been sitting 25 years at a Transmission shop. It has sit outside all that time and was left as a trade in on work completed and never paid. Despite being outside all that time there is NO rot through on the floor boards - behind the rocker chrome - door corners - trunk - rear quarters etc. It's surprisingly solid. The interior is a different story as it looks like a hand grenade was thrown inside and the doors shut. I'm not even sure the the motor is seized or could be get running. Fixing up this car at all would be a chore but I'd really like to have bought it just to get it in the barn so the sun or weather wouldn't hit it for the first time in nearly 3 decades and it was dirt cheap price.
BUT THIS NEXT PART is what is not likely to happen.
I get a call from a guy I've know quite some time - knowing I like 442's - as I've owned 2 79 Hurst Olds and a 88 Cultass Supreme Classic with the euro front clip. He says there is a 1980 442 ten miles away.
I take a trip over and low and beyond an original paint - 1 owner car that had set inside a huge farm hanger for the past 5 years. The original owner installed in a 350 rocket from a 70 Cutlass and new transmission 5 years ago and this car purrs like nobody's business. Paint is faded and tired but again NO RUST THROUGH and interior is not great but manageable and even has the optioned power windows that work. Unfortunately after the mechanical work was done 5 years ago the gentleman passed away shortly after and car was set aside till now.
What are the chances that 2 1980 black/gold 442's are within a 15 mile radius when there are so few left to begin with!!! That being said I bought it on spot being that the terrible conditioned one I wanted to buy is too far gone and this car mechanically basically needs nothing. So I guess I figure what is the odds??????
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,539
From: Northern VA
There is no way for anyone to know this with any reasonable amount of certainty. On average, the historical survival rate for cars of that vintage is about 0.5% to 1% of the original production amount by the time you get 20 years out. That's obviously an oversimplification, as desirable models are more likely to survive than more-doors, but the reality is that there is no way to know how many are even still registered, never mind counting the unregistered "barn finds" that are out there.
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From: South River, New Jersey
Hmmmmmm
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,057
The original owner installed in a 350 rocket from a 70 Cutlass and new transmission 5 years ago and this car purrs like nobody's business.
What are the chances that 2 1980 black/gold 442's are within a 15 mile radius when there are so few left to begin with!!! That being said I bought it on spot being that the terrible conditioned one I wanted to buy is too far gone and this car mechanically basically needs nothing. So I guess I figure what is the odds??????
What are the chances that 2 1980 black/gold 442's are within a 15 mile radius when there are so few left to begin with!!! That being said I bought it on spot being that the terrible conditioned one I wanted to buy is too far gone and this car mechanically basically needs nothing. So I guess I figure what is the odds??????
If numbers matching authenticity with show car dreams are not important. Then the improved power-train is the icing on the cake. Your much more likely to actually enjoy the car this way....
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 51
From: Westfield, IN
The optimum number of bikes to own is n + 1, where n is the number currently owned.
Or, written another way,
The optimum number of bikes to own is s - 1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,539
From: Northern VA
In bicycling, we have a rule that I think applies here.
The optimum number of bikes to own is n + 1, where n is the number currently owned.
Or, written another way,
The optimum number of bikes to own is s - 1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
The optimum number of bikes to own is n + 1, where n is the number currently owned.
Or, written another way,
The optimum number of bikes to own is s - 1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
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