The 1973 model year marked a change in direction for Oldsmobile’s 442. It was now based upon the new Colonnade body style, and thanks to the upgraded impact regulations that had come into force, it was significantly heavier than its predecessors. However, it was also a car that demonstrated that Oldsmobile was still capable of some lateral thinking. Our feature car has been sitting for a while, but it does start and run. Its rust problems are minor, meaning that its next owner could enjoy it immediately and tackle the restoration work at their leisure. The 442 is located in York, Pennsylvania, and is listed for sale here on eBay. While moderate bidding has pushed the price to $6,900, that is still short of the reserve. Once again, Barn Finder Larry D deserves a big thank you for spotting this cool classic for us.

The Olds rolled off the line wearing Cranberry Red with a Black vinyl top. It still presents well for its age. The paint shines impressively, while the vinyl shows no evidence of rips or bubbling. However, the vinyl is developing a matte appearance, and I believe that treatment with an appropriate preserving product could return it to an as-new state. The panels are surprisingly straight, with only a few almost imperceptible marks that wouldn’t need attention if the buyer wishes to retain the car’s survivor status. The seller indicates that there is rust in the rear quarter panels, but I’m having trouble spotting it in the supplied photos. The underside has some areas of heavy surface corrosion but no penetrating rust. I am naturally cautious on that front, so I’d treat that corrosion before it has the chance to chew any holes in the steel. The glass is in good order, as is the trim and the original Super Stock II wheels. The 1973 model year marked a legislative change when it came to the area of front bumpers, and we’ve all seen some of the genuinely hideous solutions that various manufacturers devised. Some cars looked like they had a hunk of bridge steel bolted below the grille, but Oldsmobile followed a different path. The front bumper on the 442 seems surprisingly light and almost delicate. Below the surface was an innovative solution because the bumper was mounted to Delco Enersorbers, which were like small shocks. These provided the bumper with 2½” of movement on impact, allowing the car to meet the new crash requirements. I’m sure that other manufacturers looked at this system and wished that it had been their idea.

The original 442 was a genuine muscle car, but by 1973, tightening emission regulations took away much of its hard edge. The company offered several engine options, and the original owner of this car took one step up from the entry-level motor to slot the 200hp version of the 350ci V8 under the hood. Its power finds its way to the rear wheels via a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission. The Olds also features power steering and power front disc brakes. Performance figures weren’t as impressive as in days past, but this 442 should still be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 16.4 seconds. It seems that this car has been sitting for a while, although it does run and drive okay. The owner suggests that things would improve with a tune-up. Once this task is complete, the 442 will be ready to hit the road for a spot of classic cruising.

The interior of this Olds presents relatively well in Black, but it needs a few things to lift it from its current state to excellent. The covers on both front seats have seen better days, while the carpet is faded. That second item would be cheap and easy to fix, with carpet sets selling for around $150. Fixing the seats will prove a more costly exercise. Finding a pair of front covers can be difficult, and opting to replace those alone could present a mismatch between the buckets and the rear bench. Therefore, a complete set of covers would seem to be the best solution. However, the buyer will need to brace themselves because that exercise will lighten their wallet by about $720. It is worth noting that these are the only significant flaws, and while the interior wouldn’t look factory fresh with those tasks complete, it should still manage to attract its share of positive comments. The remaining upholstered surfaces look pretty spotless, with the same true of the dash and console. The interior isn’t loaded with luxury features, although the console, factory radio, and fantastic swivel bucket seats aren’t bad options to have.

This 1973 Oldsmobile 442 is a generally clean car that the original owner equipped with some of the more desirable options. It isn’t perfect, but its issues seem to be the type the buyer could address as time and money allow. Given its problems and what it would cost to address them, I would think that the owner has potentially set the reserve at around $13,000. The figure could be higher, but I wouldn’t expect it to be by much. If it happens to be lower, it could make it a pretty smart buy. It might be worth keeping an eye on this auction.