Oldsmobile 442

The Oldsmobile 442 was a of the American automobile brand Oldsmobile (General Motors) 1964-1991 produced (with interruptions ) muscle car. His additional designation 442 refers originally to its 4-fold carburetor, his 4 -speed transmission and its 2-pipe exhaust system.

The 442 was first introduced as a trim package in model year 1964 and was based on the Oldsmobile midsize model Oldsmobile Cutlass or its basic model Oldsmobile F- 85th From 1968 to 1971 was renamed the 442 as a standalone model, but was then in turn marketed as pure equipment package. Oldsmobile revived the name in the 1980s based on the rear-drive Cutlass Supreme in the early 1990s as a trim package on the Cutlass new.

Model history

Equipment line of the F- 85 (1964-1967)

The 442 was created as a response to the rapid Oldsmobile Pontiac GTO, who had unexpectedly been a great success.

Due to the late start towards the end of the model year and the internally controversial configuration of the GTO ( look closely it represented a violation of the former group dogma, in the mid-range models, no engines over 5.4 liters offer capacity), located Oldsmobile kept deliberately in the technique of 442 back. Officially, it was the 442 package to the " B09 Police appréhender " option, ie a technology package for police vehicles with 5.4 -liter V8, four -barrel carburetor, dual exhaust and sharper camshaft, bringing the machine to a power output of 310 hp ( came to gross SAE standard ). The maximum torque was unchanged at 483 Nm, but was held at 2800 to 3600 rpm in first. Part of the package were a manual four- speed transmission and the special police suspension with harder springs front and rear, harder shock absorbers, a thicker front stabilizer and a time for unusual rear stabilizer.

The package called 4-4-2; which stood for four -barrel carburetor, four-speed transmission and dual exhaust. For an extra charge of $ 285 was available for all Oldsmobile F -85 with the exception of station wagons; mostly but it was ordered for the hardtop coupe. According to factory documents about 10 four-door sedans came with the B09 package.

The magazine Motor Trend tested an early 4-4-2 and measured for the 1558 kg heavy car 7.5 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km / h and 15.5 seconds over the standing quarter mile ( top speed 145 km / h ) and a top speed of 185.6 km / h 2999 copies were sold.

After the large volume GTO had found the official endorsement of the group, Oldsmobile did not hesitate to follow suit with a large-displacement 442. The B09 package has been renamed to 442, the price reduced to $ 190 for the F -85 Standard / Deluxe and $ 156 for the F -85 Cutlass. Standard was now Oldsmobile 6.6 -liter V8 ( based on the American measure 400 cui ), and " 442 " ​​as the 400 cubic inch, four -barrel carburetor and dual exhaust has now been officially defined. The machine made ​​345 hp and 599 Nm. Series was a three -speed transmission, four-speed or two-speed automatic Oldsmobile there was an extra charge.

Car and Driver tested a 442 with four-speed transmission and came across the quarter mile in 15.0 seconds and 157 km / h; from 0 to 100 km / h will be (not very credible ) have required 5.5 seconds. The automatic test car of "Car Life" hurried through the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds and 142 km / h and came in 7.8 seconds to 100 km / h Sales of the 442 rose to 25,003 copies.

The 442 model-year 1966 was, like all F -85 models, a small facelift. Two additional machines were an extra cost option: the " L69 " with three progressively working Carter twin carburettors, with 360 hp and 599 Nm specified, and the rare " W30 ". The 442- base engine was now called " L78 " and came up with a four -barrel carburetor 350 hp and 599 Nm.

The W30 machine had a fresh air supply ( via hoses was the carburetors from the bumper ago cold air fed ) and a sharper camshaft; yet met its specified performance values ​​officially those of L69. The battery was relocated to the trunk to make room for the hoses; For this reason, the W30 for the convertible was not available. Only 54 copies of the W30 left the factory in a 442, 97 more engines went for subsequent installations to the dealer.

"Car Life" tested a four-speed 442 with the L69 and measured 6.3 seconds for the sprint to 100 km / h and on the quarter mile 14.8 seconds and 156 km / h " Motor Trend " came up with a similar car to 7.2 seconds and 15.2 seconds and 155.4 km / h

Sales dropped to 21,997 cars. This set of 442 about 10 percent of Cutlass sales, whereas the GTO turned almost a third of all sold Pontiac Junior Class models.

Styling and base engine of the 442 remained in the 1967 model year unchanged, the extra charge, Automatic ( Turbo Hydra-Matic ) had now but three courses. A new extra were front disc brakes.

