The Oldsmobile 442 option package for the Cutlass was introduced in April of 1964. The 4-4-2 name came from the four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual gearbox, and dual exhaust. The 442 option was based on another package, the B09 Police Apprehender Pursuit pack that gave the Cutlass another twenty horses, a hotter cam, beefed-up suspension, redline tires on six-inch-wide wheels, badging and more. The 442 would remain an option package until it became a standalone model for the 1968 model year.
Mandatory emissions regulations, economy standards, and insurance companies reluctant to insure big power muscle cars would all conspire to make 1970 the final year for full power factory hot rods. Rather than fizzle out, GM elected to go out like warriors, lifting their internal 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. It’s worth noting that the Cutlass had been equipped with a 455 cube V8 in 1969 as part of the Hurst/Olds package, but it could be had in any midsize offering for the ’70 model year.
Other changes to the Oldsmobile 442 for 1970 included a silver grille with vertical bars, rectangular front bumper parking lights, and vertical tail lights. But the option of note for those in the know was the W-30 option package, which added the “Select-Fit” engine components, a W25 fiberglass hood with air induction through functional scoops, a low-restriction air cleaner, Winters aluminum intake, and a longer-duration, higher-lift cam. A heavy-duty, close-ratio four-speed manual transmission could also be had. The Rocket 455 was rated at 370 horsepower and a staggering 500 pound-feet of torque.
Our feature 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 hardtop has covered just over 45,000 miles from new. It has been the subject a recent frame-off, concours-quality restoration by marque specialist Jim Novelli. The 442 has received a high-quality respray in its original special order Aegean Aqua with white stripes over a new white interior with black carpets. One-year-only clamshell rearview mirrors are mounted on both doors and the factory wing is mounted on the rear deck lid. Painted steel SS wheels are trimmed with polished trim rings and wrapped in raised white-letter Goodyear Polyglas bias ply tires.
Inside, the Oldsmobile 442 is trimmed in the aforementioned white vinyl with black carpets covering the floors. A chrome Hurst shifter is topped with a black shift ball. The woodgrain dash is home to crystal-clear Tic-Toc and Rally pack gauges, climate controls, and an original looking AM/FM stereo that has been upgraded with Bluetooth connectivity. The 442 equipped with power steering, tilt column with sport steering wheel, bucket seats, center console, rear defogger, and an electric trunk release.
The engine compartment on the Oldsmobile 442 is showroom spotless. The foam crush ring that seals the intake to the cowl induction hood shows only minor creasing. The matching-numbers 370-horsepower 455 cube V8 mill retains its correct heads, distributor, alternator, QuadraJet four-barrel carb, and aluminum intake. Backing the mighty 455 is a four-speed manual transmission and rebuilt Positraction rear end with the correct W27 cover.
This Oldsmobile 442 has been displayed at the 2021 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals where it won the Concours Gold trophy. It was a Junior and Senior First Place winner at the 2021 AACA Nationals, and won First Place at the 2021 Oldsmobile Nationals.
The sale of this Oldsmobile 442 includes the original broadcast sheet, dealer sales order, window sticker, dealer warranty book, Protect-O-Plate, owner’s manual, and complete ownership history. It will be crossing the Mecum Auctions block at their Indy Spring Classic May 13th through the 21st at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
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Comments
Beautiful.
That’s why GM Killed it.
Great looking car. I wish Oldsmobile was still around. I always thought that Olds had the best overall quality of all the GM brands.
WOW, My dad was an Oldsmobile man so as I got older I learned to drive in an Oldsmobile. We had a 1955 98 Holiday 2 door coupe and I just loved that car. Should have purchased a 442 W30 but fell in love with Corvettes but if I had the cash I would bid on this Beauty. Came real close to buying a HURST 442 convertible from Yates Oldsmobile in St. Louis but passed. Just an Awesome 442!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Dad was an Olds man, 1960 98, 1964 Jetstar 1. I had a 1972 Cutlass SX (455), 1976 Cutlass Supreme. Wish they were still around!!
Dad had a 1949 Super 8 fastback with 4 Barrel carb & dual exhaust, 53 98, 55 98, 59 98 and then a Caddy that he always wanted.
No SX in 1972.
Beautiful car! Wish Olds and Pontiac were still in the lineup!
Ahh, the memories of when GM made cars to die for that everyday Americans could afford. Those days are over and sadly so, too is the middle class.
Worse yet, there are precious few gm cars left and certainly nothing lustworthy in 2022 unless you’ve got about $90K burning a hole in your pocket. The vaunted and soon to be extinct CT5-V Blackwing marks the end of the line for modern spiritual successors to this splendid Olds.
Thanks for the memories
… Quality like this is since long, very long, unexisted, today is plastic, paint in water base very thin… unfortunate none chrome So beautiful cars like this is far far past… GM is since long another company, there is none Quality in market, any product. When bought 9 years ago my car, wish a colour like this, very beauty, but car factories do not know how to do cars anymore. So had to take a dark marine blue, colour in water base, not oil as before, many problems had, today had a problem with the plastic unpainted bumper… So Industries are past… Designers and Engineers do not know how to do cars since 20 years. In every Product we go buy, it is lack of Quality, here & there Problems
Over many years, I have owned 88s, Cutlasses, 442s, and now a 2001 Aurora 4.0. All great cars. Olds is gone now because GM didn’t know a good thing when it saw it!!!!!
This is not a Political Forum
Strange looking steering wheel, odd pattern on vinyl bucket seats and no ac… I’ll take a Buick gran sport over this anyday.
It is a stunning interior as was the ’70 Buick’s. As was the ’70 Chevelle and GTO and Grand Prix and so on. All of these cars had style in spades inside and out. A famously brilliant lineup of cars with current pricing serving as proof of their enduring allure.
It was very hard to go wrong with a GM car in 1970. GM was epic across the board. Unlike today.
Horsepower rating was 370, not 365. My W-30 was Twilight Blue Metallic; should have kept it!
What are you stupid, what you really mean is Democrat progressives liberals have killed all these things
My uncle was a mechanic and an Oldsmobile man. He always said Oldsmobile was the least expensive car to own (least number of repairs).
It was the line GM tested new innovations on for many, many years.
But leave it to American corporate greed to try and save money by consolidating the divisions that led to the end of Oldsmobile.
Oldsmobile owners were rightfully outraged when they learned their new Oldsmobiles had Chevrolet motors in them.
Look at GM today!!!!!
Mary will be the death of GM if they don’t get rid of her and her group. GM needs some CAR PEOPLE at the top of the chain.
Just drove my 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 455 out of a delta 88 up to the lake on 4/20. It’s still cruising smooth and ready to haul ass anytime. Needs paint, but it would get ripped off quicker. It’s my fun car. Had it since 91 after desert storm. 1800 bucks running. I rebuilt the engine 11000 miles ago.
Actually “MB Fan Club” what Americans regularly complain about with regards to what is seen in society today has zero to do with politics, and everything to do with the consequences to a people/nation that ban God from all the places He was once honored in favor of their sin e.g. lgbt, abortion, legal drug use, gay marriage, and on and on [Romans 1 v18-32]: “…so God gave them over” i.e. left without Gods hand of blessing; “uninterrupted in their sin” [Acts 14 v16]. Americans want all the benefits of Gods blessings while refusing to repent and live for Jesus.