UPDATE: This 442 has been on the market for a while, but the seller just listed it here on eBay with a $3k price drop to $28,500. Is that enough to move this sweet survivor though?
FROM 2/28/19: The 1987 Oldsmobile 442 was a significant car for the company, as it marked the end of the line for the model in rear-wheel-drive configuration. It had changed significantly from its fire-breathing ancestors of the 1960s, but it was still a nicely equipped car that offered respectable performance, and a high level of comfort. This particular 442 is being offered for sale, and the owner has set a price of $31,500 for the car. It is located in Orlando, Florida, and is listed for sale here at Hemmings. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this one for us.
So, let’s start with the condition of the car. It’s hard to use a word apart from perfect to describe it. This really isn’t surprising, as the vehicle has only covered a total of 6,700 miles in the last 32-years. I’ve examined the photos in fairly minute detail, and the car looks like it has just rolled off the showroom floor. Black paint makes it very hard to hide any of those little sins such as dings or ripples, and I really don’t see any that are worth mentioning. The T-Top also looks to be in good condition, while the wheels are free of the sort of marks or discoloring that can affect them when exposed to substances like brake dust.
Under the hood are the 307ci V8 and the THM 200-4R automatic transmission. This transmission was introduced to the 442 in 1985, and by 1987, various upgrades resulted in a transmission that shifted smoothly. The 307 was not the fireball of earlier cars, but it did still produce 170hp, which gave it fairly respectable performance. The 442 is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. The appearance of everything under the hood is basically spotless, and this is hardly surprising for such a low mileage vehicle.
The interior is all that you would expect of a car that has covered the claimed mileage of this one. The owner uses the word pristine, and that seems appropriate. As well as being essentially flawless, the owner certainly went for broke when ticking the boxes on the options sheet. As well as the previously mentioned T-Top and A/C, you also get power windows, power seats, power locks, cruise control, remote mirrors, a tilt wheel, an AM/FM radio/cassette player with graphic equalizer, and rear defrost. That should make the inside of the 442 a nice place to be.
While many would consider this ’87 442 to be a mere shadow of its predecessors, it is still a significant car. It marked the end of the line for the RWD 442, and many performance car enthusiasts mourned this change. I fully appreciate that the price of this car isn’t cheap, but it would be a big ask to find another ’87 442 with this sort of mileage on the clock. That might make some people hesitant to buy it for fear of racking up too many miles, as that this might impact the long-term value of the car. However, even if you took it out once a month for a 100-mile drive, by the time the car reaches its 50th birthday, it would still only have 28,300 miles on it, so it would still be a very special car. That’s what I’d be doing.
Yes sir! I’d be driving it too.
Beautiful car.. I had an 86 that cost $16,000 new at the time
And thats about what it is worth today, sticker price. $28,000 is a big boulder of crack…….
Underhood looks nice, but the mismatch between driver and passenger seat upholstery makes me wonder. Driver’s carpet looks dirty, too. I don’t know .. .
Looks to me like the “mismatched” seats are from the direct sunlight. Check the photo of the passenger’s side it has turned the other color and the driver’s side looks like the passenger’s side did…
This is when they were truly a Gutlass. I would have to add another stealthy 100 horses. Is there a way?
Well if you cremate all the horses you can fit them in a bag in the trunk…….
Yes you can add 100 horses easily it’s called nitrous oxide. IF the system is fed enough extra fuel, kept clean with proper filters etc. Nitrous at 100 horsepower level is quite safe. I would add dual exhaust to realize full potential.
Beautiful car. Good luck to new owner
At $31,500, there won’t be a new owner.
I love 87 442’s, but they are not 30k cars.
I don’t know about that price either. I got a 85 Z28 in black on black with 8000 miles on it and I’m positive it wouldn’t bring at best 15k, if that. But an Olds,… it was a car that long had lost it’s allure to buyers, and no horsepower. Those carpets look like it was in a Florida flood to me, or else the driver just came from plowing a field…anyway, it does look good, good luck on selling it.
The 307 in 87 had roller rockers and the horse power is measured at rear wheel output. So might be a few more horses there to play with.
James they were rated at the flywheel net not the gross as previously done not at the wheels and they didn’t have roller rockers the lifters we’re roller GM started roller cams around 1985 for most of their engines except i think for some truck motors
6700 miles? Not stock tires or wheels? It must have been a living room furniture piece
I’m an Oldsmobile fan so if I had the room I’d be all over it. Somebody write the check. You will see slow appreciation with this car, so if you commit to it as an
owner for a while the pain of the purchase price will recede. Another thing: Remember that high priced cars for their class designation may be inflated, but remind yourself that you don’t have to do anything to the car when you get it with the exception of changing the oil and normal looking at everything. By not having to do the work yourself. The reasoning is your labor should be fixed at an hourly rate and add the parts prices to whatever that number is. If you add the costs together you’d be amazed at how much it costs to restore your Project. I am not against restorations; I’ve done a few myself when I was younger and had the horsepower to do them. My point is the price is high but you are getting value for the money. Go look at the car, look at its bones (underneath) and if it proves out, jump on it.
I believe it was Hemmings where I read Oldsmobile produced 1100 1987 442’s with t-tops. How many could be left?
From the number that come up for sale, about 1030……
I was an Olds enthusiast and owned multiple iterations of the Cutlass model. With that said, while the ’87 has style & stunning lines, the price point doesn’t equate to the storied Dr. Olds 442 legend! The ’87 Buick GN with it’s “Power 6” are emerging with this kind of collector value, not the Olds & the reasons are fast!!!
Probably would like it a lot more if it came down another 10 grand!
But are they “Genuine” miles???????????
Id spring for a Hurst Hairy Olds.
Pretty much a basic Cutlass with a decal package and a couple emblems. Will never be a real desirable collector car and definitely not worth that kind of money regardless of the miles.
Always wanted to buy one of these for my wife BUT it is black and I will NEVER own another black car!
As far as price goes, what else is out there and what are they selling for? If there aren’t many to choose from and many are not “nice” basic economics will command a higher price. Couldn’t restore one for $30K & they are only original once.
I had a 1980 GUTLASS. One and done UNLESS it is for my wife!
Old school 2 key’s need young fellas 1 for the door and 1 for the ignition….. If a car dont need to key’s it ain’t old school
Like all vehicles, its worth what someone is willing pay for it. Just because there aren’t a lot of them available doesn’t make it valuable. As far as not being able to restore one for $30K, why would you? As everyone knows, there are many cars that aren’t worth a restoration cost.
Love the car, but I don’t think a $3K price reduction moves the needle much. Low 20’s might be where it belongs.
Asking price is $10k too high. Nice for the Gutlass. Them trannys were a weak spot.
Yeah, it’s going to be pretty hard to move a 1980s Gutless, 442 package and “HO” motor or not, for big cash. I’m going to say about 12 grand maybe? Nice but kind of seems like the answer to a question that nobody asked.
For the 1980’s, real nice examples of the ’83-’84 Hurst Olds can bring some pretty decent money but those are far more desirable models.
From back in the days when flipping the air cleaner lid upside down added fifty horsepower to the ears, fun times. I like this car, clean and sharp and if it weren’t so darned expensive many ways to give it some muscle to back up that name.