Oldsmobile 442
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The Oldsmobile 442 was a muscle car option package for the Oldsmobile Cutlass automobile sold in the United States from the 1964 model year. It later became available on many other Oldsmobile models, and eventually became a model in its own right. 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.
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1964
The 4-4-2 name originally referred to the car's 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission, and 2 exhausts. Oldsmobile was the first General Motors division to follow Pontiac's lead with the GTO in selling a true muscle car - a midsize car with a full-size engine. From 1964 through 1967, the 442 was an option package that could be ordered on any F-85, Deluxe, or Cutlass except the station wagon.
The 442 package originally consisted of the B09 police option, which included a 290 hp 330 in³ V8 (though the 442 had a hotter cam for 310 hp and 355 ft.lbf) and a heavy-duty suspension, as well as the 4-speed transmission, dual exhausts, dual-snorkel air cleaner, and rear stabilizer bar. 2,999 units were sold that first year.
The 1965 introduction of an automatic transmission caused the definition of 442 to include the 345 hp/440 ft.lbf 400 in³ V8 now used in the car rather than the 4-speed transmission, though some 442s were sold with the 425.
1966 saw a choice of engines: the 360 hp/440 ft.lbf Tri-Power L69 and 330 hp/440 ft.lbf 4-barrel L78.
1967 saw a new 442 Turnpike Cruiser option which replaced the 4-barrel carb with a 2-barrel, producing 300 hp and 425 ft.lbf along with higher gearing. The Tri-Power option was replaced with an air-scoop version 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.
1970 saw the introduction of the Olds 455 V8 as the standard 442 engine. Output was 365hp and 500 ft.lbf, with a 370 hp W30 option available. The 365 and 370 hp (272 and 276 kW) power ratings were conservatively underrated at a lower RPM. Both engines actually produced 410 to 420 hp (306-313 kW). It was the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 race in 1970.
Engine output was down for 1971 to 270 hp (or 280 hp for the W30) and 370 ft.lbf due to the switch from gross to net rating and a lower compression ratio.
1972
The 442 name reverted to an option package from 1972 on the F-85 and Cutlass S. This package consisted of suspension upgrades and a stripe, with other things like a rear bumber cutout listed as additional options. An L75 455 in³ V8 was available, the smaller Oldsmobile 350 V8 was optional. The 442 again paced Indy in 1972 and 1974. The 442 package was not continued past 1980.
Engines:
- 1972 L32 350 in³ 2-barrel V8, (160 hp and 275 ft.lbf in 1972)
- 1972 L34 350 in³ 4-barrel V8, (180 hp and 275 ft.lbf in 1972)
- 1972 W30 455 in³ 4-barrel V8, (300 hp and 410 ft.lbf in 1972)
- 1972 L75 455 in³ 4-barrel V8, (270 hp and 370 ft.lbf in 1972)
- 1973-1976 250 in³ V6
- 1973-1976 455 in³ V8
- 1973-1978 350 in³ V8
- 1976-1978 260 in³ V8
- 1977-1978 403 in³ V8 (185 hp and 320 ft.lbf in 1977)
1978
Another limited-edition 442 model was offered from 1978 through 1980. It used the Oldsmobile 350 in³ V8. A special-edition Hurst/Olds was also offered in 1979.
1985
The 442 name was revived in 1985 on the rear wheel drive Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. The name was now defined as referring to the car's 4-speed automatic transmission, 4-barrel carburetor, and 2 exhausts. This W42 model replaced the 1983 and 1984 Hurst/Olds model and used the same 5.0 L LG8 V8. The shifter was mounted on the floor in a console between the front seats, and the upgraded F41 suspension package was included. 3,000 were produced in the first year, and all were sold quickly. 4,273 were produced for 1986, and 4,208 were made in 1987.
Like its predecessors, the 1985 442 was the pace car at the Indianapolis 500. This 442 was retired with the RWD Supreme in 1987.
1990
The final use of the 442 name was on the Quad 442 front wheel drive 1990 Cutlass Calais. This model used a 2.3 L LG0 Quad-4 4-cylinder engine with 4 valves per cylinder and 2 camshafts. It used a single exhaust with dual tailpipes and produced 180 hp with a 5-speed manual transmission. This 442 model lasted just two years.
External links
Muscle Car Club 442 page (http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/oldsmobile-442/oldsmobile-442.shtml)