Viking Blue 1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible For Sale

by Brett Hatfield
— Oct 28, 2021

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In April of 1964, Oldsmobile introduced the 442 option package for the Cutlass. The 4-4-2 moniker was derived from the option’s four-barrel carb, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhaust. The Oldsmobile 442 was based on the B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit package that added twenty horsepower, a hotter cam, upgraded suspension, redline tires on six-inch-wide wheels, fender badges and more. The Oldsmobile 442 remained a Cutlass option package until 1968, when it became a standalone model in the Oldsmobile line.

For the 1970 model year, General Motors lifted their ban on engines in excess of four hundred cubic inches in mid-size cars. This paved the way for the 455 cubic-inch Big Block V8 to be stuffed in the Oldsmobile 442, with output rated at 365 horsepower. Other changes of note included a silver grille with vertical bars, rectangular front bumper parking lights, and vertical tail lights. It’s worth noting that the Cutlass had been equipped with a 455 cube V8 in 1969 as part of the Hurst/Olds package.

Our feature Oldsmobile 442 is a matching-numbers convertible in Viking Blue. It was built the second week of December 1969 at the GM plant in Freemont, California. This 442 was the subject of an exacting frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration beginning in early 2018.

The exterior of the Oldsmobile 442 has been repainted in a high-quality, two-stage Viking Blue finish with white stripes on the Ram Air hood. The chrome bumpers have either been refinished or replaced. The rest of the chrome and stainless trim presents as new. Glass is clear and the weatherstrip appears to be recent. Olds SS wheels wear raised white-letter Firestone Wide Oval bias-ply tires. The convertible top is bright white and snugly fit, with no undue wrinkling.

Inside the Oldsmobile 442 convertible, the front bucket seats and rear bench have been recovered in Bright Blue vinyl that presents as new. Carpets show no sign of wear or fading. A factory Delco AM/FM/8-track player resides in the crack-free dash, and is accompanied by two dealer-supplied 8-track demo tapes. The center console is home to a Hurst Dual gate shifter and padded armrest. The 442 is well equipped with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power convertible top, air conditioning, tilt wheel, and sport steering wheel. The odometer shows just over one thousand miles since the restoration’s completion.

The Oldsmobile 442 engine bay is home to the matching-numbers 455 cubic-inch Rocket V8. The monster mill is topped by a W-30 air cleaner, and backed by the original Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the 3.08 geared Positraction twelve-bolt rear end. Spent gases exit via trumpet tipped dual exhaust.

Since the completion of the rotisserie restoration, the Oldsmobile 442 has won three significant car shows, including the 2018 National Oldsmobile Show.

Full documentation including the build sheet, owner’s manual, window sticker, official dyno test results, first place show trophies, and more than 1,000 restoration photos will be bundled in the sale of this beautifully restored Oldsmobile 442 convertible. It is being offered by a private seller on Hemmings for $139,000.

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