A new GM dogma stipulated that there should be more carburetor systems across the Group only in the Chevrolet Corvette; that was the end of the L69 with its three carburetors. The W30 there continued, albeit with Quadrajet four -barrel carburetor instead of the three dual carburetor last year. For W30 package now also included wheel arch made ​​of red plastic. For Homologationszwecke as part of the National Hot Rod Association ( NHRA ) emerged W30 502 engines, plus an unknown number of engines for retrofitting at the dealership.

"Cars" tested a W30 -442 with four-speed sports transmission and 4.33 rear axle and he reached with the totally standard vehicle 14.1 seconds and 166 km / h over the standing quarter mile. From 0 to 100 km / h went from 6.5 to 6.7 seconds.

Sales of the 442 recovered somewhat and reached 24,833 pieces.

Our model (1968-1971)

1968 (left) and 1969 (right) Oldsmobile 442

From 1968 to 1971 ranked the 442 as a separate series.

In the new model year 1968 model, the wheelbase was 290 cm; over 33,000 copies were sold.

When Displacement although it remained at 6.5 liters, but were in the interest of higher torque and lower exhaust emissions reduces the bore and lengthened the stroke. The long stroke but also reduced the free-revving performance and development, and the '68 models were considered to be slower than the '67 - 442. The base engine was still given with 350 hp, but only in combination with the standard three-and the optional four-speed gearbox; with automatic were mentioned 325 PS. When W30 remained at 360 hp. All 442- based engines of model year 1968, (as well as the predecessor 1967) painted in a bronze hue, above this was a fiery red air filter housing. When the W30 Ram Air cold air hoses leading from special inlets below the bumper ( against the bright red plastic inserts in the wheel arches visually strong abstachen ) to a black air filter housing with chrome trim on the top. On request, there was the 442 now with a weaker " Turnpike Cruiser" - (ie, a "highway" - ) package with dual carburetors; the package was already available for the Cutlass Supreme.

1968 Oldsmobile did the first time with the Hurst Performance Research Corporation; together they developed the Hurst / Olds as a sophisticated muscle car; earlier, Oldsmobile had limited equip its sports cars with shift linkages and levers from Hurst. In the limited series of 515 Hurst / Olds ( 459 Holiday hardtop coupes and 56 sports coupe with B- pillar), it was regular 442, which, however, were subject to numerous technical and optical modifications. All of the cars carried a finish in Peruvian Silver ( a Toronado Oldsmobile color), lush black and narrow white trim, H / O emblems inside and outside ( only in that model year ) and dashboard inserts made ​​of real walnut wood. The Hurst / Olds was there with two different engine variants, each 7.5 liters, painted red and combined with a reinforced W30 Turbo 400 automatic transmission. Cars with air conditioning received the W-46 engine and a 3.08 rear axle it, copies without air conditioning, the W -45 engine and a drive reduction of 3,91:1. Both engines were given with 390 hp, but who had the cylinder heads of the W- 30 and suitable for higher speeds camshaft from the W -31 W -45. All cars were equipped with front bucket seats and Hurst dual gate circuit including small center console; also standard were numerous 442 extras such as disc brakes, better cooling, and FE2 sports suspension. The red undershields and the Ram Air - conditioning came from the W - 30th Some of the popular extras included a tachometer / clock combination ( factory jargon to give the nice name tic- toc- tach hearing) and a steering wheel with imitation wood wreath.

The changes in engines and transmissions from the previous model year were minimal. However eliminated the Turnpike Cruiser option. New, however, was another high-performance engine; this W -32 came up with the cold air feed of the W-30, but had a more civil camshaft, similar to the basic engine. The W -32 was only available with automatic transmission; There were 297 pieces, including 25 each B -pillar coupe and convertible.

Visually, especially the arrangement of the headlights was changed; the small additional lights accounted for and there were double round headlights.

For model year 1970 Oldsmobile 7.5 -liter V8 ( 455 cui ) was standard on the 442. The performance was given with 365 hp and 681 Nm, a 370 -hp W30 version, there was an extra charge. The performance values ​​were likely to be understated and measured below the true rated speed. It is believed that these machines actually acted 410-420 hp. The 442 served this year at the 500 miles of Indianapolis, together with an Oldsmobile Cutlass, as Pace Car.

The front bumper 442 of the 1970 is displaced in the middle part downwards so as to allow a slightly larger air inlet. For the W30 this was not enough; this disposal instead of the air intakes under the front bumper for cold air supply, which had been found in 1968 and 1969 using the model years, with a special fiberglass cowling, through which reached the air into the carburetor, and also an aluminum Vergaserkrümmer and camshaft, cylinder heads, distributor and carburetor in a special version.

