I was on Facebook earlier today and somebody was advertising for sale a very rare 1966 442 holiday hard top. With 400/2 speed jet away. Comes with many common upgrades.. Holley avenger carb, comp cam, 4.11 posi. I am very curious to know why this would be very rare?? Rarer than say a 66’ convertible 4-speed w/L69?? BTW, he has it listed for sale at $36K. I am not nit picking, it looks very nice, just want to know why it is very rare…

 

It's "rare" because some idiot with more money than brain will buy it as "rare".Then, they'll boast about it to their rich buddies that don't know any different because they have "rare" cars, too!

 

Rare is a relative term. They made plenty of ‘em, but relative to Camaros and Mustangs, there aren’t many left. Was at West Coast Nationals today in Pleasanton, CA. Fun, but maybe 12 Oldsmobiles. No big cars, no Toro’s, plenty of Cutlass/442’s. Stumbled over dozens of pony cars, many very well done.

Saw a very interesting ‘64 Grand Prix 4 speed with the 8 lug wheels for sale @$27k asking. Inquired about a Firebird 400 or 2 on behalf of a friend, one thoughtful guy had 50k in his and is hoping for sale at 70k. It looked good, but not something I’m in the market for.

 

I have a different question. Why does anyone believe an ad that says "rare"?

 

rare should only be used when talking about prime rib or a nice big t bone or porterhouse!

 

It's not. That is any automatic hard top 442 that year. They probably made 10,000 of them. Saying it is rare is hi-test B.S.

 

Amen.

What the heck? I can't post in capitals??

 

YES, IT'S A FILTER THING!! YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE LETTER BE LOWERCASE FOR IT TO NOT CATCH YOU!

OBSERVe.

 

hA HA HA. THANKS BROTHER.

wHAT A STUPID FILTER.
What's the point??

 

Catching the aol generation.

 

Now that's funny😂🤣

​​​​​​Spelling words is optional but block capitals? Makes sense. 💩

 

The 1966 442 with the jetaway was the last year that they made more 442 manual trans cars than automatics so...there’s that.
No one could argue that a 1966 442 is rare compared to a Malibu , Mustang, Camaro (pick a year) that often people seem to THINK are rare.
Personally, I would think that an L69 ,W30 and the like are next level from rare these days. I was born in 66 and been around the car hobby my whole life ( so far) and have only ever seen a handful of 1966 442’s in the flesh . To summarize, when I attend a car show, drag race etc. it is “very rare “ that I see and Oldsmobile period, let alone one with some sort of performance lineage . Previous generations may not agree.
my $.02.

 

Thanks everyone... I was thinking that since it was "rare" it was based on low production #'s.... but in this case the seller was hoping that people would not do any "homework" and just buy it because it was rare... I am not in the market, just wanting to learn all I can...
~Dave..

 

You should buy it

 

Don't confuse "rarity" with "popularity". For example, in the 1969 model year, there were 912 H/Os built vs nearly 31,000 Cutlass four doors. Any guesses on which you are more likely to see at an Olds show?

 

I was about to say you'll see neither at a car show, then I noticed you specified Olds. Point made.

 

What's rare in a 66 is the automatic Super Turbine 300 trans.

 

Yep,, seeing any 66 442 is a rare sight. when we had our Olds meet this year at the local drag track the car that got the most attention was a white with two tone blue interior 66 442 automatic. there were W30's 31's , a 68 H/O and about 25 other cars. i think there were just over 5000 66 442 auto's made. many of them rusted away within 10 years in the north. i got mine in 1979 and it was a basket case then.

talked to many guys who have performance muscle cars and they know about 68 thru 72 442's and W30's etc...but many have not seen or even knew they made a 66

 

In the whole muscle car era, ya its rare. did the add say anything about 66 converts or those others as a comparison or are you reading more into what the add says?

if its on Facebook,,they are talking to the whole world, not just those in the Olds bubble

 

🙂🙃😂

Oh Mike. AIRBODDY knows it's a PowerGlide!

I've heard that PowerGlide noise from people who should know better. Those people will also call them "four forty twos".🙄

 

You answered your own question right there.

 

Rare to see a Jetaway that hasn't been swapped for a TH-350, I guess.

 

Bingo!!