When this 1985 Oldsmobile rolled out of the new car showroom in 1985, it rolled into the life of the family that has kept it to this very day. However, all good things must come to an end, so they have decided to part with their beloved Olds after 34-years. They have advertised it with a BIN price of $4,000, but the option is there to make an offer. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, you will find the 442 listed for sale here on eBay.
The 442 has spent the best part of the last 20-years stored in a garage, and while the car looks to be straight and relatively free of any real rust issues, the paint is definitely showing the ravages of time. Quite simply, this will not polish out. The car will need a repaint to bring it back to its best. The panels look to all be fairly straight, the glass looks like it is good, and all of the external trim appears to be present, and in quite good order.
Under the hood is a 307ci V8 engine, which produces 180hp. This is backed by the THM 200-4R 4-speed automatic transmission, while you also get power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning. The bad news here is that the car doesn’t run, but the engine does turn freely. The transmission is the source of some slightly better news, as this has only covered 5,000 miles since it underwent a rebuild. Hopefully, it will only be something small that is preventing that engine from firing up.
The interior is a bit of an unknown quantity, as we don’t get a lot of photos or information, so we really have to rely on what we can see here. I would really like to see the interior undergo a full and professional clean because I think that the results might be a bit of a surprise. There’s a bit of wear present around the place, but there doesn’t appear to be any signs of nasty rips, tears or stains on any of the upholstery. The dash is in good condition, as is the pad. The car has been fitted with an aftermarket radio/cassette player, but it doesn’t look like the dash has been cut to fit this. You also get a tilt wheel and power windows as part of the deal with this car.
This 1985 442 needs some work, but just how much will depend on what the story is with the engine. If that can be revived without any huge dramas, that is going to be a huge bonus. Looking the car over, I just get the feeling that with a fresh coat of paint and the interior properly cleaned, that we would see a pretty amazing transformation. These still command some pretty respectable prices, and this one looks like a project that should be worth taking on.
Buick made the Grand National, and Olds made this.
There was a time when Olds made much more exciting cars than Buick did. This… wasn’t that time.
Was it garaged for 20 years after being kept in standing water for five?
The eBay ad states that “the car is in Georgia”?!? So, which is it, Missouri or Georgia??
Count on a pair of door hinges amongst other things..
There is one interior. There. Now the quantity is known.
Street Stock season is coming at Lebanon Valley
You have to buy this vintage 442’s in good drivers shape. The cost to restore, even a semi-restore, won’t result in decent ROI like a GN might.
I like these cars. But this one is really overpriced in my humble opinion. It doesn’t run and the roof looks like the neighborhood kids took turns dancing on it.
Looks pretty beat up to me , apparently can’t get it running, what did he try? I see no 442 badging, but he calls it a 442 Brougham , though I am no expert on mid 80s “performance” vehicles Maybe a Cutlass Brougham ?? Bought in TX, been in MO, and now in GA It’ll take some ( a lot??) of work, but will be a nice looking car when finished
Look closely on the door (just above the grey belt line) and on the left side of the front bumper above the Oldsmobile emblem, the outlines of the 442 decals are visible.
Awww, no lightning rods?
That was the Hurst Olds, not the 442.
Damn, couldn’t get it to fire on 20 year old gas. I just sold one of these for 2500 last summer. And it ran and drove. We over priced by at least double.
$400 maybe.