Bigmikey65

There is a 1966 L-69 Convertible going on the block 11/10 at Mecum Las Vegas. The car looks really nice. Advertised as an original factory L-69 convertible. I tried to upload the link/pictures. Any thoughts on this particular vehicle ?

66SportCoupe

Send a link. My buddy has a L69 conv. In a special order custom caddilac dark green color going through a restoration.

v8al

1966 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible Lot F101 // Las Vegas 2023 L69 400/360 HP V-8, 4-Speed

66-3X2 442

It has a lot of 67 parts on it for it to be 1of 240. I wish the cowl tag was a little more clear.

BangScreech4-4-2

Agree. If it was real, it most likely would have been restored correctly rather than adding inauthentic parts like an aftermarket disc brake swap, a '68 N-34 steering wheel, or re-pop Rally I's.

no1oldsfan

There is a reason it is intentionally not clear. I have said it over and over. Best proof is before pictures. Funny how those are Never part of the auction and history. One more auction car
Welcome to the auction world. Nothing is done correctly. Built to sell. Feed bidders drinks and watch it go up.

cfair

Guys
I’m with you on the question of originality. I wish they’d shoot straight about its as-delivered state.

Having said that as a long time ‘66 owner, I’d upgrade the brakes in just about the same way as done here without a care in the world so it would be useful as a driver. I don’t know enough about A bodies to catch the wrong steering wheel or repop wheels, but to me they’re in the ballpark. It’s not like they’re metric….

The originality shenanigans we all see in the Cutlass/442 area almost don’t exist in the big cars. One of the upsides on our much less popular cars is that most of ‘em are original since the demand is so much smaller. Most of the time with big cars, what you see is what you get. 90% less BS, from what I can see.

But there is also 90% less aftermarket support, except to the degree that big car parts were also used on Cutlass/442s, or maybe Caddy’s, Buicks or Pontiacs. Here and there we get lucky with swapping in Chevy parts, but mostly not… That’s the downside almost no reproduction anything.

Just my $.04…
Chris

no1oldsfan

Cfair I am with you. To me though auction cars prey on the not knowing people. I too would upgrade this and that to make a car more driveable. The BS that is thrown out on auction cars is laughable but real. I have seen so many auction cars come home first hand that are nothing but BS. You people that want to jump in on the hype? You will find out. If a car is real the seller will supply plenty of before pictures. Unfortunately so many of these auction cars are put there just to be shiney. Fools buy in. I will / would never Ever spend big money on a car without before pictures. Fool and their money are soon parted. If Any car is real then you should have no problem showing before pictures and proof. Period.

BangScreech4-4-2

Thing is, an L-69 convertible is a holy grail-type car and deserves a correct restoration. If you're going to spend the money anyway, you might as well do it right.

I get that you'd want to drive the thing and some people would want to upgrade to discs because it makes them feel safer, but my feeling is that 1) Discs really aren't necessary unless youre gonna autocross the thing -- drums are fine for the kind of driving this car is likely to see, and 2) Many aftermarket disc kits are poorly engineered and often don't stop as well as the drums they're intended to be an "upgrade" from.

no1oldsfan

Exactly my point and others here. If it is a true car it wouldn't have corners cut. If it's an auction car it will.

Olds64

I moved the thread to a more appropriate forum.

joe_padavano

Mike, are you suggesting at a car a Mecum is not as advertised? I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you...

66-3X2 442

Yeah,I was shocked too. I'd bet anything that car is not 1of240 units built. I can just smell it. I bet that's a 67 Rally Pack too.

joe_padavano

It would be interesting to know the build date.

BangScreech4-4-2

... which is possibly why they don't give you a clear shot of the cowl tag.

joe_padavano

Ya think?

BangScreech4-4-2

Coulda been an oversight.

Bigmikey65

So if I was in the market for a legitimate’66 L-69 Convertible what I should be looking for on the car ? What are the telltale signs of a wannabe and what would I be looking for in a real one ?

lunaboy

Not an expert by any means; but from what i have read a build date of the last mo. in 65 to mid 66. Other then that It would have to be a 4 speed ..." Because the triple-carb option would ultimately be installed in cars equipped with manual transmissions, they received slightly larger camshafts with 286 degrees of intake and exhaust duration, rather than the 278/282 intake/exhaust duration of the camshafts in engines destined for automatic-equipped cars. Individual air cleaners topped the three carburetors". I would assume then that the intake if factory installed would have an intake build date matching closely with the build date of the 400E engine installed in the car.

66-3X2 442

The tri carb option was first available 12-1-65, so the build date is a clue. The tri carb option was only available with a manual shift 3 or 4 speed transmission. They built 240 tri carb convertibles. It's hard to document a real unit without documents and it comes down to what's on the car making it a real one. Somebody who really knows these cars can tell what's right wrong or indifferent about it. If everything that's required is there it's hard to prove it's not but as said you need documents to prove it is one. The problem with guys cloning or adding the tri carb to a 442 is they really don't know how or what to add to make it real.

BangScreech4-4-2

Or you could view this as a saving grace: the more mistakes they make, the easier it is for a buyer who does his homework to rule out phonies.

no1oldsfan

In these fake auction filled car world days I would suggest if you are looking for a particular car post a wanted ad. If someone has a real deal this or that they will gladly share details history pictures etc. So much fake crap out there getting sold for stupid money. Auction houses make their money off just that. They can just sit back and say hey you bought it. Not our problem. They have zero liability. That's the game.

cfair

Interesting to get the group take on this stuff. Makes me never want to go to an auction.

I casually watch Mecum on Motor Trend a time or 2 per year and am consistently amazed at the prices. The full custom stuff sounds more honest than what we’re talking about here. Not casting aspersions in any direction really, but very happy to be playing in totally obscure Olds big car space.

Somewhere here there was a good write up about participating in the process. That turned me off too as the auction house presses the seller to remove the reserve in the heat of the moment. And simultaneously pushes buyers - probably after a few rounds of beers. I get a Vegas vibe about the whole thing - ultimately, the house always wins. You can get lucky and do well, but counting on that isn’t something I’d like to try at this point.

All that said, I hope buyer & seller reach agreement so someone gets to enjoy this car whatever it may _actually_ be. Driving ‘em is the real enjoyment to me whether Starfire, faux-faux-2, real W30 or whatever.

Cheers
cf

BangScreech4-4-2

If you establish a plan and stick to it, you can do well at auctions as a buyer. Of course, you have to be willing to go home empty-handed.