Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

‘Riginal Red Rocket: 1965 Oldsmobile 4-4-2

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 1

According to the seller this car is “100% original.” This 1965 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 is on eBay with a current bid of $10,544 and a Buy It Now price of $28,000. It’s located in Key West, Florida so you’re going to want to pick this one up and drive it home yourself. This car even has AC!

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 2

What a beautiful car! I’m wondering about the paint being “100% original”, it looks like this portion isn’t exactly factory original, but I could be wrong. The seam on the LR quarter there looks like it’s been repainted to me. Do any of you have any thoughts on that from your experience with these cars?

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 3

The 4-4-2’s first year of production was 1964 and 1965 was the first year that an automatic transmission was available as an option, as was the 4-speed manual. The 3-speed manual was the standard transmission, no pun intended, for the 442 starting in 1965. This car has the automatic option, unfortunately, or fortunately; depending on whether you’re someone who prefers to shift for yourself or not, or can shift for yourself. We all know that some folks have trouble with knees or hips and can’t work a clutch pedal anymore and that’s where automatics come in handy.

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 4

Can this driver’s seat be original, it looks absolutely perfect! This car has 81,615 miles on it, I would expect at least some wrinkling there. I know that I have some wrinkling and I have fewer miles than this car does.

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 5

This is Oldsmobile’s 6.6L 400 cubic inch V8 with 345 hp. With this engine, Oldsmobile switched the definition of 4-4-2 from meaning “4-barrel, 4-speed, dual exhaust”, to “400 ci, 4-barrel, and dual exhaust.” This car has the optional “Jetaway” automatic transmission. The 0-60 time for an automatic version of this car was about 7.8 seconds, about two seconds slower than a 4-speed car. This looks like a very, very nice car, whether it’s 100% original or not. What are your thoughts: could this car be all original as the seller mentions?

Comments

  1. Avatar Chebby

    Wow. I love the shape of the ’65 Cutlass and this one is sooo clean.

    It’s a little too red for me and the wheels seem to be a darker color than the body. Since the ad copy is worthless who knows the real story here. Nevertheless what a great looking car.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar jim s

    seller also has a porsche 912 for sale.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Roselandpete

    Nice but I don’t know if it’s $28k nice.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar AMCFAN

    That is most certainly GTO money…..and it is NOT a GTO.

    I would prefer a nice driver 64/65 Cutlass or F85. Way better buy for under $10K. The 330 engine has solid internals with a steel crank and can be modded fairly easy. A 455 swap is just as easy too and don’t forget the Turbo 400 trans.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar GaryI

    $22,000 would be where it would probably sell. At $28,000 I think it’s asking for absolute top dollar. I think these are underpriced for what they are.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Bob S

    Really don’t think the paint is original, nor is the upholstery or carpet. Nice car though.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Tom Member

    100% original and I believe he also has some land for sale in FL with a water view (swap)! Love the car, very cool and a very nice example of a “fairly” original car. I am a professional detailer and I own a 64 Olds 98 with 58K original miles (with the clear plastic seat covers still on it! My family bought it when 9 months old, and have been restoring cars for 30+ years. That driver seat cannot possible be original with 81K on it, sorry. The other seats look just as nice so I am not buying the “100% original”. He is obviously one of these guys who doesn’t understand the comment “100% original”. He is the guy that says something is “100% original with only 1 re-spray!”. Still a very nice, but misrepresented car. I am sure he is a very nice guy who believes everything people tell him and he is just passing along the info!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Chebby

      Agreed. By original he might mean “factory correct”, but none of it looks 60 years old.

      Like 0
  8. Avatar Howard A Member

    This car is indeed 100% stock. Many years ago, a friend across the alley had a car just like this. I remember it was a bare bones car, and the only place it said “442” was on the dash, and on the trunk and side. If I remember, it was a 3 speed on the column. We had never heard of a “442” before, and like I say, it was nothing fancy, bench seats too. 442’s got to be pretty fancy, but like most muscle cars of that era, they started out, pretty basic cars with big V-8’s. Great find.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Tom Member

      Hi Howard, my point is not that this car is 100% stock, it is not 100% original – stock -as the seller presents. no argument with 100% stock, it is the word “original” that is the “fib” here. Yes the car rolled off the assembly line “looking” just as it does, no argument there (provided it is a documented 442 – which I bet it is) but there is NO WAY at 81K that those seat covers would look like that. sorry but this is not only my passion but what I do for a living. At the very minimum, those seat covers have been replaced. To clarify, my point or argument is in the use of the statement that the seller has made as “100% original” not 100% stock, there is a difference from 100 % original and 100% original-restored. Argue with me all you want. The only way I would say it is 100% original from the person who owned the car from day one and they were a truthful individual. Heck, the 64 olds I own with 58K on it has a fender that was repainted before it was 9 months old due to a minor fender bender. I cannot say the car is 100% original as it was born. it is 100% original minus the LF Fender that was once repaired which = NOT 100% original. It’s like saying you are “almost positive”, well, ,which is it? Almost…..or Positive, can’t be both.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar John M. Poirier

    My second car was a convertible (maroon with white top) 1964 Cutlass F85 with the
    4-4-2 option (four-speed, four-barrel carb, dual exhaust, beefed-up suspension and sway bar). Just 2999 were made, not sure how many were ragtops. I often think of that car and the pure fun I enjoyed with it, but time marches on and there’s no turning back.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Scotty G Staff

    Auction update: the bidding ended at $14,600!

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Yellowjax Member

    Many people feel that original means that it had not been modified or customized in anyway and its remains looking like it did from the factory. “Original” hub caps, (even if they have been replaced.)

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Joe

    “100% original” means, to my mind that it was born, rolled off the factory assembly line with 100% of the parts it currently has. No replacement parts from any source including other date correct donor cars. I am flexible enough to accept changes perhaps in hoses, belts, brakes, oil, wiper blades and some other tune-up parts, but technically that makes it not 100% original. A 100% original car is one that usually has very low miles (0- to a few thousand), and is usually stored away right after purchase or left in a parking lot or field somewhere (think Lambrecht cars). Updates in paint, seat covers, carpeting or other element makes it NOT 100% original. A better description for this car may be “mostly original” or “original other than paint, upholstery etc” (a list major updates).

    Like 1
  13. Avatar starsailing

    1965 was a great year at the drag strips. 413-426 wedgies, GTOs, 442s, gears, headers, pie crust slicks many brands….and garage super tuning…..Tons of regular guys racing them, driving them back and forth from the strip and next day to work. So many factory Hi Po bolt in Olds 425’s and trannys sitting out there to be swapped in on the cheap. Been there done that….Fun city….If I remember right the 65 442 two spd auto trans was beefed up as compared to 330 c.in. I know the 66 442 2 spd trans was beefed up.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Anthony

      425 was a Waaay better performance engine than the 455.
      The 455 and the 68-69 400’s were under square. Made great torque for pull big cars around, but wheezy and didn’t like to rev like the over square pre 68 400 and 425. Steel cranks also! Pull a UHC 425 out of a Delmont,pair of C heads, good cam and go looking for trouble!

      Like 0

Leave a Reply to Yellowjax Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.