“You need a holiday.” That’s what I’d tell myself every day when I walked out to the garage to worship this 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 Holiday Coupe. The car is available here on craigslist for an asking price of $59,000. It’s in Del Mar, California, so you’d better plan a trip to the West Coast if you convince the seller to take your offer. Pat L gets my thanks for this super tip.
There’s nothing not to like about this car, though you’d need to see it and check some of the claims in the ad before you plunked down nearly sixty grand for it. It has an original-style (the claim on the paint seems purposefully vague, so let’s assume a respray) paint job in Sierra Mist Metallic and still wears its original red(!) interior. The car has about 45,000 miles, which are “believed to be original,” and that’s where the doubt creeps in a little bit. What’s the history of this car? What the ad does say is that the car is regretfully being sold due to the owner passing. Hmmm. That’s used-car language for “I don’t know the history” or “I don’t want to admit the real history of this car.” Still, the basics are documented via a VIN tag decoding, so what you’d need to do is inspect the car and decide whether it’s fully original or a passable re-do. Either way, it’s rare and special.
The other thing I’d wonder about is the fact that the car has the new-style white license plates issued in California. Seeing the number, which is obscured in the photos, would tell you approximately when they were issued (We’re up to 9C that I’ve seen lately. A 2016 issue is a 7S, and you can trace it back from there.) So where’s this car been and what kind of conditions did it exist in are questions that would rattle around in my head. However, looking at the images seems to suggest a nicely done car. Original? That needs to be proved to justify the price. You Barn Finders might want to weigh in on this, and on what appear to be aftermarket gauges mounted under the dash.
This Cutlass is equipped with a 400-cubic-inch engine, and you have to assume that it’s fully functional, but there’s no list of things recently done. If you were a buyer, you’d naturally ask how much it has been driven lately, how perished things like brake hoses are, and how funky is whatever gas that’s in the tank, plus debate over the cost of a carb rebuild, radiator re-core, and other mechanical fixes made essential by age and lack of use. Still, this car is nicely equipped, also showcasing air conditioning and power steering, along with fancy wheels. But it was not meant as a boulevard cruiser. This is evident because it has a Hurst-shifted four-speed manual gearbox, none other than the M20. The seller calls the car out as rare with about 8,000 similar models produced. Overall, the 442s sold about 25,000 units, whereas the GTO moved about four times that in the same year, so you’re always in a more rare ride if it’s an Olds. Need a holiday? This could be your ticket.
A good looking 442 but could have been cleaned up a little better to be asking 60K. Maybe there’s room to negotiate, a lot.
This is the nicest 4-speed, factory a.c., mostly-unrestored 442 I’ve seen in a long time. I’d love to own it, but not at that price. It’s a $40,000 car at the most… not nearly $60K.
I believe the seat covers are reproductions. However, I think the rest of the description is accurate. It’s just too over-priced to waste the seller’s time and my time with a phone call. This isn’t a GTO or SS396. He should price it accordingly if he wants to sell it in the near future.
Question, when I was a kid back in the 60’s was told that 4-4-2 stood for 400ci 4-speed and posi trac differential. Is there any truth to that? This is a fine looking car btw, I would prefer the bucket seats and console.
400, 4 barrel, dual exhaust
Hate to pop that bubble but it was 4 bbl 4 speed duel exhaust. First 442 was 1964 just under 3000 units. Was powered by a 330 ci olds rocket.
First 442 was 4speed,4 bl carb, duel exhaust. When they came out w/400 motor it was 400 cu, 4bl carb, duel exhurst, When they installed 455 cu motors it just became a name, T he rest is history
You got me curious now as to whether or not all 442s of any stripe had dual exhausts. The Quad 442 is the only “442” I can think of that may not have had duals on it.
4spd, 4bbl, 2dr. First 442 had a 330cid engine.
That honest clean engine compartment and minimal pedal wear has me believing the mileage claim
Heck of a reach for the radio, but not much if any good music on the airwaves these days anyway. Besides, my right hand would be busy with that shifter!
I’ve always had a thing for white cars and red interior. Like my “66” Holiday Coupe. But,I’m really digging this sierra mist with the red interior.
Actually, this interior color was called “bronze” in ’66. The bench seat (called a Custom Sport Seat) was only available in black or bronze in the Cutlass Holiday (pillarless) Coupe.
The Cutlass Sports (B pillar) Coupe was offered with a red bench interior, but not with Sierra Mist paint. Also, you could order red buckets in both Holiday and Sports Coupe models. But again, not with Sierra Mist paint.
No, this isn’t from memory. I still have the sales catalogs from when we ordered our 442 in late 1965.
This past weekend at a car show I was parked right next to a ’66 Olds 442 with the Tri-power and a 4 speed, in ultra marine blue with a white slick top, rally wheels and a white interior, 23k original miles all completely original, looking fabulous. THAT car I could see being worth 60k. But this car? No way!
I had one of those when new, same color.
Street racing was the local sport back then.
Mine came stock with a 308 rear gear, swap that out for a Oldsmobile 488 gear and you will live in Torque City !
You never have to worry about GTOs or SS396 Chevys.
Those were the days!
Bench front seats?
My family took delivery of a special-ordered ’66 442 in January of that year. It had a bench seat with a column-shifted automatic. The tri-power and rally wheel options weren’t available when we ordered the car.
A bench seat was stock for all Cutlass/F85 models. The 442 option cost $151 on a Cutlass (except wagon), and didn’t include buckets.
