Imagine opening a workshop door and finding a 1971 Oldsmobile 442 hiding under a heavy layer of dust. Then imagine discovering that the vehicle had occupied that spot for 23-years. That is the story with our feature car. Thankfully, it has been rescued and looks considerably better today than it did in this shot. With the hard work completed, the time has come for this muscle car to find its way to a new home. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, you will find the Olds listed for sale here on eBay. Spirited bidding has pushed the price to $37,742, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

Doesn’t that look better? Once the owner had washed the dust away, what was revealed was a tidy 442 that wears Sterling Mist paint with a Black vinyl top. The owner is candid about the fact that the car received a repaint around 30-years-ago. If that timeframe is accurate, that means that it didn’t see the light of day for long before it went into hiding. Once cleaned, the paint displays a healthy shine, with no significant problems or defects. The story remains the same when we look at the vinyl, and this theme continues when we examine the panels. There’s no evidence of dings or dents and no signs of rust. The owner doesn’t mention any problems in the listing, and the lack of significant surface corrosion across various aspects of the vehicle suggests that the storage environment must have been close to ideal. The original owner wanted to extract the best from his 442, so in addition to the original rear spoiler, he equipped the car with the W25 fiberglass hood with the functional scoops. Completing the interior are color-keyed wheels, chrome that shines brightly, and glass that appears flawless.

This Oldsmobile is a numbers-matching classic, and its drivetrain configuration offers the potential of mind-bending performance. The original owner ordered the car with the W-30 option, meaning that its 455ci V8 should be churning out 350hp. All of that power needs to find its way to the pavement, and it does so via a Turbo 400 automatic transmission and a Posi rear end. Point this beast at a ¼ mile, and the journey will be a distant memory in 14.4 seconds. The seller indicates that this V8 has been rebuilt, but it isn’t clear when this occurred. While there is no question that this is a genuine 442, some potential buyers may question whether it is a genuine W-30. A previous owner lost the original Broadcast Sheet, which is a hassle. However, the owner has submitted the car for inspection by specialists, and the consensus is that it is the real deal. Looking beyond that to its mechanical health, and the news appears positive. The owner says that the motor feels strong, and it seems that this Olds is ready to terrorize the tarmac once again.

The interior shots are a bit limited, but the overall impression is that the condition is good. It wears black vinyl upholstery and trim, and there are no apparent issues with that. The carpet looks good, and poking out of the console is the Hurst dual-gate shifter. The dash and pad present well, as do the wheel and carpet. It seems that the original owner wasn’t opposed to his comfort touches because, in addition to a remote driver’s mirror, he ordered the car with air conditioning, a radio, and a factory stereo 8-track player.

If this 1971 Oldsmobile 442 is a genuine W-30, it represents a great find. Oldsmobile produced 6,285 examples of the 442 Hardtop in 1971, and on the face of it, that doesn’t seem to make it a particularly rare car. However, as a percentage of new car sales for the 1971 model year, it is a drop in the ocean. Today, these remain a highly desirable classic, and good examples can command impressive prices. Figures beyond $50,000 are common, while the price can grow enormously for the right car with the right assortment of options. If this can be verified as a genuine W-30, that should see the bidding easily push beyond $60,000. This is a listing that should be worth watching.