Oldsmobile 442

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Original numbers matching drive train, rust free, original body panels. Not a trailer queen, but an excellent quality driver. Runs and drives excellent. The automatic choke works correctly, the engine fires up immediately, idles smoothly and does not smoke. It also makes that glorious deep rumble, that only a big block 455, breathing through a pair Flowmasters can make. ? 455 c.i.d. V-8, 4 barrel Quadra-jet carburetor, Turbo 400, 3 speed automatic transmission, dual exhaust.. Functional force air induction system. Factory Air conditioning. Paint is bright and shiny, and turns lots of heads. There are a few blemishes such as rock chips fine stress cracks at the base of the factory fiberglass hood bulges. Based on its condition, it seems unlikely that this is the original factory paint job, but is correct. The interior is original and well preserved. The white vinyl top is in like new condition.

Car is equipped with the following factory options:
W29 – 442 APPEARANCE AND HANDLING PACKAGE
L75 – ROCKET 455 V-8 4 BBL DUAL EXHAUST
M40 – TURBO HYDRAMATIC 400 TRANSMISSION
W25 – FORCE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM & DUAL PANEL HOOD PAINT
FE2 – RALLYE SUSPENSION PACKAGE
JL2 – POWER FRONT DISC BRAKES
C66 – AIR CONDITIONER
N67 – SUPERSTOCK III WHEELS
B96 – WHEEL OPENING MOULDINGS
CO8 – VINYL ROOF
B80 – ROOF DRIP
D35 – SPORT STYLED OUTSIDE REVIEW MIRRORS
N34 – CUSTOM SPORT STEERING WHEEL
U63 – AM PUSH BUTTON RADIO

Here is what little history I know of the car. I bought the car in Peoria, AZ in January of 2015, from a private party ad. The owner had taken this car and cash for a Corvette he had just sold. The previous owner (on the title) was in Mesa, AZ. Service records indicate the car in the Mesa / Apache Junction area since at least January of 2009. The car appears to have been in a dry climate for most of its life as there is almost no corrosion with the exception of some light corrosion in the webbing in the trunk area under the back window (GM A body cars are notorious for leaking there), and a slight bubble under the paint on the right rear of the trunk lid. The odometer indicated 37,000 miles when I bought it, but age and certain wear items likely make it 137,000 actual. I have put a little over 3,000 miles on it, in the last three years.

It is obvious that the car has never been disassembled for restoration. There is one oddity in that the fender tag indicate Saturn Gold color, rather than Viking Blue. On further investigation, it is obvious that this car was Viking Blue, from day one. When I removed the rear seat to install rear seat belts, it was clear that the original factory overspray was blue, and never gold. In 1972 there was a strike at GM’s Fisher body plant. 1972 Cutlasses were supposed to be the new “Colonade” body style that finally debuted in 1973. They ran the ’71 body, another year, with revised grille and taillights, due to the strike. Research says that around this time, it was not uncommon, to simply grab a body off the line, without regard to the already installed fender tag, and that discrepancies were common.

When I bought the car it was complete, running, and driving and not in need of body work. It was somewhat mechanically tired, missing bits of trim. I have made some of the following repairs, over the last three years, while driving the car, often:

• New 3 row radiator, belts, hoses, 160 degree thermostat, radiator cap, cooling system flush
• Replace cracked left exhaust manifold with correct new reproduction (have retained original)
• Fabricate and replaced kinked and cracked transmission cooler line
• Replaced cracked fuel pump to carburetor fuel line, and carburetor fuel filter
• New spark plugs, points and condenser, distributor cap & rotor, spark plug wires, set correct timing
• Repair all non-working lights and switches, including turn signals and head light switch
• 5 new BF Goodrich radial tires
• New driver side door hinge pin & bushings, door bumper and lock striker
• New wheel trim rings, wheel opening moldings, and trunk corner trim pieces

Remaining issues are:

• Transmission has leaking seals at the speedometer cable input and at the shift servo? I have had an estimate of about $300-$400 from a local transmission to replace these seals (transmission does not need to be removed to do this). Schedule permitting, I may have finished before you buy the car, or can negotiate a little bit. Your call. It drives just fine, but leaks when sitting.

• All Air conditioning components are present, but A/C is not currently working. I am not going to tell you “it just needs a recharge”. Maybe it does, I don’t know. It’s still on my list. 70’s cars with black vinyl seats are just not that much fun to drive, in Phoenix, when it’s hot, anyway, so I haven’t bothered, yet.

• Like most 70’s cars this one seeps oil leak at the front crank shaft seal.

• The side windows work fine, but rear quarter windows need a little “help” going up and down. They still raise and lower, but it is probably time to overhaul or replace the regulators. New replacements are readily available, like almost all parts for these cars.

The price is $29,500. Reasonable offers will be entertained after you have seen the car, in person. I will not negotiate, sight unseen, over the phone, but am happy to talk to you and answer questions. Thanks for your understanding.

Service records, documentation, Chasis and Body Service Manuals included with sale. The car is garaged in Estrella Mountain Ranch, in Goodyear, AZ, and can be seen evenings and weekends. Calls