Strap in folks, because this 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Indy Pace Car Convertible is a pretty big deal, and once you see its long list of credentials and provenance, that price tag won\'t seem so big after all. Formerly a museum piece that\'s also been owned by some world-renowned people, this Cutty droptop is pretty much the crme-de-la-crme of Pace Cars. 51K actual miles, matching-numbers throughout, a top-flight frame-off restoration that\'s kept it looking practically new, and enough historical documentation to choke an elephant: those are just some of the highlights, any one of which would make any classic car pretty darn special. Only 268 \"442 Indy Pace Cars\" were produced, and the very few that are left likely can\'t hold a candle to this one. Whether you\'re into Pace Cars, 442s, or just love the look of an impeccably restored muscle car convertible, this Porcelain White-over-Black beauty is about as good as it gets. You want the best, well, it\'s put up or shut up time, because a car like this won\'t be around again anytime soon.

Previously owned by Automotive Hall of Fame Member, Keith Crain (the famed head man of Automotive News for decades), and recently showcased at the Sam Pack Auto Museum, it\'s fairly easy to understand how this car (and all of its paperwork) remained in such incredible condition throughout the years. Cars like this are special when they\'re new, so guys tended to treat them better even when the dark days of the 1970s rolled on. In 2002, it was torn down to the molecular level and rebuilt from there, and despite that frame-off restoration, it appears to still be wearing all its original bodywork. The trim tag says it was originally Code 10 Porcelain White white has always been a favorite of Pace Car selections so when it came time to restore this beauty, the builders didn\'t mess with the recipe and brought it right back to factory specs. Paint and bodywork are exemplary with only a few very minor signs of use since it was completed, and if you want to make a statement, nothing does it better than the gaping, dual scoop ram air hood and rear spoiler (a fiberglass unit added-on during the restoration) on a 442. Black stripes outlined in red adorn the hood, deck lid, and the profiles, the rocker panels are properly blacked-out too, and the Pace Car decals were expertly reapplied to look exactly like they did in the Spring of 1970 at Indy. Nothing was overlooked in this build, although the shine is far deeper than it would have been in 1970 thanks to the use of modern paint technology. At the same time, all the chrome and stainless was refinished to a blinding shine, and it still wears correct 442 emblems, color-matched sports-style mirrors, and twin trumpet exhaust tips out back. Yeah, this baby has it going on.

The Code D15 Deluxe Black interior is really the only reasonable choice with a white convertible adorned in black stripes, and everything you can see or touch inside looks brand new. Strato bucket seats wrapped in gorgeous hides and a super-clean sports console are standard equipment on the 442, and it\'s anchored by black carpets and a matching black dash top that tie it all together. Woodgrained accents remind you that this isn\'t a lowly Chevy or Pontiac, and it\'s loaded with options like a Hurst dual-gate shifter, a Custom Sport steering wheel mounted atop a tilt-away column, a power convertible top, and a Deluxe push-button AM stereo, just to name a few. The Rocker Rally Pac gauges ahead of the driver are in excellent shape, and they include an uber-cool Tick-Tock-Tach among their ranks that\'s so subtle you may miss it at first glance. There\'s a like-new white power convertible top with a glass rear window that disappears with the touch of a button, and the trunk is correctly restored with a full-sized spare tire, jack set, and proper plaid mat.

That\'s the original, numbers-matching 455 cubic inch V8 under the hood, fully serviced and decked out in numbers-correct hardware. Aside from the date-code correct W-30 intake manifold up top, it\'s quite stock and we have detailed photos of all the important parts for you numbers junkies out there. Finished in metallic blue, it\'s show-quality and runs superbly with a big hit of low-end torque that made these engines famous. There\'s plenty of \'pop\' under the hood thanks to the giant ram-air air cleaner, bright blue valve covers, and satin black inner fenders, and you\'ll never hesitate to open the hood at a show as the center of attention. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission is the perfect dance partner that can easily handle the big-block\'s power, and the 12-bolt \'anti-spin\' rear end features a period-correct W-27 aluminum differential cover and is full of 3.23 gears, which were standard on automatic 442 convertibles. The undercarriage is practically clean enough to eat off of, with even the dual exhaust system virtually blemish-free, and the beefy su

Read More

Read Less