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Dual-Quad 400: 1967 Oldsmobile 442 Holiday Coupe

Broadly speaking, classic car enthusiasts tend to fall into two categories. Some believe that a desirable classic should remain as the maker intended, with no upgrades or modifications. Others have no issues with these changes, especially if they unleash performance improvements. This 1967 Oldsmobile 442 falls into the latter category because a previous owner has made changes guaranteed to transform an already potent classic into a genuine tire frier. It presents superbly and is a vehicle that you could find parked in your garage. If it sounds too tempting to resist, you will find the 442 located in Nampa, Idaho, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has soared to $12,976, but I’m not surprised that this figure remains short of the reserve.

The previous owner of this Olds has made numerous changes, and the most obvious at first glance is an upgrade to the wheels and tires. These are significantly larger than those initially supplied by the manufacturer and should improve handling and braking efficiency. Less noticeable, until you examine the Cowl Tag, is the color change that they performed. The Tag indicates that this 442 rolled off the line wearing Spanish Red paint, but the shade that now graces its panels is significantly darker. It is hard to be sure due to variation across the supplied photos, but I think that it may be a color called Dubonnet. While the shade may pose a mystery, its condition doesn’t. It shines beautifully, with no serious flaws or defects. It covers panels that are as straight as an arrow and seem to be free from rust. Not only is the exterior clean, but the underside shots indicate that this Olds could be completely rust-free. Someone has applied a black undercoat, and thanks to the fact that it hasn’t been applied with a trowel, we can gain some insight into the state of the steel beneath. I can’t spot any signs of penetration or prior repair. Observant readers will notice that the nose and hood aren’t original. They were changed out by the previous owner to 1966 components, and the seller believes that this was because that individual wasn’t a fan of the 1967 sheet metal. If this isn’t to the buyer’s taste, reversing the change would be straightforward. The tinted glass appears to be excellent, and the chrome is above average for a survivor of this age.

It isn’t clear whether this Olds is numbers-matching, but it features a 400ci V8, a four-speed manual transmission, a Posi rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes. That V8 would have been churning out 350hp in its prime, which was sufficient to propel the car through the ¼ mile in an impressive 14.4 seconds. The previous owner didn’t restrict his changes to cosmetic aspects because it seems that the drivetrain also received his attention. The most obvious of these is the decision to replace the original intake system with a Dual-Quad setup. It looks like the intake might be a genuine Oldsmobile product, but the carburetors are from the good people at Edelbrock. The seller is unsure whether there have been any internal upgrades, but I suspect the new carburetors may have boosted the output significantly. Regardless of the truth, this is a turn-key classic. The owner says it runs and drives well, so the road is beckoning for this classic and its next owner.

The changes and upgrades continue when we delve into this classic’s interior. The Cowl Tag indicates that Oldsmobile trimmed the interior in red vinyl, but the seats now wear cloth upholstery in the same color. I can’t be sure, but the color and material type look like they may be from something within the later Pontiac range. There is some slight wear and fading on the cloth, but it remains presentable for a driver-quality car. The rest of the trim appears to be original, and its condition is also pretty nice. The previous owner cut the door trims to accommodate speakers for the aftermarket radio/cassette player. If the buyer seeks originality, they will need to shop for new trims and a factory radio. There is a column-mounted tach and some gauges under the dash to monitor the health of the V8 under the hood, but once again, removing these would not be a challenge. Overall, the interior has no immediate needs, and the cloth upholstery would make life more pleasant than the original vinyl on hotter days.

For purists, this 1967 Oldsmobile 442 will have lost some of its appeals due to the modifications performed by its previous owner. For those less concerned about spotless originality, this car appears to be a rust-free classic that presents well and has power to burn. If it were an unmolested survivor in this condition, I would expect its value to nudge beyond $40,000. The changes made by the previous owner make it hard to determine where the bidding might go, but it seems inevitable that the buyer will be driving away in a car that is guaranteed to turn heads. Do the changes tempt you to pursue this 442 further, or would you be happier if it were unmolested?

Comments

  1. Avatar DanaPointJohn

    Nice looking repaint in the darker red. For me, the stock wheels with Redline tires would look better.

    Like 8
  2. Avatar Arby

    I think the most obvious is that there is a ’66 front clip on a ’67 442.
    No dual quads on an Olds in fact in ’67 it was 4 barrel only.
    Mongrel would be my description.

