This 1971 Oldsmobile 442 has spent the past 36-years parked in a barn. It has now been dragged out into the light of day. What has emerged is a classic that not only appears to be virtually complete but is also structurally sound. It will need restoration, but the result should be a potent performer. The Oldsmobile is located in Marietta, Ohio, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The auction has been set to open at $8,000, but there have been no bids at this stage. However, 39 people are currently watching the listing.

The Bittersweet Oldsmobile shows a ton of promise. It appears that all of the rust in the vehicle is confined to the passenger side because the driver’s side looks to be clean. Even this rust isn’t that bad. There is some present in the rear quarter panel, the bottom of the door, and in the lower front fender. This is also the only rust that the owner mentions in the listing, which gives the impression that there are no issues below deck. The panels sport their share of dings and dents, but these all appear to be repairable. A significant amount of the exterior trim and chrome is showing the passage of time, but the majority of it seems to be restorable. The original owner chose to equip the 442 with tinted glass, and this appears to be okay.

When it was new, the 442 was a pretty impressive package. What you got, in this case, was a 455ci V8, a 3-speed Hydramatic transmission, and power brakes. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the engine doesn’t currently run. In fact, it isn’t clear if it even turns freely. This is a numbers-matching car, and the only item that is missing is the carburetor. The original dual snorkel air cleaner is sitting in the trunk. Given the fact that the Olds has been idle since 1984, it is going to take some work to coax it back to life. However, it should be well worth the effort. This is a car that would have been pumping out 340hp, which was enough to propel it through the ¼ mile in 15.1 seconds. That’s more than respectable for a car that weighed 3,816lbs.

When it was new, the interior of the 442 would have been something special. It features white upholstery, bucket seats, a console, and a full complement of gauges. It will require some restoration work, but I think that it could spring a surprise or two. The dash and pad look to be in good condition, as does the console. I would be tempted to attack the door trims and rear trims with a high-quality cleaner because I think that they have the potential to respond well to that sort of treatment. I believe that a new carpet set, new seat covers, and replacement armrests on the doors could potentially have this interior presenting well for a survivor-grade car. There are a couple of nice touches when you scrutinize the interior. The Olds rolled off the production line equipped with air conditioning, while the gauge cluster features the oh-so-cool Tic-Tock-Tach.

I am happy to admit that this 1971 Oldsmobile 442 does require a full restoration. Of course, those who are into instant gratification could return the vehicle to a mechanically roadworthy state, and could then drive it as-is. There are some rust issues to be addressed, but as it doesn’t appear that any of these are structural, they could be tackled as time and finances allow. Do we have any Barn Finders who might be interested in taking this one on?