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I write from the other side of the pond, from Europe.
I am here to help me, if possible, to find information about a car that I am looking to buy, it is an oldsmobile Cutlass 1971 442.
I hope you can help me.
Thank you.
Welcome. Please post as much as you can about the car - photos, details, documentation, etc. Be aware that there was no such thing as a "Cutlass 442" in the 1971 model year. There was a Cutlass and there was a 442. The VINs were different, so be sure of what you are looking at before spending any serious cash. We're happy to help.
Welcome "keyboard" to the best Oldsmobile site. As the others have mentioned, be very careful that you are really getting what you have been told is a 442 by verifying the VIN; and post some pictures when you are able! What part of Spain are you in. I was in Rota, Cadiz, Jerez, Seville and Almeria when serving on ship in the US Navy. Some beautiful countryside and great wine!
Thanks for the welcome guys.
The car is in an acceptable state, the paint is not the best of the car, the air conditioning does not work, the car sounds good although it seems to be blowing through the manifold, the gaskets may need to be changed.
The interior is a 7 out of 10, it is missing a button on the seat, the radio is not the original and I think it is also missing the air conditioning handle.
VIN: 344871ZXXXXXX
The motor's casting number matches a 455, but let's be honest, I'm not very impressed, although of course, it's the first time I've tried one of these.
I don't know where in the engine to check that it is a matching number, although the owner tells me that it is.
Tell me your impressions, I hope you can help me.
Thanks
Last edited by keyboard; May 20, 2023 at 01:57 AM.
Reason: moderated
Welcome keyboard, can you post a picture of the cowl tag. It’s the metal tag riveted to the cowl just below the windshield near the driver side hood hinge. That will provide a lot of information about how the car left the factory.
Thanks for the welcome guys.
The car is in an acceptable state, the paint is not the best of the car, the air conditioning does not work, the car sounds good although it seems to be blowing through the manifold, the gaskets may need to be changed.
The interior is a 7 out of 10, it is missing a button on the seat, the radio is not the original and I think it is also missing the air conditioning handle.
VIN: 344871Zxxxxxx
The motor's casting number matches a 455, but let's be honest, I'm not very impressed, although of course, it's the first time I've tried one of these.
I don't know where in the engine to check that it is a matching number, although the owner tells me that it is.
Tell me your impressions, I hope you can help me.
Thanks
The VIN is a 1971 442 Holiday Coupe built at the Fremont, CA assembly plant. The VIN derivative stamp on the engine and trans case can be found as follows:
The nine-character VIN derivative "matches" the 13 character VIN as follows:
The car appears to have aftermarket sway bars, or at least aftermarket polyurethane bushings and brackets. The engine has been repainted in a color other than the original metallic blue, so it's either been out of the car or the engine compartment was stripped down at some point. The hardware store heater shutoff valve suggests that the original HVAC system is not working as designed (since there was a vacuum-operated shutoff at the back of the intake from the factory. The alternator is not original. The windshield washer hoses are missing - apparently there's a cobbled-together washer fluid bag and electric pump hung on the inner fender. I don't know what brand those mufflers are. All in all there's enough "half-fast" stuff going on that I'd want to take a very close look at how the car was put back together. Often I've found cars like this to have maybe half of their original fasteners re-installed.
Last edited by joe_padavano; May 28, 2023 at 03:06 PM.
Welcome keyboard, can you post a picture of the cowl tag. It’s the metal tag riveted to the cowl just below the windshield near the driver side hood hinge. That will provide a lot of information about how the car left the factory.
The VIN is a 1971 442 Holiday Coupe built at the Fremont, CA assembly plant. The VIN derivative stamp on the engine and trans case can be found as follows:
The nine-character VIN derivative "matches" the 13 character VIN as follows:
The car appears to have aftermarket sway bars, or at least aftermarket polyurethane bushings and brackets. The engine has been repainted in a color other than the original metallic blue, so it's either been out of the car or the engine compartment was stripped down at some point. The hardware store heater shutoff valve suggests that the original HVAC system is not working as designed (since there was a vacuum-operated shutoff at the back of the intake from the factory. The alternator is not original. The windshield washer hoses are missing - apparently there's a cobbled-together washer fluid bag and electric pump hung on the inner fender. I don't know what brand those mufflers are. All in all there's enough "half-fast" stuff going on that I'd want to take a very close look at how the car was put back together. Often I've found cars like this to have maybe half of their original fasteners re-installed.
Yeah, that plumbing wrench for the heating system makes my eyes sting.
The water system for the windshield works, but I understand that what you have installed right now is not an original product.
By commenting that this engine was possibly removed from the car at some point, does it make you suspect that it is not original?
My knowledge of mechanics and the brand right now are very limited, so I hope you can help me.
My idea is to make a list of everything that needs to be fixed in the car to leave it in good condition.
Bienvenido "teclado" al mejor sitio de Oldsmobile. Como han mencionado los demás, tenga mucho cuidado de que realmente obtenga lo que le han dicho que es un 442 al verificar el VIN; y publica algunas fotos cuando puedas! ¿En qué parte de España estás? Estuve en Rota, Cádiz, Jerez, Sevilla y Almería cuando serví en un barco en la Marina de los EE. UU. ¡Un hermoso paisaje y un gran vino!
The south of Spain is very beautiful.
Many of the American cars in Spain have come from the Rota base. I remember an old AMC Javelin with Spanish license plate in the US, it belongs to an old colleague of his who was stationed in Rota for several years.
The VIN is a 1971 442 Holiday Coupe built at the Fremont, CA assembly plant. The VIN derivative stamp on the engine and trans case can be found as follows:
The nine-character VIN derivative "matches" the 13 character VIN as follows:
The car appears to have aftermarket sway bars, or at least aftermarket polyurethane bushings and brackets. The engine has been repainted in a color other than the original metallic blue, so it's either been out of the car or the engine compartment was stripped down at some point. The hardware store heater shutoff valve suggests that the original HVAC system is not working as designed (since there was a vacuum-operated shutoff at the back of the intake from the factory. The alternator is not original. The windshield washer hoses are missing - apparently there's a cobbled-together washer fluid bag and electric pump hung on the inner fender. I don't know what brand those mufflers are. All in all there's enough "half-fast" stuff going on that I'd want to take a very close look at how the car was put back together. Often I've found cars like this to have maybe half of their original fasteners re-installed.
Welcome keyboard, can you post a picture of the cowl tag. It’s the metal tag riveted to the cowl just below the windshield near the driver side hood hinge. That will provide a lot of information about how the car left the factory.
Hi sir.
Have you been able to check the cowl tag?
What your opinion?
I don't know what the material is that is right next to the cowl tag, it's like a black paint...
New member, from Europe
