1968 Oldsmobile 442 - Numbers Matching - Original

1968 Oldsmobile 442. very original numbers matching car. Turnpike Cruiser package. 400 engine. 400 Turbo transmission. 12 bolt rear. center console and shifter. Air Conditioning (converted to R134 and blows cold on 95 degree day). power steering. power front disc brakes.

Exterior:  The paint on this car is 2 years old and really. really nice.  The vinyl top was replaced at the same time. No dings or scratches anywhere. The doors and door jams were completely repainted with the factory Willow Gold color with a 2 stage. base coat. clear coat. Everywhere the factory painted the car. the new paint was applied. The front fenders were taken off and painted completely as well as the inner fender wells. The sills were repainted. The trunk lid inside and out as well as the hood inside and out. (Hood is painted black underneath). The trunk received new splatter paint (the original kind. not the cheap cans that need clear coat). There is new weather stripping around the trunk and doors. The paint looks as good close up as in the pictures. The fender stripes are vinyl from Original Parts Group. You can keep them or remove them. but they have the proper factory matte finish. (About $5000 spent on paint) The bumpers are original to the car. There are some small dents in the rear bumper(see photo) where the original owner apparently would bump into his garage wall when he got older. I did not choose to replace them although new ones are available. There has been just a little surface rust on them. however I used Quick-Glo and they shined right up. I like the originality and they look great anyway. The pictures show that the bumpers are OK. just not new and perfect. The left rear back up light lens is broken. I ordered a new one after painting the car. but I misplaced it. I'm looking. but can't guarantee I'll find it. $34 replacement at OPGI

Exhaust:  Original manifolds going to Magna Flow mufflers. The tubing is a little larger than original and ends with factory style tips from Pypes. Exhaust is in good shape. no rattles or leaks.

Interior:  The interior has been recently restored with new seat covers and foam. new door panels and water shields. new rear shelf. restored center console and more.  The seat trim is new including seat backs. The chrome seat trim is new as well. The kick panels were re-dyed. The front seat arm rest padding is new. The headliner is original and in great shape. as are the shoulder seat belts. All seat belts are there. New door jam rubber and windlaces. New lower door weather stripping. Window weather stripping is original. New door lock knobs (although they are not pictured) (About $2300 spent on interior) The dash paint and striping is original. There is some wear especially where the keys hang down from ignition. however. everything still looks good. The antenna is not hooked up. but I will install this week. The dash pad is in great shape with no cracks. I was told the car was kept in a garage since new and it shows. The second owner and I have always had it in a garage as well.

Trim:  The chrome trim on the car is original. The tin is in really nice shape. only a couple of slight blemishes. The tin around the wheel wells is nearly perfect. The rear fender rocket side markers are pitted some. The heavier trim on truck lip is faded and pitted. but no dents or dings. Some of the photos show this if you look for it. I do not think it detracts from the cars looks. and they are absolutely original.

Brakes:  The brakes were completely redone this year. The front disc brakes are brand new with new rotors. calipers. Grade 8 hardware. bearings. seals. hoses. dust caps. master cylinder. booster and pads. Also we installed a small auxiliary booster for added power when idiling. The rear drums were also completely redone with brand new drums. pads and a full rebuild kit on each side. A new proportioning valve was also installed. The brake parts were provided by Stainless Steel Brakes Corp. The car stops very smoothly and dead straight. (About $1900 spent on brakes) They feel great!

Engine: The engine serial number matches the car's serial number. I have never rebuilt the motor. but at some time it was probably overhauled. The engine is not painted the original Bronze color. it looks to have been painted the Pontiac color at some time. There are traces of the original bronze color. I have personally checked the serial number. and I will be happy to let the buyer check as well (a bracket needs to be removed to see the serial number well). I replaced the float bowl in the carburetor. and replaced plugs when I bought the car. That's about it besides oil changes. It runs smooth and strong with great shifting. With the Turnpike Cruiser package. the car came with a very tall gear. (I've never confirmed the ratio. but I believe it is the 2. 56. because it really glides down the interstate) The car drives great on the interstate and highways. It really feels like a modern car on the road. very relaxed. Although the gas mileage is not great in the city. it sips gas on the interstate. I have driven it about 130 miles roundtrip to Kentucky several times. It does great and the A/C makes it a pleasant trip in the summer!

A/C: The air conditioning works well. It is all original except for the pieces to convert to R134. mostly hoses. dryer. connectors and such. (About $660 spent on A/C)

Fuel: The gas gauge is not reading. This is the one thing that I haven't fixed. It recently quit working and my mechanic tested the gauge itself and it is working. but just not getting a signal. The sending unit is getting power as well. so we have isolated the problem to the sending unit itself. A new sending unit costs $59. plus some new bolts. nuts. gaskets and sock. and the tank will have to be removed so about a $259 job (my mechanics estimate). unless you decide to take the opportunity to replace the tank. Same labor. $169 + shipping more for the tank.

Tires: Plenty of tread but the tires are over 8 years old. They seem just fine.

