It’s been a while since we posted a CC For Sale and it’s time to put an end to that dry spell. No idea if anyone up North will take the plunge on this one, since it’s in El Salvador and I don’t know what customs, taxes, and transport might add to the overall cost. However, with only 3,104 4-4-2 convertibles built in 1967, I thought it worthy to share this one.
The 4-4-2 is no stranger to CC’s pages since it’s been covered on a number of occasions. I do think this is the first time a convertible version appears, so kudos to the locals for keeping this one in one piece.
Yes, it’s rather weathered and far from pristine. But at least it doesn’t look too beaten. At first glance, I would think this one can be brought back to glory.
The 4-4-2 was, as most CC readers know, Olds answer to the performance-oriented 1960s. It was quite the job by Lansing’s engineers, and Car and Driver named the 4-4-2 1967 coupe “… the best handling car of its type we’ve ever tested.”
Regarding its specs, 4-4-2s carried Olds’ 400 CID V-8 under the hood, providing plenty of torque and power. Disc brakes were standard, and 0-60 was achieved in 7.8 seconds.
As with many vintage finds of American iron in El Salvador, looks like someone stored this one for years without use. Probably after not finding some replacement part. Oldsmobiles were never that common over here, and Ebay was nowhere around when this 4-4-2 was put away.
Whatever the case, looks like it’s been recently unearthed and it’s now ready to get back to the world. If a buyer appears, that is.
As seen in the photos, this one is a bit moldy from storage. The soft bits like upholstery and the soft top will likely need a do-over, but the body seems rather straight and rust-free. A fender bender on the passenger side seems to be visible in one of the shots. But it’s rather hard to tell if it’s so, or just some weird light reflection.
A close-up of the odometer shows only 15,852 kilometers. If true, the non-kilometers have been harder on this one than the road ones. It’s pretty humid over here, and while rust is not that common, upholstery and soft bits certainly do suffer in storage.
Dashboard switches and instruments are mostly all there, although no comment on their working condition. The transmission is automatic; a THM-400 unit, which was quite praised in period reviews.
There are no photos of the engine, which according to the owner was recently restored. Also, if we go by photo evidence, floor littering indicates some suspension work has been done.
I’ll share the seller’s link at the end, although Marketplace posts tend to be short-lived over here. I guess sellers just get too many calls asking for ridiculous discounts. Talking about which, the current selling price is $18,500. Perhaps a bit steep for its condition, but how many of these are still around?
I’ve my doubts I’ll ever come across this one in the open, even if it sells. This type of car is nowadays destined for collectors, and at most, I can only hope to find it in a future car show. But to find it at all, in any way, would be a good thing.
In the odd case someone wants to go through the trouble, or is just curious, the sales ad is HERE.
Further reading:
Cohort Capsule: 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Coupe – Better Late Than Never
An amazing find in general, let alone in el salvador.. Decent overall shape. The camaro looks interesting also…My cousin had a silver blue cutlass convertible new. Then traded it in on a 67 Volvo 1800 sport convertible…
The speedometer scale reads to 200, suggesting that it’s calibrated in kph rather than mph. If that’s the case, the 442’s condition leads me to believe that the odometer has rolled over at least once. Still, 158,520 km = less than 100k miles.
The “second hand” on the speedo suggests that this 442 is equipped with some sort of speed alert system which would warn the driver when the set speed is exceeded. Probably a fairly rare option at the time.
A but rough around the edges, but a nice find, though. Hope someone takes this project on!
I’ll update that speedo part on the post. It’s most likely in kph rather than mph. I believe this to be a direct import when a small number of these were sold back in the ’60s.
Cool find! These 442s were thin on the ground in my smash town, in spite of having a Chevy – Olds dealership.
The markings on the speedometer suggest that it’s calibrated in KMH so possibly it was a direct export to El Salvador?
“Small town” not “smash town.” Auto correct strikes again!
I had a 67 442 turquoise a beautiful car.. There is one just about exactly like this one in Nashville TN.
Doesn’t look as bad as most of this age group .
I have zero idea of the actual ca$h value but I do hope it gets saved .
-Nate
Call me oi am interested in possibly buying it. 815-482-8384
It’s a FB ad in El Salvador; the ad is linked at the end of the article. You’ll have to reach out to the seller.
Olds called the “second hand” on the speedo, the “Safety Sentinel.”
A buzzer would sound, if the set velocity was exceeded.
Had it on our 1963 98. Dad set it at the max, as it was just a distraction for him.
I’ll have to cheat here, mine’s a ’66. But here’s what it could look like with some TLC.
The Lindberg kit Peter?
No, AMT tooled this before they bought out Lindberg, and got their ’67 tool. Here’s the Lindberg.
Beautiful model! There are model kits of ’66 and ’67 442’s around, although only coupes. And also the Hurst “Hairy Olds”.
My folk’s 1st new car was a ’66 F85 Deluxe wagon.
A column-mounted shifter and bench seat in a 4-4-2? Hmmmmm. Well, at least, the badge is genuine 4-4-2
The brochure indicates that buckets were standard. But this appears to have been an original export version, so it’s possible that a bench was either standard on them or it was specially ordered that way.
It does rather look authentic in every other way.
Can you please give me a call Lee. 713 298 3429
It’s a FB ad in El Salvador; the ad is linked at the end of the article. You’ll have to reach out to the seller.
The interior does look correct…bench seat and column shifter were only for Custlass Supremes…once you went to 442 options, 4 BBl, 4 speed, dual exhausts with buckets and center console were all standard from what I am reading in my literature.. I am an avid Olds fan…had the ’66, 442 , buckets, cibsole floor shifter , etc. Also had the ’70 Sx, with the 442 package and a 455 engine with his her shifter..
It was a mobster on the road…beautiful, fast cars…
But bench seat with column shifter seems real odd.. . Good luck guys. The Convertible will look real nice with big bucks and the right resto shop..!!
Sincerely, Frank ( upstate NY)
I purchased new in 1967 a hardtop yellow/black interior 442 that was a 4-speed with a bench seat. Yes the bench seat was an option. Had A/C as the only other option. No power steering or brakes, had manual crank windows. Was a great performer back in the day; kept me as a 17 year old racer on the streets and having fun.
It was only an option, because there was enough demand for accomodating those of whom prefered their dates sitting directly next to them. I’m sure that Oldsmobile Division would rather have preferred sticking with the 4-4-2’s original concept, though
Bench seats were only an option, due to relavent demand from buyers who expected their dates to sit directly next to them. I would be certain that Oldsmobile Division was not pleased about being forced to compromise on their 4-4-2 theme
Disc brakes were not standard but an option