Photo: Craigslist
The first thing most people can think of when looking at an Oldsmobile F-85 is how this series brought the Cutlass to life many decades ago.
The short-lived F-85 (produced between 1961 and 1972) served as the starting point for the Cutlass, which was offered as a trim level before graduating to a stand-alone series.
The 4-door F-85 on Craigslist has been sitting for years, begging for a complete restoration if someone decides to take it home.
You can tell from the shared photos that this F-85 needs urgent rust repairs. The car has likely been sitting on private property under the clear sky, so the metal issues aren't surprising. The owner explains that the rear fenders are rusty, but the photos show the F-85 will require more fixes.
Unfortunately, the listing lacks essential information about its condition, including the engine. The owner says the F-85 was running properly when it was still road-worthy, but it's unclear if the engine still starts and runs today. The most important question is whether the mill turns over by hand, as it would allow for a complete restoration without replacing the engine.
The 1965 model year witnessed the debut of a new 400 engine on the 442, with the lineup also including the Buick 225 and the Oldsmobile 330 Jetfire Rocket V8. The strategy to offer bigger engines worked great for Oldsmobile, as the carmaker eventually recorded a notable sales increase. It shipped over 187K units, up from 167K cars in 1964.
Based on the photos shared by the owner on Craigslist, this F-85 is mostly complete, though your best option is to inspect it in person. You should also put it on a lift to check out the undercarriage. It's safe to assume it'll need floor work, though it's unknown if the Olds requires simple patches or new floors altogether. I wouldn't expect good news in the trunk either, so you should order a third-party inspection if you can't verify every inch of metal in person.
It's unclear how original the car continues to be today, but it's safe to assume it'll be quite a challenge to bring the F-85 back to factory condition using only original parts. If anything, you can use Olds parts to bring it back to the road and use the car as a daily driver.
The F-85 isn't the most desirable classic car, and the uncertain engine makes it a tough sell. However, the owner seems to be realistic that finding a new owner for their rough F-85 will be a challenge, so their price expectations make sense. The car is ready to go for only $1,000, so if you're in the market for a new iPhone, you could very well spend your money on what could later become your new daily driver.
The 4-door F-85 on Craigslist has been sitting for years, begging for a complete restoration if someone decides to take it home.
You can tell from the shared photos that this F-85 needs urgent rust repairs. The car has likely been sitting on private property under the clear sky, so the metal issues aren't surprising. The owner explains that the rear fenders are rusty, but the photos show the F-85 will require more fixes.
Unfortunately, the listing lacks essential information about its condition, including the engine. The owner says the F-85 was running properly when it was still road-worthy, but it's unclear if the engine still starts and runs today. The most important question is whether the mill turns over by hand, as it would allow for a complete restoration without replacing the engine.
The 1965 model year witnessed the debut of a new 400 engine on the 442, with the lineup also including the Buick 225 and the Oldsmobile 330 Jetfire Rocket V8. The strategy to offer bigger engines worked great for Oldsmobile, as the carmaker eventually recorded a notable sales increase. It shipped over 187K units, up from 167K cars in 1964.
Based on the photos shared by the owner on Craigslist, this F-85 is mostly complete, though your best option is to inspect it in person. You should also put it on a lift to check out the undercarriage. It's safe to assume it'll need floor work, though it's unknown if the Olds requires simple patches or new floors altogether. I wouldn't expect good news in the trunk either, so you should order a third-party inspection if you can't verify every inch of metal in person.
It's unclear how original the car continues to be today, but it's safe to assume it'll be quite a challenge to bring the F-85 back to factory condition using only original parts. If anything, you can use Olds parts to bring it back to the road and use the car as a daily driver.
The F-85 isn't the most desirable classic car, and the uncertain engine makes it a tough sell. However, the owner seems to be realistic that finding a new owner for their rough F-85 will be a challenge, so their price expectations make sense. The car is ready to go for only $1,000, so if you're in the market for a new iPhone, you could very well spend your money on what could later become your new daily driver.
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