If an Olds 442 has been in your sight lines, this might be your chance to put paid to that dream. But read and look carefully at this ad for a 1968 model here on ebay. The car could be worth a lot more than the current high bid of $5200. Five days more might drive that north, and it’s a good guess that the seller believes it will, as he’s set a reserve that has not been met. Should you end up winning out on this fire-engine red muscle car, you’ll need to find a way to Walton, Nebraska to load it up for home.
Hopefully at that point, you’ll have an enthusiastic attitude regarding the chance this car represents. Looking at it front-on, it seems like a proper candidate for restoration, or maybe even to drive and get to fixing up later. Either way, no additional costs would be involved, or minimal ones. But wait—the ad claims that the car has been “lovingly restored.” But then it says it has an older restoration with little to no rust, which wouldn’t be mentioned if there were no rust. Further to that, the seller suggests that a new paint job is in order. Logically, this car can’t be all of these things. Only an in-person inspection will tell the whole story, but the body lines sighting down the sides aren’t hopeful, nor is the chipped (what looks like) acrylic finish, the discolored trunk lid, or the fact that the car generally sits up too high on its chassis.
Maybe all of that is just the result of someone quickly snapping off photos for an ad rather than properly detailing and staging a car for max return. Oh, but then there’s the velour-covered seats and the cheapo gauges mounted under the dash. Lovingly restored by a teenager in the 1980s? On the positive side, the chrome appears to be all there, and the engine is the coveted 455-cid monster. Oops, wait! The car should have a 400, right Barn Finders? The 455 was reserved for the Hurst/Olds. And while we’re on praise turning upside down, where’s the hood stripe and badging? Hey—is this a 442 at all, or a regular old Cutlass S?
So if you get this car, will you explain it as “a mess I’ve got to fix up” or “a diamond in the rough”? That all depends on what’s really here and how much money you part with to make it yours.
1968 was the first year that the 442 was a separate series, so the VIN will tell if this is a 442 or not. It is not. The VIN correlates to a Cutlass S.
Very handsome car.
I thought the wide chrome wheelwell trim started in the late 70s.
Apparently not.
I would like to know if there’s any dash in any GM car where that camaro/vega steering wheel does not block some of the optional aux gages.
Those style rear side windows 1st appeared on the 1964 GM Runabout which may be the same car seen on the PanAm! earth-to-space-station shuttle seatback screen by William Sylvester in “2001: a space odyssey”.
You are correct. These wheels are from a mid-’70s Olds. ’68 SS wheels were only 6″ wide with narrower trim rings.
It looks like the rear ones might be original but the fronts appear to be maybe off of a 90’s era Chev Truck
Price seems ok. I noticed it is a a/c car and it has an aluminum radiator. Steering wheel looks like it is from a newer Camaro or chevelle.
Steering wheel is Camaro or Vega (GT or Cosworth).
Yes, appears “lovingly restored” by a teenager in the 1980s indeed. I was one of those kids then, I should know…
HEI distributor, headers, electric fan, remanned alternator, etc….
Looks to be a decent driver, but I fear it’ll turn into a rust chia pet for the next owner.
Umm. Not really much of a mystery. It’s still wearing the Cutlass S fender badge-
Thanks to CC Fisher for verifying the car’s true identity. BTW, the fender stripes were an option. My ‘68 “for real” 442 didn’t have them. If this car goes for a decent price it could be a good drive it while you fix it opportunity. Lose the velour seat upholstery, and the Vega steering wheel. Whether you go with 442 or Cutlass S is on you. 😉
However, there are enough red flags to definitely warrant a careful in person inspection.