    Like 14
    • Avatar Andrew

      I was looking at it saying that is a 66, not a 67 then I see the rear and it is a 67… the dual quads WFT I had a 67 with a four-speed convertible so I know that car inside and out

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Gary

    66 front clip because it was wrecked

    Like 11
    • Avatar Martinsane

      My first second third and fourth thoughts as well.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Sam Shive

    66 Turn Signal in the Bumper, 67 Between the Headlights

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Ken

    Picked apart by the barn find masters

    Like 26
    • Avatar Fitz

      Barn find baiters…

      Like 3
  6. Avatar Brad

    It would still be a great driver. I would love it to grace the extra room in my shop when I wouldn’t be driving it.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar Joe Padavano

    Lots going on with this car. Those goofy Offy dual quad intakes are not the best choice for HP, but at least they impress the uninformed. The Lakewood ladder bars are great for binding the rear suspension with few other actual benefits. Upholstery is not stock. At least the cowl tag DOES prove it’s a real 1967 442 (front sheet metal notwithstanding). The car is probably a nice driver, and certainly worth the current bid. Unfortunately, we have no idea if the reserve is realistic or the result of Barret-Jackson disease.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Dave Peterson

      Your commentary had me shaking my head in amused agreement. Plus, I don’t think the public realizes how large this car came from the factory.

      Like 2
      • Avatar Joe Padavano

        “Large”? The A-body cars were mid-size in the 1960s.

        Like 1
  8. Avatar FJ Carp

    Add some headers, Cragar S/S wheels with N50-15’s on the traction end and you have a vintage 70’s cruiser!

    Like 3
  9. Avatar John Anderson Member

    Was at build a 66 on Friday, change to 67 on Monday? WTH

    Like 0
  10. Avatar PRA4SNW

    The Seller said it best: “This is a nice driver quality car. Not a restored show car.”

    The purists will surely pick it apart at the local show and shine, then climb back in their Camrys and drive home. The rest of us will just give the owner the thumbs up and say “Nice Car”.

    Like 10
  11. Avatar alan hubbard

    The A body was re-introduced in the 60’s as an intermediate size car. But they were still a 6 passenger car. At least as far as my Father was concerned. A wife, and five kids, a trunk full of luggage, and towing a Sunfish Sailboat to Maine from Illinois, and back every Summer for 3 years. My Pops had a ’67 Cutlass Supreme. Only car he ever put over 100,000 miles on. He was proud of that fact!

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Al

    Seller bought this at a local ‘Big Boy Toys’ auction in Nampa 2 mos ago. I looked at it when it was there. Its a nice 15 footer but up close, you’ll see various flaws in the body & ‘new’ paint. I think it sold here for $18k or $20k. All I do know is in my 40+ yrs experience owning a dozen muscle cars, had I thought it was worth $15k, I’d have bought it. But that ’66 nose & other impurities, $20k is steep for a hybrid Frankenstein. Sadly someone will buy it not being ‘aware’ of the nose till someone points it out after, then he’ll have buyers remorse.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar chris bartku

    one thing frequently not mentioned on BF is seller’s history – I show 1 sale on ebay…. I look at that frequently when I buy on ebay and it sways whom I buy from. For the car, my dad had a silver 67 with black vinyl roof, black int, 330 v8, a/c. It would outrun my stock 68 mustang 289 any day! I really liked that cutlass!

    Like 1
    • Avatar Richard Fasano

      I had a 76 Cutlass Supreme I got when my Dad passed. It was a 350 with a 4bbl. Pretty quick with flowmasters a KN air filter for a 4 dr

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Troy s

    Purists were probably into Model A Fords when this car here was new. I’m basically looking at a Day 2 Olds’ 442, straight up no bs.
    I really the color here, and those wheels and tires give it the Woodward Avenue vibe. Nice machine!

    Like 1
  15. Avatar SteveO

    This is a cool driver for sure but would have to really look hard at it before buying. Anything with ladder bars and a drive shaft loop most certainly was driven hard either at the track or a lot of street racing. That being said, if all checked out would be a nice car to drive. Everyone pick cars like this apart for not being original but when these cars were 4-5 or so years old us teenagers were buying them for $500 to a $1000 and changing all sorts of stuff to make them faster! Throw all A/C stuff away, change intakes, headers, etc. In the real world it’s a wonder any of these cars where left stock!

    Like 1

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