Cars - Oldsmobile 442

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	Cars - Oldsmobile 442

The Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car produced by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. It was introduced as an option package for F-85 and Cutlass models sold in the United States beginning with the 1964 model year. It became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, then reverted to an option through the mid-1970s. Oldsmobile revived the name in the 1980s on the rear-wheel drive Cutlass Supreme and early 1990s as an option package for the new front-wheel drive Cutlass.

History

1964

The 442 was born out of the competition between Pontiac Division and Oldsmobile. It began as a hasty response to the Pontiac Tempest GTO, which had proved to be an unexpected success midway through the 1964 model year.

Because of its late introduction (some three-fourths of the way through the model year) and the ambiguous nature of the GTO — which was technically a violation of GM policy limiting intermediate models to 330 in³ (5.4 L) — the Olds offering was a conservative package. Technically the B09 Police Apprehender option, it used the four-barrel carbureted 330 cu. in. (5.4 L) V8 with heavy-duty valve gear, dual exhaust, and a hotter camshaft, raising rated (SAE gross) output to 310 hp (231.3 kW) @ 5200 rpm. Torque remained 355 ft·lbf, although the torque peak rose from 2800 rpm to 3600 rpm. The package also included a four-speed manual transmission and the heavy-duty police-package suspension, with higher-rate coil springs front and rear, heavy-duty shock absorbers, a larger front anti-roll bar, and an additional rear anti-roll bar, still very uncommon on American cars of the time.

The package was dubbed 4-4-2 based on its combination of four-barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission, and dual (2) exhausts. Priced at $285.14, it was available on any F-85 or Cutlass model except the station wagon, although most were Cutlass hardtop coupés (Oldsmobile archives indicate that approximately 10 four-door sedans were built with the B09 option). Motor Trend tested an early 4-4-2 and found that the 3,440 lb (1,560 kg) car would run 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 7.5 seconds, the standing quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 90 mph, and reached a top speed of 116 mph (185.6 km/h). 2,999 were sold.

1965

The GTO having received GM corporate sanction, Oldsmobile followed suit with a big-engine 442. The B09 option was renamed 442, and price was lowered to $190.45 for F-85s and $156.02 for Cutlasses. The new 400 cu. in. (6.5 L) engine became standard, and the definition of "442" was restated as 400 cubic inches, 4-barrel carburetor, 2 exhausts. Output for the big engine rose to 345 hp and 440 ft·lbf. Standard transmission became the three-speed manual, with the four-speed optional, and Oldsmobile's two-speed Jetaway automatic transmission was added as an alternative.

Car and Driver tested a 1965 442 and obtained a quarter mile acceleration of 15.0 seconds at 98 mph; 0-60 was listed (rather improbably) as 5.5 seconds. Sales rose to 25,003.

1966

1966 saw a choice of engines: the 360 hp/440 ft·lbf Tri-Carb L69 and 350 hp/440 ft·lbf 4-barrel L78, and most importantly the introduction of the W-30, amusingly rated the same as the Tri-Carb. The 1966 W-30 in a Club Coupe body was one of the quickest Oldsmobiles ever produced.

1967

1967 saw a new Turnpike Cruiser option which on the 400 replaced the 4-barrel carb with a 2-barrel, producing 300 hp and 425 ft·lbf along with highway gearing. The W-30 continued with the Tri-Carb replaced with a four barrel carb and an air-scoop-in-between-the-headlights version ram air with the same power rating.

1968

The 442 became a separate model from 1968 through 1971. The wheelbase was 112 in, and over 33,000 were sold. The three engine options from 1967 remained. All standard 1968 442 engines are painted a bronze/copper color, as with the 1967's, topped with a fire red air cleaner. W-30 option cars were equipped with Ram Air intake hoses leading from a chrome air cleaner to special under bumper air scoops and set off by bright red plastic fender wells.

It was in 1968 that Oldsmobile partnered with Hurst Performance Research Corporation to create the first Hurst Olds rather than just adding Hurst modifications and shifters as with earlier models. The limited production Hurst Olds was distinct from other models with H/O badging, wood dash and steering wheel, the classic Tic-Toc-Tac tachometer/clock combo, front disk brakes, special wider SS-II rims, a unique two-tone black and silver paint schema, a modified engine and transmission, and more.

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