NEW PRICE! One of only 509 442 Sport Coupes built in 1969. Numbers-matching 400 and TH400 transmission. Documented frame-off restoration to the highest standards. Undoubtedly the finest in the world.
Restored to original specs, this car is wearing a gorgeous coat of code 51 Trophy Blue paint that makes it stand out without shouting. It’s handsome and sophisticated, just as you’d expect from an upmarket Olds, and finish quality is exemplary throughout. We can detect no panel replacement or patches in the bodywork, which means there are none or the guys doing the work were so good at their jobs that they erase all traces of even being there. We have an extensive photo album showing the full frame-off process, including the body being fully refinished, and again, we’re pretty confident that it didn’t look this good the moment the last guy on the assembly line snugged the final bolt into place. Panel gaps are even enough to pass the Lexus ball bearing test, the surfaces are glossy and smooth enough to reflect as well as the mirror in your bathroom, and the latches have been adjusted so that everything just clicks into place without a hard slam. Somebody put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this car and it shows in every single nook and cranny.
There’s beautiful Parchment vinyl inside, where virtually everything you can touch is new or restored. The beautiful door panels use correct Oldsmobile Rocket emblems, not the more familiar Cutlass symbol that most restorers inadvertently choose. The seats are finished with new upholstery that replicates the original stuff exactly, and there’s fresh foam underneath so they’re firm and comfortable. The carpets are new, the dash pad is new, the weather seals are new, and, well, you see where this is going. The radio is a factory AM/FM unit, which is a somewhat rare find, and it has the Rocket Rally Pac gauges, an $84.26 option that includes a Tick-Tock-Tach (which, sadly, is not operational, the only real defect on the entire car). In back, there’s a beautifully finished trunk with a matching full-sized spare, jack assembly, and reproduction mat.
This is the car’s original, numbers-matching 400 cubic inch V8, verified by the partial VIN stamped on the driver’s side pad. It is a correct 3960263 G casting and wears proper C-code heads. It was fully rebuilt to stock specs save for a slightly upgraded Edelbrock performance camshaft and then fully detailed for show. There’s proper copper paint on the block itself, a correctly coded intake manifold and Rochester 4-barrel carburetor under the bright red air cleaner, and beautifully preserved exhaust manifolds complete with head shields. Little things like the plug wires, alternator pulley, and even the tags on the lines and radiator cap were all faithfully reproduced. And as good as it looks, it runs even better! This isn’t one of those trailer queens that can barely limp off a trailer, but a great-running Olds muscle car with all the go to match its show. It starts quickly and easily, even in the cold. There’s a healthy burble from the twin trumpets out back, which are augmented by a Flowmaster exhaust system that isn’t quite correct but sounds spectacular. This is a car you can show or drive the moment it arrives in your driveway.
Underneath, it’s every bit as nice as you’d expect, with correctly-finished floors that show no patches or other signs of distress, as well as a lot of new hardware. That’s the original, numbers-matching TH400 3-speed automatic transmission spinning a correct 12-bolt rear end with 3.08 gears on a Posi limited slip—the “economy rear axle” mentioned on the window sticker as a zero-cost option. Obviously it hasn’t been driven a lot, but someone clearly spent a lot of time getting this one dialed-in just right. Front disc brakes, correct tags and markings, and proper finishes round out a very nicely detailed chassis that helps explain why this is a multiple award winner.
Documentation is extensive, starting with a big package of information from Vintage Vehicle Services in Canada, which is GM of Canada’s documentation headquarters. It includes full details on the car’s build, a reproduction window sticker, and other nice details about the car’s construction. There are dozens of restoration receipts and an album of photos documenting the process from start to finish so you can see that the work was done right. It also includes a small build sheet tag and a large stand-up board for display at shows.
This is an extremely impressive car in every way that matters. If you’re a serious collector, you already know this car couldn’t be duplicated for the asking price and while it may seem like a lot for an Olds, look again at the quality and the pedigree. You will not find a better 1969 Oldsmobile anywhere and nobody ever regrets buying the very best.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
