Sandfreaks

Hello All - Jerry from Olympia Wa here.
Just picked up my first Olds……
Its a 77 442 in pretty good running driving shape.
Has some minor rust and a few things im working on to get it
road safe again.
Has an all stock 350 original to car. (was advertised
Dash has never been cut - still has stock radio (I think its stock?)

Currently working on the Column. Both bearings had lost all there bearings due to PO not reinstalling the spring or clip plus all 4 bolts were loose. To say the steering was sloppy was an understatement! Lol

First time owning an Olds but not new to classic cars.
Owned allot of chevys one ford and a Few mopars (still own a 75 dart)
I have to say I love the way it rides and compared to my dart its very easy to work on.

Sandfreaks

Not sure why the faceplate says it has AC
Must have been replaced at some point as the car does not have AC
nor does it look like it ever did.

Sandfreaks

Here is the interior.
Red was Stripes were painted on by some PO as were the door Hand holds ect.
The center column was in the trunk and will be getting reinstalled.

joe_padavano

Welcome. I'm afraid that is not a factory radio. The reason why the dash plate says "A/C" is because it's been replaced - likely when that aftermarket radio was installed. The original was probably hacked up for a previous radio, and it's nearly impossible to find one for heater-only. It's pretty unusual to find one of these cars without A/C. Enjoy it.

oldcutlass

Nice car, welcome to the site. Your radio looks to be aftermarket, not sure of the a/c as under the hood shows no a/c parts on the firewall, but the dash selector shows it to be an a/c car.

Sandfreaks

Thanks for the clarification on the radio Joe.
A few people have mentioned its somewhat rare to not have AC.
Which would also explain the cover since most had AC, its what was Available.

joe_padavano

A/C was still optional, not standard equipment, but by the mid-1970s the buying public far preferred A/C to not.

Sandfreaks

Thanks OldCutlass.
From what I can find there is nothing to say it ever had AC other than the Cover.
Aside from the things that can be removed like the compressor.
There are no Old lines, the Heater box is the non AC type and the Alternator
is on the passenger side.

Allan R

But if you bought a Canadian destined car, the vast majority of them coming here did NOT have AC. Usually it was an item on the top shelf cars, but no guarantee. Many of the cars that came into the Olds dealership I worked with in 1978 didn't have AC. I bought a 78 Cutlass Calais off the showroom floor that had nice trim levels, but no PW, PDL or AC. I guess its logisitical.

joe_padavano

Other than the fact that the first 442 I owned (a 1968, back in the mid-70s) was built in Oshawa, I have zero experience with Canadian cars. I was only speaking of US-sold cars.

Allan R

I was speaking of my experience, not yours Joe.

AZOldsFan

Congratulations on your Olds acquisition and welcome to the forum!

Sandfreaks

Good to know Allan.
I haven't been able to find a broadcast sheet in the car so Im not sure what options
were ordered or were it was sent ect. Seams to be pretty basic from others Ive found on the net

And from what I can find motor is a basic
350 also....
It was advertised as a 403 but once I ran the numbers found it was a 350.

Still pretty happy though since I got the car for $1500 and drove it home
with no issues other than crappy wipers and the column being extremely loose.

Sandfreaks

Thanks AZOlds!

CRUZN 66

Welcome to the group... Good luck with your recent acquisition...

Sandfreaks

Thanks Cruzn.
Pretty excited to start driving it more on a semi daily basis.
Just bought a matching set of 15" wheels and tires for it.
Currently has 3 15" and one 14"