1965 442 value guidance

I believe you are right, but selling a collector like this takes time and effort.
At 72, my capabilities are not what they were. I would like to see the car go to someone who appreciates it; this guy does.

I also believe the 60's muscle cars' value will decline as my generation declines...
I put the build sheet under glass in a frame for safe keeping. It's around here somewhere.
The car was Sue's tie to her father; they used to wash it weekly. He was a tall man so she had to clean the whitewalls.

Even though I am retired, it seems I am busy all the time; no time enjoy the Oldsey. And the leaky Junk-Away is messy, so there's that. It is also hard to get a high compression iron headed ignition curve right running crappy CA wannabe "Premium". Give it any lead and she will rattle. I shortened the curve and limited the total lead but it ain't right.

It probably makes sense to let it go to someone who will enjoy it. Dog dish hubcaps and all.
Maybe you can get it detailed and waxed to maximize your price. Might find somebody to get is running better which would also max your price. Good luck with it.
 
You have a good understanding of how this works......To get top dollar, The stars need to align just right. Have you ever looked for the build sheet?

At the end of the day....A car is only worth what someone is willing to pay, And as you eluded to....The pool of potential top buyers is ever shrinking.
Gen X (like myself) have interest in these cars but we're not going to pay what Boomers paid as the nostalgic link isn't there.
I've always thought this, too. I don't know the market but you've got the Rawlings/Collins effect of "this is worth $120k".....then at auction it brings $50k.

All sky-in-the-pie prices are based upon this ONE sale this ONE time with a PRISTINE example and the PERFECT buyer....essentially a statistical outlier.

Anyone who knows anything about numbers knows you base expectations on median or average (depending) and mostly ignore outliers
 
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Thanks to everyone who posted. I am not shooting for some sky high sales price; this sale possibility came up from the car show. But is is probably time to sell. $15K is a good number, but I am not sure what to do. Maybe check around a little more. Dunno...
 
Thanks to everyone who posted. I am not shooting for some sky high sales price; this sale possibility came up from the car show. But is is probably time to sell. $15K is a good number, but I am not sure what to do. Maybe check around a little more. Dunno...
I would counter with a higher price. Say $25k and see what he says I would be bummed to sell something for $15 only to see it for sale 2 weeks later at a much higher price.

I don't know your situation but $15k would be life changing to me. Maybe you just want it gone?

I always had a soft spot for muscle cars in the past I had a 70 Elcamino,69 Chevelle and a real but not #'s matching 340 duster.

Stuff I should have kept if I had it only known
 
I believe you are right, but selling a collector like this takes time and effort.
At 72, my capabilities are not what they were. I would like to see the car go to someone who appreciates it; this guy does.

I also believe the 60's muscle cars' value will decline as my generation declines...
I’ll be 72 next month, so I get exactly what you mean. The passion is still there, but the calendar has a way of keeping me from taking on anything else. Then again, I may have to drop in a new engine into my current SS. 🤷‍♂️
 
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Thanks to everyone who posted. I am not shooting for some sky high sales price; this sale possibility came up from the car show. But is is probably time to sell. $15K is a good number, but I am not sure what to do. Maybe check around a little more. Dunno...

Well if you want to essentially give it away, that's your call.

Maybe contact Jay Leno, he might be interested. He's not getting any younger either, but I suspect his collection will be maintained long after he's gone.
 
Sorry, I did not mean "give it away". The car has special place in my wife's life; it was her tie to her father. It is important to me that someone appreciate the car and keep it original, but a sale is a sale and what the next owner does is none of my concern.

I started this post to get other's thoughts. Let's just say if someone came up with a $25K offer, they just bought a '65 442 survivor. The $15K seemed like a lot to me, but I obviously do not know the market.

@Chris142 I certainly don't just want it gone; in fact I will be sad when it does go. In many ways I would love to do a few things... Fix the trans (2004R, 700R4, etc), put the original manifold and rebuild the carb. Get rid of the raised white letters and install white walls... But at 72, and pretty darn busy, I have to be realistic. It ain't happening.
 
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Sorry, I did not mean "give it away". The car has special place in my wife's life; it was her tie to her father. It is important to me that someone appreciate the car and keep it original, but a sale is a sale and what the next owner does is none of my concern.

I started this post to get other's thoughts. Let's just say if someone came up with a $25K offer, they just bought a '65 442 survivor. The $15K seemed like a lot to me, but I obviously do not know the market.
does the Jetaway 2-speed hold the performance back much?

That's a cool car with a well-documented history.
 
does the Jetaway 2-speed hold the performance back much?

That's a cool car with a well-documented history.
A 2 speed trans depends on a wide torque curve, which Oldseys are known for. One issue is the "switch-pitch" torque converter control; parts are no longer available. Perhaps @clinebarger or @Trav can better explain their functionality better than I, but it acts like a higher stall converter.

