Have you ever sold a car and wondered what happened to it after your careful ownership? Well sadly some cars fall into difficult situations and that certainly appears to be the situation with this 1968 Oldsmobile 442. Despite its “left for dead” appearance, the seller claims this is a factory 400 V8/4 speed car with only 71,000 miles. This intriguing find is priced at $7,500. Check it out here on craigslist out of Kalispell, Montana. Thanks to reader “totimesaround” for the interesting submission!
Certainly appearing as a car to pity, it is unclear what exactly happened to this 442. There are not many straight panels on the car, and the passenger glass is broken. Beyond the extensive damage, the paint is mostly there, and the car overall seems rather clean where if it had been untouched, it would seem that it would be much dirtier. The seller claims this Olds is a factory 400 V8 4 barrel car, with a 4 on the floor. This is very cool, making this project more intriguing. Hopefully the seller can prove the 71,000 miles, as this 442 could be revived.
Most of the body panels that are dented or damaged are easily removable aside from the driver side quarter. To put it simply, it looks like the only unscathed sheet metal is the passenger side quarter, the roof, and the trunk area. Although this may sound like a joke, the remainder of the sheet metal could be replaced to leave you with a straight Olds. An ambitious project for sure, this muscle car could be worthy of such work, but more information is needed to determine its future for some. Hopefully the drive-train is original, rust is at a minimum, and fingers crossed the interior isn’t a complete train wreck. Do you think this Oldsmobile 442 is worthy of a restoration?
Wow, the seller is a real go-getter. Four photos of a banged-up POS buried in the mud. Four on the floor? Does it even HAVE a floor? Goofy.
One zero too many in that price.
I was gonna say one 7 too many.
I must admit some car sellers have bigger balls than me.
I’m nervous about what that dog’s messin’ around with in picture two…..
All I can say is Hit the Pace Car. Hit everything else. And passenger quarter has been wacked also. Had to begin with Hold my Beer, watch this!
The beat up Bicentennial plate is unfortunately worth more than the car. Besides that he will be violating the trailer park HOA by having the yard art removed.
That price???
I think you will see Paul Lynde Junior before I would write a check for that amount.
Cash only.
Probably was cleaning the rest of the yard and said ” HEY LOOK”
Cleaning the yard?, Nah.
The yard tells me everything I need to know.
The yard is needing a couple of clothes washers and a fridge to complete the look.
Brian is pretty optimistic and WADR doesn’t seem to makes sense. Why would one care about the paint “being there” which IMHO it is not when you have to replace or repair almost every panel and repaint them as a result. As others have said this one has been abused and neglected not something you would pay big $$ for. To me the best candidates are ones that the body and interior are in good shape, if the mechanical are done they can be repaired or replaced with new or used, upgraded, etc.
Looks like someone ran it in street stock class at the local dirt track.
Looks like something an ex with a big hammer may do .
LOL seen more than a few like that! What a pile.
Another one of those cars being held in economic prison where the amount to “bond out” the car is not near its value. By the looks of the trailer park it sits in, I am sure more than one person has asked to buy it and the price has kept it firmly rooted in the mud. Note to seller: If you are looking to get top dollar for your beat-up trashed out car…. try airing up the tires, digging it out of the hole it has sunk into, washing it and posting more than 3 photos.
$750 I’m in. $7,500…it’s going to sink further into the mud at that price.
We just quit driving it yesterday.
Yep and it ran out good too.
At that price I’m betting the seller is factoring in the $100 a month their buddy Rickey pays to live in it.
I think it floated into his yard after hitting a few boulders in the river out back. I concur…one zero too many on the price.
Too much money for a resto candidate.
And probably just a decent parts car really.
The poor thing has been abused beyond reasonable repair, and then tarped to seal in the patina.
Will be scary to look at stripped down.
I almost thought this was my old POS, but mine had TH400, and a lime green vinyl roof. Man it was rough, even in 1978 when I bought it. I do not miss it at all.
Parked after a bad night at the bar and a license revocation for several driving violations would be my guess .
Where is the car the white hood belongs to ? another 68 , I believ that hood is worth more than the complete green car
“All original, no alterations or modifications
Restoration Needed”
Body by Fender / Bender – This guy is crazy with his price.
My guess is the hubcaps flew off and it got all dented up during a high speed chase, with that wonky ’70s cop chase music playing in the background.
If it starts then I could see maybe $3000. That is if it is a genuine 442 with numbers matching. Fenders and doors are easier to come by than one thinks. I paid 8500 for mine 15 years ago, but it was in FAR better shape. The 442 should have has the ss1 or ss2 wheels. Not usually hubcaps, so I would certainly question the validity of the 442. The VIN would show rather quickly. If it ends in 443, then it’s a 442. Sounds weird, but legit. Only the ’72’s didn’t show in the VIN #.
He’s very serious – he’s taken drastic steps to show his sincerity by taping fresh plastic over the missing passenger window.
The is IMHO the ugliest the 68-72’s, that said I’d pay as high as $2,500 if it’s a legit 442
I guess I will be the only one to defend the car, even if it’s just a little. 7500 is high yes, however, the days are long over where you can buy a 4 speed 442 in any condition for a few dollars or any other muscle car from this era. All the seller had to do was air up the tires, give the car a good bath and move it to a better location for the photos and I would be willing to bet that some of your opinions would be very different.
No Way, I have lived in MT for the last 22 years and see what the 4 seasons do to a car that sets in one place. Now if it was in AZ or CA, it might be worth going to take a look. MT like most northern states is not kind to anything setting outside for very long.
How hard is it to show the underside…..just drain the swamp…
“So how much do you want for that $1,000 car?”
The car has been sitting there for quite a while to be buried like it is. Since it is on an incline a lot of water has run beneath it. Looking at the currently damp soil in the pics, I imagine the floors are gone and the rest of the suspension is in pretty bad shape. I see a parts doner to a clean desert body but not at $7500…..
I collect 442’s and the seller is out of his mind with that price unless the interior is mint. I need those bumpers for my 68 project tho!
I have 1968 442. Fresh out of a garage. It starts and runs 455. Contact me if your interested I can send some pics. Pretty blue 442. Sitting since 92, just for you 7500.00 obo Kevin 636-359-5677
Another sad 442……
Yeah 1 zero to many it looks like your gonna need 2 doners to make it drivable again just sat too long .
I was surprised to find pics of the Jade Gold 4-4-2 I bought in April of 2017 on this web site. It is all original # matching 1968 4-4-2 and it was all there. It wasn’t as bad as pics show. Floor was solid and I have done all mechanical and it runs and
drives great. It was worth saving!