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1970 Oldsmobile 442 Original Survivor Numbers Matching Project Car! (calif.) on 2040-cars

Year:1970 Mileage:123127
Location:

Vacaville, California, United States

Vacaville, California, United States

Up for your consideration is this original 1970 Oldsmobile 442. This car was first sold in San Francisco from the now closed down Lesher Muirhead Oldsmobile dealership. How do I know? The license plate frames were still on the car with the blue and yellow plates! Yes, this car is THAT original and complete. I intended to restore this car and win some car shows in the Factory Original Class, but divorce has ended the project. This 442 was recently pulled out of a storage building on a ranch in Central California. It was apparently sitting for years, but protected from the elements for the most part. It is in good running condition and will start, run and drive around, but it is very much a project car. The mileage listed is just what is on the ODO, but I cannot be certain of the actual mileage or if the ODO even works.  I will do my best to describe the condition, but please ask any questions you might have before bidding.

Engine – 
This is the original, numbers matching Olds 455 Big Block motor. The last five vin numbers are stamped on the lower engine block as they should be. All of the engine parts are original with the exception of the ignition system (cap, rotor, and wires.) While detailing the engine compartment, I researched the part numbers to verify originality of the Carburetor, intake manifold, alternator and exhaust manifolds and everything checked out. Please conduct your own research as well. One interesting fact about the alternator, that model was replaced during a parts recall in the 70’s. But this model had a spoked front housing that came with the 442’s off of the assembly line. The engine starts and idles just fine, but recently there has been some smoke/vapor coming out of the passenger side PCV valve. I did a compression test on all cylinders and the drivers side came in good with ranges between 135 and 145. But two of the passenger side cylinders (not together) came in at 95 to 100. This leads me to believe that the exhaust valves are shot, but I cannot be completely sure. I would count on rebuilding this original motor. You might be able to get away with just rebuilding the heads, but that is your call. In fact, I’m not certain that this engine has ever been apart and it’s equally likely that the hardened valve seats (for unleaded gas) were never installed. Remember, its THAT original! 

Body – I replaced the broken front grilles already and cleaned up the original front bumper. Headlights are good and the hood closes as it should. I noticed that the passenger side front fender had been replaced, but all of the other sheet metal appears original. All glass is original. The front windshield is cracked, but it would be great if someone would repair it instead of replace it to keep the originality. The windshield even has a local college sticker on it from the 70’s! The car was repainted gold a few times, but the original color was Galleon Gold according to the cowl tag. That is a lighter sort of champagne gold color. The car is straight with solid frame rails and no underbody rust damage, just the usual surface rust. There are two rust spots on the lower front fenders (see pics). I could not detect any bubbling under the original vinyl top, however, I did not remove it. The paint is completely scratched and messed up in every way possible. The weatherstripping is cracked, but I will include a new set. The back bumper has surface rust, but I can include a new reproduction part (for additional cost). Trunk is solid with only surface rust. Original spare tire and jack included! Tires are ok and wheels need to be repainted. 

Interior – The original door panels look good and I will include a set of gold armrests. The headliner is intact, but is torn in a couple of places. The seats will need to be replaced. The dash is good for the most part, but needs to have the chrome strips reinstalled (included with the car). This was an original center console car and everything is still there. The lights and the key buzzer still work! The back speaker deck is looking old, so I got a replacement part that I will include as well. 

Options -- Not much. Factory power steering, manual drum brakes, No A/C, Center Console, Rear defroster fan. 

Please don’t hesitate to email with any questions. 

The car must be picked up by a licensed and insured car carrier. No drive offs will be permitted for everyone’s safety. 

The vehicle is currently registered in California as a non-operated vehicle so there will be some extra cost to re-register in California. 

A non-refundable deposit will be due upon auction completion per specified terms.

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Auto blog

This Or That: 1980 Oldsmobile 442 vs. 1989 BMW 635CSi [w/poll]

Thu, 09 Oct 2014

The last time I roped a coworker into an automotive debate, I lost. Resoundingly, I might add. Still, 2,385 voters chose to cast their lots for the Fiat 500 Abarth, as opposed to 5,273 choosing the Ford Fiesta ST, and so I can rest easy in the knowledge that at least 30 percent of you, dear readers, see things my way. I still like to think we have more fun, too.
My loss in the first round of our This or That series, in which two Autoblog editors pick sides on any given topic and then attempt to explain why the other is completely wrong, didn't stop me from picking another good-natured fight, this time with Senior Editor Seyth Miersma. Last time, our chosen sides were eerily similar in design, albeit quite different in actual execution. This time, our vehicular peculiarities couldn't seemingly fall any further from one another: A 1980 Oldsmobile 442 wouldn't seem to match up in comparison to a 1989 BMW 635CSi.
How did we come up with such disparate contenders? Simple, really. Seyth and I mutually agreed to choose a car that's currently for sale online. It had to be built and sold in the 1980s, and it had to be a coupe. The price cap was set at $10,000. The fruits of our searching labors will henceforth be disputed, with Seyth on the side of the Germans, and myself arguing in favor of the Rocket Olds. Am I setting myself up for another lopsided loss?

eBay Find of the Day: 1976 GMC Motorhome is a jolly green giant

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If you have a need to relive the 1970s, then here is the vehicle for you. This groovy blast from the past is a 1976 GMC Motorhome currently for auction in Florida on eBay Motors, and it is one green machine - just not in the modern sense.
The seller claims that this beast has had just two owners and has covered a mere 61,308 miles in its decades on the road. It's reportedly never been restored or repainted and comes with all of the necessary books and manuals. A 7.5-liter (455-cubic-inch) Oldsmobile V8 with a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission powering the front wheels propels this far-out RV, and the double set of rear wheels out back use a self-leveling air suspension to provide a cushy ride.
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Head below to watch the episode, which includes a few words from GT6 creator Kazunori Yamauchi.