I sold my 442 a few years back and have been on a hunt recently to find another but I found a 87 cutlass brougham that had low miles and a decent body for a price I couldn't pass on. My thoughts before I saw it were 455 one day and customizing to my liking and I wouldn't be torn on gutting or changing an original 442. After seeing car didn't need much work and it drove like a new car, I started thinking maybe I should change my mine about completely changing the car. Now what to do with car?

Olds 307/200-4r has verified 32k not 132k on it. 2owner car. It is loaded, interior is in great shape. Car sat for a few years after P.O. passed away. But nothing major. I want to fully customize to the way I dreamed a gbody 442 should have been offered. By putting a 455 in it, lightning rods or manual trans, black interior from the 79-80 hursts/cutlass and black paint. But wanted to know if car possibly could bring value down the road if restored to original form? I know it's not a 442 or hurst but has very low miles and is a loaded brougham. I won't be driving since I bought with no rush intentions.

Here are some pics

 

I don't believe it will ever garner big $$$$'s. Do with it what you want, it's a blank slate.

 

I would put a 403 with working AC. Stick shift car would be fun or beef up your transmission. Jmo, Ken

 

It will never be worth much, and you'll never get out of it what you put into it. If you want a peace of mind, nice driving, low cost daily driver, then you have one. If you want to pimp it out into some exercise in "what should have been," that's cool, too. Either is fine.

My only advice is, if you DO do your custom job on it, keep all the original parts (interior, engine, shifter) because all the goodies you put into it will be worth far more in a separate sale than they will be in a custom car. People who want an awesome engine are not going to want a 87 Brougham and people who want an 87 Brougham will not want to pay for the engine, so, to maximize resale value of your custom car, be sure you can put it back to stock driving car and a pile of goodies, because you will get most of your money back that way.

Edit: A 403 is a good way to go, I agree. My PERSONAL choice would be a nasssty built 403 and keep it rusty and stock and drive the **** out of it and smoke ricers all day long. Maybe a posi rear end and a built up transmission

 

I've been thinking that I wouldn't be able to keep it original. I feel it's the perfect car to either drive as driver or customize olds style. I actually have a 403 that can go in it but I have always wanted a BBO. Surprised by the 403 love.

 

Very nice car and yea do what you want to it as long as your happy with it. Good luck

 

I use to have an 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic Brougham with the same color and interior. God I miss that car. It drives very smooth. Not as fast and powerful but was thinking about putting a 350. But I have no room and couldn't sell it so I have to donated to charity for an tax write off.