So, anyone who knows me whether it be in person or through multiple forums/social media platforms know I am a Mopar guy first and foremost. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's what I prefer..its what I wrench on and drive daily, etc. All that being said, most don't know I actually started with Oldsmobiles. Growing up, we were an Oldsmobile household. My first car was a '78 Delta 88 that was a piece (for lack of better terms). The seats were barely bolted to the floor (thanks rust) and the exhaust had more holes in it than a cheese grater. My favorite memories of that car generally involved tossing the keys at the passenger while driving down the highway because the ignition tumbler was that worn out.
I had long said if I were to go out and intentionally buy anything non-Mopar (to keep) it'd be a 442. My Dad's first car was a 65. My Grandpa had a 442 W-30 that oldheads around here still talk about, 40+ years later. My uncle had that car about 15-20 years ago, but it was rotted out pretty bad and he sold it. Knowing that car was long gone, I figured it'd be a pipe dream at best.
..until I got my most recent job.
One of the owners of the company I work for was talking to me about cars one day, and just casually dropped he had a '69 442 numbers matching car in one of his barns
He told me he'd not touched it in at least 10 years, and wasn't even sure if the engine was still good as he left it on a pallet outside. He pulled it with every intention of stuffing a Chevy 454 on it, yet the crate 454 has been in the warehouse at work since he ordered it. Finally, about 2 years ago he said he was ready to move the car as he'd never get around to doing anything with it. From then on, I pressed him hard to let me get it back together so someone who cared for it would be able to enjoy it. Once I sold my Dodge, the conversation shifted more aggressively to being simply "when are you dropping the Olds off so I can get it sold for you"
Finally in late March, he told me to come get the engine to tear it apart. If it was usable, then get it rebuilt and installed as he's realized I'm serious about making it happen. When we go pick the engine up, that's when I get my first look and the realization that he's sitting on something special. The next day, we start talking a bit about the potential of my buying the car, and he said he'd think about it while on vacation for 2 weeks..the longest 2 weeks of my life it seemed.
Finally, he gets back and while I'm feeling sick as I'd found a cracked cylinder wall in the original 400, I'm also determined to buy it as its 1 of (at most) 2,495. Being a Fremont car, that number could be less but I'm not sure how to find it.
After agreeing on Monday to buying it, it gets delivered Sunday morning and out comes the power washer to get a good look at what we've got. The extraction process was literally like something out of the articles I'd read as a kid about "barn finds"..and I still cannot believe I have one of those examples.
As it sits now, we have pulled 4 mice out (literally just bones of mice), have replaced the 1 dryrotted tire, pulled the tank and will be replacing the fuel/brake systems as well as installing new shocks. I have 4 weeks until the engine is being worked on, at which point will determine if I can save the car or it becomes another project.
As I said, the amount of family history with Oldsmobiles, and 442s is enough to make me happy. Knowing I'm fortunate enough to have found a car that is similar circumstances to what O used to read about as a kid, holy cow. The icing on the cake, is the excitement my wife and 3 year old daughter have shown so far. I cannot wait to get this car back on the road, with my family cruising around with me, enjoying the fact that I am now the 3rd generation to have a 442.
It may not be a Mopar, but its every bit as special to me..
I had long said if I were to go out and intentionally buy anything non-Mopar (to keep) it'd be a 442. My Dad's first car was a 65. My Grandpa had a 442 W-30 that oldheads around here still talk about, 40+ years later. My uncle had that car about 15-20 years ago, but it was rotted out pretty bad and he sold it. Knowing that car was long gone, I figured it'd be a pipe dream at best.
..until I got my most recent job.
One of the owners of the company I work for was talking to me about cars one day, and just casually dropped he had a '69 442 numbers matching car in one of his barns
He told me he'd not touched it in at least 10 years, and wasn't even sure if the engine was still good as he left it on a pallet outside. He pulled it with every intention of stuffing a Chevy 454 on it, yet the crate 454 has been in the warehouse at work since he ordered it. Finally, about 2 years ago he said he was ready to move the car as he'd never get around to doing anything with it. From then on, I pressed him hard to let me get it back together so someone who cared for it would be able to enjoy it. Once I sold my Dodge, the conversation shifted more aggressively to being simply "when are you dropping the Olds off so I can get it sold for you"
Finally in late March, he told me to come get the engine to tear it apart. If it was usable, then get it rebuilt and installed as he's realized I'm serious about making it happen. When we go pick the engine up, that's when I get my first look and the realization that he's sitting on something special. The next day, we start talking a bit about the potential of my buying the car, and he said he'd think about it while on vacation for 2 weeks..the longest 2 weeks of my life it seemed.
Finally, he gets back and while I'm feeling sick as I'd found a cracked cylinder wall in the original 400, I'm also determined to buy it as its 1 of (at most) 2,495. Being a Fremont car, that number could be less but I'm not sure how to find it.
After agreeing on Monday to buying it, it gets delivered Sunday morning and out comes the power washer to get a good look at what we've got. The extraction process was literally like something out of the articles I'd read as a kid about "barn finds"..and I still cannot believe I have one of those examples.
As it sits now, we have pulled 4 mice out (literally just bones of mice), have replaced the 1 dryrotted tire, pulled the tank and will be replacing the fuel/brake systems as well as installing new shocks. I have 4 weeks until the engine is being worked on, at which point will determine if I can save the car or it becomes another project.
As I said, the amount of family history with Oldsmobiles, and 442s is enough to make me happy. Knowing I'm fortunate enough to have found a car that is similar circumstances to what O used to read about as a kid, holy cow. The icing on the cake, is the excitement my wife and 3 year old daughter have shown so far. I cannot wait to get this car back on the road, with my family cruising around with me, enjoying the fact that I am now the 3rd generation to have a 442.
It may not be a Mopar, but its every bit as special to me..
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