1969 442 value & codes

[notstock71]

I just stumbled onto a 69 442 thats been sitting quite awhile. It has a Chevy 350 and the original engine is gone. It does have some rust at the bottom of the fenders, doors and quarters. It does have a black bucket interior and a W27 (?) 12 bolt with the aluminum cover and the trunk spoiler. It is a complete car that needs restored. Here is the tags and what I have decoded thus far.

344879M......

ST 69-34487 BF04112
TR 934 B80 61 61
07B 477902 36-039

I have it as a 69 442 Holiday coupe. The VIN shows Lansing MI but the BF on the tag says Fremont CA. Any ideas? I believe the 61 61 is sable top and bottom and it was built the 2nd week of July. Can anyone fill in the blanks. The car is for sale and I know without pics it is difficult to say but any ideas on a price? I am viewing it as a roller since the 350 needs to come out. The interior is in pretty decent shape. He's hurting for money so cash talks here and I am hoping to drag it home tomorrow if I can get a deal struck.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Lewis

[notstock71]

The car is grey/silver. I am not sure what to think. A color change is no big deal but I believe the interior should be gold.I know that can be changed too but the two different plants listed between the VIN and trim tag and all the color changes makes me hesitant. I am also under the impression the W27 was a 1970 and 71 option. I am assuming it is the cover only and not the aluminum center section. I did not know to look closer. Regardless it does not seem to be original. Is there a way to determine what engine was in it?

[69Tom]

I don't mean to imply you don't know what you're getting into, but have you restored an Oldsmobile before?

Oh, I have a mountain of receipts and a lot of bad stories....

[Stefano]

All 1969 442s had a 400ci engine in them from the factory.

Not including the '69 HOs which had 455s

There were 400s of various HP ratings.

[Jim Ferron]

I've seen some pretty decent driver 442 s out there for under $20,000.

If the car was FREE...it would take more than $20K to turn it into a 20K car.

[olredalert]

-----Jim,,,I was just about to suggest something along the same line as you. This car just doesnt have a tremendous bunch of stuff going for it. It would have to be right about at free to make the deal work unless you already have a donor car or something.....Bill S

[notstock71]

You guys hit the nail on the head, I have no experience with anything than Chevys. I doubt I would keep the car but if it can be bought fairly and saved I'm all for it. I think I made it sound worse than it is. Ive seen much worse still on the road and the interior is in decent shape. I'm concerend with the plant conflict between the two tags.

[442w30]

If I were you, I'd do some research on if it truly has W-27 parts and which ones. They alone could be worth the cost of admission.

[notstock71]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If I were you, I'd do some research on if it truly has W-27 parts and which ones. They alone could be worth the cost of admission. </div></div>

I saw the cover first hand but due to inexperience I did not check the center section.

[LeeP]

The w-27 cover is likely reproduction, 1969 is not one of the most collectable years unless a hurst. They are difficult to resell because of the 400 engine and so far the car you described does not have great options. If it has a 4 speed or posi that makes the car a better buy. Automatic non posi 1969 would not be on my list to fix up and I am an olds guy. If you can resell it to save the car and make a profit go for it. My car has a w-27 and current value is $8000-12000 for just that all aluminum center section option.

Lee

[iluv69s]

Not to hijack the thread..but I guess my question may have been answered on the previous thread...a few years ago I went to my buddies garage and noticed this 'aluminum center section' rear in his garage..I never saw such a thing..I asked him about it and he told me it is a 442 rear...seem to remember he told me it had a 4.30 gears?? He had so many rears and parts, that I may be mixed up on that point. Seemed really odd to me...Did they make that gear in a 442?
I know I could probabaly buy it reasonable...what are they worth?
Back to this thread, a year or two ago, a friend restored (not frame off, but really nice)a 69 442 (numbers matching auto trans)..and could not get 20k for it....

Either way, Good Luck.

[notstock71]

Anyone have input on what to offer on it? It is a pretty solid car with alot of potential.

Is there any good explanation for the VIN versus trim tag showing two different plants? I think this is my biggest holdup.

[tom406]

The non matching issue between the tag and VIN is bothersome. Could be a factory mixup, but since the car has obviously had a life, one could be from a different car. Check the VIN tag first, do you think its ever been messed with? If so, leave it be. If not, make sure the number matches his title.

There should be some evidence as you poke around this car that it was once Sable (Burnished Brown) with gold interior. If you find NO evidence of these colors anywhere, the tag is suspect.

The sum of what everyone who has had '68/'69 442's is saying is that most garden variety 442's of this era aren't bringing much money, and at those prices, nobody is going to want to hear a lot of stories. They can afford to be choosy. The wrong motor, the mismatched tag deal, the rust, etc. are rapidly turning this car into just a hot rod Cutlass project. (If the W27 rear is something real, thats a whole other thing.)

If you're comfortable that the VIN is legit, pretend the trim tag is gone when valuing it. Even if it is a factory screwup, its going to be almost impossible for you to prove with the limited history you have. It sounds something like a $4K car to me. It sounds like a $12K hot rod when its done, not a restoration candidate.

Good luck.

[442w30]

I do know there is a mismatch with the data plate and the VIN tag. I do not recall the plant being different but I think the body codes will be different. Suffice it to say that this red flag may not be as such.

[notstock71]

I'm still talking with the owner and he says the title says it is a Hurst. I'm not sure what to make of this since the trim tag info contradicts a Hurst. The car has a regular hood and regular 442 emblems. I have a mutual friend who knows history of this car quite a ways back and he said the current owner has the original 455 (albeit blown up) in his garage. Any opinions? <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

[notstock71]

If I can get back over there does anyone have tips for what else to look at to try and figure out exactly what this car is or isn't? On the engine that is supposed to be the &quot;original&quot; 455 what numbers or codes should I look for and where are they? I appreciate any more help with this that can be provided.

[442w30]

Well, if it's a real '69 H/O, the color code probably would be white, I think? And since it is Sable (per the data plate), that would rule out the H/O and the 455.

http://www.hurstolds.com/

However, the title doesn't determine what kind of car it is.