In the 2007 remake of "The Hitcher " take the lead actors a 1970s 442

The 1971 model, which looks identical to the 1970 was available only as a convertible or hardtop coupe. Due to reduced compression ratios the benefits in model year 1972 were generally lower; that affected all GM engines. The base engine in the 442 was now with 340 hp in the catalog, the W30 with 350 hp.

Equipment line of Cutlass (1972-1980)

The 442 was on the status of optics and chassis package reduced (code W29 ), available for the Oldsmobile Cutlass Holiday Coupe as, "S" sport coupe and Holiday coupe and for the Cutlass Supreme convertible. The package included sports suspension ( stiffer springs and shock absorbers, stabilizer bar front and rear, lower wishbone on the rear axle of square pipes and wheels in size 7Jx14 ), lateral trim, emblems on fenders and trunk lid, Hutzenattrappen on the hood and a special grille. When ordering the 7.5 - liter recesses were let for the exhaust pipes in the rear bumper. On request, there was the 7.5 -liter L75 in stronger version, but the series was smaller 5.7-liter V8 ( 350 cui ). A Hurst / Olds Special model served as pace car in Indianapolis.

Who in 1972 ordered a 442, could still order the famous W30 option, which included a 300 net SAE horsepower and 558 Nm still potent L77 engine with 7.5 liter displacement and a dual - sport exhaust; other features were a lightweight Aluminiumeinlasskrümmer, the W25 Ram Air hood made ​​of fiberglass, self-locking differential with 3.42 final drive he ( on request 3,73:1 ) and increased cooler. For technical reasons it was not this engine in conjunction with air conditioning, and power brakes were only available in conjunction with automatic transmission. Although this car lived in the dusk of the muscle car era, but was quite seriously. Only 659 W30 coupes and 113 W30 convertibles emerged in model year 1972.

The 442 remained as a package for the Oldsmobile midsize models on offer, but sold increasingly worse and was limited in otherwise unchanged compared to the initial models art a sportier suspension and all sorts Streifenzierrat.

From 1978 to 1980 Oldsmobile offered in a limited edition 442 -based vehicles, whose engines ranged from a 3.8 -liter V6 to a five-liter V8 with four -barrel carburetor. 1980 was added a 5.7 -liter V8. 1979 also was again a Hurst / Olds Special model in the program.

The 442 model year 1978/79 was based on the Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon hatchback, therefore, on the lower level of equipment of the successful Cutlass series. The 442 was also held with all engine variants, including the 3.8-liter V6 with twin carburettors, the 4.3 - liter V8 with dual carburetors and the five-liter V8 with dual (1978 ) or four -barrel carburetor (1979). For all engines, a three-speed automatic transmission and a four-speed manual transmission of Saginaw were available, the 4.3- liter was also available with five-speed gearbox.

External marking of the 442 were trim in contrasting color on door sills and doors and around the wheel arches, further emblems on the trunk lid and the interior. In conjunction with the 442 package, all available for the Cutlass Salon extras were beyond available.

1979 Oldsmobile offered in a limited edition Hurst / Olds model, which built on the Cutlass Supreme notchback coupe. The drive was a 5.7 - liter V8 with four -barrel carburetor from the big Oldsmobile Delta 88 - and 98 - models, coupled with a three-speed automatic. The Hurst / Olds was only with paint in gold / white or gold / black with gold -colored fabric or artificial leather seat covers. Only about 2,000 cars were built.

In model year 1980, the 442 also moved to the notchback body and received W30 emblems on the front fenders above the side marker lights, to less flashy trim. Drive and extras met the other Cutlass models.

The model year 1980 marked the temporary end of the 442

Equipment line of Cutlass Supreme (1985-1987)

The term 442 was revived in 1985 for a model based on the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe with rear wheel drive. The designation was according to factory now for the four-speed automatic, the four -barrel carburetor and dual exhaust. This W42 model replaced the Hurst / Olds model year 1983 and 1984 and fell back on its LG8 five liters. The center crank protruded from a center console between the seats; the standard specification included the F41 sport suspension. In the first model year Oldsmobile sold 3000 copies. 1986 created 4273 pieces, the following model year 4208th

With the setting of the rear-wheel drive Cutlass Supreme in 1987 disappeared and the 442 - provisionally.

Cutlass Quad 442 (1990-1991)

For the last time the company designation of 442 early nineties, the " Quad 442 " ​​on the basis of the front-drive Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. Here came a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 16 valves and double overhead camshafts are used, the so-called GM Quad 4 engine. The machine was trimmed with high performance camshaft more power at high speeds, but at the cost of a non-circular idling. With single exhaust, the engine came to 183 hp, was switched via a five-speed gearbox. This irrevocable past 442 there were only two years.

Swell

James M. Flammang, Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999. Krause Publications, Iola 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0