Does performance matter on a car like this? Not to me; but being able to drive and enjoy the car is. And I hate the leaks!
It is a cool car, at least for those who appreciate cars like this. To many, my Oldsey is just an old car. I've kept it garaged and under a cover.
 
Thanks to everyone who posted. I am not shooting for some sky high sales price; this sale possibility came up from the car show. But is is probably time to sell. $15K is a good number, but I am not sure what to do. Maybe check around a little more. Dunno...
I have been in the buying , selling classic car hobby since the 1980s. I let (gave it away for too little) my last Chevelle go in 2019.

Every time I have sold one I was sorry later. Either I was just sorry I got rid of the car or because I knew I let them have a deal far too low. Always much lower in price than they would sell the same car to others for. Why? Because I always decided far too quick , spur of the moment to let them go. My main advice is : take your time unless you need the money (don't sound like it) and do not act too fast without thinking.

There has been only one time since I have been involved in classic car buying/selling/restorations that the prices came down. The only time was around 2008 when there was the global economic downturn. Ever since the world economy bounced back, the price of classic cars has been climbing at prices faster and higher than any other time. Those saying the demand is down and the prices are dropping should go out and attempt to buy a classic car. Try for what they THINK it is worth and see what the owner thinks it is worth and WANTS.

That Oldsmobile , in that condition is worth at least $25,000 min. Probably much more depending who wants it. A guy who offers that price , sight unseen is planning to turn it over for probably at least 2x what he offered you for it.

One example what people want for cars that are not even in as good shape (mint-survivor-grade) as the one you own.

https://classiccars.com/listings/vi...obile-442-for-sale-in-cadillac-michigan-49601
 
Sorry, I did not mean "give it away". The car has special place in my wife's life; it was her tie to her father. It is important to me that someone appreciate the car and keep it original, but a sale is a sale and what the next owner does is none of my concern.

I started this post to get other's thoughts. Let's just say if someone came up with a $25K offer, they just bought a '65 442 survivor. The $15K seemed like a lot to me, but I obviously do not know the market.

@Chris142 I certainly don't just want it gone; in fact I will be sad when it does go. In many ways I would love to do a few things... Fix the trans (2004R, 700R4, etc), put the original manifold and rebuild the carb. Get rid of the raised white letters and install white walls... But at 72, and pretty darn busy, I have to be realistic. It ain't happening.
Age and poor health is what ended my car/truck/boat hobbies. I shipped the last of them off in 2019. It was a tough thing to accept.
 
A 2 speed trans depends on a wide torque curve, which Oldseys are known for. One issue is the "switch-pitch" torque converter control; parts are no longer available. Perhaps @clinebarger or @Trav can better explain their functionality better than I, but it acts like a higher stall converter.

Does performance matter on a car like this? Not to me; but being able to drive and enjoy the car is. And I hate the leaks!
It is a cool car, at least for those who appreciate cars like this. To many, my Oldsey is just an old car. I've kept it garaged and under a cover.
Jeff,
The performance really doesn’t matter. I was just curious about the Jetaway and its driveability more than anything. I have an old Chevy with 235 and Powerglide, and the PG is fine. My Chevy, due to the 235, would not be a barn burner regardless of transmission.

Your Olds is a real neat old car, especially since its all original and not molested or “restored”.
 
At the Petaluma Salute to American Graffiti car show, a guy had a 65 442 that was resto modded. I told him we have one the the most original 65 442s left. He just offered me $15K, sight unseen.

What is a car like this worth? 97K original miles, bought by wifey's father. I have the Fremont build sheet for authenticity.
Thanks for your guidance!
View attachment 288100
It's worth whatever someone will pay you for it.
 
This is a highly original car and what isn't original (you mentioned cam, intake, carb) can easily be returned to original with the original parts, which I'm sure you kept.
This car has a documented history from new and has honest mileage, not "shows 36K, TMU, for example, since it is so easy to make the odometer say whatever you want it to on cars of this era).
It is in the hands of the original owner's daughter, can't get much better than that and you even have the original build sheet.
It has always been garaged so the paint and interior are not sun blasted and as a Cali car it is free of rust.
It may leak a little tranny fluid, but what sixty year old car doesn't leak a little something?
Yeah, it's only worth what someone will pay for it, but I think you're setting your asking low by about 2X, since there can't be many of these left that are actually documented original cars.
I'd advertise the car at $30K and then maybe take $25K. This is not like selling a Corolla or a Lexus and may take a while, but I'm convinced that this survivor grade car is worth quite a bit more than $15K.
 
@fdcg27 I agree with everything you said. If this were a blue on black 65 GTO California survivor we would be talking big bucks. This is an Oldsmobile...
My BIL sent me a great classic car marketplace website, but I forgot... Here is the rear compartment of my '68 Vette he just finished carpeting. It was bare when he took the car... The insulation and carpet kit was in boxes... Mark's work is exceptional, on another level.
1752008666949.webp
 
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