Michael Riley's Blog: Hemmings Find of the Day – 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 convertible

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Hemmings Find of the Day – 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 convertible

Buying a muscle car with an unknown history can be a roll of the dice, but that’s not an issue for this 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 convertible, for sale on Hemmings.com. As the seller relates, this WAS his father’s Oldsmobile, meaning that the car has been in the family since 1975.

Though unrestored, the drop-top isn’t original–its second owner blew up the engine, which was later replaced with a 403 from a 1979 Oldsmobile. Likewise, the original front brakes were swapped for disc brakes from a 1974 model, and 15×7 Oldsmobile Rallye wheels were substituted for the originals. It will need some restoration before being show ready (or even a decent driver), but it appears as if this is a complete car with just superficial rust. From the seller’s description:

1968 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible, This was my father’s Oldsmobile. All original 3 owner local car. Downside, owner number 2 shattered the original engine. Besides having a later Oldsmobile engine, 1979 403 CID, 1974 front disc brakes and 15 by 7 Oldsmobile Rallye wheels this car is all original. Loaded with features like power windows, power top with new cylinders, power steering, power disc brakes, factory air conditioning, bucket seats with console shifter. Everything works except the air conditioning which is all still there except the freon. My father bought this car in 1975 with the engine blown, it has never been repainted. All rust is pictured and is limited to the bottom of both front fenders, a spot on one door and the bottom of both rear quarters. The floor pans and trunk are excellent, the top frame and mechanical parts are great and work properly. I have all new interior side panels. I have many new rubber parts that are included and an extra set of 15 by 7 Rallye wheels. All new ball joints, upper and lower control arm bushings front and rear were installed when the disc brakes were added over twenty years ago but less than 10,000 miles. I recently reworked the fuel system from cleaning the tank to a fresh Edelbrock carburetor. Only ethanol free gas has been in it since then.