My mom had a brand new red ’65 F-85 4D. I thought you could get buckets with the Cutlass or 442 but my memory is well beyond faded. On thing I do remember is when you stomped on that 330 you could sure smoke the tires. Great car to learn how to drive in!
Sarge, buckets were offered as an option on all ’66 Cutlass 2-door models, but not on F-85 2-doors or any 4-doors.
The 442 option was offered on all 2-door ’66 Cutlass/F85 models. The 442 option came with a bench seat. However, you could order buckets separately.
Ah, crap! I got this wrong. The 442 option price included bucket seats in ’66 models. A bench seat could be ordered in a 442 as a no-cost substitute.
If you didn’t order the 442 option on a Cutlass or F85, you got a bench seat. However, you could pay for bucket seats as an option (separate from ordering a 442) in the 2-door models.
I’m going to make one last attempt to get the stupid ’66 bucket seat availability right.
If you ordered a ’66 2-door Cutlass, you got front bucket seats regardless of engine choice. However, a bench front seat was a no-cost option. If you ordered a 4-door Cutlass or any F85, you got a bench front seat and buckets weren’t available as an option.
In other words, the 442 option didn’t “include” bucket seats unless you were ordering it on a 2-door Cutlass.
OH YEA, My bucket list 442 is a 66 holiday coupe 2dr post W/ the W-30 option
…and then the ’67 came out and made everyone wish that they’d waited another year to buy a 442. The few styling changes for ’67 made for a much better-looking car. In ’68, things got even better.
Author,
The transmission is not a Hurst…it is a Muncie M-20. Hurst never made transmissions, they made shifters.
Also, the M20, M21, and M22 were named for the GM service production ID codes (order codes). It didn’t stand for “Muncie” or “Manual” like a lot of people claim.
Just three types of Muncie 4-speeds are available based on the RPO (regular production option) code used when a car was ordered: the M20 (standard wide-ratio), M21 (close-ratio), and M22 (heavy-duty close-ratio). (The M does not stand for “Muncie.”)
Typically, when you ordered a GM car you had standard options and accessories installed. “M” codes relate to transmissions, just as “G” codes relate to rear axles and “J” codes are for brakes
This car looks like a decent, driver-quality car, nothing more. I think there has been some “refurbishment” performed a while back. It’s not real crisp looking, I have a feeling the paint isn’t so hot.
I bought my 1967 Olds 442 off the showroom floor for $2968.
Still have the sticker around here someplace.
Installed the 1968 Ram Air scops below the front bumper scoops when a friend sold his 68 model. Installed a W-31 Olds camshaft and installed it at a local Sunoco station. The Oldsmobile dealer sold me the 4:88 gear and installed it. Called Doug Thorley and ordered a set of 4 tube headers for under $100, then ran M/T wrinkle wall slicks in the summer time.
1967 Olds 442 came with a well sized dual exhausts, and a bench seat.
The Color is Silver Mist (Code W), as for the interior it’s a tossup between red and bronze. Really need to see the trim code on the data plate
In the Craig’s List ad text the seller says the cowl tag reads T-T for paint color. That would be a Sierra Mist roof and body for a ’66 Olds.
He doesn’t mention the interior trim code. But, Olds didn’t offer the Cutlass Holiday Coupe with a red bench seat in ’66… they only offered bronze or black.
Hate to disagree M B…..but in my opinion the ’64, 5 & 6 look much better in the grille department than the freaky looking ’67 AND ’68 models. Again though, just my opinion 😉
I have always like these. My grampa had a 66 burgundy/Burgundy 4 door hardtop with a white painted roof. Spent a lot of time in that car when I was little pulling a camper in the summer.
@ Cadmanis…
Hate to BURST your bubble, but it’s DUAL exhaust. A DUEL is something you do with swords or pistols.
I realize everyone else has already moved on from this car. Now I’m going to do the same.
I tried to buy it, but could not. The seller is a man named Brent, and the owner is a woman named Teri. Teri and her husband bought the car from the family of the original owner in Kansas about 6 – 8 years ago. The car is stored in an airplane hanger about 30 minutes from Brent, and Teri is out of town until the 26th. I don’t know how long the car has been stored.
I couldn’t get clear answers from Brent about the body condition. He didn’t send photos of the bare trunk floor that I requested. He wouldn’t say anything about past collision or rust damage. In fact, he wouldn’t even say if the body had been repainted.
I’m convinced the car has been totally repainted and the seat covers / carpet replaced. The original interior color isn’t red. The trim tag is coded 088, which is bronze vinyl. There are aftermarket speakers in the doors and relatively modern gauges under the dash. The a.c. doesn’t work. The Super Stock wheels look like wider, later versions to me. I do believe the low mileage claim. I’m speculating the tires, battery, and brakes are probably on their way out.
The car is now on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of $52,500. In an earlier post I said the car is worth a maximum of $40,000 to me. With the number of unknowns still out there, I now think that figure is too high.
The first Craig’s list ad expired ~10/1/22. Just before it ended, the asking price was lowered to $44,000. I don’t know if a new ad has been posted anywhere.
In mid-September told the seller I would bid the car up to $35,000 in an auction if he would send me photos showing all the paperwork and loose parts stored in the trunk as well as the condition of the trunk floor. I never heard anything back, nor did he ever put it up for auction.
The real Olds 442 cars had a hood with two rows of louvers.
According to
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_442
“Oldsmobile archives indicate that approximately 10 four-door sedans were built with the B09 option)” !!!
Now posted on Craig’s List in Phoenix for $44,000:
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/d/solana-beach-1966-oldsmobile-442/7542439585.html