History: I am the third owner as far as I know. I purchased the car in Nashville. Tn in 2005. The second owner bought it from its original owner in Whittier. CA about 5 years before I acquired the car and drove it back to Nashville. I have a registration card from the original owner.   Inside and outside lights work. Windshield wipers work. although I do not drive the car in the rain. so it probably needs new rubber. I have a few spare pieces. nuts and bolts. new window crank handles (I will put them on this week). but not much. There is no spare wheel and tire. but I have the original cover (made from masonite I believe) for the spare wheel.

If I could describe this car with just a few words they would be “very well maintained and original. ” This car has never been restored. Yes it has new paint and interior. but it is very original. All body panels are original. and upon inspection you can tell the car has never been wrecked. The floors are rock solid and original as is all sheetmetal. This is an original vinyl roof car. and there has never been rust anywhere on or around the roof. rain gutters. or trunk area. A great car.
There is a video I made to show the car running: See the 442 video

Please remember this is a 45 year old car. I cannot offer any warranties or guarantees on this car. I have owned about a dozen classic cars over my years. and I thoroughly enjoy making them run and drive as new. but they need fixing every now and then. I am more than happy to answer any questions. but please ask before placing your winning bid. I am happy to show the car during the auction. but I do travel so let me know as soon as possible. Call anytime. ask me anything. send message. and I will do my best to answer any questions! I'm sure I have left out some things. so call me!

I am asking for a $500 paypal deposit from the winning bidder within 24 hours of auction ending to hold the car for you. If the winning bidder does not provide the deposit within 24 hours of auction ending. then I reserve the right to sell the car to someone else. Balance will be paid at bank by Cashiers Check or Cash. The car is available for pick up in Nashville. Any shipping arrangements will have to be made by the buyer. I will help in any way I can. If you have no feedback you need to contact me before bidding. so I will not cancel your bid. My number is 615-498-7379 Thanks. Paul

On Sep-11-13 at 16:58:22 PDT. seller added the following information:

The odometer shows 14. 22. but I believe that the actual mileage is at least 114. 22 or more. The odometer is in working condition and the mileage may change.

On Sep-13-13 at 11:13:21 PDT. seller added the following information:

In response to many questions I am receiving I hope this clears up some of them:

I checked the serial # on the engine block. It matches the car. and I am sure about this.

I'm not an Oldsmobile expert. I bought the car because it was so solid. I just couldn't pass it up. I checked the serial # and it was correct for '68 442. then I checked the serial # on the block. That's all I knew to do when I bought it. You may view the car or send an expert to view it for you. I'm happy to show the car although I'm am away until Monday the 16th.

I've had several people (understatement) ask me if I am sure it's a Turnpike Cruiser. When I bought the car. it was represented to me as a TC.  Everything I saw satisfied me that it was an original TC. but again I am no expert. I thought the TC would devalue the car. so I negotiated it that way. The owner I bought it from also felt a TC was worth less money and obviously sold it to me. I couldn't imagine someone would fake putting on a stock 2 barrel carb. taller gears. and making a different air cleaner assembly just to sell a less valuable vehicle. So I guess I ASSUME it is a TC. I do not have. nor can I offer. proof that it is a Turnpike Cruiser. The car is what it is and I am not trying to claim anything that I don't know. I do not care if you do not think it is a Turnpike Cruiser. You are not hurting my feelings. I don't care if you think it is a Chevelle either. I love this car. but not as much as my 1966 Mustang GT convertible K code 289 that my father purchased brand new or my 1968 Mustang California Special with a 428 Cobra Jet. As a result. I am selling it.

It has everything on it that TC descriptions that I have read discuss: 2 barrell carburetor that looks (to me. just an amateur. a hobbyist) like an original carb. Black air cleaner assembly with a pie plate that reads "Rocket 400" instead of a red one cleaner with "442" plate (I have what appears to be the original plate. and it is a plate. not a sticker). On the car now is a sticker from OPGI. Then there is the extremely tall rear gear ratio. (I plan on checking the ratio this week for sure) I believe the car has a 2. 56/1 ratio only available (as far as I know) for a 442 when ordered with the TC package . That's it. thats all I know.

If there is a sure fire way to determine it is an original TC without having the original build sheet. then let me know. and I'll do (almost) whatever it takes. I do not have the broadcast sheet. It was not in the car when I bought it. There were remnents of another sheet there. and I will check it again. but I do not think it had the building codes. etc.

As far as the engine color is concerned. the car was virtually stock when I bought it. and it still is. The second owner put the SS I wheels on it. the exhaust. and steering wheel. There were no other modifications. The A/C worked. If someone took the trouble of painting an engine to look like a 455 (whick makes no sense. as they didn't offer one in '68) then they would probably muck other stuff up as well. I think the engine was simply taken out for overhaul or repair many years ago. and the owner or mechanic was unconcerned about matching the original bronze color when re installing the motor.
 

Keep the questions coming. I will do my best.

Also published at eBay.com

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