Mark and Dawn Bednar of Burlington, Wis., are showing not one but two Oldsmobile W-30 442 convertibles—a 1969 in black with parchment interior and a 1970 in Aegean Aqua with ivory interior—in the 2015 Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’Elegance, Aug. 23.
Like any collector, Mark traced the history of his cars. The 1969 Olds 442 W-30 4-speed was purchased by a couple for $3,954 at Wyant Olds, Marion, Ind., on March 13, 1969. Eighteen years later they traded the car in at Bradburn Olds in Muncie, Ind., on a new Cadillac. “The car’s value increased – they got $8,000 trade in,” Mark noted. Several owners followed. A bank repossessed the car in 1992 and then sold it to an independent dealer. The car eventually wound up in the hands of a man who wanted to restore it. That owner passed away when the restoration was nearly complete. Mark bought it in May 2011.
The 1969 is one of 91 built with a 4-speed and convertible. In 1969, Oldsmobile only produced 121, 442 convertibles with the W-30 upgrade. This car has dealer invoice, broadcast card and cancelled receipt from date of purchase.
Mine is one of 15 documented and numbers matching and maybe the only one left in black. – Mark Bednar
The 1970 442, W-30, 4-speed convertible started its life in Canada. A customer ordered it in October 1969; it was delivered in late December 1969 or early January 1970 by Don Wheaton Chevy Olds in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The car went through several owners and sat for many years in one of the owner’s yards. With about 60,000 miles on the odometer, the car was acquired in 1991 by a gentleman who was determined to restore it. The seven-year restoration was completed in 1998. A few years later the car was sold and moved to Rhode Island. Its travels were just beginning. Through a series of changes in ownership, the car went to Oklahoma and then California. The California owner shipped the car to Level One Restoration in Arvada, Colo.
“While being restored, I heard about the car from Gary Riley, owner of Level One,” Mark said. “I asked him if the owner would be willing to sell this Aegean Aqua beauty. I purchased the car in April 2013 and took delivery of the car at the 2013 Olds Nationals, in Springfield, Ill.”
With cars as rare as these it is no surprise that they are “trailer queens,” said Mark. The 1970 has 1 mile since restoration. The 1969 has 40 miles.
“The 1970 — there were only 96 built with a 4-speed and convertible top. Of those, it is believed, that approximately 20 of these were sold new in Canada. This car also has one of four special-order colors – Aegean Aqua. There are only two known to be back in the U.S. This car has GM of Canada documentation. It is a very highly optioned car with no air conditioning,” Mark said.
The “4-4-2” name (pronounced “Four-four-two”) derives from the original car’s four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts. It was originally written “4-4-2” (with badging showing vertical bars between the numerals), and remained hyphenated throughout Oldsmobile’s use of the designation. As early as 1965, 4-4-2s were available with 3-speed automatic transmissions, but were still referred to and badged as “4-4-2″s. By 1968 badging was shortened to simply “442”, but Oldsmobile brochures and internal documents continued to use the “4-4-2” model designation.
About the Milwaukee Masterpiece, presented by The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank
The Milwaukee Masterpiece, presented by The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank: It’s more than a car show.
On the surface, The Milwaukee Masterpiece, presented by The Private Client Reserve, appears to be a car show, a stunning one at that as Veterans Park is filled for two days on an August weekend with many unique marques and collector favorites.
But look a bit deeper and you’ll discover that The Milwaukee Masterpiece event includes a variety of facets that collectively define the Masterpiece as a comprehensive event.
Each facet is unique and would be successful on its own; together they comprise and deliver the full Milwaukee Masterpiece experience. Those facets, each distinctive, include:
- The Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’ Elegance.
- Club Saturday at the M.
- The Masterpiece Marketplace.
- The Style & Speed Social.
- Food and beverage.
- Masterpiece memorabilia.
The Masterpiece Ltd., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, hosts the annual Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours d’Elegance; Club Saturday at the M, a casual car show; and the Style & Speed Social, a social event on the evening preceding Sunday’s Concours d’ Elegance.
Proceeds from the weekend events will benefit the Masterpiece’s three designated charities – Autism Society of Southeast Wisconsin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Meta House. In 2014 The Masterpiece Ltd. distributed more than $37,000 to the three organizations. Since its inception, more than $187,000 has been distributed to charitable organizations.