The word “iconic” is often overused, but the Oldsmobile 442 can rightly wear that label. In its original form, the 442 offered buyers a perfect combination of performance and comfort. This 1975 model requires total restoration, but the new owner must decide what to slot under the hood to replace the original missing engine. The Olds is listed here on eBay in Vancouver, Washington. The seller set their BIN at $2,500 with the option to make an offer. It could be an affordable project candidate if potential buyers can successfully haggle.

This poor old 442 looks battered and bruised, with its Colonial Cream paint faded and the exterior wearing a collection of dings and dents. The worst is on the driver’s side rear quarter panel, although none of its panel imperfections are beyond repair. Surface corrosion is peeking through the paint, but the exterior lacks penetrating rust. With no carpet inside, we can see the floors. There is heavy surface corrosion and a couple of small holes, but any steel penetration seems to be a candidate for patches. One window is missing, and while the trim appears complete, a few items require restoration or replacement.

The restoration theme continues when we turn our attention to the interior. It looks tired at first glance, but it can still spring a few surprises. The driver’s seat needs a new cover, while the rest look like they might be presentable with a deep clean. The same is true of the door and rear trims, although the headliner’s state is unclear. A few components, like the door grab handles, are gone, but they are readily available. The shopping list might not be long once everything receives a good old scrub, and that would be my first move with this car. It looks like the original owner ordered the car with air conditioning, and we can add swivel seats, a console, and a tilt wheel to the list.

The seller supplies no engine photos, which is understandable since this classic no longer has one! If readers who didn’t live through this period need an insight into how badly the car industry suffered during the 1970s, the 1975 Olds 442 graphically demonstrates it. The unthinkable happened because, for the first time, the company offered buyers one of the most iconic muscle cars with a six under the hood. With 250ci and 105hp on tap, the once fire-breathing 442 took 20.8 seconds to cover the ¼-mile. V8s ranged from 260ci to 455ci, but the most potent of these still took 17.5 seconds for the same journey. The new owner has choices to make during this refurbishment because it is unclear which motor originally occupied the engine bay. They could confirm that detail and source a date-correct version to slot under the hood. They might also choose something more potent or newer to pursue the restomod path. The world will be their oyster, allowing them to transform this Olds into the high-performance classic it has earned the right to be.

I would love to know what was originally under the hood of this 1975 Oldsmobile 442. None of the available engines offered performance that helped the original 442 develop cult status, which is why I raised the possibility of the restomod path. Modern V8s would provide significant performance gains, and fuel-injected versions could make it a civilized and practical daily driver. Reading the feedback on this will be fascinating to ascertain what path you would follow. So, it’s over to you.