This 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 is one of those cars where you just know that the moment that the owner slides behind the wheel, they will feel the sense of pride that can only be derived from owning a spotless classic car. This is a stunning vehicle, and the owner has decided that the time has come for someone to feel that same sense of pride that he has enjoyed himself. If you want to experience that feeling, then you will find the 442 located in Fort Worth, Texas, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $40,000, and even though it isn’t indicated in the bidding itself, the owner has stated that the reserve has been met. However, if you want to bypass the whole bidding process, then there is a BIN option. This has been set at $48,000.

The 442 started life finished in its current Nordic Blue, but it did receive a repaint back in 1998. This has withstood the test of time very well, with no signs of any significant issues with the panels or paint. The Olds was undercoated by the dealer just prior to its original delivery, and this has allowed the underside of the vehicle to remain pristine. Scrolling through the good selection of photos that the owner supplies seem to reinforce his claim that the car is 100% rust-free. It also reveals no indication of any fluid leaks, with the floors looking clean enough to eat off. The owner also provides some nice shots of the rockers, along the lower sections of the front fenders and rear quarter panels. Once again, these are areas that appear to be spotless. The exterior trim and chrome are absolutely flawless, while the Soft Ray tinted glass is all original and is free of any significant chips or scratches.

By 1972 the muscle car scene was being noticeably impacted by the double whammy of tighter emission laws and insurance increases. It seems that Oldsmobile managed to miss that memo with the 442 W-30. In fact, with engine power remaining static when compared to the previous year, and the 442 tipping the scales a substantial 80lbs lighter than it did in 1971, the performance had received a slight boost. This meant a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds, while the ¼ mile was over and done in 14.1 seconds. This is a full, numbers-matching car from stem to stern. The 455ci V8 delivers 300hp, which finds its way to a Posi rear end via a 4-speed M20 manual transmission. In fact, apart from consumables such as oil, filters, belts, and the battery, everything is original. The sole exception is the rear cover on the differential. This has been fitted with a W-27 cover, but the original is included in the sale. For all of the information that the owner supplies, the one thing that he doesn’t tell us is how well the car runs and drives. However, he is willing to forward a video of the car running and driving to potential buyers, so it would be safe to assume that it does both of these things quite well.

Apart from a new carpet set, the interior is said to be completely original. The first thing that I noticed is the fact that the radio is missing, and given the fact that the car was originally optioned with an AM/FM bi-phonic stereo radio, I’m really not sure what the story is there. The cover on the driver’s seat is stretched, but the remaining upholstery all looks good. The owner identifies a couple of small rips in the headliner, and he does say that while replacement would probably be the most obvious solution, he believes that the tears could be repaired to maintain the car’s originality. When I look at cars of this era, I am always fascinated by the difficulty that manufacturers had achieving color consistency across plastic interior trim pieces. The optional console in this car is a perfect example. That is the original item, but its color is so totally different from every other piece of plastic inside the car. Still, it does appear to be in good condition.

The owner says that this 1972 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 is not a trailer queen, but that it wouldn’t take much to turn it into one. From my perspective, I really have to ask one question: Why would you? This is a beautiful car that is in exceptional condition, but it is also a car that can be driven and enjoyed as it currently stands. The closer a classic car comes to being perfect, the less inclined the majority of owners are to take their pride and joy out on a weekend jaunt. Don’t get me wrong, because I love the sight of a pristine classic car. However, I also love the sight of a classic car being driven and enjoyed in the manner that its designers originally intended. This is a car that was designed to be driven and enjoyed, and I hope that this is precisely what the next owner does with it.