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How do I determine the fair market value of my 1969 Oldsmobile 442 convertible? It is a matching number 442 that needs a restoration. 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
Is it a decent running and driving car? Auto or 4 speed? All these contribute to determining fair value. Just a quick assessment by the one pic you posted and assuming it runs decent, shifts good and stops good you’re looking at Mid to low 20’s. I see rust, who knows on interior etc. someone on here will say much more but they aren’t the ones stroking the check. Just my two cents worth on the limited info given.
Last edited by Andy; April 21st, 2024 at 05:23 PM.
Not enough info or money shots to accurately assess online.
Fill in the blanks below and I'll (we'll) give you a better idea of value.
-Northern rust belt or Desert dry car?
-Condition of: frame, rockers, cowl, dash, floor, trunk floor and drop offs, rear wheel wells, door, hood, and trunk lid seams... all OK?
-Stick or auto?
-Options?
-Paperwork...POP line card build sheet?
-One or multiple owners?
-Stainless trim all there?
-Interior all there?
-Mileage?
-Is it a complete solid driving car with all important pieces matching...trans, engine, rear, carb, dist, alt etc....present?
... which is only useful in conjunction with an honest evaluation of the vehicle's condition. Honestly, given the limited information made available, this car would be struggling to make it into #4 territory. I see rusty lower front fenders and rockers, probably leading to rotted quarters, possibly trunk floor. And that's just for starters. A lot of money will need to be spent. Also need further details about OEM equipment, modifications and documentation.
I think Andy's valuation above is pretty generous.
Last edited by BangScreech4-4-2; April 22nd, 2024 at 05:25 AM.
The old car price guide at least has a system. Sometimes, it's wild, as Joe P. will point out, no recent sales data means less certain results.
With 1 being concours winner, 2 being big show winner, 3 being the proverbial ten footer, 4 being a fully functional but cosmetically worn driver, 5 being a needs everything car, and 6 being a pile of parts, with Bang's comment above, I see this in high five condition.
It is a convertible. It is a 442. It is numbers matching.
It's a weird color, it has rust, it needs a top, it's a 68/69 G block 400.
Depending on rust, interior, driving condition, stick shift or auto, and if there's parts missing, I think this car is somewhere between 12 and 17 thousand for worth. The issue is going to be finding someone who can take on the rust, or can pay to take on the rust. Project cars are dying on the vine now, everyone wants restored due to the prices of repair.
Speaking of the devil, the very latest issue of Olds Cars magazine, dated May 1, 2024, has their periodic price guide. Below is the entry for 1969 442, and the values left to right are for conditions 6 through 1 as Koda describes above. This car would seem to fit squarely into the #4 condition category, which, according to OC, means running and driving but needing full restoration. The value shown is $19,000.
In my opinion, none of the details except the major ones really matter for this car given its condition. It's a 442, which can be verified by the VIN, it's numbers-matching, and it's a convertible. That's all you need to know to entice interest.
If anyone offers you anything close to $20k, you RUN, not walk, to the bank and deposit the check before the buyer has a chance to change his mind. You aren't going to get top dollar for a car in this condition. Take what you can get, be happy with it, and move on to the next stage of life.
If I were trying to sell this car, I'd probably put an asking price of $25,000 on it and take anything serious above $15,000. With any luck, you can haggle with the buyer and settle somewhere around $20,000, which is what you want.
Last edited by jaunty75; April 22nd, 2024 at 07:36 AM.
Speaking of the devil, the very latest issue of Olds Cars magazine, dated May 1, 2024, has their periodic price guide. Below is the entry for 1969 442, and the values left to right are for conditions 6 through 1 as Koda describes above. This car would seem to fit squarely into the #4 condition category, which, according to OC, means running and driving but needing full restoration. The value shown is $19,000.
In my opinion, none of the details except the major ones really matter for this car given its condition. It's a 442, which can be verified by the VIN, it's numbers-matching, and it's a convertible. That's all you need to know to entice interest.
If anyone offers you anything close to $20k, you RUN, not walk, to the bank and deposit the check before the buyer has a chance to change his mind. You aren't going to get top dollar for a car in this condition. Take what you can get, be happy with it, and move on to the next stage of life.
If I were trying to sell this car, I'd probably put an asking price of $25,000 on it and take anything serious above $15,000. With any luck, you can haggle with the buyer and settle somewhere around $20,000, which is what you want.
x 2, if it’s a 4 speed ac car then you may get that low 20 number. To many think they have gold when it’s copper..
As the owner of a Topaz '69 442 convertible, I'm biased on value and will recuse myself from offering an opinion on potential sale price . From what I see in the one picture, the body doesn't look too bad and the panels/top/windows seem to line up well. Much better than what I started with and the passenger quarter looks pretty decent. That's a HUGE plus for '68/9 convertibles. I gave $1500 for mine back in '85 and everybody I knew thought I was completely nuts for paying that much for what they all thought was a worn out old car. I thought it was a steal.
We'll see after the OP answers my questions in post #4
Big difference between a bone-dry desert car and everything else.
If I were to purchase I'd need to see it before tossing any numbers at it.
Need to see "The Money Shots."
We'll see after the OP answers my questions in post #4
Assuming he does at all. I'm betting he doesn't. I think he just wants a ballpark number. The details you're looking for might affect the value to a small degree, but the overall considerations are what I said above. Someone wanting to get into a 442 who has never had one might not be too particular about whether it's had 2 owners or 200 or whether or not the protect-o-plate is there. He just wants a 442. If it runs and drives, he'll take it from there. If it were a fully restored Mecum or Barrett-Jackson-level car, then the details start mattering.
Someone wanting to get into a 442 who has never had one might not be too particular about whether it's had 2 owners or 200 or whether or not the protect-o-plate is there. He just wants a 442. If it runs and drives, he'll take it from there.
Perhaps, but I'm willing to bet that he doesn't want a rustbucket that needs everything.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my question. Recently I have had thoughts about selling the car. That is the reason I asked about value.
I enjoy driving the car because it is such a solid car and it runs and drives great! Because it drives so well, I will have a difficult time parting with the 442 if that is my decision.
Last edited by Topaz442; April 29th, 2024 at 05:13 PM.
Well, if you decide you want to sell it, post up some detailed pictures along with all the information you can provide and we'll see if we can crowdsource a more accurate valuation for you.
Well, if you decide you want to sell it, post up some detailed pictures along with all the information you can provide and we'll see if we can crowdsource a more accurate valuation for you.
As the owner of a Topaz '69 442 convertible, I'm biased on value and will recuse myself from offering an opinion on potential sale price . From what I see in the one picture, the body doesn't look too bad and the panels/top/windows seem to line up well. Much better than what I started with and the passenger quarter looks pretty decent. That's a HUGE plus for '68/9 convertibles. I gave $1500 for mine back in '85 and everybody I knew thought I was completely nuts for paying that much for what they all thought was a worn out old car. I thought it was a steal.
I also purchased my 1969 442 convertible in 1985 and I paid $1,500! I bought the Oldsmobile from my neighbor when he was selling it and a 1968 Cutlass convertible to pay his wife's unexpected medical bills for a heart operation.
April 21st, 2024, 04:10 PM
. From what I see in the one picture, the body doesn't look too bad and the panels/top/windows seem to line up well. Much better than what I started with and the passenger quarter looks pretty decent. That's a HUGE plus for '68/9 convertibles. I gave $1500 for mine back in '85 and everybody I knew thought I was completely nuts for paying that much for what they all thought was a worn out old car. I thought it was a steal.
