Should it matter...?

[Red78Calais4speed]

I'm selling my 1978 Olds 442 5-speed car and have had it listed here and locally now for several months. I'm nearly done with the re-assembly process and only have a few more things to tidy up. I had a local gentleman, who was originally interested in my 1978 Cutlass Calais 4-speed car that has been sold, stop by last night inquiring about the 4-speed. He seemed a little disappointed it was gone but understood because he didn't leave a deposit or finalize any plans for purchasing the car. He just said IF he could come up with the money he'd most likely be back. Well... he did come back last night. Since the 4-speed is gone, he may be interested in the 442. That's great but... he says he has a rebuilt Corvette 327 and Muncie 4-speed to go in the car. The Olds 260 2bbl and Borg Warner T-50 just won't cut it. I was hoping a true Olds guy would get the car and restore it. 1978 442's are rare sights, and one with a manual trans are even rarer, especially the 5-speed!
Here's my question - If I get the price I'm looking for, should it matter what he does to the car? At that point it would be his, so he could do whatever he wanted to. But... I'd hate to see a car like this be "ruined", although, it would be back on the road.
What do you think?

 

[axisg]

I would say its his car, let him do what he wants and show me the money. Or keep it until you find someone like minded.

 

[pontiacgp]

"ruined" is in the eyes of the beholder.....

 

[Andebe]

Sadly,most of us are guilty of talking for the sake of talking. (spinning tales) If it took him that long to pull the trigger the first time,imagine how long it would take him to get motivated for that kinda swap. Answering your question,if you get what you want,no it doesnt matter what he does to it. Emotionally,thats another story. Some times its hard to see them go.

 

[L92 OLDS]

That's great but... he says he has a rebuilt Corvette 327 and Muncie 4-speed to go in the car. The Olds 260 2bbl and Borg Warner T-50 just won't cut it. I was hoping a true Olds guy would get the car and restore it. 1978 442's are rare sights, and one with a manual trans are even rarer, especially the 5-speed!

1978 442's are rare. In my opinion if you don't need the money hold out and find an Oldsmobile enthusiast who will appreciate it for what it is. Andebe summed it up...most of us are emotionally attached to our cars and it's not about the money. In 30 years when I'm an old geezer and ready to unload my 442 I sure as heck won't sell it to someone wanting to turn it into a Ronald McDonald car.

 

[Opie Knievel]

I'm selling my 1978 Olds 442 5-speed car and have had it listed here and locally now for several months. I'm nearly done with the re-assembly process and only have a few more things to tidy up. I had a local gentleman, who was originally interested in my 1978 Cutlass Calais 4-speed car that has been sold, stop by last night inquiring about the 4-speed. He seemed a little disappointed it was gone but understood because he didn't leave a deposit or finalize any plans for purchasing the car. He just said IF he could come up with the money he'd most likely be back. Well... he did come back last night. Since the 4-speed is gone, he may be interested in the 442. That's great but... he says he has a rebuilt Corvette 327 and Muncie 4-speed to go in the car. The Olds 260 2bbl and Borg Warner T-50 just won't cut it. I was hoping a true Olds guy would get the car and restore it. 1978 442's are rare sights, and one with a manual trans are even rarer, especially the 5-speed!
Here's my question - If I get the price I'm looking for, should it matter what he does to the car? At that point it would be his, so he could do whatever he wanted to. But... I'd hate to see a car like this be "ruined", although, it would be back on the road.
What do you think?

This is one of the reasons why when I go to buy a car I don't reveal my plans for the car to the owner. I have heard of sellers backing out of a sale because of what the buyer said their plans for the car are. I actually know somebody who did it. Some guy came with a stack of cash to buy the car. Everything was going well until he mentioned that he wanted the car to win a demolition derby and that he was willing to spend whatever it took to do it. (The car was an old Chrysler Imperial and I'd say it would have been a beast of a derby car.) After the seller heard that, she told him no deal. She didn't care how much money he offered.

My opinion is that if you think you'll regret the sale, don't do it. Life is too short to be bothered by things that you can prevent. Whether or not it should bother you... I don't know. I have become emotionally attached to vehicles before and I know other people who have as well. I guess it's just part of being a car guy.

 

[Texas82GP]

I'm selling my 1978 Olds 442 5-speed car and have had it listed here and locally now for several months. I'm nearly done with the re-assembly process and only have a few more things to tidy up. I had a local gentleman, who was originally interested in my 1978 Cutlass Calais 4-speed car that has been sold, stop by last night inquiring about the 4-speed. He seemed a little disappointed it was gone but understood because he didn't leave a deposit or finalize any plans for purchasing the car. He just said IF he could come up with the money he'd most likely be back. Well... he did come back last night. Since the 4-speed is gone, he may be interested in the 442. That's great but... he says he has a rebuilt Corvette 327 and Muncie 4-speed to go in the car. The Olds 260 2bbl and Borg Warner T-50 just won't cut it. I was hoping a true Olds guy would get the car and restore it. 1978 442's are rare sights, and one with a manual trans are even rarer, especially the 5-speed!
Here's my question - If I get the price I'm looking for, should it matter what he does to the car? At that point it would be his, so he could do whatever he wanted to. But... I'd hate to see a car like this be "ruined", although, it would be back on the road.
What do you think?

I think it matters. That kind of thing bothers me. That car survived all of this time, a good deal of it with you looking after it, so I wouldn't want to see it 'cut up'. At the same time, I wouldn't be able to get excited about a 260 and I guess the 5-speed doesn't have the guts to hold up to 350-400 hp. Still, I don't have the heart to cut up a survivor. I don't believe in it. When I bought my car, I really wanted an 83 H/O, but I didn't really want an automatic, even though the lightening rods are extremely cool, and I don't think much of the 307. So I passed on a nice 83 H/O available locally because I won't be the guy to cut up a nice survivor. I wouldn't feel bad engine swapping one that was rough or already lost its drivetrain but when I bought my car I didn't want something rough that needed everything. I've been there and done that on my Dad's car and my brother's car. So, I bought an ex-diesel car with nice paint and now I can do whatever I like without feeling guilty.

 

[pontiacgp]

I'm lucky cause the new rules for cars in Ontario means my car in it's current state could never pass a safety, even though it is safer than when it came out of the factory....🙂

 

[clean8485]

If its really important to you, then hold out for someone who will look after the car, and not make drastic changes to it. I know that the T50 trans had a very limited torque capacity-that's why the only V8 engine that was offered with that transmission was the 260 Olds. If it was me, and I bought the car, I would probably opt for a 350 or 403 Olds swap, and a stronger 5 speed transmission, to keep the "theme" of the car, but have some more fun with it.
Once its sold, you have no control over what the new owner does with it. You just need to be able to live with that.

 

[L67ss]

Here's my thoughts on it. If you are concerned on what happens to a car once cash and title change hands you don't need to be selling it. A true olds guy would just want the car enjoyable and reliable. And its not like he'd be doing irreversible changes to it.