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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 in³ (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 Spring s front and rear, heavy-duty Shock Absorber s, 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 Coupé s (Oldsmobile archives indicate that approximately 10 four-door Sedan s 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 in³ (6.5 L) engine became standard, and the definition of "442" was restated as '''4'''00 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 to 60 was listed (rather improbably) as 5.5 seconds. Sales rose to 25,003. 1966 1966 saw a choice of engines: a standard 350 hp/440 ft·lbf 4-barrel ''L78'', the optional 360 hp/440 ft·lbf ''Tri-Carb'' ''L69'' 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. Only 54 were built in total from the factory, although an unknown number were installed at the dealer. 1967 1967 saw the base engine staying the same, while the "Tri-Carb" L69 was dropped due to a new GM rule banning it on all vehicles except the Corvette. 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 for 1968. Despite the engine size being the same, it was a totally new design. However, its long stroke affected performance and they were deemed not as fast as the '67s. The base motor was still rated at 350 hp, but only with the standard 3-speed and optional 4-speed; automatics were rated at 325 hp. W-30s were rated again at 360 hp. 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. In addition, a Turnpike Cruiser option was made available with a 2bbl. carb; this was previously available on the Cutlass Supreme for 1967. 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 (432 units)Hurst/Olds was distinct from other models with H/O badging, red colored inner fender wells, 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 (Olds racing colors from 1950's stock car racing), a 455 in³ engine (red colored paint) and Turbohydramatic 400 series transmission, and more. The 1968 H/O vin numbers indicated these were Cutlass Supreme units. On the dash covered by the wood application on the dash was a Cutlass Supreme logo. Suspension was equal to the W30 but had 1 1/4 inch (32 mm) front and 1 1/2 inch (38 mm) rear stabilizer bars. These H/O was further designated as W42 and W43. These units had 12bolt 3.91:1 gear ratio on the non-airconditioned uniits and 3.08:1 on air conditioned units. Only 60 air conditioned units were made available. NADA specicficartions indicate the engines were hand assembled and balanced rated at 390 hp. Standing quater mile times were13.8 s. Camming used an Olds 308 duration cam by Iskanerian but duration varied with air conditioning units being less radical. 1969 1969 442s were very similar to the 1968. Changes to the engine and drivetrain were minimal, but the Turnpike Cruiser option was deleted. However, another hi-po engine was offered. Called the W-32, it came with the Forced Air Induction plumbing found on the W-30s, but it had a milder cam like the base engine. It was only available with an automatic, and 297 were built, including 25 sport coupes and convertibles each. The 1969 saw the engine color change to a light blue, shared with the 1970. 1970 1970 saw the introduction of the Olds 455 V8 as the standard 442 engine. Output was 365 hp 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 are believed by some to produce 410 to 420 hp (306-313 kW). It was the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 race in 1970 , along with the Cutlass Supreme. In addition, the W-30 received a fiberglass ram air hood to replace the traditional bumper scoops. This hood was also available on the 442 with the base engine, coded option W-25. Engine output was down for 1971 due to a lower compression ratio, which affected all of GM's engines. The base 455 was rated at 340 hp, with the W-30 achieving a rating of 350 hp. The sport coupe disappeared for the first time since 1964, only to return the following year. 1972 The 442 name reverted to an appearance and handling option package (option code W-29) in 1972 on the Cutlass Holiday Coupe, Cutlass ''S'' Sport Coupe And Holiday Coupe , and Cutlass Supreme convertible. This package consisted of suspension upgrades (heavy duty springs & shocks, front and rear sway bars, boxed lower rear control arms, and 14 by 7 inch (356 by 178 mm) wheels), side striping, fender and decklid badging, faux hood louvers, and a unique grille. A rear bumper with cutouts for exhaust tips could be had when ordered with the optional 455 engine. An ''L75'' 455 in³ V8 was available to keep the high performance flame burning, but the smaller Oldsmobile 350 V8 came standard. A special edition Hurst/Olds paced the Indy in 1972. If you checked off the 442 option in 1972, you could then get the famed W30 option, which included the still-potent L77 455 engine pumping out 300 hp and 410 ft·lbfs of torque while breathing through low-restriction dual exhausts. Other notable components included a lightweight aluminum intake manifold, the W25 fiberglass ram-air hood, anti-spin differential with 3.42:1 gears (3.73:1 available), and heavy duty cooling. Due to the low-vacuum at idle, air conditioning was not available, and power brakes were only available with an automatic transmission. Despite living in the twilight of the muscle car era, this machine was still all-business. Only 113 W30 convertibles and 659 W30 coupes were made in 1972, making this a very rare option. Engines:
1978 Another limited-edition 4-4-2 model was offered from 1978 through 1980 . Engines varied from a base 3.8L v6 to a 305 4bbl. There was no 350 available to any 4-4-2 offered in 1978 or 1979. Oldsmobile 350 in³ V8 . A special-edition Hurst/Olds was also offered in 1979 . 1985-1987 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 200r4 Automatic Transmission , 4-barrel Carburetor , and '''2''' exhausts. Its not true dual exhaust but 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. The engine was tuned with higher output camshafts which produced more top end power at the expense of idle quality. It used a single exhaust with dual tailpipes and produced 185 hp with a 5-speed Manual Transmission . This 442 model lasted just two years. 442S ON THE SCREEN In the movie '' Demolition Man '' starring Sylvester Stallone and Sandra Bullock they bring up a 1970 W30 442 from the underground for a car chase. Woody Harrelson drove 442 convertibles in the films "White Men Can't Jump" and "Kingpin". 442 IN SONG In the '' Primus '' song "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" Jerry is mentioned as having driven a 442. EXTERNAL LINKS
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