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A fully loaded 1970 W-30 convert (automatic, A/C, 3.23 gears, every option it never came with, and the run of the mill 285/287 cam) - arguably the heaviest, slowest W-30 built - sells for well into six figures.
Meanwhile, a 1969 H/O, with at least 380 HP, no A/C, 3.91 gears, and probably two seconds quicker in the quarter, is no sale at $45K. Go figure. Yeah, the H/O had a lot of small issues, but nothing fatal. I guess this must have been the problem :
Ragtop, with a/c up against a hardtop with no a/c.
What would you be driving if you had plenty of money, didn't care how fast it was and had a wife that wouldn't go for a ride on a hot summer day without a/c? And on those cool evenings you can put the top down for a cruise. Again, this is an easy one.
Many Boss 429's and 426 Hemi's were slow, but everyone knows a Hemi convertible is big $$$$. The W-30 pictured is gorgeous, must've looked stunning under the auction lights. I'd love to have it in my garage.
I was there and am baffled as well.
Looked at this car up close in the pre-auction queue.
Had tons of doc, but the dark red candy apple paint was an odd choice.
And it looked weird with the saddle interior (IMO) which while nice, wasn't perfect.
That 70 is pure eye candy along with some pedigree. It also has some creature comforts and would appeal to the significant other in some cases which could be important.
The 69 is all muscle and a true oldsmobile enthusiasts car. It seems appearance out weighed performance.
^^^^^^^ This .
A lot of these buyers are not " dyed in the wool " Oldsmobile enthusiasts .
They DO see a pretty car , and they WANT it !
They may also be aided by the affluence of Incahol .
Who's driving a 68' - 72' 442 or Cutlass convertible these days?
I'm guessing if you are going to **** away more than 100K on a car you are looking at a bigger audience come sell time. Although I'd love to own a 69' HO I'm not sure most people even know what it is.
The convertible looks to be ready to cruise and pose, no need for speed.
Who is going to pound a $40k+ H/O down the strip, risking expensive damage if it's driven to its limits?. If you're not going to use its potential, what are you going to do with it?.
Of course to a dyed in the wool Oldsmobile nut the H/O has a special place. But how many Oldsmobile nuts were at the auction ready to part with large sums of money?. On the other hand I dare say there were plenty of well heeled classic car enthusiasts who were aware that they better bring something home their wives would like to ride in, if only for the sake of peace on the domestic front....
Maybe the people prepared to part with six figure sums don't know the significance of the H/O compared to the convertible, but they would have at least some interest in the classic car scene, or they would just have written out a check at their Mercedes, BMW, or other upscale dealership.
HOLY ****! That's my hometown! I lived in Columbiaville from '71 to '82, and my Dad owned a '68 Cutlass at one point. Car-B-Q'd a week after he sold it.
This seller is out of his mind, but it's a beautiful car.
It doesn't make sense to me. 68 69 Ho is at the top of my desired list. I hear 60% of the population is stupid. I'm glad i'm in the other 30%. Even at that it doesn't make sense
The older I get, the more I realize how much I don't know. At 18 I must have been a genius, because I had all the answers. I am thankful that others know things I don't and are willing to share the info.
Sparkle, shine and "bling" can bring a higher price. A purist looks beneath the sparkle and shine.
Makes perfect sense to me. A great looking convertible with all the bells and whistles vs a car destined for the track with its first owner.
Unless the H/O has some racing pedigree, such as someone who was a big name back in the day drove the car, its appeal will be limited.
The W-30 will probably be happy on pump gas, and easy to drive. Who cares if it wasn't the fastest version?, plenty of later model cars will run around the H/O anyway.
Makes perfect sense to me. A great looking convertible with all the bells and whistles vs a car destined for the track with its first owner.
Unless the H/O has some racing pedigree, such as someone who was a big name back in the day drove the car, its appeal will be limited.
The W-30 will probably be happy on pump gas, and easy to drive. Who cares if it wasn't the fastest version?, plenty of later model cars will run around the H/O anyway.
Man I do not like that Candy apple paint on that 70 olds. Candy apple red belongs on 1950's Gassers in my world. You could buy 3 69 H/O's or that 1 candy apple conv. I'll take the H/O's.
Inquiring minds also want to know where the fark is the antenna on that poor car? I see the power antenna switch, but it's not on the quarter panel. Plus about 5 or 6 other things wrong with it.
I have to admit. I prefer the 'vert. Maybe that's because mine's a convertible too. Lot's of compelling arguments on this thread. But it really comes down to people going to these auctions are not looking for a car to restore, they are looking to just hop in and cruise, and the shinier the better. Very few people really race their classics anymore. Too many things get broken that way.
And as the old saying goes..."When the top goes down, the price goes up."
The 1967 looks like a nice car. It seems the sellers are always "wordsmiths" talking about B09 330/310 hp 1964 option and "period correct" 400/350 engine but not showing the E block C heads or cowl tag info, at least I didn't see it. I've seen 1967 442's listed with "period correct" 455 and 403 engines before so I'm always skeptical.
"Period correct" means non-original engine. I saw C heads, and I saw what I think was the E casting code, but no cowl tag picture.
I saw:
Cutlass headlamp trim on a 442.
Power antenna switch but no antenna
Vacuum gauge on the console which is a very unpopular option so probably added
Wrong seat fabric pattern
Wrong engine paint
Wrong steering wheel center
Wrong master cylinder (not 67 disc brakes, could be wrong)
Additional valve cover sticker on right head
Chromed Oil and PCV accessories on engine
SSI's not original to car (repop or 1969)
The 442 badges are poorly done.
May not even be a 442, need cowl data
$55k is tall money for a 67 442 even a 4 speed rag top. However, if it were a numbers car, I could correct all that jazz above for $10k. If it were numbers matching and a real 442 I would've bought it for $40, fixed it, and either sold for higher or kept it.
Is that color Burgundy Mist ? Looks great in the sun.
Pretty but no Olds ever left the factory with paint that nice. To me, it looks out of place considering the rest of the car is mostly a by the book restoration. Its more appropriate for a resto mod.
May 19th, 2018, 08:28 AM
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I mean who wants to muddle up a perfectly clean engine compartment with an ugly compressor and more rubber lines...
